Work Text:
“Taehyung, you have a call for you.”
Yoongi’s voice rings throughout the empty house, and Taehyung pulls out an earbud. Maybe it was time to buy a new pair if he could hear Yoongi over the Hunter x Hunter opening theme. He was in the middle of the Chimera Ant arc, and it was an important episode that he couldn’t afford to miss.
“Tell them I’m bus–”
“–it’s from Namjoon.”
“Oh.” He sets the laptop down and heads up the stairs, and in all his green-haired glory is Yoongi , a disapproving frown on his face. Taehyung always thought that if Yoongi smiled a little more, he could pass off as another one of those K-Pop idols; he certainly dyed his hair enough to be one.
There's a smile he tries to fight off his face when the older passes the phone to him. “Hi Joon- hyung . Why'd you call?”
Taehyung knows why, but it doesn’t stop the curling of his toes, or the steady trickle of excitement that drips through his entire being. He knows why Namjoon’s calling – Yoongi's frown speaks for itself – but he wants to hear the words for himself.
There’s a chuckle from the other line. He can’t hide his grin after that.
“Guess who found a really sweet place? It's empty and everything, not many people around either. I think it’s a solid find. You down?”
Taehyung shoots a glance towards Yoongi , who’s slouched over a couple of scrunched up music sheets. As if feeling Taehyung’s eyes on him, the older young man looks up at him, holds his eyes for a moment, and then rolls his eyes. Do whatever, it means.
Taehyung can’t help the little bounce that escapes him. “Yeah, I am,” he says, a little breathless – even though he hasn’t moved an inch. “Where is it?” he asks.
He hears Namjoon shuffle around a bit, and a clink of aluminium. “Umm, two streets down from Choi’s, and then take a hard left...you should see Mrs. Chang’s beauty parlour and it’s tucked away just past there.”
Taehyung closes his eyes, picturing a map in his head, and a question bubbles up on his tongue. “Mrs. Chang? Isn't that right next to the police station?”
There's a pause. Namjoon doesn’t move, and Taehyung hears a gust of wind crackle into the receiver unpleasantly. “Huh? I guess it is. Don't see any patrollers though. You’re still coming down, right?”
It's not mean, but there’s a slight taunt in his tone, as if Namjoon didn’t believe that Taehyung wouldn’t follow him to the literal ends of the earth.
Another Cheshire cat smile warps over his face. “Of course.”
“Great. See you in 10 minutes. Dress pretty.”
He hangs up.
He turns around and sees that Yoongi has gotten up and is currently rifling through the kitchen cupboards. He pulls out a tin of instant coffee “You know,” he begins, another lecture already there to be spilled on his lips.
“you could go out on normal dates, like a normal couple. Instead of,” he gestures vaguely in Taehyung’s direction.
His jaw drops. “Why are you pointing at me?” he questions, shock colouring his voice.
Yoongi snorts, “I was aiming for the wall behind you, dumbass.” He looks down at the tin in confusion and lets out a little ‘oh no’ .
He looks up at Taehyung a little boredly , but there’s amusement glinting in his eyes. “If you don’t get too caught up in your fun , please bring back some more coffee powder. I’m all out.”
He shakes the empty container for effect, and the final dregs inside give a feeble rattle. Taehyung shakes his head as he follows Yoongi trudge back into the living room. When the older man flops onto the couch, he tilts his head at him.
“You aren’t going to bed?”
Yoongi shakes his head. “Can’t. Jeongguk’s coming around for tutoring.” he offers in way of an explanation. Taehyung nods in understanding and picks up a blue leather jacket and squints at it for any stains. “Why don’t you tell him that his crush on you is more than a teeny bit obvious?” he asks.
Yoongi kicks up his legs and hums. “No need. Kid’s got a girlfriend all the way in Japan. He just thinks I’m cool ‘cos I swear in front of him more than I should and have a few pretty tattoos on my hand.”
Taehyung gapes. “ Jeongguk has a girlfriend? Since when?”
Yoongi smiles secretively, and waves his hands in a shooing motion. “Since forever – he's been saving up to meet her. But enough of that, don’t you have somewhere to be?”
Taehyung jumps at that and makes his way over to the front door, but turns to glare at Yoongi “This conversation isn’t over, hyung.” he says darkly. Yoongi laughs good-naturedly. “Sure. You won’t get anything more out of me, Taehyung-ah.”
*
It's cold outside, but he’s warm when he reaches Namjoon. “You’re here!” he says brightly, and he opens his arms up and Taehyung all but leaps into the embrace. “ Joonie-hyung , you only ever call me when you want to graffiti over walls. Guess you don’t love me.” he pouts. Namjoon presses his lips together. “And who calls me literally every other night because they’re crying over a different anime protagonist? Sometimes I feel like you’re more invested in Gon Freecs than me. If you’re gonna be like that then I should be able to defend myself too you know.”
Taehyung wriggles out from Namjoon’s grasp and dramatically clutches a hand to his heart. “Gon is my baby; my powerful little brother. He would also be yours too – if you actually joined me and Jimin when we ask you to.”
Namjoon shakes his head in exasperation and just reaches into an unassuming backpack. He pulls out a spray paint canister and throws it over to Taehyung, who catches it with a little fumble. “You can have the first stroke,” he says with a jerk of his head.
“Even though you found this spot?”
Under the flickering streetlights, Taehyung watches with affection as Namjoon’s cheeks turn pink. “I prefer watching you work. You look so...in your element. It's beautiful.”
At that, Taehyung turns away at the soft words. “I only do this for you, you know.” he mutters and Namjoon rubs the back of his neck sheepishly. “I know.”
A silence falls between them. It's thick, and too heavy, too honest for a night that should be filled with nothing more than a few laughs and stupid acts.
Taehyung swallows and steps up to the wall, a mischievous grin wiping away any remnant fondness. “ So what you’re saying is that I’m the better artist?”
Namjoon splutters at that and rummages inside his bag for a different colour. “Oh, you are so on, Taehyung.” he says playfully.
And without any further ado, the two recreate the plain wall in front of them, shoulders brushing ever so often.
*
They stop every now and then, when they hear people passing by, and waste away an hour or two just talking while they draw loaded messages or simple motifs. It's nearing midnight when Namjoon finally steps back to look at their art. Taehyung takes that as his cue to stop too.
“Since this wall is pretty much covered, wanna move onto somewhere a little more tricky?” Namjoon asks. Taehyung chucks the can back into the backpack, and wipes his wet hands on his jeans. “Where do you have in mind?” he mumbles, skipping back to scrutinise his work. When Namjoon doesn’t speak, Taehyung searches for him and follows the line of Namjoon’s sight. His silver hair reflects the light of the brightly lit building across from him and Taehyung stands next to him quietly. “There? Are you serious?” he laughs. Namjoon stares intensely at the building, and his determinism is unwavering. Taehyung shoulders the bag and chuckles “We’re so gonna get caught, Joonie-hyung . Let’s do it.”
*
They get a little brave after a few minutes of hyping each other up and sneaking around, and Taehyung is in titters when they reach new wall. Namjoon desperately tries to shush him, but he’s too busy cackling into the sleeve of his own jacket. They pull out their cans and shake vigorously at them. Time to create something new.
Taehyung's heart pounds in his ears, and he scrawls all over the side of the building, a whole new shot of thrill fuelling his veins. Namjoon, having finished his part, stands off to the side, lollipop in his mouth. He acts as a guard, listening out for footsteps while Taehyung stencils in unsteady English.
Everything seems fine for maybe five minutes, and the two get comfortable in the quiet between them that’s punctuated only by the sounds of their breathing and the hiss of a pressurised paint can.
Thinking back on it, the uninterrupted silence was a little too good to be true.
One second, the two are grinning and then a light flashes in Namjoon’s eyes. There’s a shout, Namjoon cursing as he picks up the bag and then he’s pulling at Taehyung’s sleeve, yelling ‘ GO! GO! GO!’ .
They criss-cross through the little back alleys, shove past a group of smokers hanging around in the emergency exit of a bar, cough through the pungent smoke, and pelt down the empty footpaths, their incriminating bag of paint cans jangling loudly against Namjoon’s back.
Taehyung runs. This is them: young, immature and stupid. Doing dumb things all for shits and giggles. The adrenaline of being caught is already flush in his face, his lungs, his legs. And then Namjoon looks behind at him and smiles.
He smiles like the flowers that bloom in April; a beautifully dazzling thing. It's pure, even in the darkness, his dimples looking deeper with the shadows that dance across his face. Namjoon laces his hands through Taehyung’s and pulls him closer to keep him up.
His heart flutters a little more powerfully.
*
They get caught.
It’s wholly uncool, in his opinion. He runs out of breath and pulls back. Namjoon, unwilling to leave him alone, also stops running. There's a shine in his eyes and he looks alive. Taehyung is a little upset that he had to cut that expression short because of a measly reason like his body being unable to facilitate his bad habits. It wasn’t fair how Namjoon had perfect control over his mile-long limbs, or how he could easily run for ages without even trying so hard.
The policemen aren’t too gentle with their handling when they twist his arms back to handcuff him, and his head is pushed roughly against the top of a car, with some old guy yelling about how delinquency was handled back in the day. He supposes it serves him right.
“I can’t believe two strapping lads like you would have the gall to vandalise property. Police property at that! The two of you should be role models for the younger generation but instead this is what you’re up to. Back in my day...”
Namjoon suffers similar treatment and Taehyung winces a little at the thud of body against vehicle. Namjoon looks over at him, face pressed against the dusty car top, and his eyes darken. It looks cruelly attractive and way out of place in a situation like the one they’re in and Taehyung isn’t sure if the lurch in his stomach was entirely unrelated to the want that was dripping in Namjoon’s eyes. It was this very look that roped him into everything - it was this very look that he would unravel his being for. When he had this unexplainable look in his eyes, Namjoon looked like he could rule a world, enough that Taehyung wanted to believe it. It was everything he chased after for, and why he wouldn't hesitate to risk it all.
He wets his lips distractedly, and Namjoon’s gaze latches onto the movement. Taehyung glares at him half-heartedly and resigns himself to being carted into the police car.
Guess we did get caught, he says lowly as he clambers in next to Taehyung. Taehyung shivers.
The entire ride had Taehyung jittery, and hyperaware of every inch of Namjoon’s long legs that were pressed up next to his own. He wanted to get out of the car, the stuffy car, and be out in the icy air again. He wanted to run with Namjoon, he wanted him to hold his hands again. Anything that would let him win against the older boy’s coy game. Because that’s what all of this was – a game to see how fast they could get each other’s heart to beat; how much they could take; who would back down first. Graffiti never meant much to Taehyung apart from time spent with Namjoon.
The two are given an earful when they arrive at the station and Namjoon dutifully nods at the chief officer, looking all sorts remorseful whenever he was being reprimanded, and then snickering at Taehyung when he got the chance.
The two wait , with the promise of a guardian or responsible adult arriving to bail them out for the night and Taehyung pointedly avoids looking at Yoongi – tired Yoongi – when he storms in. “It’s ass o’clock, Kim Taehyung. I only asked you for some coffee powder!” he moans.
Namjoon – the piece of shit – just laughs.