Chapter Text
Taehyung paced back and forth in his room. He was only six and was having the biggest crisis of his young life. How was he to decide what to wear for the most important day in the entire world? He was starting first grade in the morning!
He looked at his bed. He gagged at the sight of what his parents had laid out for him before they left. Cargo shorts and a short-sleeve collared shirt. Absolutely appalling! That just couldn't do for little Taehyung.
No, no.
He had no friends going into first grade. He'd just moved and was in a new town since the beginning of summer. His parents moved to a big city for a better work opportunity. His new house was massive. The biggest thing he'd ever been in. His room alone was the size of a mansion. He even has his own bunk bed. For himself!
It was frightening being in a new place. Sure, but Taehyung knew life was bigger than a little bit of first-day jitters. He needed to wow his crowd. Basic cargo pants and blue shirt are not going to cut it.
Puffing out his cheeks, he looked around his room. He had formed a not-so-small pile of all his clothes. Shirts and pants scattered his floor. He didn't know who to ask for help. His parents had left for a dinner party hours ago and his babysitter was passed out on the couch.
He looked over at his dog. He was a supportive friend, but sadly dogs can't do much in the way of fashion. Taehyung furrowed his brow and pressed his lips into a thin line. He scanned around his room. His eyes fell on his iPad.
Sparks!
He grabbed the device from off his desk and began to move his fingers a the speed of light. He opened Safari and tapped on the speech button.
"How to make pretend friend" he shouted into the speaker of his iPad. He smiled as he watched the page load. The first link to appear was a YouTube link. He didn't read the whole title, but the first half was something along the line of "WORKS 100% OF THE TIME".
He watched the video carefully. The man recording had a paper with some letters and pictures of them. He poured what Taehyung assumed was fruit punch onto the page and began to say three words over and over before the video went black. When the man came back he was standing next to a very tall woman who was not there previously.
Taehyung curiosity bubbled. He grinned as he put down his iPad and began to race downstairs to collect the necessary supplies. When he got downstairs, he tiptoed past his snoring babysitter. His dog copied him and crept slowly behind him.
Taehyung pulled open the refrigerator with the might of a thousand men. He looked up into the shining box of delight.
Jackpot.
He reached up and grabbed one of the juice boxes. Fruit punch, just what he needed! His plan was a go. Raising his fists in a hurray, he let out a small "yes!". His dog let out a small bark. Taehyung panicked and thought he was about to get in trouble for being up late. "Tannie! Shut up!" He whisper-shouted at the poor dog.
He let the silence come back to the house for a few seconds before he decided the coast was clear.
Barely containing his excitement, Taehyung sprinted back up to his room. Plopping into his desk chair, he ripped open his drawing and pulled out a piece of construction paper. It was baby blue, but he didn't think it'd make a difference.
He looked back at the video as he messily copied down what was on the page. His was much sloppier and was done in glitter pen. He thought it would make it more pretty. He obviously had to keep up appearances and especially for his new friend-to-be.
Taehyung had some trouble open the juice box, so he bit the hole with his teeth and squeezed the entirety of the contents out onto the page. It was perfect. The video's punch was darker, but he thought it may be homemade.
He looked around once and then began the chant. He said it three times just as the man did in the video.
There was nothing.
Taehyung tried again, chanting louder.
Still... nothing.
The young boy grew frustrated and grabbed the paper. He crumpled up the half soaked page, but as he did he sliced his finger along one of the edges. He let out a quiet cry and grabbed his finger.
Then the light turned off. His door closed and a strange glow came from his paper. Taehyung dropped the floor, his finger in his mouth. He inched back away from the glowing paper. It was growing.
Taehyung felt fear at first, but then it was replaced with excitement. He grinned as he saw the paper begin to form into the silhouette of a person. He heard a groan as all the glowing went out and the lights flickered back on.
The person in front of him was crouched on his knees with his back turned. There was a small laugh.
"Finally, someone summoned me. Let's see what emo piece of shit we got this time," The person said lowly as he turned around. Taehyung was standing now with his finger still in his mouth.
The person was a boy with black hair and an all-black outfit. He had tight skinny jeans that were ripped at the knees. His fingers were decorated with an assortment of rings. His nails were painted a deep red. He wore an oversized black bomber jacket that hung loosely off his shoulders.
"Hello! I am Taehyung. You are my friend now." The six-year-old announced to the newcomer brightly.
"What the...?" The man stood in shock. He glanced around the room. The walls were decorated with drawings that resembled scribbles of color more than anything. The place was filled with clothes, everywhere. And most importantly, this place looked expensive. "How did you...?"
The man scratched his head. Taehyung wiped his wet finger on the side of his pajama pants and held out his hand. "You can call me Tae since we are friends."
"Oka—ay. Uh, I don't really know how to break this to you, little guy." The man awkwardly ran a hand through his hair, "I'm not really meant to be friends with people. Especially not babies."
"But...!" Taehyung let his hand fall to his side. He pouted his lower lips and scrunched his face in confusion. "You were supposed to come and be my friend."
"I'm sorry, pal. Go call one of your little kiddie friends, hm?" The man offered with a disingenuous smile. Taehyung was on the verge of tears.
He was guaranteed a friend. "WORKS 100% OF THE TIME". The internet is a liar! What kind of joke is this! Frustrated and disappointed at the world, Taehyung clenched his fists tightly to his sides.
"I-I... I don't have any and you-you..." Taehyung was crying. He was a mess. His cheeks were glowing red and wet from tears, "You were su-suppose to help me pick-pick clothes! Mommy and-and daddy are gross! An-and don't help!"
"Hey," The man was becoming uncomfortable. He looked at the child in disgust. Children are the bane of existence. Crying children?! The worst thing to ever make its way on Earth. "Hey, stop that."
"And!" Taehyung sniffed hard, "You were-were gonna he-help me make friends a-and play po-pokemon. You ca-an have ma-ma-my Pikachu!"
"Stop crying," The man begged, covering his ears. It was like an insistent buzz that he couldn't get rid of. He may be a demon, but children truly were the devil. "Hey, hey. I'm your friend. Who said I wasn't?" The man said with a fake smile.
"Really?" Taehyung sniffed, wiping his face with his sleeve. "Are you-you going to help me?"
"Of course. That's what," The man swallowed hard, "That's what friends do, silly!"
His fake enthusiasm made Taehyung smile. He moved closer to the man. The man furrowed his brows and watched the child's movements carefully. He didn't do what he expected. Taehyung wrapped his short arms around the man's waist, squeezing him into a hug.
The man was caught off guard completely. For the first time in his existence, he was hugged by someone.
It was strange.
"What are you doing?" He asked. Taehyung giggled and pulled his head back to look up at the man. His face was soft and didn't match his appearance. His eyes were gentle and almost looked sad.
"You're my friend!" Taehyung shouted happily. "I told you my name, tell me yours!"
"Uh," The man sputtered, patting the child's shoulders, "Call me Jeongguk."
"Tae and Gguk!" Taehyung happily squealed, releasing Jeongguk's legs. He hopped over to his pile and began to dig through the mound. Jeongguk smiled a little. He walked beside the small and crouched down. "I want purple!"
"Hm, alright. I think I might be able to help. I'm a bit of a fashionista, y'know?" Jeongguk laughed under his breath at himself. Taehyung's face glowed at Jeongguk.
"My mommy makes clothes! I wanna be like her. She makes pretty dresses but I can't wear a dress. That'd be dumb!" Taehyung laughed thinking about coming into school with a big ball gown like the ones his mother designs.
"What about this shirt?" Jeongguk reached over the pile and grabbed a plain white shirt with a big simple purple heart of the front. Taehyung scrunched his brows at the t-shirt. He gripped at it, tugging it away from Jeongguk's hands.
Jeongguk was growing nervous, the boy was studying the piece of clothing like it was a piece of evidence at the scene of a crime. Why was he so nervous under the pressure of a child half his size? He was a demon that had killed men because he felt bored, but a six-year-old's opinion on his clothing choice was making him anxious.
"I think," Taehyung took a pause, "I think it is perfect!"
Relief washed over the stressed stranger. Jeongguk's lips formed a big grin and he nodded at the boy. He turned back and shuffled through the pile trying to find some suitable pants. With his new confidence at the approval of the young boy, he grabbed a pair of blue jeans. He smiled and raised the pair to Taehyung who let out a gasp of delight.
"These are perfect too!" Taehyung grabbed the jeans from the older and held the two items of clothing together. "I'll look so cool! Thank you Jungookie,"
Jeongguk grinned at the boy. He patted his head, ruffling the younger's natural brown hair. The younger laughed and tried to copy him, grabbing at clumps of Jeongguk's hair, thoroughly messing it up. Strangely, Jeongguk found this more wholesome than a nuisance.
"Hey, Tae, how about I get you to bed. Want to look sharp for school, huh?" Jeongguk asked tenderly. Taehyung nodded enthusiastically. He raised his arms, motioning to be picked up. Jeongguk stood up and grabbed the young boy, allowing him to cling to his side.
The older took the outfit they both decided on and laid it on a chair just across from his bed. Placing Taehyung down on his rather large lower bunk, he clicked off the light. Only the glow of the moon from outside the window allowed for the two to see one another.
"Goodnight, bud. I'll see you next time." Jeongguk let Taehyung's eyes flutter shut before he stood and disappeared.