Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

There is a boy. 

He sits, he basks in the welcoming wind. He knows there is no hope for him now. He knows he doesn’t belong here... not anymore at least. 

He sighs, he lives. 

He feels the wind tickle his ears, feels the breeze enclose him in a blanket of solitude, yet here he stays. 

Yet here he shall remain. 

A tree stands over him, here to mock me,   he thinks to himself.

He wants to stay strong; he needs to stay strong.

A vase he is, perfectly solid, he so strongly wants to believe; he can't let the cracks show, or else... 

He will break. 

The tears come out, oh so slowly at first, then they come rushing down like a hurricane; they're not stopping, they won't stop. 

He's trembling violently, his breath comes out in pained gasps, and he rocks himself forwards and backward, a vicious cycle of pain. 

A hand grasps his shoulders, his breath gets quicker, he furiously lets out a wounded gasp and turns around, ready to serve hell to whoever dared to disturb hi-

A boy.

It's just a boy, a bit older than him it seems. A warm face peers curiously at him, brown eyes glistening in the delicate sunlight, harmless he deliberates, notices the elder's plump full lips. 

Cherry red, as if the sun has kissed them. 

The younger blushes furiously, shaking himself out of his trance, as the elder just watches on curiously getting closer and closer still 

Closer

Closer 

Until he stops and smiles, his eyes bending into crescent moons, and reaches out his hand 

"Oh, a-are you ok there?" the elder asks gently, taking in the younger's tear-stained face "I heard sobs coming from the clearing, and I rushed all the way here, I was playing with my toy llama, he's called RJ, my eomma gave him to me for my birthday, isn't he adorable! Anyway, enough about little RJ, my name's Seokjin, but you can call me Jinnie if you like, that's what my eomma calls me sometimes... what's your nam-"

"Taehyung," The younger speaks finally, adorning a magnificent boxy grin "The name's Taehyung."

Chapter Text

A boy, with another.

Sat side by side, beneath the great oak tree, as the breeze tickles their frail ears.

Seokjin looks beyond the meek hill they are sitting on, for the only thing that grew on the murky reeds of grass were dandelions.

He quite enjoyed blowing their seeds off, seeing them dance in the wind, but he was alone then.

Now there was a boy beside him, Taehyung seems to be his name, idly picking the grass apart in his tiny hands.

Seokjin smiles at his antics, amused yet charmed by this peculiar little boy he had stumbled on. This was not how he had expected his day to go, but he wasn’t irritated.

This isn’t too bad, he thinks, as Taehyung chuckles, as a ladybug, absolutely minute and a bright red crimson, makes its way up his slender arms.

“So,” Seokjin starts, trying to make conversation, an attempt to remove the awkward glances they keep sharing “How did you end up here? I haven’t seen you around town before.”

Taehyung turns to him, his eyes lit up like flickering stars, swirling into an earnest mocha ocean. For a moment, Seokjin drowns in the vast sea, clutches the twinkling orbs of light, then Taehyung opens his mouth.

“I’ve been feeling down lately, I guess” the younger starts mumbling an incoherent string of words, his hands fiddling clumsily with his grey sweater, his eyes darting to the floor. “I just moved into this town, it’s been rough, to say the least. I thought I was doing a good job, you know? Keeping it all in, until today that is at least. I’m sorry you had to see me like this, I’m usually so put together.”

He glances at Seokjin, his twinkling orbs of light out of alignment, his boxy smile diminished to an overarching line, a mere fraction of the past and Seokjin…

Seokjin absolutely melts.

Seokjin feels an overwhelming urge to protect Taehyung, he has no idea why.

But somehow he feels like he has to.

“Hey!” Seokjin says “You should see me when I get in a bad mood! You're nothing compared to me, don’t worry! Besides, I don’t mind at all, I’m just glad you’re not bottling your emotions up.” He flashes the younger a grin, failing to notice Taehyung smiling dumbly at it. “I know what’ll cheer you up! Have you ever heard of a Maple Story? I play it in my house all the time, it’s so addicting and so charming, and so cool too-”

“MAPLE STORY?!” Taehyung gasps, with a boxy exclamation “You play that too! I haven’t found anyone who plays it here, even in my old town, no one even bothered to play with me. Well… except for Jiminie hyung, my neighbour, but he’s rubbish at it anyways!” Taehyung groans with anguish, but Seokjin could hear a certain hint of adoration in it.

“Have you played the new update yet? The new boss is so hard to beat, " Taehyung glances at him quizzically, his eyes squinting into little crescent moons "Hmph, I bet you have though, you look smart enough to have. I can see it in your smirk hyung." Seokjin smiles sheepishly, his face still carved into a toothy grin

"Well, I'm glad someone has finally decided to recognize my intelligence!" He pokes his forehead playfully "One of my friends at school told me about this secret cheat! Give me a sec... I think I have it written down somewhere-"

"Seokjin-ah, You're so smart!" Taehyung exclaims, with the most delightful of grins, as Seokjin's ears turn as red as raspberries picked on a summer's day.

"T-That's hyung to you, Tae!" Seokjin mumbles, he's unable to stop a little grin from emerging on the corner of his lips as Taehyung's eyes seem to sparkle with awe.

"Tae!" Taehyung exclaims, playing with the name on his tongue only to succumb to giggles "See Jinnie, you really are so clever, I for one could never compete." He pouts with a sense of feigned sadness.

"No need to be so mean to yourself Tae!" Seokjin quips, his face now formed into a frustrated frown, his arms crossed.

"Ok hyungie~" Taehyung replies, his mouth folds to a mischievous smirk "I don't think you'll let me anyways."

…

The sun smiles and the clouds seem to be retreating, the rain halts and the sky seems to be watching from above.

Two boys laugh, play and lie down on the grass, staring at the encompassing ocean above them and wondering how fast minutes go by. Ramble about annoying people and days lost to the wind.

They bask in the sun's rays, the surrounding dandelions and the comfort of one another.

…

The moonlight is setting. The inky black sky is sprinkled with flickering stars and broken dreams and all the birds seem to have fled away.

It leaves only two boys lying on the grass.

One plays idly with a dandelion whilst the other simply gazes above.

"Hey, hyung?" Taehyung says softly, turning over to Seokjin "It's getting late, I think I have to go now. I don't want to worry my eomma, or Jiminie for that matter-"

"Oh," Seokjin forms a small gasp whilst realizing how fast time had sped by them, and gets to his feet "Well, you can't leave right away... give me a minute, I swear I won't be long!"

Seokjin darts away from a frazzled Taehyung and to the cluster of dandelions in the corner. He plays with one between his hands before going back to Taehyung.

"Hold still for a minute ok?" he mumbles, whilst delicately inserting the dandelion into Taehyung's fluffy hair, feeling the younger's lingering gaze on him. "There!" Seokjin steps back, marveling at his handiwork, now you know I'm keeping the promise!"

"What promise?" The younger quips, a curious look on his face. "You didn't mention a promise..."

"Oh! Well-" Seokjin goes bright red and plays with some grass with his feet while avoiding Taehyung's eyes. Taehyung continues to peer at him -as if he expects an answer.

"The promise that we'll- we'll see each other again, every week on a Tuesday!" Seokjin blurts out, having spit out a random day and hoping he hadn't completely made a fool out of himself. "As long as it works for you, whatever you're happy with!" Taehyung grins, and reaches out his hand "Deal! Right after school ends, we race here and meet up ok, promise?"

Seokjin extends his pinky, a silly childhood tradition he'll never be tired of and won't be rid of for years to come.

"Promise."

Chapter Text

A boy, asleep in his bed.

Another walks in.

Park Jimin ambles into Taehyung’s room, sighs at the paint splattered all over the freshly cleaned floor panels. He still manages to smile at the picturesque art hung up on his walls however, things that Taehyung has put his whole soul into making, and he knows it. Stay focused Jimin, he thinks, momentarily shaken out of his love for his neighbour’s creativity, the idiot begged you to wake him up, and you will, just like the amazing soulmate you are! He smiles at his truly remarkable self, then proceeds to open his mouth. 

“PABO IT’S LIKE FIVE PAST TEN NOW!” he shrieks.

Taehyung groans, then flips himself around, already sound asleep again. 

“YOUR STUPID THING WITH HYUNG IS IN TEN MINUTES,” he pauses, Taehyung won’t give up, but he has just the thing to make him, he won’t let his precious soulmate down “YOU KNOW…” he continues, a shit-eating grin consuming his face “Seokjin HYUNG?”

Taehyung lets out an ear piercing screech and immediately gets up, he rushes over to the mirror and struggles to get his spindly arms into a somewhat decent enough shirt “JIMINIE! I’M GOING TO BE LATE!” he screams, trying to comb his notoriously fluffy hair. 

He dashes downstairs, a toothbrush placed in his mouth, jumps into the closest slippers he can find, then makes it to the front door and is out before Jimin can even blink. 

Jimin sighs in amusement and shouts out the door “HEY TAE, HOW COME YOU’RE NEVER THIS EAGER WHEN ME AND JEONGGUK ARE AROUND?” but Taehyung is too out of earshot to hear a single thing.

“That’s young love I suppose.” Jimin chuckles and with a little nod to a dandelion sitting in a bespeckled pot by the window, closes the door.

…

Kim Taehyung was in his last year of middle school now, and Seokjin had just started high school, or Jinnie, as he had grown accustomed to calling him. 

Middle school used to be alright, at least he could always look forward to seeing that awkward smile of Seokjin’s whenever they exchanged glances between the tiring chore of classes. He could glance through corridors of endless people, but it was funny how only one face would always show up though, a pale face with glowing brown eyes and a skinny demeanour, and he still managed to look like a dream. 

They could walk through the courtyard together, (even if Jimin and Jeongguk always found them somehow, giggling like five year olds every time they exchanged looks with the pair) and laugh whilst running after each other through cascades of people. 

Now, Taehyung was stuck in school without him, now he was stuck in a school full of utter idiots with cheese sticks for brains and stuck wondering why the hell he didn’t just climb over the gates and run for his dear life.

To say he missed Seokjin, was an understatement.

Jimin and Jeongguk were alright though, his only anchors to this school, as they seemed benigned to help him up whenever he found himself lost in piles and piles of homework. They would walk hand in hand with him through the canteen doors, whilst throwing food at each other and subsequently landing all of them in detention.

To say that he wouldn’t want to see the furious face of their principal again, would also be a drastic understatement. 

Then again, seeing the two of them try desperately to suck up to the said principal, would be something he would pay to witness on repeat, he still fails to shut up about it even now- much to the pair’s collective dismay and resulting throw of hands.

…

There was one thing Taehyung wouldn't miss.

One thing that never failed to bring a stabbing pain to his guts that he couldn't describe adequately. 

Seeing an ever growing swarm of girls around Seokjin, seeing Seokjin smiling and laughing with people other than him.

It really stung, and god did he detest it.

Why should he of all people feel the need to care about who Seokjin hanged out with? Why should he even deserve to have that stabbing ache in his bones whenever he glanced at Seokjin? 

Seokjin would eventually break out of the crowd, walk over to where Taehyung was situated and ask with a frown "Tae? The hell, you look like you've just seen a ghost!"

Taehyung would grimace.

"Oh, it's just stomach cramps."

"Stomach cramps?! Tae, seriously, we should get you to the nurse,"

He couldn't help but smirk at the disappointed crowd of girls behind him, as he left with Seokjin's hands in his.

…

Taehyung runs through cascades of green and tulips of crimson,

I'M LATE I'M LATE, he mumbles as he jumps over rocks and jagged nettles letting out a sigh of relief when he narrowly escapes them.

He eventually stumbles upon the familiar bronze giant of a tree and to a very familiar boy, clutching a willowy dandelion and on the cusp of letting out a blow.

"Hey!" Seokjin catches a glimpse of Taehyung and gets to his feet "I was worried about you Tae," Taehyung can tell he's trying his best to look mad, but his reddening ears always give him away.

"Hey hyung! I missed you too." Taehyung grins and sits down beside Seokjin, as Seokjin leaps down and hugs Taehyung in a bone crushing embrace, as if he's afraid Taehyung will disappear out of his hands any second.

"No need to be so dramatic!" Taehyung whispers but returns the gesture, barely able to contain his happiness.

Soon, Seokjin lets go (much to Taehyung's surprise, he feels somewhat disheartened), pushes his hair to the side and tilts his head "So, where do you want to go today?" 

"Wherever you want hyung."

"Hmmm…" Seokjin mumbles "Joon's coffee shop is open!" He smiles.

Taehyung knows he's referring to his classmate Namjoon, a well renowned young genius in their town or what they affectionately call him; an absolute smartass. 

"Great!" Taehyung replies whilst getting himself up and heading towards the town "Get up already slowpoke, bet I can get there faster than you-" 

He sees the older let out a bemused chuckle, before he too gets up and races after Taehyung.

They get down the hill in approximately ten seconds, aided by the fact that Taehyung proceeds to push Seokjin down halfway through, followed by petty squabbling and breathy laughter.

…

They amble through the streets, as they share laughs over the noisy chatter of the surrounding around them and they approach a cosy little shop down the road. 

KIM'S DELIGHTS proclaims the building, the pair share a chuckle as they've always taken to assuming that they too own the shop as well as Joon's family. They enter, the ringing of bells following, and take to sitting down on the nearest table they can spot.

"So," Seokjin asks, "How's school been without your darling hyung?"

"Hyung, quit being so full of yourself" Taehyung muses "But for the record, it's been hell."

"Hell?"

"Yeah, turns out not seeing your face poking out of the corner of my eyes every five seconds didn't do me any good."

"You mean my worldwide handsome-"

"Face. I know how it goes, hyung when will you ever stop using that?"

"Never."

Taehyung is on the cusp of opening his mouth, when a boy Seokjin's age prods his shoulder.

"If it isn't my favourite two customers!" Namjoon exclaims, bowing down extravagantly with a grin “What brings you to my humble establishment?”

“Salutations my dear friend!” Taehyung beams, amused by the show Namjoon is putting on and playing along with fervour 

Seokjin peers at the two with uncertainty, a scientist observing two peculiar experiments.

“So Seokjin,” Namjoon turns to Seokjin, smirking “Is this your new date?” 

Taehyung and Seokjin both turn bright red as they take in Namjoon’s beguiled posture and screech.

“I AM NOT HIS DATE?!”

“HE IS NOT MY DATE.”

Namjoon laughs, throwing his head back, as he collects himself and simply smiles “All for the show, no need to take me so seriously,” He peers at the pair “Though, if you two were dating, I’d be all for it!”

Taehyung and Seokjin look at each other, and blush, before Namjoon sniggers and asks for their orders, twirling the pen he’s holding. Seokjin reluctantly replies, not noticing Taehyung gazing curiously at him.

Is it bad that he wouldn’t be totally opposed to the idea?

And why are Seokjin’s ears still a furious red?

He gazes out of the window, determined to think of anything else.

He mustn't get his hopes up after all. 

…

Taehyung sips on his mocha, as Seokjin finishes his cappuccino, smacking his lips together momentarily before going to put his cup in the bin.

“I want it not too hot, not too sweet and a dollop of whipped cream on the top.” He had remarked to Namjoon only moments before.

He always orders the same thing, Taehyung had thought affectionately, smiling.

Seokjin returns within seconds, taking his seat. 

“So Taehyung, about what you were saying before.” He chirps “Why has it been, as you stated rather eloquently may I add, ‘absolute fucking hell’?”

“I didn’t say it like that!” Seokjin looks at him quizzically and Taehyung groans “You’re talking about school, right?” Seokjin nods and Taehyung continues.

“Well, for starters, there’s not seeing your annoying face everyday, like I said before it seems to have had a bad effect on me.” Seokjin chuckles as he rolls his eyes with a faint ghost of a smile.

“Then there’s the glaring fact that I literally have no classes with Jiminie and Jeungguk. Those two were the only people I could somewhat handle, now I’m stuck with a bunch of assholes as classmates and birdbrains for teachers. It’s like my headteacher woke up one day and decided to choose violence.” He mimics an explosion with his hands and Seokjin absolutely loses it, cackling wildly.

“Laughing at my pain much?” Taehyung comments, crossing his arms and frowning "I thought you'd have some empathy."

"No! It's not like that, I swear," Seokjin wails, taking a minute to catch his breath before adding "You're just so funny!" 

Taehyung stares at him.

"You're funny! Not your pain, not your pain!" 

Seokjin gets up to approach him, Taehyung having turned his back on him in a feigned sort of frustration but secretly enjoying the look on Seokjin's poor face.

"I miss you too Taehyung." Seokjin states, putting his hands on Taehyung's shoulders to turn him around, and simply stares at him with an awed sense of ... something that Taehyung can't quite put a name to.

"I miss you more." Taehyung whispers.

And holy shit does he really mean it.

…

Seokjin insists on walking Taehyung home, even to Taehyung's groans and complaints that he is not ten years old anymore.

Seokjin seems to profusely ignore him.

They stumble half asleep into Taehyung's house whilst Taehyung's eomma coos and insists Seokjin stay for a little while longer, running off to fetch a cup of tea for him. 

Taehyung eventually dozes off, after the pair had played game after game and Seokjin came out on top time after time again, the unrivalled Mario Kart champion (much to Taehyung's disdain) and soon, Seokjin realises that he should get home too.

He puts on his coat and looks at Taehyung one last time.

God, he looks like a dream.

He walks over to where he lies, eyes closed and plump, pink lips wide open. 

He hesitates, before leaving a kiss on the younger's forehead and heading off with a small smile on his face.

Too bad he'll have to keep dreaming.

Chapter Text

A boy by the sea.

Two gremlins situated behind him, cackling with laughter.

Taehyung desperately wishes the blue mouth of the sea would swallow him whole, because one Park Jimin and Jeon Jeungguk could really challenge his will to live.

Seokjin had offered to meet up with the three one day after school. Waiting by the gates with a lopsided grin, he steadily approached Taehyung with a tap to the shoulder before blurting out how his uncle had a fishing boat and oh how it would be great if he could come see it and (before sparing a glance at at Jimin and Jeungguk) yes, yes they could come too but only if Taehyung actually wanted to go because if he couldn’t that was fine by him and-

Taehyung silenced the poor boy with a warm smile, and curtly nodded.

The minute Seokjin left, the blush on his face slowly climbing up to his ears, Jimin quickly burst into tears “My little Taehyungie is growing up so fast!” Jeongguk comforted him before promptly following suit.

Taehyung was strangely… endeared?

The pair still haven’t stopped giggling and exchanging whispers since they got to the pier, and frankly Taehyung’s resisting the urge to turn around and scream at them but, to be fair, he’s honestly just as excited as them.

He peers down to his shoes, quickly leaning down and redoing his shoelaces and muttering silent prayers that he looks decent at the very least.

Then he looks up.

Then he looks up and sees an angel.

Kim Taehyung is not one to fall into cliches but he has to visibly bite down on his lip to make sure he doesn’t actually land with his face on the ground.

Seokjin glances at him, round glasses on the tip of his nose (that look way too good on him, not that he noticed) and a lovely cashmere turtleneck cosily resting on his tall, lanky demeanour.

“Well,” he says, crouching with his hands on his knees  “What are you doing down there?”

Taehyung quickly jumps up. “I was just doing my shoelaces up again, why are you so late?”

Seokjin immediately pales and gets to his feet, looking at his watch “No, I’m right on time actually, looks like you’re the one who came early,” Taehyung goes absolutely red. “I know we all want to see the boat, but there’s no need to be so enthusiastic!”

Taehyung lets out a silent chuckle. Bless him, he really thinks I came here for the boat. He nods in agreement and Seokjin smiles in response. Maybe that's what I came for; that smile.

Before he can contemplate this thought further, Seokjin gestures at Jeungguk and Jimin, urging them to come forward and starts going on a rant about proper fishing etiquette and how they have to match the fishing lure to the colour of the water and how it has to be the exact size as the fish and-

Before long, Taehyung has started to zone out.

He’s barely taking in whatever the hell is coming out of Seokjin’s mouth and just staring at him like an open mouthed carp who's just been reeled in.

Hooked; line and sinker.

He's hooked, absolutely hooked.

Seokjin looks like a goddamn dream. He notices the way his eyes seem to glisten in the sun, the same stupidly nerdy smile he's worn since Taehyung met him and the way he's never seemed to lost that glow of pure, pure-

He can't seem to put a name to it, but it's something.

If only he had a little more time, if only he could think-

"Taehyung!" Jeungguk yells, waving his hands. Taehyung blinks almost comically. "You idiot, they're already halfway up the pier!"

"Sorry!" Taehyung exclaims, running after him. "Quit being so fast, you know I'm slow!"

…

Seokjin is ambling his way past the children eagerly devouring ice-cream in the hot, blazing sun.

He genuinely seems ecstatic, the boy can't seem to stop smiling and beaming every five seconds.

(Though, Taehyung can't tell if the tender crescent moons he keeps forming with his eyes are from excitement, or the sun getting testy)

Thus, when Taehyung trudges up to the top of the pier, he has high expectations.

He doesn't, however, expect to come head to head with a boat- and the smallest one he's ever seen at that. It's a rusty brick red, the initials of the boat engraved into the boat fading and it can barely fit two people.

This is what he gets for running here the minute Seokjin asked him to come.

He turns around almost automatically to the two gremlins that have been trailing him all day.

They both look horrified.

It's not looking good for him, to say the least.

…

Park Jimin, can be described in many words.

You could describe him as smart, funny, cunning, and the kind of beautiful that makes all humans alike turn their heads and immediately want to run to him in flocks.

You could also describe him, as one Jeon Jeungguk put most wisely: "A manipulative smartass who knows how absolutely gorgeous he is and will gladly use it to his advantage."

So, when this said Jeon Jeungguk takes one glance at the rusty boat and silently screams at Jimin with his eyes alone, it's safe to say Jimin knows exactly what to do.

With one carefully planned look to Seokjin, his eyes glistening and sparkling (which was startlingly similar to that of a puppy.. or a kitty? Taehyung couldn't tell.) he starts mumbling that his auntie had just rung him and that she was horribly sick and Seokjin you wouldn't want me to leave her alone would you?

Then, Jimin grabs Jeongguk by his wrists with an almost terrifying amount of force and books it out of there.

"WHY ARE YOU EVEN BRINGING JEUNGGUK?!" Seokjin yells, clearly dazed "WHAT ABOUT TAEHYUNG?!"

"WELL I NEED COMPANY AND I COULDN'T LEAVE YOU ALONE SILLY!" Jimin yells back, already a solid block away. "HAVE FUN!"

Taehyung has been laughing his head off the whole time, he can barely let out a wheeze by the time he finishes.

But then he sees Seokjin.

And then he sees a tiny excuse of a boat.

And then he realises how absolutely fucked he is.

"Well," Seokjin mumbles, turning to face Taehyung. "Guess it's just you and me then."

"Yeah, guess it is."

He swears he can hear Jimin and Jeungguk snickering in the distance, and he internally screams.

…

The boat keeps a steady rhythm, bobbing up and down on the cerulean waves.

Taehyung stifles a giggle, knowing Jeungguk would probably make some kind of sex joke out of that if he were here, and the way Jimin’s face would glow red and he’d squawk out an outraged protest whilst Jeungguk would wink at him teasingly.

He’s watching over the edge of the boat, clutching a blue fishing rod in his hand, and letting it drift through the shallow water and humming absentmindedly.

The misty clouds seem to eat at the azure skies and the sun cowers behind them. Taehyung peers over at Seokjin who huffs with determination, seemingly willing a fish to just appear in the silky waves, his hands holding the fishing rod with a firm grip.

He notices Taehyung's gaze and waves with a smile, and he nearly lets go of the rod, before picking it up just in time and sighing with relief.

Such an idiot, Taehyung thinks with a fond grin and is about to continue waving when he feels a tug.

A huge tug.

A tug that threatens to throw him overboard but he just so manages to pull himself up and can hear his heart pounding.He holds on to his fishing rod with sheer will.

He will not fall over like an idiot in front of Seokjin.

"TAEHYUNG!" Seokjin yells, sprinting over to him and looking stricken. "Are you ok?" He notices Taehyung gripping the fishing rod and rushes over to help him, Taehyung acknowledging this with a nod and they begin to pull together.

He's too caught up trying to not let go of the rod to blush over how close Seokjin is, or how he can feel the elder's breath on his face.

(It smells like strawberries and sea salt)

Sooner or later, they step back and look at what Mother Nature has decided to serve them:

One ridiculously huge tuna fish stares back at them.

Taehyung has no idea who starts cackling first, but soon they both end up on the floor; giggling and laughing and at their wits end.

...

Taehyung packs his things, and walks over to the edge of the pier.

He notices Seokjin sitting down, his feet dangling on the sand and staring at the wide array of stars above them.

He looks quite peaceful there, his glasses glinting in the moonlight and pale skin glowing.

(Kind of like the sirens his Eomma used to wax tales about; mythical, beautiful, pulling you towards them with every step.)

Taehyung joins him, and they simply look at the sky in joint silence.

(He'll always go towards Seokjin, it's like there's a red string connecting them, and it will always choose him.)

Seokjin finally turns to him, looks him square in the eyesand says "So... got anyone at school yet?"

What.
The.
Fuck.

What kind of question is that? How can Taehyung even answer that question without accidentally outing himself? He doesn't even know if he's into girls! Amd if would be awkward if Seokjin found out that he was the reason for it-

Did he like Seokjin?

Seokjin was handsome sure. But anyone with two eyes could see that! Surely admiring him and wanting to hold his hand SOMETIMES was just a bros being bros thing right?

Jimin and Jeungguk were both publicly into guys (and CLEARLY had their own little thing to sort out). They would support him without a doubt, but was he even sure that he was into guys?

He had dated one girl briefly, but they were both six! (That was an awkward week of avoiding each other at best.) How come Jimin and Jeungguk could figure their shit out without dating anyone!

(Probably because the two idiots were too obsessed with each other to look at anyone else. And they didn't even know it!)

Maybe this was just wishful thinking, maybe the butterflies in his stomach were actually vicious moths, maybe wanting to hold hands and gaze at your totally platonic best friend's stupidly gorgeous face was a totally normal thing that everyone went through.

Shit.

Who was he kidding.

He has a crush on Kim Seokjin.

Kim FUCKING Seokjin.

(The string at his heart was tugging him towards Seokjin, it always had. Like the sun following the moon, an eternal cycle of longing.)

"So?" Seokjin says.

"No one obviously. We're way too young for that."

Nice! A witty and quick answer, nothing too obvious and he hadn't even stuttered.

The universe was working in his favour today.

But why would Seokjin be asking anyway? Was this his way of telling him that he'd finally accepted one of the girls that trailed him all day? Did he have a girlfriend?

"No Taehyung... I don't"

SHIT.
Of course, he said that out loud.

"Oh-" He begins before Seokjin interrupts him.

Seokjin looks almost... scared? As if he's swallowing poison- as if it'll be the death of him.

(Seokjin will be the death of him, will always be the death of him, yet the reason he breathes and lives.)

"Wait. Taehyung I need to tell you something-"

Taehyung holds his breath.
And Seokjin's phone starts to ring.

"Of course my appa decides to call now! I'm so sorry Tae, I'll see you later ok? Today was..." Seokjin pauses for a bit, as if he's lost in a thought. "Amazing."

Taehyung waves goodbye as Seokjin starts to make his way home.

He sits on the sand and simply lets out a breath.

The stars look beautiful today.

Fuck.

They remind him of Seokjin.

Scattered among the blue, too far yet so near.

(To touch, to love)

The stars peer below at him.

(They look beautiful.)

Chapter Text

A boy sat in a classroom.

Seokjin is good at keeping secrets.

He’s good at pretending he hasn’t been able to take off the parent lock since the very day his parents decided to install it.

(And yes, he will be carrying his browser history to his very grave)

He’s also good at pretending he can’t see the way Yoongi (also known as the shoulders he cries on and the begrudged light of his life) has been painted a crimson red since the very day he laid eyes on Namjoon; the new guy who had transferred to their school this year and a really good friend of his.

(For all Yoongi goes on about how males are the very bane of his existence, Namjoon certainly seems to be an exception)

Namjoon apparently smiled once at Yoongi during a class they had together and the latter wouldn’t shut up about dimples for a solid month.

It was easily the most pain Seokjin had ever gone through.

Seokjin is also especially good at pretending that his home life isn’t slowly falling apart.

As if the letters jammed through his letterbox are merely hoaxes, elaborate tricks.

As if his Appa hadn’t lost his job a few months back.

As if he’s not even sure if they’ll be able to afford the house at this point.

But he won’t think about that.

He refuses to think about it.

(RJ sits on a shelf in his room)

(He hasn’t touched it since he was ten)

(Running through fields of flowers with the wind in his hair)

(It reminds him of simpler times)

He also doesn’t think about the fact that he’s had a crush on the same boy since he was thirteen.

Kim Taehyung.

(The boy who reminds him of moonlit skies and the midnight swirl of stars)

(Brown ruffled hair that makes him think of strawberries and rain)

(Tender hands holding his)

Sitting on a wooden chair in what feels like a heatwave whilst an old, stout forty-something man goes on and on about calculus.

It honestly sucks but unless he wants to fail his whole course, he really should be listening.

Yet, all he can think about is how all his thoughts seem to disappear when he’s around that damned boy.

(Of a boat in the middle of the sea)

(With all the stars he could ever wish for right above him)

(When the only star he wants is right in front of him)

(An angel who’s somehow fallen from the heavens)

“Kim Seokjin?”

He immediately bolts up.

Shit. He wasn’t even paying attention.

Everyone’s staring blankly at him, did the teacher just ask him a question?

(Yoongi’s mouthing something at him, Seokjin’s never been good at lip reading)

“William Shakespeare?”

The whole class bursts into laughter, thankfully good-naturedly and the teacher simply purses his lips and continues his lesson.

Thank god for his reputation as the class clown.

The bell rings and he stumbles out of class, whilst Yoongi trails beside him, still in pieces after Seokjin’s stunt.

“You idiot! Shakespeare?!” Yoongi manages to choke out.

“Yeah well, Calculus has never been my forte,” Seokjin replies, absentmindedly tapping the lockers one by one as they amble past.

Yoongi begins to cackle even more, “Name something you’re actually good at.”

“Hey,” Seokjin exclaims, clearly appalled. “I’ll let you know that I’m a man of many talents!” He playfully flicks Yoongi on the forehead. Yoongi retaliates by shoving him and soon they’re on the floor, howling with laughter and winding each other up. 

“Look.” A familiar voice calls out. “I am very fond of you two but I seriously can’t warn you of a teacher coming every time I find you two messing about, even I have my limits. Now get up before he sees you!”

Seokjin glances up to see Kim Namjoon of all people looking down at them, and shoots an amused glance at Yoongi, who quickly darts up and blurts “Sorry Namjoon! We won’t do it again.” 

Namjoon simply smiles kind-heartedly and walks off.

Yoongi is a bright crimson red.

“Karma.” Seokjin muses.

It earns him a hard kick on the shin.

…

He arrives home, enters through the door and calls out to his parents to make his presence known. 

They don’t answer.

They’re situated by the living room, conversing in hushed whispers.

Seokjin visibly pales.

“Seokjin, dear,” his mother murmurs, his father acknowledging him with a curt nod. “Love, we have something we need to tell you.” 

…

It’s all a bit of a blur from there.

He remembers his father mumbling something about higher rent and lower budgets.

Something about not being able to afford living here anymore.

(He remembers his own breath trembling)

(He remembers his heart falling and falling and falling)

(He remembers how he knowing what words would come out of his father’s mouth)

(He remembers holding on to the sinking hope that this was all just a dream)

(This had to be a dream, someone’s sick, deluded idea of a joke)

Then his father goes on about a job opportunity in Japan- hundreds of miles away- that Seokjin will have to transfer to a new school.

And how they’re moving the day after.

And how they had no choice, they never had a choice, the landlord was shoving letters down their throat each day,

They had no choice.

(As if they had given Seokjin a chance)

He remembers bolting upstairs and crying himself hoarse.

Before screaming into a pillow, screaming and screaming and screaming.

His parents don’t check on him.

(They probably know their reassurances won’t change this)

Fuck, how is he even going to say goodbye?

To Yoongi, to Namjoon.

To Taehyung.

(Dandelions, strawberries and rain, lying on a field with dots of lilac)

(Wishing on flickering stars for simpler things)

(Like the heart of the boy right next to him)

Seokjin glances to his phone; two unread messages from Taehyung.

dandelion boy ♥

hey!

wyd :)

seokjin

typing …

Seokjin places his phone back onto his desk.

This isn’t exactly the kind of conversation you have over text.

Anyways, tomorrow is Tuesday.

I’ll tell him then, He thinks.

He’ll tell him tomorrow.

…

Seokjin breaks the news to Yoongi and Namjoon during lunch, after hours of refusing to tell him why he looked absolutely miserable, like he hadn’t even gotten a wink of sleep.

It’s not pretty.

Namjoon looks distraught but seems determined to not turn this into a crying session because Yoongi-

Yoongi looks fucking heartbroken.

And Seokjin’s heart is this close to following suit.

Namjoon turns to Seokjin, tells him that they’ll make sure they all stay in touch, that they’ll try to visit him as soon as they can.

Yoongi hasn’t said a word this entire time.

Finally, he turns to Seokjin, his face pale, and gives him the most heart wrenching hug he has ever received.

He returns it back with every fibre in his being.

…

Seokjin sits on the field.

It’s never looked quite so bittersweet.

(He can practically trace the paths him and Taehyung used to run through)

(Pretending they were astronauts, discovering planets and ambling through swirling galaxies)

(Blowing dandelions and watching them fly, balancing ladybugs on the tips of their fingers)

And there he is,

Kim Taehyung.

And once he sees Seokjin, he races to him; and encloses him with a rushing embrace.

“I heard the news from Jimin, word travels around town faster than you’d think,” Taehyung says, “Seokjin, I’m gonna miss you so much you idiot.” Taehyung glances up to Seokjin ; his eyes are glassy, threatening to overflow.

“Do you remember the day we met?" Taehyung continues, Seokjin nods. "Deciding to know you was the best decision I've ever made. I still can't believe how lucky I was to meet you, that day in the clearing, you picked me up when I was at my fucking lowest, and you always have. I never lost that dandelion you gave me, you know that right? I think it’s my turn to give something to you." Taehyung glances up at him and places a lone dandelion on his hair. "I’ll always be waiting for you Seokjin, we’ll stay in touch, I promise.” 

"Taehyung..." Seokjin whispers. "I don't know what I'll do without you," 

Suddenly, he starts sobbing.

Seokjin cries and cries and cries.

Taehyung doesn’t seem to care, he just keeps holding him.

I love you I love you I love you

That’s the words he puts into every tear.

He prays that Taehyung can hear them.

If Taehyung somehow can, he doesn’t say anything.

He simply holds him harder.

…

He doesn’t remember much after that.

He’s in Taehyung’s arms one second, and strapped to the seat of his parent’s car the next.

“It’ll be ok Seokjin-ah,” his father murmurs. “It’ll be ok, this is for the best.”

Seokjin doesn’t respond.

He just looks out the car window.

He clutches a dandelion in his hands.