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Yoongi hitches the straps of his bag up higher over his shoulders, kicking a pebble in front of him. It lands in front of the gates leading to their house, and for a moment, he contemplates about staying outside instead of going in. His parents won’t know that school’s over yet unless he gets home, and he could always use the excuse that he was hanging out outside Bonghwangdang the whole time.
But his thoughts are disrupted when he feels small hands poke his side.
"Hyung," Yoongi feels an insistent tugging on the hem of the back of his shirt, and when he turns around, he gets an armful of flowers shoved into his face. He backs off right away just in case some of it gets into his nose, and he looks down to see Taehyung peering up at him and holding the flowers up, beaming widely. He’s not wearing his school uniform, having had changed out of it, and Yoongi belatedly remembers that Taehyung’s classes end an hour earlier than his. "Aren't they pretty?"
Yoongi scratches the tip of his nose, already feeling the itch coming on. "What are these?" he asks, tone inquisitive instead of berating or annoyed. If there's anything that's more difficult to handle than his allergy to flowers, it's other people not knowing of his allergic reactions when it comes to those things. It's not Taehyung's fault that he doesn't know of it—the kid's completely innocent of whatever misfortunes Yoongi possesses, so Yoongi should most definitely not blame him for anything at all.
"Gardenias!" Taehyung pipes up, his 's'es sounding a bit differently because of the gap in-between his teeth. "I saw them in our garden this morning. I got them especially for you, hyung!" Taehyung shakes the flowers in front of Yoongi and he decidedly takes the flowers in his hands before Taehyung could start shoving the bouquet into his nose.
The flowers really are pretty, its white color reminding Yoongi of snow, but there’s a lot of green from the leaves that Taehyung took along with it. Yoongi wants to keep them for himself despite his allergy, but he can't—not when he keeps on sniffling the longer he's holding on to the bouquet. Taehyung grins up at him, the gap between his teeth looking more and more endearing to Yoongi.
But he's not one to say that out loud—Taehyung is like a cute little neighbor to him; a younger brother that he never had. It would be weird if he started saying things like that. Because Taehyung is just supposed to be like the other eight year olds in their neighborhood with their sweaty clothes and constant playfulness. He's just supposed to be some childhood friend that Yoongi's known for a long time, like Namjoon and Hoseok and Jimin, and Seokjin. Even the new kid, Jungkook, too. "Why?"
"Because you're my favorite hyung in the whole, wide world!" Taehyung announces, making a gesture with his hands as if to indicate the vastness of the entire world with his short arms. There's a tell-tale sign of a smile tugging at Yoongi's lips, but then his nose starts itching again, and this time, he isn't able to stop himself from sneezing. He moves his hands holding the flowers away and sneezes into the sleeve of his school uniform.
Taehyung yelps in surprise, eyebrows knitted in concern as he tugs at Yoongi's shirt. "Is there something wrong, hyung?" He looks genuinely worried, like he feels at fault for bringing Yoongi into such a misfortune. Technically it is, given Yoongi's allergy, but Yoongi's not one to guilt trip someone because of something they had no idea about.
"Not much, it's just that I—" Yoongi sneezes again, and this time, Taehyung winces as he keeps on going through a sneezing fit.
When his airways start clearing up and the itching in his nose subsides, Yoongi smiles a little sadly at Taehyung. "I'm allergic to flowers."
Taehyung's eyes widen comically in shock. "Then why didn't you say so?!" Taehyung makes a grab for the flowers, but Yoongi raises his arm so Taehyung can't reach them.
"No, you gave these to me. These are mine now."
Taehyung struggles for a bit longer, but then he gives up, looking up at Yoongi with a pout. "Eyy, why are you being like this, hyung? You're being childish."
Yoongi juts out his chin at Taehyung. "Why are you trying to act mature, huh? I'm still older than you."
"I know!" Taehyung says, and his grinning now. And just when Yoongi least expects it, Taehyung steps closer to give him a hug, fingers gripping on to the hem of his shirt tightly. "That's why you're my favorite hyung!" Yoongi freezes for a moment, blinking at the object in front of him.
The gate leading to the their house is still painted the same dull shade of blue, and there's even more paint peeling off of it now, but somehow, he feels like everything is not the same. And really, he shouldn't be affected. Taehyung is Taehyung, and Yoongi is himself. They're neighbors. Friends. Nothing should change between them just because Taehyung claims that Yoongi is his favorite hyung.
Yoongi gets a grip of himself and unfreezes, using his free hand to pat on Taehyung's head. Taehyung seems to like it much, because he buries his face in Yoongi's stomach and tightens his hug. "Just because I'm the only one older than you here?"
"No, because you're the best!" Taehyung squeezes his middle, and Yoongi could feel a blush creeping on his face.
"I'm not." He mumbles.
"You are!" Taehyung insists. Yoongi could've argued with him—Yoongi most definitely would have argued with him—but instead, he returns the hug instead, burying his face on top of Taehyung's head.
"Thank you." he murmurs, and he could feel Taehyung's body positively vibrate against his in laughter. "For the flowers." For thinking that I'm the best even when I'm completely not.