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Jungkook never liked school. He never enjoyed any part of it actually. At least not until now.
All throughout elementary and middle school he'd been the one that got teased and picked on. Paper airplanes thrown at him, his projects disappearing, and his cubby being stolen.
Jungkook never knew what he did to anyone, he'd been a good kid and yet many people teased him and stole his juice boxes.
He used to talk to so many people despite that, it wasn’t that everyone picked on him, just a few, but it was difficult for him as a kid to understand that.
And now things were even more difficult.
Jungkook was sixteen years old. He'd just become a junior in high school. He liked to read about animals because he wanted to work as a veterinarian.
And this year his parents had gotten divorced.
It was a long time coming in all honesty. Jungkook was no stupid kid, he was a very bright kid in fact. But he could remember them arguing for as long as he could remember. Over money, over infidelity, over everything really.
That didn't mean it hurt any less when his father sat him down and said he would be leaving, and that Jungkook could come with him if he wanted.
A small part of Jungkook resented his father for that, for giving up after so long, when he only had two more years of high school left.
Jungkook stopped hanging out with his friends outside of school, he drifted off by himself, he didn’t even flinch when people called him four eyes or laughed at his cheap clothing.
He was just done.
Even if his friends tried to speak with him at school, and Jungkook didn’t feel up to it, he would sit with them and let Jimin pat his back or lean into his arm. But it felt so lonely.
Jungkook decided he was just made to be alone.
Well, he'd thought so until recently he noticed something strange. Something so cheesy he thought for sure one of his friends was up to this to try and cheer him up.
Notes. A lot of notes. His locker was stuffed full and some of them were just the cheesiest of drawings.
This had been going on for a good two weeks, and Jungkook felt… something odd when looking at them, like he had a secret he shouldn’t tell people about.
There was a new one today, the edge was all crumpled up from being shoved through the cracks of the locker and it was written on plain lined paper. You look sad lately, what’s wrong? Followed by a bunch of sad faces and doodles of flowers.
“Watch it, Jeon!” Someone called before Jungkook yelped and dropped his books when he was pushed to the side.
It was his fault, he sighed, only an idiot would stand in the middle of the hallway.
“Hey!” Jungkook startled at the yell, thinking it was for him, but as he looked up from the tiles, kneeling down to collect his things, he noticed it was Kim Taehyung yelling and felt more than relieved.
Kim Taehyung was strange.
The first time Jungkook ever recalled speaking to Taehyung was in first grade, on the playground. He'd misplaced his glasses somewhere at recess and Taehyung tried to help him find them because Jungkook could barely see without them.
In the end, Taehyung took him to the teacher and claimed he accidentally broke them. Which wasn’t true at all.
Jungkook knew that the boy had only said that because when looking for the ugly tan glasses Jungkook had sobbed snottily how his mom was going to be so mad at him.
Taehyung's parents scolded him in front of Jungkook that day, but when they gave Jungkook's parents money for new glasses, his mom didn’t look mad at him at all.
And in the end Jungkook ended up with two pairs of glasses, because Yoongi found his old ones stuffed in the back of the toy chest like someone had taken them.
Jungkook didn’t doubt they had taken them. Students always picked on him.
Never Kim Taehyung though. He couldn’t recall one time where Taehyung had looked down on him, or Jimin, Yoongi.. any of his “weird” friends.
He was always just… there. But never quite doing anything to them.
Sometimes he jumped in, like in sixth grade when Jimin took a fall off the swings and people laughed even though he’d broken his arm. Taehyung and his friends had helped him to the office.
Even then, the acts of kindness from bystanders made Jungkook feel… less… guilty. Because if others could see he hadn’t been doing anything then it was easier to recognize that maybe… just maybe he didn’t deserve to be harassed like this.
Or maybe that was just the effect Kim Taehyung had on him.
Jungkook didn’t know why but his stomach always tingled when he saw the athlete.
It was a ridiculous thought, a football player would never go for him, let alone Kim Taehyung who was known to be “cool” and “popular,” his parents were rich and it was all people spoke about.
That in itself made Jungkook a little sad too. He wondered if it bothered Taehyung to know his name was associated with money rather than the fact he was smart and he was good at sports… of course Jungkook would never ask him that though.
“He wasn’t doing shit!” Taehyung boomed through the hallway, stepping out of his group of friends to walk up to a shorter male, “I suggest you apologize, Yoon.”
A scoff sounded and Jungkook hated to hear it, he swallowed and ducked his head to pick up his things as the arguing continued.
“Or what, Kim?”
“Or what?” Taehyung snickered, “The or what is your face meeting my fist. Jungkook didn’t do shit to you and you and your measly little shit friends follow him and his friends around just to pick on them - tell me why? Is it because your dick is too small or something? Do you feel better about your small dick when beating up on them?”
A crowd of laughter sounded and Jungkook could only manage a shaking laugh as he collected his things, looking up when the sound of footsteps occured and he sat back on his heels.
“Hey,” Hoseok murmured and knelt down to help get his things, “You okay? I know… they’re always on you, but.. you know, it’s just because they’re bullies. Let me-“
“No.” Jungkook mumbled and shook his head. His black rimmed glasses sliding down his nose a bit. “It’s because I’m weird. I know.”
Hoseok was a year older, but they’d spoken a couple of times. It was hard not to when their middle school had been so small that all age groups shared a recess.
Things in high school were tough when suddenly he was thrust onto a campus with all these new people walking around and their campus went from 100 students to 600.
Even if he’d been teased in school back then, Jungkook missed how small it was and how he could know everyone all at once.
Nowadays he didn’t even bother trying to learn who was teasing him, he just sighed and walked it off, because it was just a typical Monday for him.
“You're no-“
“I got it, Hoseok.”
Jungkook jerked and nearly dropped his things again when large hands were brushing his to take the books from him.
“I’ll get an apology out of him eventually,” Taehyung chided playfully, “Maybe a hit or two would serve him good.”
“Oh!” Jungkook began to shake his head adamantly, “No, no it’s okay! N-No need!”
Taehyung stared at him a moment too long and Jungkook chewed on his lip as he got flustered and reached out to snatch his books, “Thank you for the help!” He cried with pink cheeks, turning to his opened locker.
For a minute while he shoved his things inside the mint colored locker nervously there was no response, but he could feel the larger teen still lingering behind him.
Jungkook bent down to collect the last of some note cards at his feet before a throat cleared and he jerked when Taehyung’s face was right in front of his own.
Handsome, Jungkook thought when looking at Taehyung’s almond shaped eyes.
“You forgot something,” Taehyung said with that deep voice of his that made Jungkook’s hair stand on end.
Jungkook was sure he turned bright red when Taehyung held the lined paper out to him, “I…” Jungkook stuttered and grabbed the note quickly, “I.. don’t know who-“
“There’s a puppy that looks like you on the back.”
Jungkook startled, swallowing thickly because he hadn’t even gotten that far to look at it, but Taehyung was smiling really wide. “You know, just if you didn’t notice it,” Taehyung added.
“Oh… I…” Jungkook fixed his hair behind his ear and looked down at the paper to see that there was a puppy drawn on the back with big eyes and all.
Did Taehyung just notice it on the back right now? Or…
A feeling of excitement rushed through him, face aflame and pushing his hair back, “Taehyung, a-are you-“ when he looked up Taehyung had already walked away, likely when he was looking at the puppy, because the broad shouldered teen was already across the hallway.
Jungkook sighed, of course it’s not him. Don’t kid yourself.
***
Jungkook’s parents never had much money, so he didn’t get to have food brought from off campus or even his lunches packed. He never did.
He got the free lunch food that was provided for the “poor kids” as he’d been teased for once before. But that was okay with him, even if he looked odd being the only one at his lunch table with an old, slimy looking sandwich on his tray while his friends had packed lunches.
“No way, Kook.” Namjoon scoffed across the table, “There’s no way it’s him. I mean… Kim Taehyung? No.”
Jungkook sunk into his spot, pushing around odd colored peaches with his spoon.
“Hey! Shut the hell up!” Jimin yipped, leaning over to deliver a hit to Namjoon's head, “You don’t know anything! You didn’t go to school with us before this!”
“Yah! I’m just saying the obvious!” Namjoon whined.
“Kook…” Yoongi sighed and rubbed his back, “I’m sure he just means… because you know, he’s him and you’re you…”
Jungkook dropped his head because the words stung. How could the words you're you hurt more than being called four eyes or shoved around?
“Neither of you know anything,” Jimin hissed across the table. “Both of you only became friends with us in high school. Kim and his friends aren’t bad, they’ve been kind to us since we were little.”
“Sure you aren’t saying that because you have a huge crush on Jung Hoseok?”
Jimin's face turned red and he threw his granola bar wrapper at Namjoon's face. “No! I’m not saying it because of that! I’m saying because they have been! Like when we were in fourth grade, Jungkook forgot food money for a field trip, and Taehyung’s mom gave him extra so he bought him an entire meal!”
“Well, Kim is rich, I’m sure sparing a bit didn't bother him even a little,” Namjoon shrugged, “I’m sorry, guys. But I’m not buying it, he's a fucking jock, all of those fuck heads have picked on Kookie or called us the weird kids.”
“... well,” Yoongi murmured, a hand patting Jungkook’s head, “For the record, I’ve personally never seen Taehyung or like… Seokjin or Hoseok… ever say anything or do anything. In fact… wasn’t Hoseok the one that helped Kookie when he was locked in the showers last year?”
Jungkook felt anxiety swirl in his stomach at the reminder, reaching down to hold his stomach because he felt sick.
Last year, at around this time of year he'd been shoved into the locker room and someone tied the door shut while he cried and banged on it.
The feeling of being trapped in a dark, cold room… it scarred him. After that incident Jungkook couldn’t sleep with the lights off, and he couldn’t handle going to school without taking his anxiety medication.
A sort of hopelessness filled him everytime he walked past the gym locker room by himself. He choked on his breath every time he had to, eyes going wide and aware to make sure nobody would shove him in there again.
It wasn’t even until an hour after class was over, when Hoseok was coming in to change for practice, that he’d found Jungkook crying in the corner of the locker room.
He didn’t know what changed about them then, but after that Jungkook noticed Taehyung and his friends stayed pretty close when they saw each other.
He’d often catch eyes with Taehyung, and even though Taehyung never looked away, Jungkook was too embarrassed to continue looking at him without a reason to explain his staring.
“Taehyung!”
Jungkook’s head raised and he jerked when he found Yoongi's hand fanning his face, unknowing when he’d been spacing out, but his friend looked at him worriedly.
“Taehyung!” Jimin yelled again.
Jungkook swallowed and sent pleading eyes across the table for Jimin to shut his mouth, but before he could yell and complain, Taehyung was walking over from the doorway of the cafeteria, abandoning his friends.
Jungkook squeaked and shoved his tray away to grab his backpack, planning to leave, but Yoongi must have caught something was up and held his arm.
“What’s up, Jimin?” The other asked, tucking his hands into his jeans, looking somewhat confused, but he looked around the table and flickered his eyes to Jungkook and didn’t look upset to be pulled away from his friends at all.
“Taehyung, Jungkook hasn’t eaten much -“
“Hey!” Jungkook yelped before he felt his ears turn red and ducked his head to look at his hands.
“- do you happen to have a snack or something. I told him he was going to get sick eating school food as the first thing of the day.”
If Taehyung noticed Jimin had a pack of chips in his opened lunchbox he didn’t say anything, instead he shrugged and nodded, “Yeah, I just got back from getting food, give me a second.”
As soon as he turned his back on them to go back to his table, Jungkook screeched and started slapping his fist on the table, “Jimin! What the hell are you doing-“
“Teaching blabbermouth over here that I’m always right.” Jimin shrugged and picked a carrot out of his bag to throw down at the slush on Jungkook’s tray.
“Blabbermouth?” Namjoon complained, “Hey! I’m not that bad!”
All three of them stared at him until he grumbled and slumped onto the table.
“Hey, I’m just saying we are different from them.” He added with an audibly whine.
“Not all of the jocks are assholes,” Jimin replied.
“Still think you’re saying that because you want to fuck- Ah Chim! Ow!” Namjoon screamed when a carrot hit his head.
Jungkook went still when he saw Taehyung’s tall form coming back over, spine straight and eyes wide as he took in how nicely Taehyung's sweatshirt hugged his shoulders.
He licked his lips and blushed at his own thought… but even when they were kids he could still recall thinking Taehyung was so sweet.
“Hey,” Taehyung didn’t even acknowledge Jimin this time, just walking around the table to stand beside Jungkook and digging in a brown McDonald’s bag, “I don’t know what you like, so you’ll have to tell me next time before I go what you like,” He murmured, pulling out a meal of fries and box with a burger.
He acted like this was something so pressing despite Jungkook being red faced and wide eyed with nerves. He felt bad that Jimin lied to him. This was Taehyung’s food. “No-no.. I-“
“Here.” Taehyung said instead, placing the entire bag on the table before standing up and digging a hand in his own pocket, pulling out a set of keys, “I’m just gonna do another trip. Send me a text if you want something specific, Kookie.”
Jungkook’s mouth opened and closed a handful of times before he flustered and blabbered, “B-But I don’t have your number!”
He heard his friends begin to laugh and his face was so red he didn’t even care, only staring at Taehyung through his glasses.
But the other just laughed, he leaned over to grab Yoongi's pen lying on the table and without saying a thing grabbed Jungkook’s hand to write on.
“And try to eat breakfast before school, okay?” Taehyung murmured as he held Jungkook’s wrist down so he could write, but Jungkook felt like he was taking awfully long to just write his number. “It’s not healthy if you walk around school on an empty stomach. You could pass out. So try not to do that, Kookie.”
Jungkook’s lips were open in shock, and he couldn’t even respond when Taehyung’s eyes flickered to his.
He just sat there staring as Taehyung gave the pen back and chuckled. “I’ll be back. Let me know if you guys want anything.” He mused, turning to walk off.
They sat in silence longer than normal before slowly Namjoon reached over for the paper bag loudly.
“Kook…” Yoongi worried, reaching up to pat his cheek, “Jungkook?”
“He’s malfunctioning, give him a second,” Jimin shrugged and stood up to reach over the table for the fries in front of Jungkook.
Jungkook blinked multiple times. He even reached up to wipe his glasses clean, because he was sure he was seeing things wrong.
Did Taehyung just write his number on him?
His eyes couldn’t lie to him when he blinked a bunch of times and still the numbers were scrawled on his palm, and right beside it, a very, very familiar doodle of a puppy.
It was hastily done, but Jungkook knew what it meant.
“Wow, seems like our Kookie is right,” Yoongi murmured.
Jungkook just continued looking at his hand in shock.
Kim Taehyung… liked him?
Impossible.
***
“You never texted me.”
Suddenly a stack of books dropped in front of him and Jungkook gasped at the loudness, shooting his eyes up strong arms to see Taehyung with a frown on his face and a grey beanie on his head.
Taehyung looked really cute like that, his hair curling around his beanie; Jungkook’s heart was having trouble processing it.
“Was it something I said?”
“What?” Jungkook whispered, only half paying attention because he was staring at Taehyung making himself comfortable on the other side of the table.
Taehyung licked his lips and adjusted his coat nervously, “... I gave you my number.. you never texted.”
Technically Jungkook had texted, Jimin forced him to text in order for Taehyung to have his number, but he’d been too nervous to reply back when Taehyung texted him later that night.
“Oh.” Jungkook shuffled and fiddled with his hands before looking down at the book he was reading. “Well, you said it was for food… so…”
For a moment Taehyung didn’t reply, he just laughed, until he noticed Jungkook looking awkwardly down at his book.
“That’s how people say text me, Jungkook,” He murmured softly, “... like… you have to have a reason to give your number, it would be weird if I just said.. take this and text me…”
“I d-don’t think that would be weird.” Jungkook whispered under his breath, running fingers along the edge of his book.
“Okay.” Taehyung chuckled quietly, “Then… you should text me, Jungkook.”
Jungkook looked through his glasses sheepishly, quickly glancing back down at his book when Taehyung just stared at him for a response. “... um.. Taehyung?”
“Yeah.”
“Why were you putting things in my locker…”
Taehyung cleared his throat, and Jungkook had never seen him nervous, but he looked to be.
He sort of just sat there for a moment, opening his books and looking around before he sighed and leaned back against his chair. “Well, I mean… I just noticed you’ve looked really sad lately… and… I just… you know…”
Jungkook didn’t know, but he was pretty sure he could find a reason for Taehyung’s nervousness considering the notes he left could be… well, flirtatious.
“Oh, well,” Jungkook chewed on his lip and brought one of his hands up to fiddle with his glasses, “I… uh… my parents… they split up so…”
He cringed because he knew he sounded painfully awkward, but it wasn’t exactly something he wanted to talk about, nor have to talk about, because his friends didn’t pester him about it, and Jungkook was grateful for that.
Abruptly, Taehyung leaned closer with his chin in his hand and a small frown. “This is going to sound stupid, but it’s not going to be this painful forever, you know? I mean… it’s hard at first, especially if you have to go back and forth to visit, but…. did you know my parents divorced in ninth grade?”
Jungkook twisted his lips and gave a small shake of his head, because he hadn’t heard a word of that honestly.
“Yeah..” Taehyung murmured, “It was right when I made the baseball team too..”
“I’m sorry..”
“No,” Taehyung shrugged, “It's okay… I mean, I found out I didn’t like baseball so when I dropped the team because I was upset it wasn’t so bad, I ended up liking football anyway. You should find something you like too, it helps take your mind off of it.”
Jungkook smiled a tiny bit, “Yeah… maybe I’ll do that…”
“Good.” The larger teen murmured, a grin spreading on his face before he suddenly cleared his throat and looked down at Jungkook’s books. “Do you mind if I study here?”
Shaking his head Jungkook pulled his things closer to his side of the table, “No.. go ahead, I’m just… I’m reading about dogs…” He trailed off with a grimace before quickly blabbering, “Because I want to be a vet! Not… not because it’s fun or anything.. just… yeah…”
“It can be for fun and for learning, Jungkook,” Taehyung mused, a look in his eye that Jungkook couldn't interpret because he wasn’t used to being looked at in that way. “I’ll be real quiet and let you read about dogs.”
Jungkook didn’t think he would be able to focus enough to read anymore. Not even when Taehyung just started to do his math homework on the other side of the table.
He looked sheepishly through his glasses around Taehyung and found as soon as he looked over the others shoulder that there were eyes watching them.
It made his stomach churn and he had half a mind to get up and move tables.
But that would be rude, and Taehyung was nice… it wasn’t like they were doing anything worth people staring for.
Jungkook felt his phone vibrate beside his book and startled a bit at it, too busy making himself anxious that the vibration scared him.
All he read were the words Kim Taehyung on the notification bar and he glanced at Taehyung only to see the other was just putting his phone down and looking across at him expectantly.
Jungkook swallowed and opened the text with eyes drilling into him.
Kim Taehyung: You’re beautiful, Jeon Jungkook. Don’t worry about them.
Some of the notes in his locker said as much, some of them had little flowers and cute things with the words you scribbled next to them.
But knowing who it was. Knowing that he was being forced to acknowledge it was indeed Kim Taehyung sending him sweet messages.
It made Jungkook’s stomach churn and he couldn’t decide if it was anxiety or happiness, all he knew was it immediately made his cheeks red and his heart race.
“Okay?” Taehyung asked under his breath, looking more serious, “They’ll stop if you ignore them.”
Jungkook could only bring himself to nod and chew on his lip seeing as he would probably stutter a bunch if he spoke up.
“And Jungkook?”
He glanced at Taehyung over his glasses because it seemed easier to not have to see him clearly.
“You’re really beautiful.”
Jungkook dropped his eyes down to his books and tucked his hands against his stomach because he suddenly felt sick.
Was Kim Taehyung messing with him?
He didn’t speak up until the bell rang for the next class period, but he threw out a bye before he ran away just to be nice.
***
“I’ll be home really late, so make sure to lock the door.”
Jungkook sighed and leaned into the kiss his mom placed on his cheek, pulling his pajama bottoms over his toes. “Mom, I thought we were watching movies this weekend.”
“I know, I know, bug, but you know we can’t really afford to say no when I’m called in,” She said apologetically, walking back and forth in the living room to collect her things. “You can always call a friend over, or maybe… like… call your dad to come get you for the weekend…”
She was reaching and knew it if the way she smiled tensely said much.
Jungkook just flopped against the arm of the couch with a loud sigh, rubbing beneath his glasses at his eye.
“Don’t be so sad, baby bug,” His mom cooed, brushing a hand over his hair as she walked by, “Just call one of your friends over.”
“Namjoon is annoying. Jimin has a date. And Yoongi is pestering me again.”
“About what?”
Jungkook folded his legs beneath him and climbed to his knees to look over the back of the couch, chin resting on the cushions, “Do you remember Kim Taehyung?”
“Taehyung?” She furrowed her brows in thought and began wrapping a scarf around her neck, “Hm.. is that the boy that pushed you down the stairs in middle school?”
“No!” Jungkook cried, face turning pink when his mom sent him a raised brow at his yell. “No… he’s the one that helped me to the nurse…”
“Ah,” She murmured, “As long as he’s not one of those punks that keeps messing with my baby.”
Jungkook's shoulders pulled up to his ears. His mom didn’t really know as much as she thought, but that’s how adults were, plus… he didn’t really tell her much, but when he got caught coming home crying it was hard to make excuses.
“It’s not so bad anymore,” Jungkook muttered and plopped back into his spot, “Jimin has gotten really scary.”
“It’s the temper on that kid, I swear.”
Jungkook laughed as he reached for the television remote.
“So what about Kim Taehyung? Yoongi is pestering you about him, bug?”
Momentarily confused, Jungkook thought before realizing he forgot what he was saying. “Oh, I… I guess… he’s been putting notes in my locker...”
“Love notes?”
The tease in her voice was obvious and made him pout. “No. Just nice notes.”
“Aw, you're no fun, Jungkook. I want to know the gossip too.”
Jungkook snorted and turned his head to flick through channels as he heard his mom packing her bag with snacks. Who knew when she’d be home, she worked at a clinic down the road and often spent days in her office.
Jungkook didn’t normally mind, because he knew they needed the money.
“They aren’t love notes. Well… I mean… they were mostly drawings, but sometimes they said.. I-I was cute or something…”
“My baby is growing up!”
Jungkook groaned before he even had his mom reaching over the arm of the couch and squeezing his head, making him whine and have to hold his glasses still. “Mom!”
“Oh, my handsome boy, is this Kim Taehyung cute too?”
Jungkook whined and complained until she released him with a bunch of kisses to his hair. She sat on the arm of the couch to pet his head and Jungkook huffed. “It’s not like that.”
“Sounds like it’s like that. I bet he has a crush on you.”
“No, he’s just really nice.”
His mom laughed and leaned down to press a much more civilized and calm kiss to his head, “We need to get you in for new glasses, sweet pea, maybe you're going blind. I bet if I gave Namjoon a call he would say he agrees with me, hm?”
Jungkook pressed his lips out in a pout, “You're supposed to be on my side!” He complained, throwing a hand up to her shoulder, “Mom, you're an adult, you can’t call my friends like that.”
In response she just cooed at him and pinched his cheek before getting up to grab her keys. “I can if you don’t talk to that boy. I can tell you think he’s cute because your ears turned red. Now I have to go, I love you.”
How unfair. Jungkook wanted to jump under his blankets and scream with irritation, because everyone was so annoying.
“Love you,” He said rather grumpily, rolling onto his side to grab his phone off the table.
As soon as the front door shut and locked he was squealing a noise as he checked his phone and all the flooded texts.
Mostly it was his friends group chat and Namjoon trying to argue that Jimin was the worst cook out of all of them. Jungkook didn’t know why that mattered right now, but he just sat in debate of whether to see if someone wanted to come over or pick him up.
His house was small though, and last time they tried to squeeze all of them here he’d woken up to Yoongi yelling at Namjoon for putting his feet in his face.
Jungkook could only squeal instead, sitting up to fix his glasses. But his eyes didn’t deceive him and there were a number of texts from Taehyung on his phone.
Kim Taehyung: Hoseok is arguing with me, is Iron Man better or Spider-Man
Kim Taehyung: !!! He said Iron Man is stupid !!! What is he on?!
Kim Taehyung: Help me please I think I’m losing it
Kim Taehyung: I’m sorry if I’m annoying you but this stupidity is unreal 😞
Jungkook was sure Taehyung had a million other people he could message, so he found it odd that Taehyung would text him.
He felt a little bad about the previous text still sitting unreplied to though. It still made Jungkook’s heart race, and he supposed he was pretty rude running away like that.
He sucked in his lip and erased what he began typing about four times before settling.
Jeon Jungkook: Hi... I think Iron Man is great
Kim Taehyung: !! Hi to you, Jungkook! I agree, I think Hoseok is dumb, but now I don’t care since you're backing me up 😊 what are you up to
Jungkook began to giggle and laid back into the cushions with his hair slightly blocking his glasses.
Jeon Jungkook: I’m having a movie night by myself, you?
Kim Taehyung: By yourself?! I was just about to watch a movie too! Tell me what you’re watching and we can watch at the same time and talk shit about the acting 😂 I heard Twilight was pretty bad!
Jeon Jungkook: Okay, let me put it on
Kim Taehyung: We have to do it at the same time! Or else I’m gonna spoil it with all my ranting, gorgeous~
***
The hallways were decorated a lot now. Streamers and posters littered the walls.
Prom was coming up, the theme this year was Under The Sea, and admittedly the school looked pretty with the decorations, posters, and shells everywhere.
But, Jungkook hated this time of year. He didn’t like that couples blocked the hallways and he hated the over the top requests for dates.
Last year someone decided they wanted to cover the entire row of lockers with a huge will you go to prom with me sign, and it had made him nearly ten minutes late to class waiting for it to be removed.
“Kookie!”
Jungkook turned his head to look down the hallways to his right only to whine when Yoongi launched at him, shaking his shoulders. “Jungkook! Do you like the theme? I spent three weeks trying to choose! The committee wanted The Great Gatsby theme again! Ew! It’s been done the past four times, ugh.”
“It’s nice, hyung,” Jungkook murmured softly and continued to his locker.
“Why do you sound so tired, huh?” Yoongi fussed, stalking behind the junior to his locker, “You have eye bags, didn’t I tell you to stop watching videos so late!”
“You’re not my mom,” Jungkook pouted and shoved his hand out of the way to put his combo in his locker, “What’s your deal with scolding me! Hyung, you can’t shadow me forever. You graduate this year.”
“You’ll forever be the little kid that cried into my shoulder in second grade, Jungkookie.”
Jungkook paled and turned to smack Yoongi's arm which actually kind of hurt him more than it hurt his friend because of all the warm padding Yoongi was wearing, “You said you wouldn’t bring that up!”
“Hey, it was cute, I’ve never seen someone cry over a stomach ache that hard. Also never seen a kid eat so many cookies in one sitting, you're my idol!”
“Ah, I hate you..” Jungkook grumbled and shoved his things into his locker, bringing his backpack to hang in the crook of his arm to open it up.
“Okay, I think this is my que to leave, Kim is staring.”
Jungkook frowned in confusion and looked down to the end of the hallway and sure enough a group of guys were all huddled at the other end with those almond eyes looking his way.
When they met eyes Jungkook tucked his hair back and shyly waved. It only made Taehyung’s grin spread across his face and Jungkook promptly paled when the other started coming his way.
“Stupid..” Jungkook whispered to himself and hoped his eye bags weren’t as bad as Yoongi said, but even if they were it was completely Taehyung’s fault seeing as he’d been texting him until three in the morning.
“Jungkook, hey..” Taehyung grinned and leaned against the locker beside him, “Did you have a good weekend?”
You would know, you were texting me the whole time.
“... yes..” Jungkook mumbled and removed his glasses as an excuse to not have to look directly at him, his hands were shaky and ears red.
Why are you so handsome, Kim Taehyung? He internally whined.
“Oh good,” Taehyung smiled and looked him over, “So I was thinking, did you see all of the signs in the parking lot?”
“Oh, yeah…” Jungkook mumbled, “I think someone is getting asked to prom today.”
“It’s exciting, right?”
Jungkook shook his head with a soft frown, eyes going big when Taehyung reached over to take his glasses from him. “Here, let me clean them for you.”
“Um, I don’t think it’s that exciting.” Jungkook whispered, wiping his hands over his eyes as he waited for his glasses back, “It’s embarrassing really.”
“How? You don’t think it’s cute?”
If Jungkook were able to see, then he would pick up the nervous frown on Taehyung’s face immediately, but he couldn’t.
“I mean…” Jungkook paused to hold his breath because even if he couldn’t see clearly, the outline of Taehyung was suddenly really close.
“Sorry, let me just..” Taehyung murmured before he touched Jungkook’s chin to have him lift his head, sliding the black framed glasses to sit on his nose. He fiddled a moment longer fixing Jungkook’s soft hair over the frame.
There was no way he missed how wide eyed and shaken Jungkook got, but Taehyung didn’t comment. He didn’t even step back either. He just looked at him with a smile. “You were saying?”
Jungkook swallowed the lump in his throat and curled his fingers into the edge of his hoodie to tug it down with butterflies flapping around in his stomach. “... it-it’s sweet.. b-but it makes me nervous..”
Taehyung wiped the smile off his face to frown a small bit, “Why? Because you don’t want to get asked or…”
“Because I-I…” Jungkook pressed his lips together and turned to look away from him to pick his things out of his locker. “Because I don’t want to be made fun of, Taehyung…”
“Why would you be made fun of for that?”
Jungkook sighed, and for the first time in a while he was reminded that him and Taehyung were two different kinds of people.
He yanked his extra coat from the locker and hung it on his arm before shutting it and glancing at Taehyung with sad eyes. “I just breathe and get yelled at, Taehyung.”
The taller teen frowned and shook his head as Jungkook started walking away. “Wait! Wait, I didn’t mean it like that.. I just.. why do you think someone would get mad if you were asked?”
Jungkook walked along the wall with his head down to watch the slippery floor. The last he needed was to create a scene. “I would be, I know it. It’s not like I would get asked anyway...”
“Jungkook. Not everyone is out to get you. Some people would be so happy to go with-“
Stopping, Jungkook couldn’t help the way his eyes filled with unshed tears. What the hell did Taehyung know about being picked on? Nothing. And he felt like his feelings were being overlooked.
“What do you know about… about being called names..” Jungkook mumbled tearfully, eyes sad as he looked up at Taehyung. “Y-You're rich and popular and know nothing about it, Taehyung. So… so why don’t you.. you just stop it..”
“What?” Taehyung bent down a bit with a confused look, “What are you talking about? And who is calling you names? Is it Yoon again? That fuck-“
“Taehyung..” Jungkook began to have tears down his cheeks now, “.. stop t-trying to be nice to me. Y… You’ll just regret it.”
“Jungkook..” Taehyung whispered and reached over to touch his hair, “Hey, I didn’t mean it like that. I don’t mean to.. to make you cry. Oh god… it’s been a while since I’ve seen you cry. Please stop. Ah, when we were little I don’t remember my stomach hurting this badly when you cried.”
Jungkook sniffled and withheld making other noises, he turned his head away when Taehyung tried to touch his cheek. “L-Leave me alone.”
Taehyung's jaw went slack, “Kookie. I didn’t mean to make you upset. I’m sorry, okay? I won’t.. I won’t ask things like that anymore. I clearly don’t understand.”
“No..” Jungkook nodded and brought his sleeve up to wipe his nose. “You don’t understand, Taehyung.” He agreed before spinning on his heels to rush down the hall.
***
Jungkook was guilty for the next three days.
He shouldn’t have been so mean to Taehyung, but when he’d told his friends Jimin said he didn’t think Jungkook was wrong.
It was true after all. Taehyung had never gotten teased before, he’d never even had any bad thing said about him other than slipping grades or something basic of the sort.
Jungkook was just tired of feeling so lost when at school. He was tired of being ridiculed and he was just done.
He wished he could be more like Jimin and Namjoon who caused scenes when they heard something they disliked, those two were seen as weird, but Jungkook couldn’t help feeling people only thought that because they hung out with him.
Of course he only dragged people down with him.
He sighed at the thought and pulled his legs closer from where he was sitting on the sidewalk waiting for his mom to pick him up.
Jungkook waited after school for his mom to pick him up seeing as he would rather walk the hour home than sit on the bus just to be teased the entire ride.
He killed time normally by doing his homework on the bleachers in the football field, but he couldn’t bring himself to walk all the way over there in this cold. Instead he just sat himself down in the nearly empty parking lot.
His mom was running late, and he knew he couldn’t complain when he could have chosen to walk home, but he was in a slump and didn’t feel like it.
“Hey…”
Jungkook sniffled and looked up from his phone in his lap, nose red and cheeks blotchy. Taehyung looked more nervous than normal to take a seat beside him. He was slightly sweaty and held his coat instead of wearing it, probably because the football players got out of practice at this time.
“Hi.” He whispered, rubbing his wind chapped nose and licking his lips nervously.
“So…” Taehyung began, leaning over his lap with a heavy breath and looking at Jungkook, “Can I just say I’ve thought about what you said… and it wasn’t okay of me to question you like that. I mean.. it’s clear that I don’t understand, but I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
Jungkook chewed on the inside of his cheek as he looked at him, eyes round and attentive, but dull. “I…I didn’t mean to be mean to you… I swear I just… I-I was overwhelmed. I don’t like to…” He sucked in a breath and brought his frozen hands up to pull his hood over his ears, “.. I don’t like to talk about it much, you know? I-I’m more than aware that I’m… well, I’m not you.”
If Taehyung was offended or otherwise put off by his choice in words, he didn’t comment, but that was probably because Jungkook’s voice was shaky.
He instead turned back to his jacket on his lap and looked at Jungkook's bright red fingers.
“How long have you been sitting out here?” Taehyung murmured, moving the coat in his lap over Jungkook’s shoulders, “You're really thin, you know that? You should be careful of getting too cold. Wear many layers, okay?”
Jungkook could only shoot his eyes to look at him and accept the coat because he was freezing, and when he shoved his arms through the sleeves he found that Taehyung's sleeves went well past his fingertips.
But he couldn’t help noticing the off-colored bruise on Taehyung’s arm and frowning as he turned to press a cold finger against it, “Did you get hurt?”
Taehyung sucked in a breath because his fingers were so cold, “No.. don’t worry about it.” He mumbled, turning his whole body towards Jungkook to grab his hands and rub them between his own. “Ah, you’re an ice sickle, what are you thinking, Jungkook? You're frozen.”
Jungkook giggled softly because Taehyung looked really concerned over just a couple of frozen fingers. “I’m okay. It’s not that cold. I’m waiting for my mom to get me.”
“You’re okay? It’s not that cold? God, did the cold get to your head!” Taehyung cried playfully, moving one hand to pinch his cheek.
Jungkook squeaked and smacked a hand at his with a boxy laugh, “No!” He squirmed and dropped his face into his hands.
“You sure?” Taehyung laughed and turned his head down to look at him, “You seem a little crazy to me!” He teased, poking Jungkook’s side a handful of times and making the smaller squeak and giggle until his face was flushed.
Taehyung chuckled and scooted closer until his thigh was against Jungkook’s.
“Yo-You're one to talk!” Jungkook giggled and raised his head to look up at him, “You're not even wearing a jacket!”
“Hey, I’m overheated right now!” Taehyung whined defensively, “And I just so happen to think giving it to a pretty boy is worth a bit of a chill.”
Jungkook began to laugh with crescent shaped eyes before he truly registered what he said. As soon as he processed, his laughter trailed off a bit and he took to pressing his jacket sleeve to his mouth.
“Too much?” Taehyung mused and leaned back against his palms, “Ah, I’ve said too much. But I can’t help it. Did you know I’ve thought you were cute since second grade? I can remember… you wore this purple sweater to school one day, and I remember Seokjin hyung was like Jungkook looks happier than normal, huh? And I thought… Yeah, he does look happier today.”
Jungkook didn’t know what to say. He licked his lips and tucked his sleeve over his face as he looked at his knee pressing to Taehyung’s.
He’d been convincing himself for a good month that Taehyung was doing this for a prank. Some sort of joke or something.
But.. what was there to gain being friends with him?
Taehyung already had friends, it wasn’t like Jungkook could buy him things, and Taehyung wasn’t a stupid jock that would convince him to do his work or something. There really was nothing for Taehyung to gain from being seen with him.
“Did I go too far again-“
Taehyung froze for a second when Jungkook twisted to hug his arm to his chest, cold cheek pressing against his skin.
Taehyung was really warm.
“.. oh,” The taller teen whispered before he laid a large hand on the back of Jungkook’s head, “What’s wrong-“
“ ‘m actually really cold..” Jungkook muffled into his arm, hiding his face against his bicep.
Taehyung bit his lip and brushed his hand over Jungkook’s red, cold ear before clearing his throat, “Do you want a ride home, Kookie?”
“... yeah… okay. Thank you, Taehyung.”
The taller beamed, yet neither of them moved an inch, “Anytime, Jungkook.”
***
Something was odd today, and it wasn’t the fact that Jungkook was waddling in Taehyung's jacket layered on top of his own hoodie.
Well, that was also odd, but nobody had to know whose coat it was but him.
Honestly Jungkook had worn it today planning to give it back, but when he put it on he found it was really warm, so Taehyung probably wouldn’t miss it for a bit longer.
“Kim Taehyung got in a fight yesterday.”
“I heard Yoon said too much.”
“No, I heard that he mentioned Jeon!”
“Why would he mention Jeon? Are they together or something… I heard some rumors..”
“No, seriously, that’s why Yoon is missing today. I heard Taehyung got him really good after practice.”
Jungkook shifted uncomfortably and felt eyes staring into his back. It was way too early for these rumors to be flying around.
But… as he saw a note lying on his books in his locker he didn’t feel all that nervous even though his name was being thrown around.
He was curious about all this talk about Taehyung though, and the note didn’t give away anything. The only thing that it said was a very sweet Good morning, I brought a muffin for you, so come see me when you get here!
Jungkook didn’t normally go out of his way to find Taehyung, but it was well known that the teenager hung out on the back steps outside of the hallway in the morning.
He swung his bag high on his shoulder before shutting his locker and ducking his head as he made his way towards the back steps.
People kept whispering all around him, mumbling about some fight Taehyung had been in yesterday. It reminded Jungkook of the bruise on his arm, but it had been pretty cloudy so he didn’t get a good look at much more of Taehyung.
“-no man, like completely bawling!”
“No way, Yoon? For real?”
“Jungkook, hey!” Hoseok exclaimed, facing towards the backdoor as the smaller teenager shuffled out nervously. “Jungkook, good morning.”
Jungkook pressed his lips together and looked shyly through his glasses at the large group, “Um.. can.. I talk to Taehyung?”
Some of the boys began to hoot and whistle and Jungkook had no idea what that was supposed to mean, all he knew was that Taehyung had a huge grin on his face as he walked over.
“Hey, Kookie.”
“Hi…” Jungkook licked his lips and pointedly looked away to point a finger towards a tree a ways away, “Can we talk?”
Taehyung laughed and grabbed his wrist gently, tugging him down the steps, “Sure. Did you see my note? I brought you breakfast too.”
Jungkook nodded and curled his fingers into his backpack strap, eyes on the frosty ground.
“Also, did you happen to-“
“Did you get in a fight for me?” Jungkook interrupted with furrowed brows, swallowing thickly and crossing his arms over his chest when Taehyung came to a stop. “I mean - I’ve been hearing it… and you have that bruise and…”
Taehyung twisted his lips, kneeling down to set his backpack down and digging inside, “Well…” He clicked his tongue, “It wasn’t really a fight.”
Jungkook felt his pulse pick up… because Taehyung didn’t deny that it was for him. He only acknowledged part of his statement.
Did that mean…
“Well, I just..” Taehyung laughed and shook his head, “People should keep their mouths shut if they know what’s best for them.”
“What did he say..”
“Here,” Taehyung ignored his question and it was obvious he wasn’t intending to answer it as he stood up and held a paper bag at Jungkook. “You took longer than I expected, it’s not warm anymore…”
“Taehyung,” Jungkook sighed and grabbed the muffin bag, clenching it in his fist. “What did he say about me?”
“You don’t want to kn-“
“I do!” Jungkook yipped before his face felt heated up and angry tears sat in his eyes as he sucked in a deep breath. “.. I wanna know.”
“Hey… it was just a stupid comment,” Taehyung hushed him and grabbed his cheek, “It.. it was just a comment on.. you know, just saying stupid shit. He said something about you being… well, easy, and I punched him in the nose. That’s it. That’s all. Kookie, don’t be upset please.”
Jungkook sucked in a shuddering breath, and leaned into his hand. He felt his hands shaking and knew he was acting irrationally, but he was so tired of this.
Easy? Him? Jeon Jungkook who has never had a relationship in his life, and had never even kissed anyone.
Hell, he knew Taehyung had relationships in the past, he clearly remembered once in middle school where the other had been sitting with a girl on the soccer field and he’d seen them kiss.
Even if Taehyung was single again days later, for some reason Jungkook remembered that clearly.
Almost like it hurt to think about.
“Y-You have a bruise.” Jungkook whispered, grabbing Taehyung’s sleeve over his bicep, “So.. so don’t lie to me.”
Taehyung just laughed and shook his head, “Okay, so maybe it was more of a fight than I let on, but I swear he’s much worse and you don’t need to worry about stupid rumors being spread, okay?”
Jungkook didn’t reply for a minute, just crinkling the bag in his hand and clutching Taehyung’s sleeve.
“Okay?” Taehyung prompted, leaning down to his face, “There’s no reason to cry, Jungkook. I took care of it.”
“... for me?”
Taehyung looked taken back by the wet, puppy eyes looking at him, but nodded quickly, “Of course. For you, Jungkook-“
Jungkook threw himself at him to hug his waist, digging his cheek into Taehyung’s coat and sniffling softly.
“Oh, okay, okay.” Taehyung soothed, petting his hair, “I’ll do it again, anytime you want, pretty boy.”
“Y-You don't m-mind?”
“No.” The taller smiled and wrapped arms around his shoulders, “I never mind, Jungkook.”
***
Jungkook had his backpack pulled up to his chin, eyes blown wide as he sat on the cold bleachers with his notes spread out in front of him. This never happened though. The football players shouldn’t be out to practice yet.
Today Jungkook was waiting for his mom at the bleachers, but it just so happened that the football players were out here early.
He tried not to stare too hard, but by the time Jimin had ditched him to go run off with Hoseok, he just ended up staring at Taehyung.
Apparently he’d gotten caught, because after flashing him a million grins across the field, the taller boy was finally coming over.
Honestly, yesterday when he’d launched at Taehyung for a hug, he’d never expected Taehyung to actually take interest in him.
But… now that he’d spent over a month denying it… Jungkook had no more excuses.
Even less when Taehyung was coming towards the bleachers without a second thought when the team took a break.
“So,” Taehyung mused, sweat rolling down his temple as he leaned on the railing of the bleachers, “Kookie, are you going to prom? Have you thought about it since last we spoke?”
A laugh came from behind Taehyung and Jungkook felt his cheeks turn pink, he ducked his head into his backpack and felt humiliated despite the fact he and Taehyung had been talking very much lately.
He still wasn’t used to it though.
“You think something is funny here?” Taehyung spun around to yell at one of his teammates. “Huh?”
“Just that you’re asking such an obvious question. Nobody is taking him - I mean look at him, man. Fucking nerd.” The other commented, motioning vaguely in Jungkook’s direction.
Jungkook swallowed and tucked his hands between his knees, easily reminded why he didn’t try to approach Taehyung in front of others often. But Taehyung never seemed to have qualms about approaching him.
Taehyung stiffened and turned to throw the football in his hands as hard as he could directly past the teen, nearly missing his head.
“What the fuck! Kim Taehyung!”
“You say that shit again I won’t fucking miss.” He sneered, climbing under the railing to the bleachers.
Jungkook could feel the heat coming off of the football player, it was the first time he seemed so mad around him, but the bruise coloring Taehyung's arm was a reminder to keep calm, that Taehyung wouldn’t let anyone mess with him.
Jungkook knew he should feel guilty that Taehyung had to stick up for him, but honestly he was just too happy that Taehyung wanted to in the first place.
He fumbled with the string on his bag, chewing his lip and looking through his glasses with wide eyes at the others sweat covered, angry set jaw. Jungkook gulped and reached for his water bottle with shaking hands. “I-I... h-here... thank you...you don’t.. don’t have to...”
Taehyung looked slightly taken back by his stumbling. He accepted the bottle with little to no resistance though. “Thanks.”
Jungkook nodded and brought his hand up to straighten his glasses with Taehyung’s eyes into his temple. “It... it’s no big deal. But you shouldn’t... talk with me in front of them... or-“
“Or what?” Taehyung snorted and leaned against his knees with spread legs. “Or I’ll get too smart? Hm? Will you rub off on me? Trust me. I need that. Those fuckers do too.”
Jungkook began to giggle. He didn’t expect that response. “N-No... I mean-“
“Do you have a date, Jungkook?” Taehyung asked, voice surprisingly soft as he stared at him. “Because I’m having a hard time getting your attention. I’ve never had that happen before. You used to follow me around like a duckling, but now you’re really scared to be around me. Do you hate me?”
“No!” Jungkook burst with a blush, “No! That’s not! I mean... no I don’t hate you, Taehyung... it’s just... I’m not... like your...type of friends.. and I don’t want you to be made fun of for being so nice to me recently.”
“That’s okay.” Taehyung said, “I’m looking for a boyfriend, not a friend, Jungkook.”
“Oh...” Jungkook hid behind his hair with his face magenta.
“You can say no, Jungkook. It’s okay-“
“I’m not saying no.” Jungkook mumbled, clutching his bag, “I’m... I’m worried that maybe you’ll look bad..”
Taehyung had his thigh pressed against his in an instant, curling an arm around Jungkook’s back so his palm rubbed against the other's side. “Don’t think about that. Just think about whether or not you want to... be with me. I think I’ve made it pretty clear I don’t care about anyone’s opinions.”
“... okay... I’ll think..”
“Good.” Taehyung smiled at his profile, “Think for as long as you want, baby. I’ll wait.”
Jungkook felt like he was going to combust, and he really, really didn’t want to hear Jimin's I told you so when he called to scream about this later tonight.
***
“You said what!”
Jungkook whined and rubbed his head when a smack was delivered to it, “Ow.”
“You little idiot!” Namjoon continued yelling at him. Jungkook would prefer if he’d keep his voice down because they were in the middle of the parking lot, but of course the words quiet and Namjoon never went together.
“For someone with a 4.0 GPA, you're pretty dull, Kook.” Jimin drawled, sitting on the trunk of Yoongi's car and laughing, “I mean come on… you’ve been after Taehyung since first grade, and he asks you out and you don’t immediately say yes? Dumbass.”
“Hey!” Jungkook pouted and crossed his arms over his waist.
“Okay leave him alone, you know how Jungkook turns into a blushing mess when he sees Taehyung-“
“Hey!”
“- so it’s not his fault really.” He concluded, shrugging, “But seriously, you have to say yes, Kookie.”
Jungkook whined and leaned down to hide his nose in his coat, “So mean…”
“Ease up!” Yoongi ordered loudly, slamming his car door and walking around to throw an arm around Jungkook’s shoulders.
Jungkook thought he was being nice and humphed as he turned to hide in Yoongis coat.
That lasted about a minute.
“You guys don’t need to yell at him!” Yoongi continued, “Because Jungkook is going over there right now to say yes, isn’t that right, sunshine?”
Jungkook flopped back with a scowl and a loud huff, “So mean! What if I want to say no!”
Instantly all of his friends started laughing and Jungkook supposed he deserved that one because he certainly wasn’t going to say no.
It was true that he’d had a crush on Taehyung ever since they were kids. He wasn’t even sure if it was because of the time where Taehyung took the blame for his missing glasses or if it was one of the other million times where Taehyung had shown him kindness.
Jungkook just pretended they existed on opposite sides of the earth, because it seemed so much easier that way.
Until recently at least.
Jungkook flailed when Yoongi pushed him off in the direction of the shining, silver car across the parking lot, Taehyung was laughing with Hoseok but otherwise just hanging out.
Why did teenagers hang out in the parking lot after school so much anyway? Jungkook grumbled under his breath and wrung his hands together.
“Do it or I’ll go do it and trust me, it won’t be discreet!” Namjoon ordered loudly.
Jungkook picked up the pace then, because he could only imagine what the other would say.
Maybe Jungkook wants to make out with you… Jungkook told us he thought you were hot… Jungkook wants your -
Jungkook pinched himself and shook his head at his own stupidity.
“Hey,” Jungkook whispered sheepishly, cheeks pink from the cold (and also likely his own thoughts) as he walked around cars to get to Taehyung’s. “Um… do you-“
“I know when I’m not needed.” Hoseok began to laugh, strolling around Jungkook with a pat on his shoulder, “Just tell me to leave, it’s cool, Jungkook.”
“Oh no I…” Jungkook sucked in his lip and sighed when Hoseok just sent him a wide grin. Well, it seemed they weren’t discreet at all, but Taehyung hadn’t exactly been shy about anything recently.
Taehyung just grinned, the tips of his ears red and looked cold, but he just turned to open his car door and motioned to the other side, “Wanna talk?”
A single nod was all Jungkook could manage. He felt ridiculous making a big deal about just hopping into the car with Taehyung.
But, he couldn’t exactly stop his shakiness.
Jungkook climbed into the passenger seat, tucking his hands under his thighs to warm them up and looking around a bit.
It was a very nice car, but he hadn’t expected any differently.
“So…” Taehyung cleared his throat and leaned on the middle console, “I didn’t expect you to come talk to me so soon.”
“Uh…” Jungkook shuffled, cringing at the sound of his windbreaker loudly rubbing against the leather seat as he twisted to look at him properly. “I.. I decided to talk early.”
“Okay, then let’s talk, Kookie.” Taehyung laughed quietly.
Jungkook smiled sheepishly and looked down at his lap, “... I was thinking… and.. maybe I want to go.. w-with you.. but.. I don’t.. don't know how to dance or.. or if my mom can give me mone-“
“Meet me on the football field after school Monday.”
Jungkook jolted at the hand touching his fingers and shot up, “Huh?”
“So I can take you to mine and we can look at outfits online.” Taehyung gave him a lopsided grin, excitement all over his face as he curled a hand around Jungkook’s fingers. “Is that okay? Don’t worry about anything, I’ll pay for it.”
“I…”
Taehyung looked genuinely happy to say these things, to look at him, he was all smiles and a bit of a disbelieving look in his eye. “All you have to do is choose what you like and show up, okay? I’ll make sure you have a nice time at prom. I mean… I know it’s a bit short notice when it’s so soon, but I tried to ask you with the-“
Jungkook frowned when he cut himself off, glancing up at him, “What?”
“I…” Taehyung sighed and slumped against his seat, bringing Jungkook’s hand with his onto the middle console, “The banner in the parking lot a month ago… I-I thought it would be nice, but you said it was embarrassing and-“
“I d-didn’t know it was for me!” Jungkook squeaked, stunning and bringing his other hand to cover his face, “I-I was so mean, I’m sorry… I’m sorry, it’s just…”
“You don’t have to explain yourself.” Taehyung laughed and shook his head, “It’s okay. I’m just glad to have you say yes to me, even if we only have a week or so to get ready for it.”
Jungkook looked through his hair bashfully, “... Really?”
Instead of replying right away Taehyung looked at him and squeezed his hand, the taller licked his lips and gave a nod before leaning over the console to press a kiss to Jungkook’s temple, just above the black frame of his glasses.
“Really, baby.”
***
It was snowing out the next morning.
Jungkook hadn’t expected it to change seasons so fast, so when he’d walked to school today he hadn’t been prepared.
When he got to school that morning Taehyung ended up bundling him head to toe in the middle of the hallway, making it hard to move, but Jungkook was comforted by the way the others clothes fell to his knees and how he had to waddle in the big marshmallow looking coat.
Taehyung was just so nice, and Jungkook didn’t know what to do with himself when the other kissed his cheek and fussed over him that morning.
Jungkook didn’t know what they were, he knew Taehyung looked really happy to see him and that he’d texted him all weekend, but Jungkook wasn’t sure what to call them.
Still, he listened to Taehyung’s request that he wait for him after school, and that’s where Jungkook was going now - he was waddling his way through frozen grass to the side of the football field, hearing the football coach yell orders to the team.
The ground was too slick, and the grass crunched under his feet, so Jungkook probably should have expected this, but he didn’t, so when his legs slipped out from under him and the warm coffee he’d been bringing to Taehyung went flying off along with his glasses - well, he screamed pretty loud.
And then immediately felt embarrassed.
He felt tears well up instantly when he heard a fit of laughter.
Why did he have to fall right in front of a bunch of football players and cheerleaders? Life hated him. That was for sure.
Jungkook scrambled to feel around for his glasses, but everything was slightly blurred and the laughter in his ears made his breath race. Everything sounded like it was underwater because he could only hear the pounding of his own heart in his ears.
Look at him! Ah, pathetic!
Tell me again why that thing comes to the field? It’s for athletes!
I still think Kim Taehyung must be out of his mind! Really? This loser is his choice?
“... shut up...” Jungkook whispered, tears rolling down his cheeks... “Shut up. Please-“
“Hey!”
Jungkook looked up blindly at the sharp yell and only saw a blur of a red coat before someone knelt downwith an angry noise. “You fuckers need to be knocked down a notch! The poor junior is shaking!”
“Here, I think these are yours, Jeon.” The voice said before Jungkook had a rough outline of glasses being held in front of him.
Shaking, Jungkook accepted with a teary face.
He placed them on and felt his knees freezing from kneeling on the grass, but he couldn’t help his surprise when he was met with Kim Seokjin - a senior baseball player - “Oh, oh-“
“Don’t even worry about it.” The elder waved it off, looking at something over Jungkook’s head. “Just keep out of trouble, Jeon. Okay? Taehyung looks like he’s going to deliver an uppercut to his coach - oh... he’s coming over,” He laughed and grabbed Jungkook’s forearm to pull him up, “Next time I see you, let’s hope it’s better, hm? Stay out of trouble, kid. My stepbrother has a bad temper when it comes to you.”
Jungkook could only open and close his mouth in shock, he didn’t even know Taehyung and Seokjin were step brothers. He didn’t know much about Seokjin really.
“Jungkook! Kookie! Hey- did he say something to you?”
“No..I mean.. what-“ A kiss to his forehead cut him off and Taehyung began to fuss and pet his freezing cheeks despite the football player being red faced himself. “Ah, you’re like a popsicle. Let’s leave-“
“But.. but your practice!” Jungkook cried as he was grabbed under the arm and walked off the field.
“Fuck that.”
Taehyung waved it off and started taking him to the locker rooms.
Jungkook was uncomfortable being in there, because the gym was never a good experience for him. “Um... Taehyung, is it even okay? You’re not supposed to-“
“The team needs me more than I need them. They’ll come begging for me to come back tomorrow. Fuck them. They said I couldn’t help when you were right there. I don’t give a fuck about practice. I give a fuck about you, okay?”
Jungkook blushed and looked at the others back with fingers fiddling with his sleeves. “... o-okay...”
Taehyung spun around with a small smile as he grabbed his backpack out of the locker and came to take his cold fingers, “Now let’s get you something warm. Wanna go to dinner?”
“Oh.. I-I don’t know-“
“We’re going to pick up dinner, baby,” Taehyung laughed and threw an arm around him, pressing a kiss on his blotchy red cheek, “I saw you lose your drink, the least I can do is replace it. We can call your mom in the car.”
Jungkook was hungry, and he was embarrassed and... his feelings were hurt, but a small part of him wanted the satisfaction of going out with Taehyung now just to rub it into those others faces.
He didn’t know why Taehyung liked him, but Jungkook wasn’t one to question miracles.
“Taehyung?”
“Baby?”
Jungkook giggled sheepishly into his coat, “... I didn’t know Seokjin was your brother.”
“Don’t talk to him, sweetheart.”
Jungkook frowned, “Why? He was nice to me.”
“Nice?” Taehyung’s brows rose up high before he laughed and smiled at him brightly, “I guess you are just too cute to be mean to, hm?”
Bright red, Jungkook shook his head, “No- I mean.. you’re biased!”
Taehyung cackled loudly and turned to nose into his temple and kiss his head, “Definitely, angel. Now let’s get you fed and warmed up. You can tell me who to beat up in the car.”
“Taehyung!” Jungkook complained and hid in Taehyung’s arm, “Don’t beat up anyone!”
“Okay. I’ll have Seokjin do it if you claim he likes you so much.”
Jungkook whined and yanked him until Taehyung came to a stop just outside the parking lot to hug him and accept muffled complaints into his jacket.
“Hey. I was really worried about you.” Taehyung whispered and cupped the back of his head, “I need you to stay out of trouble, or I might lose my mind, okay? My heart can only take so much.”
Jungkook sat in debate for a few seconds before pressing his lips together and standing on his toes to look him in the eyes. “I’ll stay out of trouble, Taehyung.” He whispered and leaned his cheek into the others.
“And agree to tell me who was mean to you.” Taehyung ordered.
Jungkook just began to laugh as Taehyung whined his demand, pulling back to smile and shake his head, “Come on, I’m starving.”
“Hey you little! I need a list and I need it now Jeon Jungkook! Stop laughing and make me a list, punk!”
***
Taehyung's house was really nice. Jungkook hadn’t expected any differently, but it was very big and had high ceilings.
He had immediately been led upstairs to Taehyung’s room and their food passed his way, but Jungkook wanted to ogle the house some more.
It was okay though, because Taehyung’s room was just as nice with it's deep blue walls and dark wood floors, a big difference compared to the stained carpet at his house because he’d lived there all his life and Jungkook as a toddler was a menace.
“I’m thinking purple,” Taehyung spun around in his desk chair to start scooting over with his laptop on his lap.
It made Jungkook giggle, sitting criss cross on Taehyung’s bed and picking at his box of noodles, “Okay.”
“Oh… but no this one is so nice too…” Taehyung tsked to himself and placed his laptop down to show Jungkook, “Ah, I think blue would look beautiful on you.”
Flushing, Jungkook stuffed noodles in his mouth so he didn’t have to reply, but Taehyung was too patient for his own good and Jungkook could just feel him waiting for a response.
Jungkook’s eyes grew wide at the amount of things Taehyung had in his shopping cart, shaking his head and reaching over, “No… no, no-“
“Yah!” Taehyung chided and leaned down to view the screen, “What are you doing! Don’t delete them!”
“It’s expensive!” Jungkook pointed out, eyes huge, “So much money… we- I don’t need all that…”
Taehyung sighed and shooed his hand away before he deleted the entire cart, “Okay, blue or purple.”
“... blue.”
“Do you want black dress shoes?”
“I…” Jungkook was going to argue that he didn’t need them, but they both knew it would be a lie. His beat up converse were sitting by the front door next to rows of new name brand shoes, the contrast was shocking. “... yes.”
Taehyung smiled brighter at his easy acceptance. “Okay, I’ll order things then, I’m keeping this away from you!” He cried, shutting the computer and sticking his tongue out at Jungkook.
Jungkook giggled and pulled his legs closer to make room and moved his partially eaten food to the side table.
“I hope you’re planning to eat all that,” Taehyung scolded and climbed onto the bed, wrapping fingers around Jungkook’s wrist, “Look at this! So tiny, unacceptable!”
“.. ‘m just small…” Jungkook complained with an amused grin, reaching over to poke a finger into Taehyung’s shoulder with a titter, “Not everyone can be this… like this..”
“Hm… what does like this mean…” Taehyung mused with a teasing smirk, “You must think I’m hot. Hm?”
Jungkook instantly began to stutter and stumble, flailing a hand and accidentally hitting his soda on the side table, jerking to hurry and catch it.
“Oh, shit.”
Jungkook whined and closed his eyes because he felt like he was going to have a heart attack within those two seconds of nearly spilling his drink and potentially making a mess of Taehyung’s room.
“That's cute,” A large hand grabbed the drink from him and only then did Jungkook suck in a breath and open his eyes, scolding himself for being an idiot.
Taehyung was right in front of him then, chuckling and moving the drink to the other side of the side table. “I make you that nervous, huh? I’ll take it as a compliment.”
Jungkook sighed in relief seeing as Taehyung didn’t seem upset. Not even a little.
“Can I ask you something?” Taehyung added, much more seriously, but still leaning into his space.
“... okay.”
“Do you have a crush on me? Or…” Taehyung licked his lips and laid down on his bed on his back, “Or at least like me… or am I just like… wasting my tim-“
“No.. I-I..” Jungkook tucked his chin onto his knee and curled up with fingers touching his glasses as an excuse not to look at him, “I do… I do…I’m just.. worried?”
“Worried?” Taehyung frowned and turned to look at Jungkook, “Why?”
Jungkook fiddled with his glasses before wrapping arms around his legs and snuggling his cheek against his knee, finally looking at Taehyung. “You.. you’re you…”
And I’m me was left unsaid but it was implied, and the way Taehyung sat up to lean against the headboard with a frown said a lot.
“Jungkook, what’s it like?”
Jungkook didn’t need to ask what he was talking about, he just swallowed and shifted to lean a bit against Taehyung's side, fingers playing with the edge of his frayed jeans.
“I’m trying to understand,” Taehyung murmured, “Because I’m not going to lie to you and say that I do. I’m not going to try to relate to you, because I can’t, Kookie. You’re right, I don’t know what it’s like… but I want to know that way I.. I don’t know, I want to know how you feel all the time at school. I can tell that when you’re here you seem so much less anxious, and you want to speak more… you seem more alive.”
Jungkook didn’t realize when his hands had begun to start shaking, but they were when he leaned his head on Taehyung’s shoulder, dropping his hands into the others sleeve, “It…” He couldn’t even find words to say it and laughed wetly because he honestly never thought of these things before, “.. feels like.. like drowning..”
Taehyung didn’t like his reply nor his tears, and threw an arm around him to pull Jungkook into his lap, rubbing his back. “Well I hope you can breathe when you’re with me.”
“I-I can.”
“Good, baby.” Taehyung mumbled softly and pet his hair.
Jungkook looked up right at the exact moment Taehyung was leaning down to kiss his head and they both froze, staring.
Watery eyes looked at Taehyung’s plump lips and Jungkook chewed his own between his teeth.
“Jungkook.. “ Taehyung murmured, bringing a large palm to his cheek and brushing his hair back, “Can I-“
Jungkook’s phone began to ring loudly and the smaller of the two sighed and blushed with eyes still on Taehyung’s mouth. “I.. it’s my mom.”
“You should get it then.”
Jungkook didn’t move for a second, not until Taehyung touched his chin below his lip and grinned, “Maybe next time.”
Jungkook promptly squeaked and flushed head to toe as he jumped back to search for his phone, his mind replaying those words… maybe next time..
***
Jungkook was shaking so hard by the time prom came. He’d been debating on calling Taehyung to cancel just about four times that morning.
But at the thought of how sad he would be if Jungkook did, and the thought of how expensive it must have been… Jungkook changed his mind.
It helped that when Taehyung pulled up he had a handsome grin and came to the door to meet his mom and everything.
Taehyung had wanted Jungkook to come to his house, and Jungkook’s mom offered to take him, but that was… too scary right now, so Jungkook agreed to go afterwards and instead meet Taehyung’s mom the following morning which scared him even more.
“You don’t need to be nervous.” Taehyung smiled and tugged Jungkook’s fingers as they stood outside of the gymnasium. The music inside was loud, blaring, and Jungkook was shaking like a leaf even with a thick coat over his shoulders.
“There... are a lot of people...” Jungkook mumbled, looking down at their hands touching and his new, shining shoes.
“Hey.” Taehyung worried and cupped his face, smoothing his hair around his glasses. “There’s nothing to worry about. You look beautiful, Jungkook.”
Jungkook had tried so hard with his outfit even though he wasn’t used to these clothes.
It was prom after all and when he was picked up he’d been worried Taehyung would decide not to go with him when he saw how he looked. Of course that didn’t happen and instead he was gifted with a white corsage to match his light blue satin button down.
Taehyung had good taste in clothes even if he’d gotten his top a bit big so it hung down his chest more than he was used to.
“Why are you shaking? Hey...” Taehyung fussed and brought him into a hug, letting Jungkook hide in his blazer. “Sh you don’t need to be scared. Unless.... you’re scared to be with me, then I can go-“
Jungkook actually laughed, the idea was outrageous. “You should be scared to be seen with me, Taehyung.”
The football player chuckled and pulled his shoulders back to look at him, “When have I ever given you the impression I care about shit like that, Jungkook? I just...” He sighed and Taehyung looked embarrassed as he licked his lips and laughed, “Look. I don’t care about prom. I cared about spending time with you. We don’t even have to be here if you don’t want to.”
“But...” Jungkook frowned and pulled his sleeves past his palms nervously, “You spent so much and... I-I’m just a baby.. don’t- let’s just go in-“ He spun to try and go into the gym but Taehyung caught his hand.
“Baby, you’re shaking,” Taehyung sighed and held his hand tightly, “We aren’t going in when you look like you’ll pass out any moment. As soon as we get in there you’ll have a panic attack, I can see it, Kookie.”
Jungkook couldn’t only chew his lip because he too could feel his heart racing just at the thought of being smushed in the crowds of students, or hearing them gasp in outrage he was with Taehyung, or make fun of him.
You may think he would get used to being teased. But that was never the case.
“I have an idea!” Taehyung said, pulling him towards the parking lot.
Jungkook struggled, complaining, “Tae you spent so much! We can’t just leave! Taehyung!”
Taehyung ignored him whining and approached his car, one they’d only just gotten out of moments ago, already late for prom because Jungkook had fussed too long about Taehyung wanting to buy them dinner first.
“Taehyung...” Jungkook curled arms around himself and ducked his head, “Just leave me here, go have fun. It’s okay... I’ll... I’ll call my mom to get me. And then.. then we can just forget all this..”
There was no response for a moment and fear settled in Jungkook’s stomach that maybe his fears had been right, and Taehyung played him.
That was until soft music began to play from a phone and he startled when an arm wrapped around his side.
“Jungkook. Will you dance with me?”
“H-Here?” Jungkook gawked, knees feeling weak as Taehyung pulled him into his chest, unknowing what to do with his hands.
“Where else?” Taehyung whispered into his hair, moving Jungkook’s hands to his shoulders and pressing them together, “I don’t mind. I’d rather you be comfortable here than uncomfortable in there.”
“But... but..” Jungkook struggled with words and pressed his head into Taehyung’s collarbone, “But it’s a parking lot.” He argued weakly.
“Then close your eyes and pretend it’s not, silly.” Taehyung chuckled and began to sway them side to side. “Pretend there’s bright lights and many, many people bumping into us - just like if we were in there.”
Jungkook giggled into his neck, “I... guess..” He said softly.
Taehyung grinned and squeezed his waist, “I swear. We aren’t missing a thing, baby. Don’t worry.”
“If you say so, Taehyung... it.. it was your idea after all..”
“I have another idea.” Taehyung spoke up suddenly, nervously pulling him back and laughing with a gentle blush painting his face, “We’re missing one thing.”
“Oh?” Jungkook frowned and looked at himself and Taehyung, “But we have the clothes and the music and-“
“Fuck, you’re so cute.”
Jungkook squeaked a noise of surprise when his cheek was grabbed and darted eyes around anxiously, “No... no, I ramble when nervous.”
Taehyung just burst into laughter and pet his cheek with his thumb. “So cute. So cute, baby. Don’t even argue with me on this.”
Jungkook felt his ears turn red and laughed shy noises until Taehyung cleared his throat. “We’re missing the part where we kiss, I mean... if you want to... just if you want... we can keep dancing instead, or we can like... go to the drive in or something. I really don’t care, Jungkook... I just want to spend time with you.”
Flabbergasted, Jungkook stumbled and shook his head, “No! I mean, I’ve never - I don’t want to be bad - I just... Taehyung, I’ll be so bad, don’t even - I mean, not that I don’t want to but...” He cringed and sighed, “I’ve never kissed anyone.”
In an instant Taehyung was beaming, “That’s fine. I can teach you. If you want.”
Jungkook had no idea why Taehyung would want to, but then again... he didn’t know why Taehyung would ask him to prom or be so nice to him, and Taehyung had been only nice to him... for as long as he could remember.
“Okay, Taehyung.”
“You want to? Really?”
“I want to.” Jungkook murmured, dropping eyes down to Taehyung’s mouth, “Only if you want to.”
“You don’t need to even ask that,” Taehyung laughed and held his chin, leaning in. “I want to so fucking bad, Jungkook.”
***
“Are you comfy?”
Jungkook moaned a reply and rubbed his belly, it was stuffed full and when Taehyung said he would be staying with him tonight he hadn’t exactly thought he meant to stay up and watch movies.
It was prom night after all and Jungkook wasn’t stupid, he knew what couples did on prom night.
But, he and Taehyung didn’t do any of that - other than some silly kisses that Jungkook was sure were horrible.
Taehyung laughed and hopped onto his bed beside Jungkook, the laptop playing movies jostled on the pillows and Jungkook squeaked when Taehyung rolled over to hover over him.
Jungkook was pressing his lips together shyly seeing as he had nowhere to look but at Taehyung.
“Do you want to shower now?” Taehyung moved to lean on his elbows and Jungkook squirmed a bit when he was pinned down, but all he did was flush, because he actually didn’t want Taehyung to move.
“My belly is too full…”
“Ah, are you gonna fall asleep if you go now,” Taehyung teased, damp hair hitting Jungkook’s forehead as he pressed their noses together, “My cute baby.”
Jungkook giggled and tried to nervously tug his shirt down at his sides, but doing that only made his hands brush Taehyung’s hips.
Why did Taehyung want to lay on him now? Now Jungkook was getting worked up…
“Taehyung…” Jungkook whined, fingers curling up against Taehyung’s pajama shirt, “I’m sorry… about tonight.”
“What?” Taehyung frowned and brushed a hand over Jungkook’s forehead, “Sh, no. Don’t be.. the truth is I just wanted to spend time with you, I didn’t care about the dance.”
“Still.. we left so fast and everything…”
“Hey,” Taehyung moved off of him and shook his head as he pulled Jungkook to sit up by his fingers, “And we’ve watched four movies, ate pizza, and you're staying the night. I really don’t care, Kookie. I…” He looked a bit shy and Jungkook frowned when he pulled away to grab a stack of pajamas off the dresser, “Here, get dressed real quick. I wanna show you something.”
At the quick change of topics, Jungkook tilted his head and rolled off the soft mattress to accept the clothes, “Are… are you okay?”
“Of course I am okay. You’re here so I’m okay,” Taehyung smiled and leaned down to kiss his cheek, brushing his thumb across Jungkook’s bottom lip, “I promise I won’t peek.”
Jungkook blushed and scurried silently into the corner to change.
“I just want to show you something,” Taehyung continued with his back towards him, walking over to his closet directly opposite Jungkook, “But it’s chilly out.”
“You want to go outside?” Jungkook asked as he licked his jeans off and yanked on grey sweatpants.
Wow, Taehyung's things were really big on him, only his toes peeked out and he had to roll the waist a bit, but it didn’t matter because the long sleeve he’d been given came mid thigh.
“I’m done.”
Taehyung turned around with a bright grin, a coat in his hand as he walked over, “Look at you, so pretty.”
Jungkook bashfully ducked his head to look at his toes sticking, “Oh.. no..”
“Ah, don’t do that,” Taehyung chided softly, bumping the bottom of his chin before holding the coat up for his arms to slide inside, “Pretending you aren’t gorgeous, tsk, I hate it. You’re beautiful, Jungkook.”
“No… no… you.” Jungkook stumbled out before his cheeks turned red and Taehyung laughed as he pressed a kiss to his cheek, wrapping an arm around his waist beneath the coat.
“Me? Beautiful? You’re so sweet, baby.”
Jungkook was caught off guard when a peck was placed onto his lips, squeaking and trying to grab Taehyung’s shirt for leverage, but by then Taehyung was already turning to snatch a blanket off his bed and reaching for his hand. “Come on, let me show you something.”
Jungkook silently accepted, latching onto his hand and letting Taehyung tug him down the hallway.
He led him to some sort of game room and when they walked in Seokjin was sitting at a computer in the corner and turned around confused.
“Hi.” Jungkook squeaked as Taehyung let him go to open up a sliding glass door in the corner.
Seokjin laughed and looked him over with headphones resting around his neck and a controller in hand. “Hey, you're friends with Kim Namjoon right?”
Jungkook raised a brow and nodded a bit. “Joon? Why? Is he being annoying again?”
“Nah.” Seokjin snickered and shook his head, “Just wondering. You look cute, by the way.”
“Don't hit on him.” Taehyung demanded, coming back to grab Jungkook’s sleeve, “Come here, baby.”
“Yah, I wasn’t,” Seokjin rolled his eyes at the fact Taehyung had pulled the curtains shut over the sliding glass door, “I just asked about his friend, didn’t I? Chill, Taehyungie.”
Taehyung grumbled a don't call me that like I’m two and pulled Jungkook outside, shutting the covered glass door.
Jungkook shivered from the chill, but he was taken back by how nice of a view things were out on the balcony, “Wow…”
“It’s nice, huh?”
Warmth covered his back and Jungkook reached up to fix his glasses as Taehyung leaned into his spine and wrapped the blanket around them both. “When my parents got divorced I used to come up here a lot, I thought you might like it.”
Jungkook nearly scoffed just at the word might, it was gorgeous. There were not many houses on this side of town so the stars seemed extra bright without the light pollution, and Taehyung had so many trees in his backyard it was insane.
“I.. I really like it. Like.. so much,” Jungkook breathed, twisting his head to look as much as he could around, “Woah, look, you can see the moon so clearly.”
“We’re lucky it’s not cloudy tonight.” Taehyung whispered into his temple, gently tugging on his waist. “Sit down.”
Jungkook was so busy staring around that he didn’t even register that Taehyung was yanking him down into his lap until he was already seated there, the taller resting on a red bean bag.
When he realized, Jungkook surprisingly didn’t feel all that nervous. He was so excited to look at the stars that he was pretty sure it showed in his eyes.
“Do you like Seokjin’s mom?” Jungkook asked, “Was your dad mad when your mom and her..”
“Oh, it wasn’t like that,” Taehyung laughed a bit and wrapped his arms around him, leaning against Jungkook’s head. “My dad knew for a while that my mom… wasn’t really interested in men anymore, he was okay with it. I mean… divorce is hard in general, I don’t see him much at all, but they’re friends still. Seokjin's dad was the one that had problems with Jina - Seokjin's mom - leaving him for a woman. I guess… some people will never really understand things like love and gender and… I don’t know, I’m rambling.”
“I ramble when I’m nervous too,” Jungkook turned his head to look at him with a soft smile, “It’s okay. I get what you mean.”
Taehyung smiled really prettily, his ears went back a bit when he smiled this big and it made Jungkook giggle because he only just realized how silly his ears were. They were really cute.
“What’re you laughing at?” Taehyung snorted and brought the blanket higher on Jungkook’s shoulders, “What? Why are you giggling!”
Jungkook earned a tickle to his belly and squealed, leaning over to hug Taehyung’s neck, pressing his front against Taehyung in order to hide his poor stomach from anymore tickle attacks. “I’m just laughing!”
“I know that look! You little punk!” Taehyung chuckled and pet his back, “Fine. Just this once I won’t bother you for an answer.”
Jungkook looked at him with a cheesy, scrunched nose grin, giggling and pressing into his chest.
He had no idea what came over him, an hour ago he was blushing when Taehyung leaned over his back to turn the volume up on the movie they were watching, and now he was all in Taehyung’s space.
Maybe it was because he was tired.
Or, just because today went so much better than he’d planned.
“Jungkook.” Taehyung murmured, sliding a hand on his cheek, “Can I kiss you again?”
Oh, there was his blush again.
Jungkook licked his lips and then felt stupid because he wasn’t sure if he was supposed to do that or not, and last time Taehyung had just pecked his mouth a handful of times so he hadn’t had any time to-
“I’m taking your silence as a yes, okay?”
“Okay.”
Taehyung chuckled in a way that made his shoulders rise up and made Jungkook able to feel the deep vibrations, “Oh, god, you’ll kill me at this rate, baby.”
Jungkook didn’t know what he meant by that, but couldn’t question him when Taehyung was leaning over to gently kiss his mouth, his thumb pressed beneath Jungkook’s bottom lip to separate his lips in order to slot his own between.
Jungkook felt his fingers itching to hold something, which turned out to be Taehyung’s neck, curling fingers around at the base of his neck and hiding fingertips in soft black hair.
“Breathe,” Taehyung mumbled, pulling back just a bit to smile at him, “Don’t be nervous.”
“... ‘m gonna be bad…”
“Sh,” Taehyung soothed, peppering a few kisses to the side of Jungkook’s mouth, “You're not bad, I’m just happy you’re here, relax. I’m your boyfriend, I’m going to teach you.”
Boyfriend?
Jungkook felt warmth fill his chest, because he’d only thought as such in his head, never out loud.
And hearing Taehyung say it.. it sounded really, really good.
“Kay…”
“You try,” Taehyung requested softly, petting large palms over Jungkook’s back and sides, “Your turn! Give me a kiss!” He added more playfully when he noticed Jungkook’s eyes go huge.
Jungkook clutched the collar of Taehyung’s top, leaning up a bit to press his mouth half off the corner of Taehyung’s, but that was nothing that couldn’t be fixed with a slight turn of Taehyung’s head.
It was really cute, and he felt Taehyung smile against his lips and a large hand hold the back of his head to gently tilt his head back a bit.
“You’re so gentle,” Taehyung murmured, “You don’t have to be.”
Jungkook gasped when teeth met his bottom lip, nails accidentally scraping Taehyung’s collarbone when he curled his fingers into his collar quickly, jerking back with flushed cheeks and a red bottom lip.
“Too much?” Taehyung asked quietly, a small smirk playing on his lips, “I got carried away, I’ve been waiting a long time, so I got worked up. I’m sorry.”
Jungkook could only nod dumbly, licking over his bottom lip as Taehyung tugged his head under his chin.
He laid there for a moment, looking at his toes curling into the edge of Taehyung’s pajama pants before he mumbled, “Taehyung… I-I think I liked you since you helped clean out my cubby in first grade..”
Taehyung burst into laughter and squeezed him tighter, “Isn’t that funny? I clearly remember liking you since Hoseok flew off the swings and you ran to tell a teacher on the first day of class. If this is a competition I think I win.”
Jungkook could only giggle into his chest and clutch a handful of his shirt. “You’re competitive.”
“Maybe…” Taehyung whispered, “Or maybe I’m just really motivated to do my best when it comes to things that have to do with you.”
Jungkook wanted to sit out there all night just to feel the way Taehyung’s chest rumbled against his cheek.
***
“That’s fucking nasty. Seriously? You have to do that here?” Taehyung growled and flicked a napkin across the table at Seokjin, “Dude!”
“Oh shut it!” The elder cried, “You and Jungkook are ten times worse!”
“They don’t make out in front of my salad!” Hoseok screamed, whining dramatically and draping himself over Jimin's back just to whine. “My salad is disturbed now!”
When Taehyung told Jungkook that he wanted to start sitting with them at lunch the smaller teen hadn't expected this.
Every single lunch period they had now was just full of yelling back and forth and awkward flirting.
Jungkook honestly didn’t think him and Taehyung had been as bad as Hoseok and Jimin at first or as touchy as Seokjin and Namjoon, but then again… he and Taehyung weren’t really in that super lovey phase.
Jungkook didn’t feel uncomfortable with him at all, and he didn’t feel the need to be overly touchy (although Taehyung disagreed with that) and to show off. He just felt normal.
But, Jungkook mostly just didn’t do much because he knew he’d be met with all kinds of looks from people, and he already got the strangest looks from other students.
To them, it must look weird. It probably looked ridiculous to see the weird kids and Taehyung, Hoseok, and Seokjin all together, but they got along pretty well.
Jimin even did his best not to throttle Namjoon and embarrass him in front of Seokjin every five minutes and that said a lot.
How the hell Seokjin ended up here Jungkook had no clue, he’d just sort of sauntered over one day claiming a seat by Namjoon and Jungkook got an earful over the phone of his friend ranting all kinds of things about him.
It was weird, new, and odd, but Jungkook actually enjoyed it a bit.
(Taehyung holding his hand under the table probably helped a great deal with that.)
“Fine if you want us to be gross, then we’ll be gross,” Taehyung retorted.
Jungkook squeaked, trying to take a bite of his cookie, but instead his chin was grabbed and a firm kiss placed on his mouth, he dropped his snack in an instant to hold Taehyung’s wrist.
“Gross!”
“Ugh! Disgusting!”
“My fucking salad, man!”
Jungkook giggled and hid his face in Taehyung’s shirt when the other pulled away, blushing hard and laughing at their friends whining.
“You done being gross?” Taehyung asked over Jungkook’s head to his stepbrother, both arms wrapped around Jungkook’s shoulders, “This is why I said you and Namjoon can’t come on our trip.”
Jungkook frowned and peeked his glasses out over Taehyung's arm, “What trip? The field trip?”
He'd heard something recently about the junior class taking a trip down to a wildlife habitat, but his mom hadn’t been able to make the payment, and that was okay, Jungkook didn’t really mind.
But he knew Taehyung was a bit sad about it because Jungkook told him he couldn’t pay for the trip on his behalf.
“Jungkook doesn’t wanna go to that,” Jimin murmured across the table, slumped against Hoseok's side, “Because he has to leave his things in the locker room if he does that, and we know how that turned out last time.”
“Chim!"
“Jimin!”
“Why would you bring that up!”
Jungkook felt his heart jump into his throat even though he knew Jimin was making a statement out of concern rather than trying to purposely make him think about it.
“Huh?” Taehyung furrowed brows, “What’re you talking about?”
Jungkook launched at Taehyung’s waist, burying into his top with heavy breathing, and it didn’t help that their table got really quiet.
“Kook…” He warned, leaning down to press a kiss to Jungkook’s hair because it didn’t seem Jungkook would come out of his hiding place for a bit, “... you said you’d tell me if-“
“It was last year, not this year,” Hoseok spoke up with a loud sigh, shoving his salad tray into the middle of the table to lean on his palms. “I just found him locked in the gym, I don’t know what happened.”
“Kookie, sh, baby,” Taehyung worried when Jungkook’s breathing picked up, gently grabbing under his arms to hoist him up closer to his chest.
Jungkook scrambled with eyes wide and breath coming out in pained, sharp sensations, throwing arms around his shoulders and holding on for dear life.
“Oh fuck is he having an anxiety attack?”
“Someone dump out his bag, I know he has medicine in there.”
“Jungkook. Baby.” Taehyung's eyes were blown wide, shifting to move off the seat and taking a spot right on the floor with Jungkook in his lap.
The others were already causing a scene, and the last thing he knew Jungkook would want would be for a bunch of people to be eyeballing his red faced, hard breathing and the tears slowly beginning to trickle from the corners of his eyes.
“Baby, sh, I know,” Taehyung soothed despite not knowing what they had been referring to, petting his head and loosening his zip up a bit, having to force Jungkook to let go of his collar just so he could get the smaller to sit back and breathe.
“If you look at me do you feel better? Just look at me, okay?” Taehyung had no idea what to do, but as he pet Jungkook’s hair back from his face and held his glasses in place he felt Jungkook was breathing a little better.
“Here!” Yoongi yelled, an orange prescription bottle being placed at Taehyung’s side. “He probably didn’t take it today. He’s been thinking he didn’t need them.”
For that, Taehyung wanted to scold him. He didn’t know what this Prozac was, but he knew if it was prescribed to Jungkook that he needed to take it.
“Jungkook, let’s calm down,” He whispered, thumb brushing the shell of his ear, “And take some medicine, I’m going to take you straight home after, okay? Breathing, medicine, then home, okay?” He requested, bringing his slender hand to his mouth to peck his knuckles.
Jungkook’s face was stained with tears and beet red, but he managed a strangled sorry despite that and it just made Taehyung shush him and squeeze him harder. “Don’t you apologize. Don’t you ever apologize. People are such monsters.”
The entire school was in this cafeteria, and Taehyung didn’t care who heard.
It was the truth after all.
People could be monsters.
***
“You’re going somewhere?”
Jungkook nodded and looked up from his luggage to his mom in the doorway, “Mom, I told you that Taehyung was taking me on a trip, remember?”
She hummed and walked into his room, “Where are you guys going?”
“I think… the snow,” Jungkook sniffled and began to roll his clothes up into balls to fit in his bag, “He said his cell will have service, so I left the number on the fridge.”
“You know, you’re only sixteen, I shouldn’t let you go out with the boy that made you have to take your medicine in front of a bunch of students.”
Jungkook’s shoulders stiffened up and he pushed his glasses back as he licked his lips, “It’s not like that… it wasn’t him… and.. plus, he planned this trip since I always miss all the school trips.”
She eyed him for a moment before reluctantly sighing and reaching over to grab from the pile of clothes and taking a seat on the floor with him. “His mom knows where this place is?”
“Yes, mom.”
“And it’s safe? And you’re not going to be doing anything dang-“
“Mom.” Jungkook shook his head and laughed softly, “Taehyung isn’t like that, you liked him last time you met him.”
“That doesn’t mean anything, I liked Jimin until he opened his mouth too.”
Jungkook burst into a fit of giggles at her teasing, when the truth was every time she saw his friends she put on that happy mom face and asked if they wanted snacks.
“Seriously,” She murmured and reached over to pinch his cheek fondly, “I can tell you really like this boy, so I’m not going to say anything. Okay, bug?”
“I’ve never… got to go on a trip before,” Jungkook whispered, sitting back on his heels and chewing his lip, “Taehyung is really nice, mom.”
“I know,” She sighed like she hated to admit it, grumbling under her breath as she rearranged his suitcase. “Call me every morning, okay? Or text.”
“I will.”
“Jungkook?”
Jungkook lifted his head with a nervous expression, messing with the socks in his lap, “Yeah?”
“I’m just really happy when you’re happy, baby.” She soothed, reaching over to pet his cheek, just the fact that she looked so adoring yet upset made Jungkook a bit teary. “Regardless of whether I remember this Kim boy or not, I know your friends wouldn’t say good things unless they meant it, and Yoongi vouched for him and he once ratted you out for sneaking out, so I think I can trust him.”
Jungkook groaned at the reminder, huffing and puffing as he shoved socks into his suitcase, “I hate him.”
“Aish, come give me a hug,” She ordered, sitting up on her knees to grab Jungkook’s arm, “Your dad would be very happy to, I know… you don’t forgive him, but I just want you to know he would be happy for you.”
Jungkook was both annoyed and excited to hear such a thing, but he wasn’t quite ready to go that far yet.
Maybe when he was much happier and content with where he was in life, and he was getting there, slowly, but surely.
“Also,” His mom sniffled and had teary eyes, “There are condoms in the bathroom, I know what teenage boys are up to, so if you need-“
“Mom!” Jungkook shrieked and shoved her arm, “Get out of my room!” He yelled at the top of his lungs with his face covered in a red blush.
***
“Ice cream?” Taehyung laughed and turned his head to peer at Jungkook in the passenger seat, “Again? At five in the morning?” He asked, laughing loud, “Baby, where can I find you ice cream this early?”
“... store…” Jungkook whined tiredly, stretching out in his seat and yawning loud. Every move he made had his marshmallow coat rubbing against the seat. “Store…”
Taehyung cooed as his tiredness, it was his fault for bursting into his house and forcing him to pack up. “You aren’t excited for the trip? You’re just daydreaming about ice cream?”
“It’s… 5 AM…” Jungkook closed his eyes and leaned his cheek against the center console, “... still dreaming time…”
Taehyung tsked and scratched his scalp softly, massaging his head, “Are you going to dream about the snow?”
“Mhm.”
“And skiing? You know, it took three days for me to convince my mom to let the two of us go alone.”
Jungkook’s groggy eyes opened wider, stretching across the seat to kick his shoes into the floorboard. “Snow!”
“That’s the spirit, baby.” Taehyung grinned, wishing he could lean down to kiss his head but he was driving, “I had my mom call and make sure our lodge was clean and everything.”
“Your lodge?” Jungkook squawked and sat up properly. “Taehyung…”
“Yah! Don’t give me that tone,” Taehyung ordered, reaching over to snatch up his hand to kiss his knuckles, “Shush your face and put your contacts in, baby. I’m really good at skiing.”
~
“I'm really bad at skiing!” Jungkook screamed, grabbing hold of Taehyung’s arm, his legs were sore and body freezing cold and yet sweating at the same time.
Why did Taehyung think this was fun?
Jungkook realized about half an hour ago when he was handed heavy ski boots and goggles that covered half his face, that this was not fun.
His contacts were burning and he suspected he put them inside out, his hands were sweating in his gloves and he didn’t have nearly enough energy for this as Taehyung did.
“No! You’re doing fine, baby!” Taehyung argued, holding his hips and non stop laughing at Jungkook’s penguin waddling to stay up. “Babe! Just put the poles in the ground and you’ll stay up.”
Jungkook pouted and stuck them down into the snow, eyes going wide, “Wah it- Taehyung!”
The smaller teen went toppling over onto his bottom within a second and he heard Taehyung burst into a fit of laughter which made him whine and reach down to undo his ski boots.
“Ah! Too cute! I need to record this!”
“No! Taehyung!” Jungkook squeaked offendedly, arms out at his sides like a child, abandoning his equipment to waddle up the side of the hill. “I hate you!”
“This is precious!”
Taehyung looked way too happy for someone that hadn’t even gotten to ski himself yet; it wasn’t that Taehyung was a bad coach, Jungkook really just wasn’t athletically inclined, so all he’d been doing was falling and sliding and he felt bruises starting under his clothes.
“Tae!” Jungkook whined, making grabby hands up at him for help, panting a bit from the cold and how much energy he’d used up just walking through the snow.
“Ah, come here, clumsy.” Taehyung cooed, pulling him close and basically holding him up, “Is it too much, baby?”
Jungkook pouted and reached up to remove his goggles, turning his face into a scowl, “My legs hurt.”
“You look like an angry puppy.”
Taehyung tapped his nose and it only made Jungkook scrunch it up more and go weak kneed when his waist was released.
His legs really felt like little twigs ready to snap. He was cold and weak and ready to go inside and lay by the fireplace.
“Look, you're balancing in the boots just fine-“
Jungkook grabbed ahold of Taehyung’s top as he went slipping, yanking him down with him seeing as this was his fault.
Stupid handsome jock who had too many muscles that it was unfair.
“Rude.” Taehyung commented more than whined, resting over top of Jungkook and brushing some snow off of his curls. “Okay, so maybe you’re not cut out for skiing.”
Jungkook huffed, “I’ve never been able to finish a mile on time, what makes you think I can do this? These clothes weigh more than me.”
“My little baby,” Taehyung crooned, leaning down to kiss his brow a handful of times.
Jungkook knew they were more apologetic kisses than anything.
“Let’s go inside and tomorrow you can watch me ski, sound better?” Taehyung murmured, sitting back to undo Jungkook’s ski boots seeing as he most definitely wasn’t going to walk in them anymore. He was practically dead on his feet now.
“I’ll record you falling like you did me.”
“Oh trust me, baby.” Taehyung smirked and stood up to grab his hands, “I won’t fall.”
Jungkook chose not to make a competition out of it.
(It certainly wasn’t because he was sure Taehyung was right… definitely not… well..)
He just let himself be helped out of the snow and stood on the deck, standing in his two pairs of thick socks to watch Taehyung collect the gear and go hang them back up on the side of the lodge.
“Go, Tae!” Jungkook giggled and grabbed onto the railing because his legs felt like jelly. “Hurry, hurry! My toes are cold!”
Taehyung began to cackle, breath showing up visibly as he carried gear back and forth, “Are you cheering for me right now? You can go inside, beautiful.”
“... ‘m waiting!” Jungkook grinned, “If Taehyung freezes, then I’ll freeze too!”
“I can guarantee that you’re the one colder than I am right now.”
Jungkook ignored that in favor of grabbing Taehyung’s arm when he was close enough, pouting with blotchy, red speckled cheeks from the frozen air.
“Ah, come here, baby,” Taehyung laughed, but Jungkook could hear the concern in his voice as he was practically tossed over his shoulder.
He squealed and latched onto the back of Taehyung’s shirt, instinctively reaching up for his glasses but he forgot he was wearing contacts.
“Do your feet hurt?”
“Mhm.”
“Your knees?”
“My legs hurt all over, Tae. I hate exercise.”
Taehyung snickered and tossed him down onto the bed as soon as he walked into the small one room cabin, their bags still sat by the door because Jungkook was impatient to look outside.
That turned out to be a mistake seeing as looking outside led to a swift do you wanna ski? and Jungkook fell for his dirty tricks.
“I’m sorry, baby. I didn’t know you’d be like a newborn deer out there.”
“Hey!” Jungkook complained and popped up onto his elbows, “Mean!”
“Honest!”
“Still mean!”
Taehyung cackled and shook his head fondly as he walked around the small kitchen areas. “You quiet down and warm up, I’m getting you hot chocolate and then we can watch movies or something.”
The or something sounded way more suggestive when Jungkook processed it, it reminded him that he had taken his mom up on her offer only because… he wasn’t opposed to the idea.
He was curious and he turned seventeen so soon… Jungkook didn’t know what Taehyung had planned and would prefer they just be prepared.
He sucked on his bottom lip as he sat up on the edge of the bed, reaching down to remove his socks and undo his bottoms.
“You want me to bring you one of my tops?”
“Yes please.”
Jungkook frowned as he yanked his bottoms off, eyeing the little red spots on his knees and even on his legs. He’d taken a lot of falls, but he didn’t think it was that many.
Wow, snow was brutal.
“Oh… Kookie..”
For someone that played football - such a hands on sport - Taehyung looked so sorry as he walked over, a sweatshirt hanging on his arm and two hot chocolates in hand.
“It’s not that bad,” Jungkook argued, ignoring the sad eyes, “Can you get my contacts box and glasses?”
Taehyung ignored him momentarily to place the drinks on the side table and climbing into the bed, tugging him between his legs at the headboard with fingers lifting his top up with a silent question.
Jungkook just reached for the bottom of his top to take it off, having to shrug off two sweaters and a windbreaker too, shoulders even feeling sore from all the weak muscles he’d had to use today.
“Baby… I’m not going to make you do it again.”
“I’m okay,” Jungkook whispered, bringing his cold legs closer to curl around Taehyung's leg, “Just cold.”
“Well I can fix that.” Taehyung promised, moving the blankets off the corner of the bed to yank over on top of Jungkook’s nearly naked body.
Jungkook’s skin tingled with the familiar burn of cold skin getting warmed up, sighing and leaning back against him tiredly.
He had never felt this exhausted.
“Our winter break is going to be boring then, huh?”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because I can’t ski.” Jungkook laughed with closed eyes, feeling fingers raising goosebumps on his shoulder, “What else can we do here?”
“We can drink a million boxes worth of hot chocolate.” Taehyung listed, “Or go look at mountains, or snuggle and watch movies, there’s a million things we can do, Jungkook. I’ve always told you I don’t care what we’re doing as long as I’m doing it with you, right?”
Jungkook rolled onto his side to curl up against Taehyung’s legs, raising his head to press a kiss to Taehyung’s lips with a soft blush and nervous fingers touching the others coat zipper, “Right.”
“Why so nervous?”
“.. just thinking about what we can do..”
Taehyung's brows raised at the tone, moving a palm from his shoulder to pet his hair off his forehead, “Are you getting a fever? Is this my innocent little boyfriend being suggestive? Hm?”
Jungkook whined and tugged the blankets up to his nose, muffling his soft, “You don’t want to?”
“Oh, beautiful...” Taehyung sighed fondly and leaned down to press an opened mouth kiss onto cold lips. Nuzzling into Jungkook’s nose. “Warm up and take a nap, and then let’s do what you want, okay? You would pass out mid kiss.”
“Want that too.” Jungkook pouted and reached up for his cheek again.
Taehyung laughed and began pressing kisses to his face, “I’ll kiss you to sleep as soon as you remove those contacts and give me a pretty smile.”
Jungkook rolled out of his lap to do so immediately.