Chapter Text
It's just another day of second grade for Kim Taehyung. He's done some math, a few writing exercises, learned some new vocabulary, and read some really cool stories. He's a very friendly boy and that alone makes him very popular among his classmates and teachers. Taehyung has just finished another masterpiece in his art class-which he is very proud of-and has managed to get paint on his face. That is how Taehyung finds himself in the boy's bathroom across the hall from the art room. He stands in front of the mirror giggling at the purple streaks on his chin and the tip of his nose before he begins washing the paint off with water.
As he's washing his face he swears he hears a noise so he stops and listens. He decides that it was his imagination after he doesn't hear anything. Just as he's about to continue washing his face he hears some sniffling and a few whimpers. Where could it be coming from? There's nobody in the bathroom but himself. Unless…no, it can't be. He hurriedly finishes washing his face so he can just get out of the bathroom and go back to the safety of his classroom even though he doesn't have anything to be afraid of because ghosts aren't real, ghosts aren't real, ghosts aren't real. Or at least that's what he's trying to convince himself. He's almost made it out, he's drying his face and hands with a paper towel and is about to make a run for it when it happens.
The sniffles and whimpers have officially turned into serious crying and Taehyung having that heart for gold of his immediately feels bad for the ghost. That's the very moment that he decides that he isn't scared of ghosts and makes it his mission to cheer the ghost up. "Hello?" As soon as he speaks the crying stops and after a few moments it starts again. That is the reason Taehyung finds himself crawling on the bathroom floor, checking underneath every stall to see if he can find the sad little ghost. He's almost at the end of the row of stalls, in his mind he knows he should be looking for a form covered in a white bed sheet so you can imagine his surprise when instead he spots a pair of tiny legs, sporting a pair of red converse dangling from a closed toilet seat. Deep down, he always knew ghosts weren't real. Now that he's certain that there is in fact not a ghost in the boy's bathroom he calmly crawls inside to see what's wrong.
He's made it inside the stall now. Inside he finds a small boy, probably younger than himself, with fluffy, black hair, wearing yellow shorts and a red Iron Man t-shirt. Clearly the boy hasn't noticed that he crawled inside the stall because he's still crying, rubbing tears out of his eyes facing downward at his lap.
That's when Taehyung decides to make his presence known and speaks to the boy, "Hey, why are you crying," he asks bending over to get a good look at the boy's face. That, unfortunately, is a bad move as it scares the boy. He stops crying immediately, and looks up buts jumps back in his seat a little bit.
That's when Taehyung finally sees the face behind all of the crying. It's a small and cute face despite the redness and tear streaks from the crying. Rounded cheeks, big watery doe-eyes, a bunny-like nose, thin upper lip paired with a plump lower lip. He stares at Taehyung for a moment before scooting back on the toilet lid to create some distance from Taehyung, who stands too close, and then he speaks, "Wh-what are you doing in here?"
"I just wanted to see you, but why are you crying," Taehyung explains as if it isn't obvious.
"You can't-you can't be in here. If you want to use this toilet you have to wait your turn. One at a time," the crying boy retorts with a flustered voice and expression. Taehyung can only smile because the more the crying boy speaks, the pinker his cheeks turn and he swears he just caught a glimpse of his bunny-like teeth.
"But I don't want to use this toilet. And you're not using it either anyway. I just want to know why you're crying." That must have caused the crying boy to remember why he was crying in the first place because, well, he starts crying again.
"Be-because. I'm lost. I can't find my classroom, my substitute f-f-forgot me in the library -and-and-and I can't find my way back." He's very upset, rubbing tears out of his eyes. Taehyung scoots him over so that they can both sit on the toilet lid and wraps an arm around his shoulder reassuringly, "Oh, well don't cry. Hyung can help you! I'm in second grade, I pretty much know where everything is in the entire school."
The crying boy looks up at him with big eyes, "Really? You'll help me?"
Taehyung nods before nuzzling his head onto the crying boy's, "Of course I will. But you have to promise to be my friend from now on."
"I promise."
"Great! My name is Taehyung! Nice to meet you!"
"I-I'm Jungkookie. I mean, my name is Jungkook."
"Okay, Jungkookie where are we going?"
"Kindergarten, classroom #3."
"Oh that's easy! I can get you there in no time!"
With that Taehyung walks his new friend Jungkook to his classroom and explains to him how he can find his classroom easily from anywhere in the school. They wave goodbye and Taehyung waits until Jungkook is inside his classroom before walking back to the art room with the biggest smile on his face.
Recess next day
Jungkook sits by his teacher, who has returned to school, as usual flipping through a sticker book. He doesn't really have any friends in his class so he doesn't get invited to play with anyone at recess. It's probably for the best, he thinks, because he's a very shy boy and he very much likes to sit beside his teacher, Mr. Seokjin, and flip through his sticker books until it's time to head back inside. Many people don't know this, but flipping through sticker books is exhausting! Jungkook gets thirsty walks to water fountain to get a drink. Everybody knows the water fountain area is private territory, home to the popular 3rd grade girls, but they are always too busy gossiping amongst themselves and they never bother Jungkook.
Today the girls are arguing. What about? Just girl things Jungkook supposes as he pulls out step stool from underneath fountain and begins to sip his water. It's so hard to enjoy the cool water when all Jungkook can hear is constant bickering. These Noona's are too much.
"My older sister Jessica said that all the girls in her middle school wear light pink lipgloss, not dark pink!" one of them argues.
"Well my older cousin Tiffany said that at her school all the girls wear dark pink lipgloss and she even gave me one!" the other bites back.
"Well Jessica knows so much about fashion, she probably know way more than your cousin. AND she lets me borrow all of makeup AND she let me have this purse!" the other says as she holds up a sparkly pink purse with a smug look on her face.
"Well, why don't we just see which color looks better! I bet my cousin is right!"
Just as Jungkook finishes drinking his water he steps down from the stool and pushes it back in it's place. As he pushes the stool it makes a screeching noise and all of the girls turn to see the source of the awful sound. It's too late, Jungkook is spotted and he sees the girls' mischievous grins, "Hey you, little baby over there! Come here, you're coming with us!" before he can make a run for it he's grabbed by the arm and is pulled to the popular girls' bench surrounded by a bunch of girls as different kinds of make up gets smeared on his face, perfume is sprayed suffocating him, skinny little fingers adorned with rings and nail polish pull on his hair as they try to clip and tie various bows and ribbons into his hair. Jungkook seriously doesn't know what to do to get out of this situation.
"Noona, I don't like this game." He tries to reason with them, maybe if they know he's uncomfortable they will let him go.
"Shh, be quiet, you'll ruin your makeup!" No, that didn't work.
After a few moments he tries again, this time he's squirming in his seat trying to break free, "Noona, I don't want to play anymore."
"Will you stop fussing already? I'm trying to make you beautiful!" That didn't work either.
Now Jungkook wants to cry, but he can't because what if he gets picked on, that would be worse. The thing is, he hates being assertive because he's so shy and timid. But his dad said that if he doesn't want to do something and he puts his foot down the other kids will understand and they will leave him alone. But it didn't work. It didn't work. It didn't work. They're not listening to him at all and now he doesn't know what to do! This is all his fault! Why did he have to get up in the first place? Why did he have to walk to the water fountain? He should have just sat by his teacher. If he had he could be relaxing, enjoying his afternoon, flipping through his sticker book instead of this!
Just as Jungkook had lost all hope for himself a miracle happens. Someone has come to save him. It's none other than his new, and only, friend Taehyung.
"Hey, Noonas," Taehyung asks, "what are you doing to Jungkookie?"
"Hey get out of here! No boys allowed!" It's a noona named Sulli who speaks.
Jungkook has been tortured long enough to learn their names. Sulli has the cousin Tiffany and Krystal has a sister named Jessica. They are both fighting over make up, but are also best friends. Their other friends, Wendy and Seulgi, are messing with his hair. Then Taehyung speaks again
"But Jungkookie is here and he's a boy?"
"That doesn't count! Jungkookie is our baby and we love him here! I'll give you 5 seconds to run before I kick you!" Jungkook is almost flattered by Sulli's remark. He didn't know they loved him here, but he also doesn't want them to hurt Taehyung.
Taehyung backs away from Sulli and Jungkook is afraid that he's going to leave him there and he really doesn't want him to leave him there.
"Ok! Ok!" Taehyung says, "But I just want to let Krystal noona know that I saw Jungin hyung and Taemin hyung talking with Naeun noona over by the slides!"
Everything stops at that moment. And then there's a really high voice screaming really close to Jungkook's face. It's Krystal and she's freaking out, "WHAT?! No! Sulli, we have to stop them! Jungin is mine!"
With that the girls start shoving all of their stuff into their purses and make a run towards the slides. Before she gets far enough, Krystal runs back to them, "hey, you're Kim Taehyung right?"
"Yes, that's me!" Taehyung says proudly.
Krystal gets closer and pats him on the head, "thanks for telling me! You're a good dongsaeng, take care of our baby Jungkookie!" Then she runs off, with an "I owe you one!" shouted in their direction.
They're finally alone both of them sitting on the bench as Taehyung helps Jungkook pick the bows out of his hair.
"Hey, Kookie! I didn't know you had this recess too!" Taehyung is so excited to see his new friend again.
"That's because I usually sit by my teacher until we go back inside," Jungkook explains to him.
Taehyung looks so shocked by his reply, "But why?! Don't you want to play or do something fun?"
"Well, none of the other kids want to play with me, and also I don't really want to play with any of them either," Jungkook says as he pulls his shirt up to rub the make up off his face with it. He hopes his mom doesn't get mad because he got his shirt dirty, but he really doesn't want anyone to see him like that.
Just then Taehyung wraps an arm around his shoulders and places his head onto Jungkook's like before, "Well, how about if we play together?"
Jungkook almost can't believe it. Taehyung actually wants to play with him? But then he remembers that they promised to be friends that day. How could he forget? He has to remember that his life is different now. He has a friend now. Or friends actually, since the Noona's also like him. He has to remember that he has friends or they might get upset if he forgets. He's only had friends for a short time, and he's very new to this and it's already so exhausting.
"We can play!" Jungkook has never been happier.
A few weeks later
Jungkook and Taehyung are in their new usual spot beneath a shady tree. They usually sit there to talk and look through Jungkook's sticker books, this time he brought one that is Zoo themed and had stickers of pretty much every animal known to man. You can usually find them there or by the swing set where Taehyung happily pushes Jungkook higher and higher despite never having a turn because he's too big for Jungkook to push by himself.
Again, he's got his arm around Jungkook and his head nuzzling against Jungkook's as they flip through the book. Jungkook is pointing to each animal and Taehyung makes their respective noises. Taehyung is so popular and has so many friends, it always surprises Jungkook that Taehyung would rather spend his recess with him than with any of his other friends even when they run up to him and ask if he wants to join their tag or soccer games, he just waves them off and gives his attention to Jungkook. To the other kids their activities might seem boring, but Jungkook is having the time of his life. He points to a new animal sticker and giggles out, "This one!" And Taehyung hugs him tighter and begins roaring like the lion on the page. He can't help the big cheesy smile that consumes his face when his Jungkookie is laughing so genuinely. "This one!" He says and Taehyung is screeching like a monkey on command. Jungkook is laughing and Taehyung is screeching pretending to pick bugs out of Jungkook hair when a shadow appears before them under their tree. Then there is a taunting voice interrupting their fun.
"What do we have here?" Oh no. It's Song Mino. One of the 4th graders and if the rumors are true, he's not very nice. Before the two friends can say anything Mino has snatched the zoo sticker book from Jungkook's hands and Taehyung isn't having any of that!
"Hey, give that back!" Taehyung demands as he stands up, "That belongs to Jungkookie!"
"What are you going to do about it?" Mino is clearly looking for trouble and Jungkook doesn't like trouble and neither does Taehyung, they're good boys.
Jungkook gets up and tugs on Taehyung's arm, Mino can keep that book, he has hundreds more, he won't miss it, but if anything happens to Taehyung he doesn't know what he would do, "Hyung, let's just play somewhere else."
"Yeah, why don't you listen to your little boyfriend and go away," Mino taunts.
Taehyung is getting very flustered. Nobody was even talking to Mino. Why does he have to come over here and ruin their fun? Why did he take Jungkookie's book and why did he have to make Jungkookie so uncomfortable and scared?
"Not until you give him back his stuff!" Taehyung says in the most serious tone Jungkook has ever heard him use, even when he defended him from the Noonas he wasn't this serious.
"Why don't you make me?" Mino says as he walks up to Taehyung so that they are face to face.
At this point Jungkook's blood has gone cold, his little heart is beating violently. Song Mino is so much bigger than them and he really doesn't want Taehyung to get hurt and although he's never experienced a fight in real life before he knows this is what the beginnings of one must look like and he needs to stop it before it gets out of hand. He really hates being assertive and he can feel his eyes starting to water, but either way he has to try. He has to be brave.
"L-leave him alone," the small kindergarten boy demands is a shaky voice.
"Stay out of this!" His bravery is all for naught when Mino decides to shove him And because he is so much smaller he goes flying back, landing atop a patch of grass on his back.
Taehyung can't even deal with Song Mino right now, his first priority is Jungkook who could be seriously hurt right now. This is all his fault if he had just listened to Kookie in the first place, this wouldn't of happened! He runs over and kneels by Jungkook's smaller form on the grass. "Are you okay?!" Jungkook's not crying. His body hurts, but he's too shocked to cry, he's never experienced this kind of violence in his life. "Kookie, are you okay?" when he recognizes Taehyung's voice he nods and begins to prop himself up on his elbows until Taehyung helps him sit up completely. Once Taehyung is done dusting the dirt and grass off of Jungkook he turns to Mino who for some reason is still there just staring at them with a stupid confused look on his face. Honestly he was probably hoping to get an immediate reaction from Taehyung the minute he pushed Jungkook, but he was surprised that Taehyung forgot all about him and went running to the little boy. Taehyung is so angry how can anyone even think about hurting Jungkook? He found him crying in the bathroom and even that broke his heart. He's about get up and make a run for it and tackle Mino to the ground. The something unexpected happens.
A sparkly pink purse hits Mino across the face and knocks him down to the ground.
"Yah!" It's Krystal noona and her friends. Krystal walks over to Mino is her small, confident, entitled manner and what happens after shocks Taehyung and Jungkook. Krystal noona actually grabs Song Mino, that's right, the Song Mino, twice her size Song Mino by the shirt collar and she threatens him!
"Listen here you fatty!" she begins, "Taehyung is our friend and Jungkookie is our baby and you are not allowed to treat them like that! Do you understand?!"
And then something even more unbelievable happens. Song Mino looks scared, like, actually scared and he even apologizes, nodding frantically, "Yes, yes, I'm sorry."
As he's pleading begging her for mercy she grabs pulls him by the ear and drags him over to the two boys who sit on the grass dumbfounded by the scene in front of them.
"Don't apologize to me! Apologize to them."
Mino is so surprised by the unexpected turn of events that all he does is stare back at the two boys who stare back at him.
"Apologize. Now." Krystal is running out of patience, but Mino immediately complies and begins apologizing to the boys.
"I'm very sorry. Please forgive me."
Taehyung looks over to Jungkook to see what he will do since he's the one that needs to be apologized to. Jungkook shifts his eyes around for a bit as he worries his bottom lip with his bunny teeth until making a decision, "t's okay. But-but it's not nice to hurt others and be mean to them," he says very quietly.
"Did you hear him?" Krystal retorts as she tugs on Mino's ear.
"Yes, yes, I heard him!" Taehyung can't believe that Mino is so scared right now.
"Good, I don't want to see your face near them again!" Krystal says as she shoves past him to pick up her purse. When she picks it up all hell breaks loose again.
"Yah! Look what you did! You ruined my purse!" She screams dramatically while waving around her now dirt covered purse. "Sulli, kick his butt!"
Just as Sulli takes a step towards Mino Jungkook stands up and waves his hands signaling her to stop, "No, noona! You shouldn't get into fights!" Taehyung stands up beside him and wraps his arm around him and places his head onto his with the widest grin. He's so proud of Jungkook. Something horrible has just happened to him and he has every reason to be angry, but instead has accepted the apology and has even gone as far as to protect his attacker from the wrath of Sulli noona. Why? Because Jungkook is a good person, with a good heart, no other reason. And that makes Taehyung's heart swell even more. Jungkook is good.
Because the Noonas really like Jungkook Sulli stops when he asks her to and instead goes to pick up his sticker book which is lying on the floor and hands it over to Jungkook, "You guys are no fun," she complains. "Thank you for defending us," Jungkook says with a small bow. Krystal nods, "Anything for you!" And then she signals the other girls over, "Let's go girls!" As they walk away Sulli leans down to where Mino is still kneeling in the spot Krystal left him and says, "Beat it!" And song Mino cannot get up fast enough to run away!
Soon the boys are alone again under their tree. Taehyung is sitting with his back against the tree, Jungkook in between his legs, his back against Taehyung's chest. They're flipping through the sticker book again, but this time they flip through it silently, admiring the images of animals. Suddenly, Taehyung gets a brave idea. He loops his arms around Jungkook's waist and pulls him even closer and then places a soft kiss onto his warm cheek. Jungkook turns around to look at him with big eyes and a flushed face, "W-What was that for?" He asks. Taehyung shrugs his shoulders with a wide boxy grin, "I really like you, Jungkookie." The sudden confession turns Jungkook's surprised expression into a smile, "I really like you too, hyung." With that the younger boy turns back around and leans into Taehyung's chest again and flips the page of his book. "This one," he says pointing to a new animal. Taehyung holds onto Jungkook's wrists as he claps the younger's hands together while he barks like a seal. Jungkook breaks into genuine uncontrollable laughter and that could not make Taehyung any happier.