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The bell rings ceremoniously across the hall, signaling that it’s lunchtime. In an instant, his classmates holler loudly, some standing up while the rest close their textbooks hurriedly; they are all ready for lunchtime and to be done with this class. At the corner of his eyes, Taehyung spots the teacher sighing before shouting, “remember that your homework is due in three days!” though the sound is majorly buried under the excited chatter of the hungry kids.
Feeling somebody poking his shoulder, Taehyung turns around to see his usual gang. It’s Jimin’s fingers that jabbed at him, his face close to Taehyung’s and lips pouting, urging Taehyung to clean his desk quickly.
Taehyung looks down at his desk; there isn’t much to tidy up, and there really isn’t anything that he wants to bring down at lunch, so he just stands there and waits for them. Jimin is the next to finish, shoving his phone secretly in his pocket and sending Taehyung a look of mischief.
Namjoon and Hoseok are beside Jungkook’s table, where there is a large book propped up to hide the sight of Jungkook snoring behind it. The pair giggles and flick Jungkook’s forehead, waking him up. Jungkook blinks blearily, his head going side to side to see what’s going on, and Taehyung has to hold back a smile.
Yoongi and Seokjin are at the back, with Yoongi looking through his backpack while Seokjin is droning on and on about nothing in particular. The younger of the two then says something which results in a smack on Yoongi’s head and Seokjin yelling at him. Soon enough, the seven of them are done and start heading out of the class.
On the way to the cafeteria, they chat about all sorts of things.
Seokjin brags about how he got to eat five hotdogs last night, leading to Yoongi mumbling about how he probably shares more traits to a pig than a wolf - which makes Seokjin retaliate by squishing his cheeks angrily (though Seokjin claims that it’s an act of love). Yoongi, bless him, remains stubborn and sticks his tongue out, so Seokjin starts tickling him, making Yoongi topple over into Seokjin’s arms. Everyone was giggling at their usual bickering, and the scene even got the attention of other students.
Once everyone makes it to the cafeteria, they sit down in the usual order, Jimin and Jungkook at Taehyung’s side and on the opposite side of Namjoon, Hoseok, Yoongi, and Seokjin. The eldest duo is still bickering about Jin being a pig, and Namjoon’s on one side to shut Yoongi’s mouth with Hoseok’s on the other, holding Seokjin’s arms from attacking Yoongi.
“Hey Taehyungie,” Jimin says as he turns to Taehyung, “Seokjin-hyung and Yoongi-hyung are rea~lly in love, huh?” Jimin giggles, his hands hovering to make a whispering motion, but his voice is loud enough for the other side of the table to hear.
“What did you say, you little brat?” Yoongi huffs furiously, directing his glare towards Jimin - who retorts almost immediately with “I’m not that little!”. The statement jerks a laugh out of Taehyung along with Jungkook roaring in the background, a hand shielding his mouth of food. Taehyung then gets pinched in the arm painfully for that, but he deems it well deserved, and it seems like Yoongi and Seokjin have stopped trying to bite each other’s head off now, so Hoseok and Namjoon released them both.
To his left, Jimin is still glaring at Yoongi, who is very smugly shoving heaps of rice into his mouth, acting nonchalant purposefully to rile Jimin up.
With each bite he takes, Taehyung can see Yoongi’s fangs very clearly, the sharp teeth much more prominent than any other.
“Yoongi-hyung!” Taehyung exclaims excitedly, leaning forward to get a closer look, “your fangs are like... huge!”
Yoongi, upon being addressed, gives Taehyung a big, gummy smile that bares his teeth, the fangs taking up the majority of the grin. Taehyung, Jimin, and Jungkook wow in amazement but turn their heads when they hear a snort from the other side. The sound supposedly comes from Jin, whose arms are crossed over his chest and sneering at the second eldest.
“Taehyungie,” Jin speaks up, licking his lips as he turns to him; his voice is sweet as honey and Taehyung can only blink. He gulps, once, then twice. Jin really is handsome. “My fangs are much bigger and totally better-looking than Yoongichi’s,” Jin addresses him easily, a smug grin on his face.
Taehyung hears a growl, presumably from Yoongi as Seokjin shows off his teeth.
Taehyung could only marvel at them; Seokjin-hyung’s fangs are practically like an adult’s! Those things are giant; he could bite into anything and rip it apart in seconds!
Taehyung’s eyes go wide and he subconsciously leans closer to Seokjin, as if he were a prey entranced by Seokjin’s spectacular set of teeth.
“Hmm, Hoseok-hyung, Namjoon-hyung,” Taehyung glances at the other two after he has shaken himself out of the trance that is Seokjin and his teeth, “Have your fangs started growing?” Namjoon turns to him and nods while Hoseok gives him a thumbs up.
They both open their mouths simultaneously, and the fangs are there, protruding and incredibly conspicuous. Little ohs and ahs emitted from Jungkook and Jimin as their reaction, and Yoongi even tries to shove a finger in Namjoon’s open mouth.
“Hyung?!” Namjoon utters with his eyes open wide.
Yoongi shrugs, then continue eating as if he did not just try and pull whatever stunt he was. “What?” Yoongi looks up after a few bites, sensing all eyes on him, and he shoots a glare of his own back.
Jimin makes a face, and Hoseok opens his mouth, motioning to Yoongi, his head tilted to the side as if he wants Yoongi to put his finger in - and Taehyung doesn’t know what to do with this information.
The whole situation makes Taehyung darts his tongue over his teeth self-consciously, the flesh making contact with his comparatively more normal teeth.
Oh god, is he feeling insecure.
Isn’t it typical for people around his age to already have fangs filling in? Taehyung always remembers his mother telling him about the pain of fangs, and when they start growing, he’ll know .
Well, they haven’t started growing, apparently. Taehyung doesn’t feel anything pushing and pulling, no inconveniences, not even the slightest.
Taehyung is jolted out of his contemplation when he hears Jimin giggling on his side. Before Taehyung can even turn his head to Jimin, he yelps in surprise as Jimin takes a bite on his shoulder, his fangs pressing onto the blades though Taehyung’s skin is protected from the sudden contact.
“Jimin!” Taehyung groans and pinches his best friend’s nose, making Jimin release him almost immediately.
“You’re no fun, Taehyung-ah,” Jimin concludes, lips pouting and nose scrunching. Taehyung kind of wants to place a kiss on his nose - but he represses the thought.
Turning his head to Jungkook, who is too focused on eating to care about his surroundings, Taehyung asks, “What about you, Jungkookie?”
When Jungkook looks up with his big doe eye, his cheeks stuffed full of food and looking like he has no idea what Taehyung’s talking about, Yoongi interrupts.
“Your fangs, Jungkookie, have they gotten bigger?”
Everyone coos over the sight of Jungkook who is nodding hurriedly, mouth still chewing and cheeks still bulging. He swallows the food and before Jungkook can respond, Hanmi, a classmate of theirs sitting at a different table, peeks over curiously.
“What are you guys talking about?” she asks, getting her table to turn to Taehyung’s with the same intrigued look. “Is this something… wolf-ish?” Hanmi blinks with confusion, though she looks hurriedly at them all to make sure she wasn’t offending anyone with her phrasing. Seokjin giggles fondly and is in the motion of answering before Jungkook cuts him off,
“We’re showing our fangs,” and he opens his mouth wide, giving Hanmi and his classmates a full view of his set of teeth. Hanmi’s eyes are wide open, and so are her friends' as they are all gaping at Jungkook’s fangs - big, sharp, and wolf-like.
Seeing the reaction, Jimin, ever the attention-seeker, places his hands on Taehyung’s shoulders and leans over to the spotlight. He reveals his teeth and smiles immediately when his classmates awe at them.
“They’re so big!” Hanmi exclaims, eyes fixated on Jimin’s fangs. The girl turns to the others, asks, “Do you all have them?”
Yoongi, Namjoon, Hoseok, and Seokjin all nod yes, and Taehyung just follows, unable to say otherwise. His classmates just wow, chatting excitedly amongst themselves while Taehyung shoved more food into his mouth, subconsciously giving himself an excuse not to open his mouth as he does not want anyone’s attention on him.
Luckily for him, they gloss over Taehyung, asking questions to whoever is willing to answer, and willing they were, with Jimin taking up most of the spotlight and talking about how dangerous their teeth could be. He intended to spook his classmates with Jimin declaring that he could bite someone’s arm off before Namjoon swoops in and saves his gullible classmates from eating up Jimin’s every word.
“Hyung~” Jimin pouts at Namjoon, and Taehyung has to hold back a giggle at how Namjoon gulps audibly upon being addressed with the onslaught of cuteness. They don’t get to show off their teeth for long, as the canteen lady urges them to hurry up and eat, or else they might be late for naptime.
♡ ♡
Naptime usually comes easily to Taehyung. It’s always him who would immediately start snoring when his head hits a remotely comfortable area, always him who would be out like a light and impossible to wake up, even if Jimin and Jungkook are crushing him with their weight - but not today.
Today, he’s got a lot on his mind, and every time he closes his eyes, the thoughts start intruding his head, making it impossible to sleep. Firstly, where are his fangs? Everyone’s got them - even Jungkook, who’s the youngest of the group! And yet, his teeth are being stubborn, not even trying to peek up - or at the very least, say hi to him.
Frowning, Taehyung brings his hand up and silently knocks on his fangs, his head asking hello? Is anyone home?
He could only pout when there’s no reply, and Taehyung stops in his tracks - why is he trying to talk to his own teeth?
Taehyung sighs. This is getting ridiculous.
He’s a big wolf, and to be upset and brooding over something as trivial as this? Not something a ‘big wolf’ would do.
But Taehyung can’t help it! It’s only him whose teeth haven’t grown, and he hasn’t even felt anything remotely close to them expanding in size.
Jimin, whose back was crunched in order to hide him playing games on his cellphone, turns to him. His smile is bright, and Taehyung thinks he’s trying to reach Jungkook over him. Phone in his hand, Jimin brandishes it in Jungkook’s direction, but he stops the motion when he sees Taehyung pouting in all kinds of ways and, most importantly, not asleep Jimin blinks once, twice, and he knows that something is wrong.
Troubled, Jimin leans into Taehyung’s private space, poking his shoulders lightly while asking, “Are you alright?”
"Hnng, it's kinda stupid..." Taehyung mumbles to Jimin but more so to himself as he shifts his body so that he can shy away from Jimin’s glance. Unfortunately for Taehyung, as he turns his back to Jimin, he is faced by Jungkook instead, the younger looking up from his own phone and gives him a chummy smile.
“Did Jimin-hyung wake you up?” Jungkook asks, his head tilting and Taehyung shakes his head.
“No, I can’t… sleep?” It comes out more of a question than a statement - Taehyung doesn’t stay awake during naptime, that has been made clear. Jungkook pinches his eyebrows but he doesn’t push further, just nods at Taehyung who sighs out in relief.
Not wanting to see his best friend upset, Jimin nudges Taehyung's back before tackling him in a hug. From Jungkook’s viewpoint, he can see Jimin’s arms struggling to wrap around Taehyung’s larger body fully - but the sight is still cute nonetheless.
"Taetae..." Jimin whispers, not wanting to wake anyone up though he knows that Jungkook is already listening in on them as the youngest inches closer to the cuddling boys. Taehyung hangs his head shamefully as he feels Jungkook's finger carding through his hair. Distinctly, he hears Jungkook mumbling to Jimin, "what’s wrong" and he feels Jimin shrug behind him.
Taehyung wants to tell them that there’s absolutely nothing wrong; it’s just him being stupid and overthinking things, just like he usually does. He wants them to know that they don’t have to worry about him and that he’s ultimately and totally fine.
Then Jungkook stretches and holds them in his arms too. He snuggles closer to Taehyung and Jimin, trapping Taehyung in the middle - but he’s not complaining. It doesn’t take long before Taehyung starts yawning and dozes off, the warm bodies close to his making him sleepy.
♡ ♡ ♡
The final bell rings, signaling the end of the school day.
The scene is as chaotic as a bunch of hyper kids ready to go home can be; laughs and shouts filling up the hallway, drowning out any mentions of homework that the teachers try to bring up.
Taehyung sighs.
It hasn’t been a great day for him, what with his teeth dilemma and his plummeting self-esteem. Now, Taehyung knows that this shouldn’t matter - knows that his fangs have a long way to go, and it’s alright if they are yet to grow.
But.
Like his teeth growing, Taehyung can’t help it. He can't help but focus on Yoongi's fangs that show when he speaks, how Hoseok’s smile has him staring (at the fangs, though admittedly, Taehyung does tend to stare when Hoseok smiles).
Taehyung is the last to finish gathering his stuff as the whole group awaits him; everyone’s got their book bags slung across their shoulders. On the side, Yoongi is feeding Seokjin some snacks he got from the shop outside the school with Yoongi aiming candies and throwing them in Seokjin’s open mouth. Namjoon helps Hoseok put stuff in his backpack, recounting what books Hoseok will need to bring home so he can finish the work due tomorrow while Jungkook and Jimin are chatting with Taehyung, their chatter coming in one ear and going straight out the other.
The two have been concerned for him ever since the naptime thing , and Taehyung doesn't know what to say to assure them - so he resorts to feeling incredibly bad about it. Jungkook and Jimin share a look, they don’t know what’s wrong, but they are trying to cheer Taehyung up by all means possible.
"Taetae..." Jimin flicks his arm suddenly, jolting Taehyung out of his thoughts. Looking up, he sees all six of them looking at him; their faces full of worry and guilt hits him deep in his chest.
There's a modicum of self-awareness when he realizes that this is because of him. They’re concerned - and for what? Taehyung being sad because his fangs won’t grow? Oh, boohoo. Shouldn’t he fret about something of more importance, like upcoming exams, how people perceive him or what he’ll have for dinner?
"Hey... Taehyung," Yoongi speaks up suddenly, hands shoved in the jeans pockets as he leans back against a wall, "are you... alright?"
"Yeah," Hoseok joins in, "you've been really quiet since lunch, actually. Are you feeling sick? Was it something you ate?"
Taehyung shakes his head hurriedly, quickly assuring them, "It's honestly nothing, don't worry about it, guys." And he shoots them a big smile - the boxy one that he knows everyone loves. Yet to his surprise, they don't let him go; in fact, Jimin's already pouty face gets even poutier - and Taehyung tries his best not to burst out laughing when he sees his best friend jutting his lips out so much that they might fall off.
"Kim Taehyung!" Jimin glares at him, his feet stomping onto the tile amusingly, "Tell me what is wrong this instant!"
"O-of course," Namjoon interjects, his arms keeping Jimin from jumping Taehyung, because the tiny boy looks ready to tackle Taehyung to the ground and fight him - out of love , of course, "If it's something that is difficult to share or makes you uncomfortable then you don't have to, but if you can, we would appreciate it and maybe we can help you out, y’know?"
Taehyung sighs even if his lips are curling upwards. The difference in their responses is striking, and it brings a smile to his face.
Taehyung can’t help but ask what has he done to deserve such good people in his life. He thinks of ways to put his problems into words, though his thought is cut short as Jimin escapes from Namjoon's hold and leaps onto him, tackling him in for a bone-crushing hug.
"Taehyu~ng,” Jimin holds Taehyung’s face in his hand, making their eyes meet, “I’m your best friend, you can tell me anything, you know that, right? I would never judge you or hurt you or make you sad or-"
"I know you won't, Jimin," Taehyung says assuringly, his hand soothes Jimin's back affectionately as the smaller softens into his hold. When Taehyung continues to pat his back, Jimin lets out tiny purrs and nuzzles his face into Taehyung’s neck.
"Did you get rejected by your crush?" Yoongi says out of the blue, making everybody look at him. Seokjin raises an eyebrow, looking from Yoongi to Taehyung, and Taehyung has to shake his head vehemently and get his point across.
"No! What makes you say that?"
"Eh," Yoongi shrugs indignantly, "just taking a shot in the dark." He doesn’t follow up after that, so Taehyung doesn’t question further.
Still pouting, Jimin pokes Taehyung's cheek with his fingers as he mumbles onto Taehyung’s shoulder, the fabric muffling the words but he can still make out Jimin asking, "Do you feel comfortable sharing what's wrong?"
Taehyung nods, head still trying to form words and sentences describing his situation in the least embarrassing way possible, before giving up and realizing that it would be best if he just says it outright. "Yeah, it's just... my fangs." He stops, looking up to everybody, "They aren't growing."
Taehyung feels a slight relief saying this out loud, as if this was a secret that he held in for so long and not just something mildly bothering him for half a day.
He darts his eyes nervously, picking up on everyone’s reactions, from Jimin’s confused head tilting to Jungkook’s mouth gaping from the revelation.
"...What?" Hoseok is the first to speak up, his body leaning closer to Taehyung's with curiosity.
"Yeah.” Taehyung shrugs it off, acting as casual as he can, “My fangs aren't growing, and it seems normal to have them at this point? Or at least I should start feeling the growth, but nothing. So..."
He knew it.
It isn’t normal.
Everyone at his age has already had their fangs filled in, or at the very least, felt something, anything, whereas him, Kim Taehyung, is even doubting whether he is a wolf or not because his dang teeth are being stubborn. At this point, Taehyung thinks he probably can’t even be classified as a wolf - what use is being one when your fangs won’t even grow?
Then Taehyung thinks of this - of them, his friends.
What if their dynamic changes, now that he isn’t like them? What if they treat him differently, now that he isn’t one of them? Well, these are his bestest of best friends, and after all, they have grown up together, spending more time with each other than with their own parents. Taehyung should have no doubt that they would stay by him no matter what; he knows for a fact that they would not isolate him.
But he can’t help being self-conscious. Anxiety rears its ugly head and it starts crawling up his spine and seeps into his thoughts - before Jimin squeezes his body tight again, dissipating any concerns that he previously had.
Taehyung thinks he might bust a lung; he wasn’t kidding when he said Jimin’s hug was bone-crushing.
"It's okay if you don't have fangs now Taetae, they will grow one way or another!" Jimin's voice is even more muffled as his face is pressed directly onto Taehyung's chest. Jimin nuzzles his face to seek a comfortable spot, and he hums appreciatively when he finds it."Don't panic, Taehyung-ah. Maybe it'll take you a bit longer to start growing."
Jimin’s words are soothing him and his unbundled thoughts, "I'm just scared that it might not-"
"It will!" Jungkook interrupts, walking up and flinging his arms around Jimin and Taehyung, causing Jimin to groan out complaints, legs kicking backward onto the youngest’s knees.
This just makes Jungkook laugh, and he uses his height to his advantage and wraps his body around Jimin and Taehyung, intentionally tightens his hold on Jimin.
“You’re worrying too much, hyung,” Jungkook says and flicks Taehyung’s cheeks lightly, smiling when he sees the older huffing.
Jimin hums appreciatively as he tugs on Jungkook’s arm since Jungkook agrees with his opinion and that Taehyung shouldn’t mind his teeth not growing. The sight is truly adorable, and Namjoon can’t help but coo while the others giggle.
"Yeah, Taehyung," Namjoon speaks up and approaches the three hugging bodies before opening his arms and embracing them all, "They will grow eventually, you don’t have to worry about it. It’s not uncommon to be a late bloomer, after all.”
Taehyung feels Namjoon holding them together as Jimin starts squeaking and glares at the elder. Now that Jimin’s in the middle of the hug, he’s effectively squished to oblivion.
"Group hug!" Hoseok shouts all of a sudden, taking the cue from the four and dragging Seokjin with him. The Seoks flings themselves onto the hug, making a ball of wolves that are far too warm for Taehyung’s liking - but he isn’t complaining.
Seokjin and Hoseok are both behind him, determined to make Taehyung the center of affection. Seokjin extends his arm to Jungkook, who’s holding Taehyung’s left side, then pinches his waist, making Taehyung yelps out in surprise.
"You shouldn't think about it too much, Taehyungie," Seokjin says, his head nuzzles into Taehyung's neck, "Even if you don't have fangs, it's not something that determines your worth-"
"Why aren't you hugging us?" Taehyung interrupts for the sake of riling Seokjin up, directing his question to Yoongi who's standing on the side and looking completely clueless.
"Yah! I'm still talking!" Seokjin berates angrily, his cheeks puffing up and Jungkook pokes it, giggling in the process. Hoseok, seizing the moment and also being Yoongi’s weakness, takes his arm out and pulls the objecting elder in. Although begrudgingly, Yoongi still complies, his eyes squinting at Taehyung as he tries to wrap his arms around the group. It’s physically impossible, but Taehyung still giggles when Yoongi can’t do it and resorts to holding onto Hoseok instead.
"We love you for who you are, with or without fangs." Yoongi then concludes, his voice low and the words rumble through them.
"It sounds so serious when you say it like that." Jimin blows raspberries as he wiggles his arm and reaches out to flick Yoongi's nose. The older scowls, directing a glare at Jimin, who only whistles teasingly, his fingers poking Yoongi’s cheeks and pinching them ruthlessly, mouthing dumpling hyung repeatedly.
Yoongi seems ready for a fight, taking his two hands and aiming them at Jimin as if he were to scratch him. Amidst the commotion, Hoseok shrugs at Taehyung, and they share a smile.
"But he's right, though," Hoseok tells him, "Having fangs doesn't determine your worth, so don't get too hung up on it, okay?"He ends the sentence by ruffling Taehyung’s hair, and he smiles at the affectionate touch.
"Yah!" Seokjin glares at Taehyung, "That was literally my point before you cut me off!"
Taehyung shrugs - or tries his best to, with six bodies tackling him for a hug anyway. That seems to make Seokjin even angrier, making him mumbling something about kids not having any respect for their elders which only makes the group of friends laugh.
"...You know?" Jimin looks at Taehyung, "I would shave off my fangs for you."
"Urg..." Namjoon makes a noise at the back of his throat, "That doesn't sound too fun."
"Yeah! I will do it, though! Kim Taehyung! I will do anything for you!" Jimin shouts out loud, and Taehyung has to shush him hurriedly, looking around.
If the blob of 7 wolves hugging each other is already attracting attention, Jimin's shouting doesn't necessarily help their case. But the fact that people are looking shouldn't matter now, not when Taehyung knows that he's got the most supportive friends that anyone can ask for, and for that, he's incredibly thankful.
♡ bonus ♡
When Taehyung looks to the front, he sees Seokjin and Yoongi hugging each other and snoring softly. It's kinda funny when he thinks about it, how the two are constantly bickering at any time possible but look strangely domestic when it's naptime.
Taehyung zones in on Yoongi, whose nose is scrunching up along with his face whenever Seokjin shifts around, and oh god isn't that the cutest thing Taehyung has ever seen. He turns to his left and sees Jimin sneakily on his phone trying to beat Jungkook’s record of that one game, and taps onto his arm. When Jimin takes his eyes off the device, Taehyung points to Yoongi and Seokjin, and they giggle at the sight.
“You know,” Jimin says as he holds back his smile when Yoongi puts a leg up Seokjin’s hip and pulls the elder closer, Seokjin can only make a face of discomfort but voices no complaints, complying nonetheless, “they look like a couple, sleeping like that.”
“I was just thinking that too!” Taehyung laughs, the sound is a bit too loud, and he has to cover his mouth but releases his hand quickly when it seems like nobody picked up on his laughter.
“Do you think they’re going to become a couple?” Jimin whispers and they both giggle at the thought.
“Who knows. I’m sure they’d tell us if they become one.”
“Mhmm,” Jimin hums in agreement, “They’re going to be a really loud couple, though.”
“Nah,” Taehyung shakes it off, “Seokjin-hyung’s going to be screaming at Yoongi-hyung for dozing off when he’s talking.”
They both chuckle at the thought before drifting their attention back on the couple in question.
Yoongi's leaning even further into Seokjin's body now, his limbs clinging on one of Seokjin's arms and Taehyung can just imagine how uncomfortable it must be for the eldest. Taehyung can see Jimin positioning his phone to capture the two sleeping bodies in the corner of his eyes. To their surprise, Jimin's phone goes off; the sound brazenly cuts through the quiet room.
Taehyung and Jimin look at each other and giggle.
Thank god those two are heavy sleepers, right?