Chapter Text
Taeil locked his phone. He picked up the textbook, notebook and pencil case he had already prepared before checking his social media. He closed the locker door and was met with Taeyong leaning against the locker next to his.
Taeyong. The same Taeyong everyone avoided. The red haired, face scarred, ears excessively pierced, chain wearing Taeyong. The Taeyong who was rumoured to be in a gang. Rumors he never bothered to deny. His clique of equally rough looking boys didn't help his case either.
Taeil, who had always tried to lay low, never talked to any of them or even looked their way, was face to face with Taeyong. Clutching his things to his chest, his instant reaction was to make a run for it. He didn't even manage to turn around before walking right into two of the guys who held him in place, holding him by the arms. In panic, his things fell to the floor.
The sly smile that Taeyong had changed into concern.
Taeil’s mind was too busy trying to assess his situation to really pay attention to Taeyong’s expressions.
“Jaehyun, pick up the pretty boy’s things.” Taeyong ordered the third and only guy that wasn't holding him in place.
Pretty boy? Taeil’s mind was utterly confused. He had been ambushed by Taeyong and his clique, and he didn't know why. It wasn't like he ever was in their way. And Taeyong calls him ‘pretty boy’?
Jaehyun tried to give Taeil’s things back to him, but fear froze him in place. After five seconds, he gave up and just held onto the Taeil’s belongings.
“Why is he so scared? I was doing my best smile.” Taeyong questioned no one specifically. “It's a good smile right, guys?”
Once again, no bothered answering. Taeyong sighed and looked at Taeil. A shiver ran through Taeil’s spine. The baddest guy in school, a supposed gang member, stood in front of him, teasing him while he was bound by two other guys. Taeil pictured various scenarios: they could only want his money and, after having it, they'd leave him alone; they could want to beat him up for no reason; they could also just want to make some nerd piss himself. Maybe they got off on that.
He didn't have time do dwell on the hypothesis that they enjoyed unbalanced displays of power, because Taeyong was in front of him and talked to him.
“We're not gonna hurt you, don't worry. Guys, let go of him.”
They did. They released their grip on Taeil, but he felt no relaxation whatsoever.
“You're Taeil, right?” Taeyong asks.
Did he really care about his name? More importantly, how did he know Taeil’s name? He always stayed low and had never even talked to the guy or any of his friends. If Taeyong went as far as learning his name, did that mean he was in real danger?
“Actually I just want to ask you a favor.” His expression changes into one of concern again. “You see… I'm struggling with Geology, and I would like to ask you for your help. I did some research and found out you consistently do well in that and, frankly, every other area. What do you say?”
Taeil’s mind was hard at work trying to comprehend what was happening. Taeyong himself was asking him to tutor him? Was he in any position to refuse? If he accepted would he be in danger? Would Taeyong ask him to do shady stuff? Would he make him join his gang? Taeil saw the brilliant future he had worked so hard for crumble before him; all thanks to this ill-fated encounter.
Taeyong put on a sweet smile and did his best puppy eyes.
“Look, I’m not trying to intimidate you into doing anything. I’m just asking for your help. Will you do it?”
Taeil could only nod affirmatively with his head. Words wouldn’t come out even if he tried.
“Really?! Thank you so much!” Taeyong exclaimed with a big, genuine smile. He puts in hand out for a hi-five to which Taeil reluctantly responded.
“The bell rang five minutes ago, and I’m sure you don't want to be late to class. Thanks for agreeing to help me out! We can settle a date and place some other time. Jaehyun give him his things. See you around, pretty boy.”
That time around, when Jaehyun tried to give him his things, he accepted them.
Taeyong and his entourage of thugs walked away like they hadn’t just cornered a defenseless student and forced him to help them.
Taeil’s watch read 9:07 am. He prayed that he was still dreaming and that he hadn’t just accepted to tutor Taeyong, but everything seemed too vivid to be a dream.
“Dude, are you ok?” A familiar voice asked. Taeil turned to see Doyoung coming toward him. “Did they hurt you? I literally just arrived. I was gonna go get security, but then they walked away.”
Words still failed Taeil but he managed to respond.
“I think I am? Physically at least… For now.”
“Did they threaten you? What did they want.”
“Actually, Taeyong just asked me to tutor him. And he acted very friendly too, like we knew each other and he hadn’t cornered me on a monday at nine am.”
“He asked you to what?!” Doyoung was as surprised as Taeil had been. “You didn’t seriously accept to do it, did you?”
“What did you want me to do?! Say no to fucking Taeyong when Yuta and Sicheng were holding me?” Taeil exploded. Not necessarily at Doyoung but at the situation. “I never even talked to the guy. Why the fuck does he have the need to come ruin my day and quite possibly my life? I don’t want to be associated with a gang or whatever he does to look like that.”
Doyoung put his arm around Taeil to comfort him.
“Do you want to go outside to catch a breath?” Doyoung asked.
“No, thank you. Let’s just go to class. The teacher is going to have our heads if we don’t.” Taeil sighed.
He had just had an entire exchange with the school’s most feared student who had acted like a sweetheart. Whether that was because he actually was one or because he’s bad at hiding his attempts at manipulation was beyond Taeil.
---
The morning classes went by and Taeil didn’t catch a thing. One teacher even asked him if he was alright after class. Being aloof and flat out answering that he didn’t know to the teachers’ questions wasn’t like him. He told them that he felt ill, that he just needed to go home and rest it out.
He spent the time replaying the events in his mind, trying to breakdown the situation and predict what could happen. Taeyong seemed truthful about needing help with his studies. He wasn’t rude or hostile towards Taeil. Jaehyun looked like he had better things to do; Sicheng looked expressionless as always, and Yuta just seemed sleepy. Retrospectively, he could say he overreacted, but he decided to cut himself some slack. It’s not every day you are circled by the school’s famed gangsters.
Taeil prided himself on being one of the school’s top students, but he never thought it’d come to bite him in the ass like that. He didn’t know what to expect from his study dates with Taeyong, but he could not stop thinking of possible scenarios. Would his minions be there? Would they take place in the library or would he take him to his secret hideout? Would this make Taeil a target of rival gangs and the police just by association? What did he mean with pretty boy? He called him that twice. Was it just teasing?
Taeil could only speculate and wait for their next encounter.
“Are you ready to go get lunch?” Doyoung asked, waking Taeil from his thoughts.
He nodded and closed his notebook. He hadn’t written a single word all class. He got up from his seat, and they exited the classroom. Taeil tried to keep his thoughts away from the situation.
“What did we talk about in this class?” Taeil asks.
“Honestly, I don’t know either. Ever since I got sent to the back row and besides Yukhei, I don’t think I’ve paid attention to any class. He won’t shut up for a second.”
“You answer him every time don’t you?”
“I guess so. I don’t want to outright ignore him.”
“Well, until you start showing that you don’t want to talk to him all class, he will keep doing it.”
“I don’t want to be rude to him. He’s such a sweet boy… He has a one point five second attention span. I can’t hold it against him.”
“You’ve gotten great grades just by reading the textbooks and bullshitting your way through, so I don’t see a problem.” Taeil concluded.
“Hey! I don’t bullshit my way through. I’m naturally gifted. I know very well what I’m doing.” Doyoung shot back, feeling affronted.
Taeil just chuckled in response. They arrived at the cafeteria, and Taeil stopped at the entrance.
“What’s wrong?” Doyoung asks, suddenly concerned.
“Nothing I… Can we just buy something and go eat outside. I feel like some fresh and air and sunlight would do me good.” Taeil requested.
“Yeah, sure, no problem.”
---
Taeil and Doyoung had been sitting on the long stone wall for fifteen minutes eating their lunch. The wall separated the field where some kids played soccer and basketball from the rest of the school. To call it a wall was an overstatement. It merely went to their knees so people used it as a bench. Taeil was just finishing drinking his iced tea when Doyoung’s face froze, and then got angry, his eyes focused behind Taeil.
“What’s wrong, Doyoung?” Taeil asked distressed. He turned to see what Doyoung was eyeing so angrily. “Oh…”
Taeyong was walking towards them with a friendly smile. Alone this time. If worst came to worst they had the numbers advantage. Doyoung’s typical cheery demeanour was nowhere to be found. Instead of a happy bunny he looked like a lion ready to pounce on his prey. Still, fighting Taeyong wasn’t something Taeil wanted to do. Besides the possibility of him having a knife or anything of the sort concealed, he probably had been in various fist fights and was much more skilled than either of them.
“Hello, Taeil!” He greeted warmly. “And hello to you too, are you Taeil’s friend?” He asked Doyoung, ignoring the visible hatred the other threw at him.
“Leave Taeil alone. Go pick a fight with someone else.” Doyoung warns getting in front of Taeil.
“I’m not here to pick a fight with Taeil. Why would I fight this adorable boy who doesn’t hurt anyone. Do you think so lowly of me?” Taeyong taunted Doyoung.
Doyoung was very intelligent and prudent in most things. But he always acted foolhardilly when he felt he had to defend what he loved.
“Doyoung let it be.” Taeil was resigned. “There’s no need for anyone to get hurt here, let’s hear him out.”
“No, I’m not going to let them bully you into submission.” Doyoung barked.
“Whoa who’s bullying anyone here? Seriously, I find this reputation that I seem to have a little offensive. But props to you to standing up for your friend against the “big bullies” so valiantly.” Taeyong taunted Doyoung again, emphasising the big bullies with air quotes.
Taeil was scared. Tensions were rising, and Taeyong seemed to be less intent on tolerating Doyoung’s attacks.
“Why him? You could choose from a dozen of other good students” Doyoung cut right to the point.
“Because, he’s not a good student. He’s an excellent student, and he’s just so darn cute. All the other top students are girls. If I have to suffer through extra studying, I’d rather do it with a pretty boy.” Taeyong admitted bluntly, no traces of shame.
Taeil looked down in embarrassment. It couldn’t be just teasing, then. Could Taeyong really have been flirting with him all day?
It baffled Doyoung. There was no way he would tolerate Taeyong’s presence near Taeil.
“Not only do you bully him into tutoring you, now you want to get with him? If you have any speck of that decency you think you have, use it and get the fuck away from him.”
Taeyong looked pissed, and Taeil could see Doyoung regretted speaking the way he did.
Taeyong grabbed Doyoung by the collar.
“Look you punk, I only haven’t punched your pretty face into the ground because I respect Taeil. I suggest you stop putting on that brave act and stop talking to me like that or…”
“Drop him!” Taeil cried out. “If you lay a hand on him again, I won’t tutor you.”
Taeyong let go of Doyoung’s collar with a huff.
“Sorry. It seems we both let our emotions get the best of us. It won’t happen again.” Taeyong apologized sincerely. Taeil’s apparent power over Taeyong came as a shock to the two friends.
“What did you come here to talk to me about?” Taeil asks coldly. A mix of adrenaline, fear and upset flowing through him.
“Right,” This time there was no smug. He had a sheepish look as if he was a kid who just screwed up. “... I wanted to set a time and a place with you.”
“Are you free friday after classes?” Taeil asked.
If someone had told Taeil one week prior that he would be authoritative with Lee Taeyong, Taeil would have said that person was out of their mind. Yet, it was happening.
“Yeah, I am.”
“Great. Here, put your number here so we can set the time close to friday.” Taeil handed his phone, unlocked to Taeyong.
Taeyong took the phone stared at it.
Taeil and Doyoung stared at him, waiting for him to do anything.
“I’m sorry I don’t know how to handle one of these. I’ve only ever had these.” He took out an old Nokia, the cover taped and everything. He seemed ashamed of it. Taeil couldn’t help but to feel sorry that he felt embarrassed of it.
“It’s ok, here…” Taeil took back his phone and opened the contacts app. “...Just click on the numbers and I’ll save the contact for you.”
When he finished inputting the number and handed the phone back to Taeil, he turned to Doyoung.
“I’m sorry, Doyoung. I shouldn’t have acted the way I did. Thank you for still agreeing to help me, Taeil. Enjoy the rest of your lunch break.”
He left, with no shadow of his former cocky self.
“What the fuck just happened?” Doyoung asked, astounded. “You literally just gave orders to Lee Taeyong, and he followed them.”
Taeil let out a breath he felt he was holding since the beginning of the whole exchange.
“That was so stupid, Doyoung. What was your plan there? Fight Taeyong? I’m immensely thankful that you would do something like that to protect me, but I don't want you to risk yourself carelessly like that.” Taeil scolded Doyoung.
“I’m sorry. I really hate that guy. I guess the adrenaline clouded my judgement. I should’ve backed off.”
Taeil laid down on the stone wall, tired from all that had happened in just half a day. After the morning situation he has to defuse a fight between Doyoung and Taeyong and the latter respects him and abides by his words? Taeil thought he was just an ordinary high school student who never got into trouble and always kept to himself. In what alternative universe did he wake up where he has to socialize with the school’s number one trouble maker?
“Are you actually going to do it?” Doyoung asks worriedly.
“I guess so. I mean I already said I would twice. He said he respects me and he never actually mistreated me, while with you, he didn’t lose time in confronting you. It can’t hurt to give it a try.”
“Listen, if it makes you feel uncomfortable just call it off. Put my number on speed-dial, and if he tries anything shady I’ll go immediately.” Doyoung offered.
“Thank you for worrying. I will do so.”