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"Slow down girl," Taehyung huffed, feeling the insistent tugs at the leash in his hands.
A sharp bark and slack leash tells him they've arrived and he feels for the door, pushing it open. As he enters, the familiar smell of coffee and freshly baked pastries washes over him and he stops for a moment to just inhale. Soonshim nudges gently at his ankles.
He knows people are staring. Whether it's at the dog at his heels or the sunglasses on his face on a such a bleak morning, he isn't sure, but they're definitely staring. Maybe the slightly over-sized Gucci shades he's wearing make him look a little ridiculous but he thinks he pulls it off, it's all about the confidence right?
Honestly, Taehyung figured that if he was going to be wearing a pair of sunglasses for the rest of his life, why not indulge himself a little? No one argued.
He doesn’t need them if he was to be perfectly honest, but he figures they’re a pretty obvious sign to others and there’s also the occasional bright spots he picks up which only distract him. So the sunglasses help and he’s gotten used to wearing them, even around his apartment.
Taehyung used to love watching the stars, he loved the feeling of them watching him too. Sitting out on a hill, with just his grandmother, it felt like they were twinkling and shining all their light just on him. He felt special.
He’d also learnt to love the empty sky. At first it had saddened him when he looked up to see nothing but the inky blackness. But his grandmother had pulled a thick blanket around his shoulders and told him that it was only fair that the stars got to hide behind a blanket of their own. It was on those days, she told him, that he should shine the brightest - to show the stars that there was someone out there shining for them too.
Taehyung knows his grandmother was just indulging his fascination with the stars but theres a part of him that still believes in her words. Some nights, when he’s taken off his sunglasses, he goes to his window and looks out. Its always dark. He likes to pretend he’s looking out at a starless night.
A soft bark breaks him out of his thoughts and Soonshim leads him over to the end of the queue at the counter. He knows his order already, its the same every time and he knows how much it costs so he pulls out his wallet, not wanting to be both the blind guy and the guy holding up the queue by struggling with his cash. He’d left his card at home so he would have to pay by cash.
A soft groan escapes his lips as he remembers the current state of his wallet.
Keeping an organised wallet with the notes sorted into the right compartments has become a necessity when going out alone. Yet right now he isn't sure where everything is.
Taehyung had gone out for lunch with his friends the day before. Usually this isn't an issue, seeing as Jimin or Yoongi always make sure to take his share out of his wallet and return any change to the right compartments.
Yesterday had been a little different. Jimin ended up rushing out half-way through the meal with some hastily explained reason and when it came to paying Yoongi had been distracted trying to convince Hoseok to let him pay for the both of them.
This left Namjoon to help Taehyung. Which wasn't a problem at all except Namjoon hadn't handled his wallet very often and so he didn't know how it was usually organised. Taehyung had planned on asking Jimin to sort it out for him that evening but he’d forgotten.
Great. Feeling through the various compartments he found all his cash together in the same one and sighed. He wasn't going to be able to tell the notes apart.
Taehyung decided to ask someone nearby for help before he embarrassed himself at the counter.
"Excuse me," he called out to whoever stood behind him in the queue. He received a soft hum in response.
"Would you mind helping me out a little?"
"What is it?"
Taehyung held up his wallet. "Everything got mixed up after lunch yesterday, could you just tell me what notes I've got in here?"
He couldn't see the guy's eyes light up in realisation and when he heard a, “Yeah sure, of course”
Taehyung handed over his wallet.
Jeongguk had been looking up at the menu board when he noticed the boy with the dog enter. He's pretty sure everyone in the little cafe noticed too.
But he's also pretty sure he was the only one who kept his gaze on him. Maybe there were others who gave him second or even third glances, but he didn't think anyone else continued watching him as intently as he did.
It wasn’t his fault. The guy had a dog - a very cute dog. He just wanted to pet it, though he realised it was a guide dog so he probably shouldn't do that. Didn't stop him watching the pair. He was also wearing some cute sunglasses. Jeongguk just wanted to find out where they were from, he's certain his brother would appreciate a pair.
And okay maybe the boy was pretty cute himself, isn't it natural to want to keep your eyes on something you find attractive? This boy was definitely in that category.
The boy had joined the queue and Jeongguk found himself walking over just a couple of minutes later, unable to keep his eyes away.
A fleeting thought of 'thank god he can't see me staring' enters his mind and he feels terrible straight away. For the first time since the boy walked in, Jeongguk breaks his gaze but it doesn't prevent the blood rushing to his cheeks at the thought of being caught.
After trying to will away the flush he looks back up at the boy and realises he's talking to the guy behind him. Obviously, Jeongguk listens in and continues watching.
Taehyung waits as the guy pulls the money out of his wallet. He feels a few notes being pressed into his hand. Three of them.
“There. You’ve got three 1000 won notes.”
He’s handed another one.
“And this 10,000 won”
There’s a sense of unease creeping in.
“I’m sure I had a few more 10,000 won notes in there… Are you sure that’s all there is?”
“I don’t see any others in here,” the guy sounds pretty sure of himself. Taehyung can almost hear the shrug in his voice.
He still feels a little unsure. There’s a slight prickling at the back of his neck and his hand is getting clammy around Soonshim’s leash. But this guy is helping him, right? He doesn’t want to sound rude. But still, he can’t help but ask.
“Maybe they’re in another compartment? I’m sorry, I’m usually much better organised than this, but could you please check again?
He hears the guy flipping through his wallet again but no rustling of banknotes. Once again he gets a negative response telling him, “no there’s nothing else in here, man,” and his wallet’s handed back to him to check for himself.
Sure enough, it’s empty.
He can’t quite shake off the uneasiness. He’s almost certain he had more yesterday and he hasn't taken money out since. But thats the thing. He’s only almost certain and one thing he is certain of is that he doesn't want to cause a scene by accusing this guy of something if he’s really only being honest.
He sighs and decides to make sure one last time, wishing he wasn’t here alone. Frustrated at himself for the burden placed on him by his own disability.
“So these four notes are all I had?”
He’s also certain the guy is getting irritated by now, if his own sigh is anything to go by.
The notes in his hand are pulled out and pressed back one by one. His other hand grips tighter onto the leash even though he know’s Soonshim isn't going anywhere. She’s a good girl.
“I’m telling you, three 1000 won notes and one 10,000 won note”
Taehyung is just about to accept the fact that he wouldn’t be able to visit the bookstore as he’d planned, rather he’s looking at a trip back home to get his card after which he doubts he’ll be able to work up the motivation to go out again. Meaning he’ll be alone in his apartment the rest of the day. Great.
There’s a ‘thanks’ on his lips when he hears it.
“Excuse me but you’ve actually got four more 10,000 won notes. I see five 10,000 won and three 1000 won all together”
Jeongguk can’t believe what he’s seeing.
Cute Boy had clearly asked for help and this guy was going to steal from him?
Not happening.
As soon as Jeongguk speaks up the guy immediately goes to shove the rest of the money from Cute Boy’s wallet into his own pocket. Quick as he is, Jeongguk’s reflexes are quicker and he grabs ahold of the guy’s wrist before he can do so.
“I’m sorry, what’s going on?” Cute Boy asks, brows furrowed behind his shades. Jeongguk can’t help noticing 'He’s got great eyebrows'
Before he can speak up again the other guy’s saying, “Nothing, nothing”
Cute Boy frowns again.
“Sorry but how much did you say you see? I’m confused now…”
Jeongguk tightens his grip on the guy’s wrist when he feels him try to tug it away. Now he’s wearing a frown of his own.
“I can see how you’d be confused when someone’s lying to you”
This has the guy speaking again, “Lying? I’m just trying to help, he asked me, man. So why don't you just stay out of it?”
Seeing as Jeongguk wasn’t going to ‘just stay out of it’, the guy decides to change up his approach a little. Suddenly he’s brought up his other hand and theres two 10,000 won bills being thrust in Jeongguk’s face. The guy even has the audacity to wink.
So now he wants Jeongguk to join him? Not. Happening.
Jeongguk does not wink back but he takes the notes being offered to him. But before the guy can smile or wink again, he also reaches out and takes hold of the two notes in his other hand.
“Thank you. You’ve helped enough,”
His voice is dismissive enough that he thinks the guy gets the hint because he lets go of the money. Or maybe it was the glare on his face. Or how he flexed his arms in the way he knows has his biceps standing out. He's proud of his biceps, sue him. Not that Jeongguk would ever actually turn to violence, he’s above that. But he isn't above hinting at the threat if it would get people like this to back off.
The guy leaves with a scoff and throws back a “Your loss, man!”
Jeongguk ignores him and turns to face Cute Boy who’s still standing with a frown on his face and one hand petting his dog’s head. He also realises they’re still standing in the queue and they’re pretty close to the counter now.
So he asks him, “What is it you want to order?”
Taehyung isn't sure what convinces him to do it. Maybe he just likes the boy’s voice. It holds something gentle, something warm when it's directed at him. Like it’s carrying the light from distant stars and Taehyung likes the way it washes over him.
He’s also pretty sure he just saved him from getting stolen from. So when the boy hands him back the money from his wallet and steps up to counter with him, offering to buy his drink for him, he agrees.
He might have also noticed that the boy smells really good. Having lost his vision, Taehyung soon realised his other senses had gotten more acute, as though to balance it out somehow. He’d heard of this happening when someone is without a sense but he’d never known to what extent until it happened to him.
His hearing had sharpened and it had definitely helped him out a great deal. But his sense of smell wasn’t one he thought he’d ever come to rely on too heavily yet he’d found himself joking with his friends about being able to ‘smell so well it should be a superpower’.
So it wasn't too difficult to pick out the different scents he breathes in from the boy. There’s a light floral top note, jasmine maybe? There’s also definitely some more fruity undertones in there. He’s pretty sure he can smell pear. And then there’s the strong vanilla base note mixing with something that’s just purely human.
He smells of warmth and of comfort. And it reminds him a little of his grandmother on those summer nights when they’d sit outside, just watching the stars. She’d let him stay out for as long as he wanted and when it got colder he’d start shivering and she’d just pull him into her lap with that old blanket wrapped around the both of them and he’d feel warm.
It’s been a while since Taehyung has seen the stars for himself or cuddled up to his grandmother but this boy brings back those memories and those feelings. He smells like home in a way that has Taehyung wanting to bury his nose in him and just breathe for as long as he’ll let him.
But they’re strangers and they’re standing at the counter in a cafe. As small as the cafe is, it’s still a public space. And yes, the boy is kind and seems to be a genuinely good person but he’s a stranger nonetheless.
Taehyung doesn’t even know his name.
He decides to call him Star Boy. It’s been too long since he’s seen the stars, at least he can listen to them in this boy’s voice.
And the shyness in his voice when he’d asked if he could buy Taehyung a drink filled him with a warmth to which he’s sure the drink itself wouldn’t compare.
He hears Star Boy walk over carrying their drinks, placing one of them down somewhere and heads closer to Taehyung. While the smell of his coffee would normally be tempting, its the smell of the boy himself that has him wanting to get even closer once again.
Star Boy gently takes his wrist and places his drink in his hand, making sure his fingers wrap around the cup-holder rather than the hot cup itself, and Taehyung almost wants to cry at the thoughtfulness.
It’s not that he’s a stranger to kindness because he definitely isn’t. He loves his friends and his family. Fiercely. And he knows they love him just the same.
But this boy, Star Boy, is a stranger and yet here he is caring. And he’d just stopped a guy stealing 40,000 won from him when he could’ve easily stayed silent or maybe even taken a cut of his own. But no, he’d spoken up for Taehyung and then he’d wanted to buy him a drink. For what reason, Taehyung doesn't know. Being perfectly honest, he should be the one buying a drink for Star Boy in thanks. But no, Star Boy is standing in front of him still holding on to his wrist as though maybe he doesn't want to let go. And maybe Taehyung doesn’t want him to let go either.
Shit. He’s getting emotional. He’d gotten more worked up than he’d realised when talking to that guy. The sheer frustration of feeling something was wrong but being unable to vocalise it in fear of his disability being used against him had him strung out.
And now, with Star Boy standing so close and smelling so much like comfort and home, he feels himself tearing up. He drops Soonshim’s leash - he know’s she’ll stay - and tries to dry his eyes before the boy notices. But the tears keep falling and he doesn’t know how to stop them.
He’s not sad but he feels almost fragile. He’s been blind for almost three years and this incident just hammers in how much more vulnerable he is now.
Taehyung had always tried not to let his disability bring him down. His family and his friends were upset enough already and he decided he would be the one to keep his head up and make sure they knew that he was still the same, that he could still be the same.
That wasn’t to say it worked all the time, but for the most part he maintained that his blindness wouldn’t, didn’t define him.
And then there were days like this.
When something happened that would never have happened if he wasn't blind. He feels the whole positive mindset he’s been trying so hard to keep up come crashing down. A harsh reminder that there are some things that are a direct consequence of his blindness.
Why couldn’t he just be normal?
And to think people would be cruel enough to take advantage of his disability. He feels more tears trailing down his face and a sob in his throat he tries to choke down.
Then suddenly the cup is being taken out of his hand and he’s being pulled against a warm chest. His sunglasses are pulled off and there are arms being wrapped around him pulling him even tighter into the warmth. And Star Boy just feels so solid around him as though he could keep out the rest of the world and he still smells like home.
Taehyung doesn't think of where they’re standing, he just buries his face in the boy’s neck and breathes.
The arms around him tighten and there’s a hand rubbing his back, it all feels so soothing, so comforting and the boy just lets Taehyung breath him in until he no longer feels the need to sob and the tears stop falling.
When he feels calm enough to step back he pushes lightly at the boy’s chest and his arms loosen at once but they linger, seeming reluctant to let go completely. But soon enough his sunglasses are being handed back to him with a nervous chuckle.
“I’m sorry if I just overstepped any boundaries. I saw tears and I panicked but you were holding your drink and then your glasses would’ve been in the way. Oh god… I shouldn’t have taken them off without permission but I didn’t know what to do an-“
Taehyung cuts him off with a slightly watery chuckle and he can feel himself smiling.
“Thank you.”
His voice comes out loaded with much more emotion than he intended and he didn’t really know what he was thanking him for because God there was so much.
“Thank you…” he starts again only to trail off as he realises he still doesn't know the lovely boy’s name and that despite their closeness only moments ago they were still technically strangers.
Star Boy must’ve realised that too or at least understood what Taehyung was trying to say, as he’s quick to offer up, “I’m Jeon Jeongguk,” and he takes Taehyung’s hand in his own to shake it but he doesn’t let go. Taehyung beams at him.
“Kim Taehyung”
He supposes he should be feeling more embarrassed, more self conscious right now, but with the way the other boy is still holding onto his hand, he doesn't think he minds too much.
"If you wouldn't mind, I know our drinks are probably cold by now but do you, maybe want to sit with me for a while?" Star Boy - no, Jeongguk - asks him and his voice is soft, perhaps a little uncertain.
How he could think Taehyung would say no is beyond him.
"Of course"
And he sends him another blinding smile.
Sure enough, Soonshim's leash is being handed back to him and a gentle hand on his shoulder guides him to a seat.
He ends up sitting with Jeongguk for the better part of two hours when they both realise, as much as they enjoy each other's company, they have things to do other than sit in a cafe all day.
And when Jeongguk asks him for his phone - shy, so shy, again - he happily hands it over.
Then his phone's being pressed back into his hands and maybe Jeongguk squeezes his hands (and Taehyung tries to hide his smile) as he tells him he'll call.
This boy - Jeon Jeongguk - the boy with the stars in his voice. He tells him he'll call.
Maybe, when Taehyung's standing at his bedroom window at night, maybe, in his mind the sky won't be so empty.
Taehyung thinks he'd like that. He’d like that a lot.