Chapter Text
It happened in stages, Taehyung and Jungkook getting close. Long, confusing stages.
Like the first time Taehyung saw Jungkook, that was very confusing. Taehyung simply wanted to get some tea after his run, he mentally wasn`t prepared for the cashier to look like a literal fucking angel, blink up at him with huge Bambi-eyes and ask with the softest voice Taehyung`s heard in his life, “Would you like some sugar with it?”
Yes, Taehyung would like sugar. And that dude`s ring size, because what the fuck.
The boy`s hair was long and messy, curling adorably by the sides of his face. It looked soft. All of him looked soft and adorable – maybe because of the oversized hoody and the hood that was pulled too low over his head, as if the boy was cold. Or maybe because of the sweater paws and the way the boy`s nose kept twitching nervously while he typed in Taehyung`s order.
Or maybe Taehyung was just sleep deprived and seeing things wrong.
Except that when Taehyung came back the next day, well-rested and dressed properly and with his own hair styled nicely, the guy was just as adorable. Maybe even more so `cause he was wearing a huge fluffy beany. A soft lavender beany. Taehyung almost walked out.
He didn`t though, because he was an adult and could handle adorable boys in lavender beanies. He totally could.
(And maybe he stumbled over his words a little when he ordered but that`s only because he didn`t know their menu yet. Not because the boy was staring at him. Definitely not.)
The boy smiled politely as he passed him the tray with his order and there was such a lovely blush on cheeks-
Taehyung let himself be happy and delusional about it for around half a minute but once he was sat on the couch, taking in the atmosphere of the café and the radio station that was playing, he had to give himself a little reality check.
Because as much as he`d love to believe he got that cute boy flustered just because, he also had to admit the boy probably simply knew who he was. They were in a pop café in the middle of Seoul, after all. And judging by the way the boy kept glancing at Taehyung from behind the counter like he had the eighth wonder of the world sitting in his cafe… yeah.
Not that Taehyung was disappointed. Not that he was entertaining the idea of like… asking that boy for his number, or anything. Nothing like that.
This was just a nice café. And maybe Taehyung would have liked stopping here from time to time after his runs without fearing he would get photographed. And maybe he would have liked to add flustering a cute coffee-boy to his running routine. Purely for motivational purposes.
So, as Taehyung said, he definitely wasn`t disappointed.
Except that as Taehyung drank his tea and ate his croissant, instead of looking over at him more and more, working up the courage to ask for a photograph and then doing it, as fans mostly did, the boy took out a thick textbook, turned around and forgot that Taehyung exists.
Huh.
So Taehyung came back the next day. Because the tea there was good, okay? And he drank it quietly, listening to some nice pop-songs that were playing and sometimes stealing a glance at the counter. The boy was always reading something and making quick notes between the customers, pouting when he got too immersed by the reading.
Which was fucking adorable.
And the place really was nice, and Taehyung really did like it, clean and peaceful, with barely any customers that late in the evenings and a nice view of Han River. And nobody seemed to notice him coming here. And the boy never asked for Taehyung`s autograph. So Taehyung just kind of kept coming.
And he felt a bit lost. Because he wasn’t used to dancing around of what he wanted and as nice as the tea and music and the view here were, Taehyung wanted to get the boy`s name.
And he didn`t know how to? That was fucking ridiculous.
He was V of BTS, okay, he wasn`t shy about just about anything. Or nervous. After all, he didn`t know that guy whatsoever, if he wasn`t interested, Taehyung was sure he`d survive the rejection. He just literally didn`t know… how to? When to? That boy was beautiful. Taehyung felt so lost.
He kept walking into that café in the evenings and walking up to the cashier and opening his mouth and the boy would always blink up and- His eyes were big, Bambi-like, dark and pretty in such a soft way, and maybe Taehyung was imagining things but he thought the boy`s smile had slowly started to go from something polite and anxious to something almost warm, like he was happy to see Taehyung.
And what was Taehyung supposed to say? `Hey, I`ve been thinking, since you`re the prettiest boy I`ve ever seen, I should probably ask for your number. Wait, do you have a boyfriend? Wait, are you even into men? Wait, am I being really fucking creepy? Wait-`
“What should it be today?” The boy prodded politely and Taehyung tried to snap out of it.
“Ahm… I- Green tea?” Wow, wasn`t that elegant. Taehyung`s public speech coordinator would shoot him.
The boy nodded and typed something in, then looked back up, waiting.
Right, fuck. “Oh, and the croissant, please!”
The boy smiled and typed again. It was ridiculous that it was taking Taehyung that fucking long to break the ice and just chat the boy up. Anything, any stupid little joke or question, Taehyung was a pro at that.
But he had already tried asking all sorts of socially acceptable things, like whether the day was slow or hectic, whether they had any new drinks or pastries, recommendations, saying the weather was nice, bad – all of that normal, casual stuff just to latch onto something and get a conversation going without being invasive or weird. And all he got in return were small nods or shrugs, shy and nervous.
And Taehyung still didn`t know for sure if that boy was or wasn`t a fan. He kind of really didn`t fucking want to say `fuck it` and ask somebody out and potentially give his number to a sasaeng.
The boy rarely spoke to anybody, though, and that was devastating, because his voice was beautiful, and he generally seemed anxious and shy, head always low and a beanie or hood on, hiding his hands in the sleaves of huge sweaters.
Taehyung felt so stuck. Hypnotized, a little. And mad at himself for freezing up like that.
He was pretty sure he would have made a complete fool of himself sooner or later and just panicked and said something entirely stupid one day just to get this over with, but, to his honest surprise, the boy saved him.
It was later than usual when Taehyung came that one evening and he still felt too hot, legs weak after running. Their comeback was coming up, he barely had any time to himself and he still wanted to stay in shape. Wanted to clear his head, too. He was kind of exhausted.
The boy was reordering the pastries on the shelves when Taehyung walked in and he nodded like always, murmured a quiet, “I`ll be right there.”
Taehyung smiled, trying not to seem too tired, and the boy smiled too.
He kept glancing from the pastries to Taehyung, though, and his smile slowly faded, almost becoming a frown by the time he got back to the counter.
He spoke so quietly. “What should it be today?”
He seemed concerned by something as he typed in the order, hands moving slower than usual.
Suddenly, he asked. “It`s raining, isn`t it?”
Taehyung blinked, shocked by suddenly – finally – being talked to. “Ahm. Yeah? But not too much, just a drizzle.”
The boy hummed and Taehyung got so scared that was the end of conversation that he almost asked whether the boy liked the rain.
But the boy went on. “And it`s cold, isn`t it?”
Taehyung just- He was so lost.
“It is?”
“And you were running, weren`t you?” The boy clicked some buttons and Taehyung pressed his card to the card reader on instinct.
“I was?”
The boy looked at him, hummed again, and turned away to make tea.
`You were running in the rain when it`s cold. Hmm. ` It simply hung in the air and Taehyung felt so scolded. A smile fucking exploded on his face.
He hopped onto one of the chairs by the counter, watching the boy pour the hot water, get the right teabag out.
“I don`t think I ever got your name.” Because maybe it was just as simple as that.
The boy turned back to him with a puzzled look and startled as he saw Taehyung already sitting there instead of waiting for his tray to leave to the couch.
“Ahm.” The boy`s locks curled around his face, almost hiding his cheeks. God, his eyes were so huge. “Jungkook.”
Taehyung smiled wider, something warm filling his chest at finally hearing that name.
He repeated it simply to taste it, it felt lovely on his tongue. “Jungkook. I`m Taehyung.”
Jungkook glanced at him and down at his own sleeves, features tense for a few moments before he sighed, looked up at Taehyung with something nervous in his eyes. “I know?”
Taehyung didn`t even get to open his mouth before Jungkook was rumbling.
“But I`m not some crazy fan, or anything!” He waved his hands and suddenly stopped. “Not that I`m not a fan? I didn`t mean a crazy fan like a big fan, I meant- like- I`m not insane? Like a sasaeng? I mean I`m not a sasaeng! I`m just- I swear I just work here! I-“ He looked at Taehyung and promptly hid behind his hands. “Oh my god.”
Taehyung threw his head back and laughed. Just laughed and laughed until his lushes were wet with tears.
“That was so cute!” He wheezed, gasping some air into his lungs. “`I mean I`m not a sasaeng`, oh my god, Jungkook, that was so funny!”
Jungkook made a mortified little noise from behind his hands and Taehyung forced himself to calm down, wiped the corners of his eyes.
He straightened up, asked in the most serious voice he could master, although it kept breaking with giggles. “Okay, Jungkook. Would you like my autograph?”
“No!” The boy exclaimed, hands falling from his face to expose how impossibly red his cheeks got. He was a lot more serious than Taehyung, though, and his eyes were genuine, and anxious, and upset. “I- Like- You`re just here to drink your tea and eat your croissant, you shouldn`t- I shouldn`t have said anything! I`m sorry, I didn`t mean to make you uncomfortable or anything-“
“Jungkook.” Taehyung was gonna die. That was so sweet. So sweet and adorable and the boy`s beanie kept sliding down over his eyes. “You didn`t make me uncomfortable.”
Jungkook huffed under his breath, suddenly back to almost whispering. “No, of course you`d say that.” He looked down and away, so honestly upset. “And then just- disappear and go looking for another café.”
“Worried about losing a customer?” Taehyung tried to tease but judging by Jungkook`s eyes, the joke didn`t land at all. “Oh my god, Jungkook-ah, I was jo-“
“I`m- No, listen!” Jungkook stressed and this was getting ridiculous, Taehyung wanted to soothe him. “I like BTS`s music, okay, of course I do, but that`s it, I swear! I`m not a stalker or anything and I wouldn`t, like, tell anybody that you come here or anything-“
“Jungkook.” Taehyung smiled, adoration swelling in his chest. “You`re speaking like I`m afraid of you.” He chuckled. “I`m not. Please… relax? And I know you won`t tell anyone, you`ve already had weeks to do it.”
“No, I wouldn`t!-“
“You wouldn`t.” Taehyung concluded easily. “Great that we cleared that up. Now could you please go back to breathing?”
Jungkook huffed a breath, short and quiet, and gulped some air before huffing it out again. “I`m sorry.”
“Oh my god, you don`t have to be sorry.”
“No, I-“ Jungkook frowned, then shook his head and straightened up. He looked over Taehyung hastily and nodded to himself. “O-kay, there`s your tea, and- oh, and here`s your croissant, and I…” He climbed onto his own chair by the cashier and opened his book. “…will sit here and- not be annoying.”
He flipped the book open at a random page and stared into it.
Taehyung looked at him for a long moment, trying to think, to be realistic, be responsible.
And dragged his chair closer to Jungkook.
Because the boy`s fingers were trembling and he seemed deeply upset with himself and it wasn`t because he was talking to V of BTS, it was because he though he made Taehyung feel uncomfortable here.
Maybe Taehyung`s bar was just on the floor. But this was all it took.
“What do you study?”
It wasn`t hard after that. Taehyung was becoming a ghost and missing out on sleep to come chat with Jungkook in the evenings and late into the nights, but getting Jungkook to talk was never hard anymore. The boy rumbled a lot when he was nervous and he was nervous a lot and oh, Taehyung loved that. Not nervous in that loud, frantic way, but nervous in a way that had him blushing when Taehyung smiled, had him biting down quiet giggles and hiding his face.
And Taehyung knew he had to be careful. And he was, for once in his life, because this was so dumb – deciding to befriend a random boy who for sure knew who he was. But Taehyung trusted Jungkook? He couldn`t explain it, but he just did. And he`s always been good with things like that.
Jungkook seemed to be an open book, too, sharing things about himself and anxious about asking Taehyung almost anything. Even about how his day was. Which, again, was adorable. Taehyung didn`t think he`s ever met someone more cautious about not overstepping his boundaries.
He himself wasn’t good at keeping a distance with the people he liked, though, and if the outfit for his new performance was annoyingly heavy then Taehyung was sure as hell going to complain about it to everyone including Jungkook. Actually, just to Jungkook, because his hyungs were ignoring him. Rude.
Jungkook was in college and worked here in the evenings. And as much as he could rumble about the things that he liked, like Overwatch and anime and working out and collecting cute keychains and getting top scores in exams, there were things about him that he never talked about. Like his family, or childhood, or friends, or even where he was from.
He lived alone, was all that Taehyung could gather.
And some things about him were a little bit… strange? Maybe Taehyung was just looking too much into it. But, like, Jungkook never ate anything normal? He brought carrots and apples with him and munched on them sometimes, but Taehyung`s never seen him eat even so much as a kimbap?
Jungkook hated noises. He flinched with his whole body when the door shut closed too harshly or when someone`s chair scratched against the floor. He always wore beanies or hoods. His nose scrunched and twitched adorably when he was surprised, or pouting, or laughing. (That wasn’t really weird. Taehyung just couldn’t get over being that obsessed with someone`s nose.)
Jungkook was also the shiest person Taehyung`s ever met. He spoke so softly, so quietly, Taehyung had to lean forward to catch every word. He fiddled with his sleeves a lot and could never sit still. He smiled at Taehyung even when he was tired.
He was beautiful.
Taehyung was stuck again.
He was stuck even though he had managed to get Jungkook`s number. And they were kind of just texting all the time now. Well, maybe it was mainly Taehyung spamming Jungkook at first. But this sugar-powdered bun looked like a puppy and Jungkook had to see it. And that hairstyle Taehyung`s stylist came up with for the photoshoot was ridiculous and Taehyung knew Jungkook laughed when he saw his selfie.
And then Jungkook had a free hour between his lectures and his professor was being a dick and Jungkook rumbling about how mad he was was somehow even funnier over text. Taehyung wanted to coo just imagining Jungkook sitting in some college hallway, typing frantically with a pout on his lips and his nose twitching disgruntledly.
And then he was reminding Taehyung to eat and telling him not to forget a scarf if he goes out. Giddily at first, like he wasn`t sure he was allowed. And then with fists and angry emojis and rants about how Taehyung will lose his voice if he catches a cold and how he`ll collapse on the stage if he doesn`t rest enough and how nobody will care about his good shape if he injures his ankles.
`Rest days are important, you know? ` Jungkook scolded. `You shouldn`t run every day. `
So that`s how Taehyung switched to coming to Jungkook`s café just because. Late, after work, to watch Jungkook rearrange pastries and sway his head to the beats of slow songs, all cozy and warm while cold winter wind blew over Han River.
Taehyung was so stuck and so smitten.
Okay, maybe not entirely stuck. He would confidently call Jungkook his friend now. And he had a feeling Jungkook didn`t have many friends. Or any friends, actually. There were no people appearing his stories, no mentions of anyone in tellings of how his days went. It made Taehyung sad beyond words and he couldn`t understand how it was possible for Jungkook to exist without people falling in love with him left and right.
Jungkook never seemed sad, though, and the way his face lit up every time he saw Taehyung had become the best part of Taehyung`s days.
Taehyung knew something was wrong even before he walked in one evening, hearing the yelling all the way through the door. He hurried inside and promptly stopped, watching some middle-aged man wave his hands frantically and hiss, “…the manager!”
Jungkook`s shoulders were tense and face white, lips set in the thin line.
“The manager isn`t here at the moment.” He spoke, clearly holding back from flinching. “If you would like to complain you could file-“
“The fuck are you mumbling there?!”
Taehyung stepped between the man and the counter, anger flaring up fast. “What`s your problem?”
Jungkook`s face dropped and eyes widen as he saw Taehyung, suddenly so full of panic.
“What`s my problem?” The man spat, red and heated, and dabbled his finger in Jungkook`s direction. “Come on, look at that weirdo! I just wanted to get a coffee, why do I have to deal with those freaks everywhere?”
Taehyung was so confused. And fucking furious. “What?”
The man scoffed. “It`s common knowledge they`re all scammers, why would anyone let it handle the money? Like, they`re good as sex workers I guess, but this is just-“ He slammed his fist on the counter and Jungkook jerked away with a pained noise. “-outrageous! Hey! I said get me the manag-“
“Get the fuck out.”
The man froze.
Taehyung didn`t like using that voice. It was horrifying and not in a sexy way and Taehyung most definitely never wanted Jungkook to hear it but right now Jungkook`s hands were shaking and breaths chocked and Taehyung needed that man to fucking disappear before he did something that would get him into a nationwide scandal.
“Come on.” The man swallowed. “Don`t you see he`s-“
“I said get the fuck out.”
The man stared at him and then cursed, stumbling for the door. “You`ll fucking here about me, I won`t just leave this like that!”
Taehyung jumped after him and caught the door before it could slum closed, closed it quietly and turned the `open` sign around.
Jungkook was looking after the man with huge eyes and then snapped, glancing at Taehyung and away.
“Right. Tea, right? Right. A- and a croissant, right?” He turned around quickly mumbling to himself and his shoulders shook so bad. “Okay, okay, right-“
Taehyung came up to the counter. “Jungkook-ah-“
“Na-o, actually, just, ahm-“ Taehyung thought he heard him sniffle. “Give me- ahm, a moment, okay? I`ll- Sorry, I`ll be right ba- right back.”
And he basically ran away into the kitchen.
Taehyung stared after him, so fucking lost and confused. What the hell was that even?
He glanced around the counter and then slowly moved to the kitchen, kind of unsure, kind of worried sick.
“Jungkook-ah?”
His heart simply broke when he saw Jungkook curled into a trembling ball on a chair in the kitchen corner, with his head pressed to his knees and hands clutching the beanie, digging hard into it.
“Oh no, Kookie.” Taehyung hurried to him and kneeled by his side, wanting to touch and not daring to. “Jungkook-ah, hey.”
“I`m soh- I`m sorry!” Jungkook cried wetly, hiding away even more. “Oh- my god, why did you have to- to hear that!” He swallowed a sob and looked up, so damn scared, so damn nervous, face flushed and tear-soaked and eyes glossy. “I sweah- swear we aren`t scammers or- or anyth-“ He choked. “Or anything! And I swear I`m no- not a fre-eak-“
“Jungkook. Hey, come on, stop this, Jungkookie-“
Jungkook`s face screwed up. “You`re gonna hate me now!”
“What?” God, Taehyung was so fucking lost. “Jungkook, what are you even talking about?”
“I didn`t wanna tell you!” Jungkook gasped frantically, a whine caught in his breaths. “I didn`t- didn`t mean to lie, I swe- swear, I just- But it`s not like he said, okay? We`re- I`m not like that!”
“Okay?” Taehyung was gonna die if Jungkook didn`t stop crying. “Jungkookie, please-“
Jungkook was tugging so hard on his beanie. “I`m really sorry.”
“Hey, come on, Kook-ah, you don`t have to be sorry.” Taehyung brushed his chuckles over his knee and Jungkook jerked before relaxing into the touch. “It`s okay, Kookie, you`re okay, yeah? Just breathe, Jungkook-ah, you`re alright.”
Jungkook`s sniffles were harsh and snotty and he rubbed rudely at his twitchy nose, one hand still on the beanie like he was scared it would fall off. “I`m sorry.”
Taehyung`s chest hurt and he wanted to bat Jungkook`s hands away and dry his cheeks for him. “Jungkook, you don`t have to be-“
“I`m a hybrid.” Jungkook blurted, whole body locking up and staring at Taehyung like he was waiting to get slapped.
Taehyung blinked, lips curling up in surprise. “Really?” He`s never met hybrids in person before. Or at least not that he knew of. “Okay.” He frowned. “What does that have to do with anything?”
Jungkook looked at him as if Taehyung was stupid. Repeated slowly, “I am a hybrid.”
“Okay.” Taehyung said again. “And?”
“What and?” Jungkook huffed. “Don`t you think I`m a freak now?”
There was a headache building up in the back of Taehyung`s sculp. “Jungkook, what are you talking about?”
Jungkook blinked blurrily, now a tiniest bit confused too. “Don`t you- You heard that man, yeah?”
“Was he talking about you being a hybrid?”
`They`re good as sex workers I guess.` God, Taehyung should have killed him.
“Well, fuck him.” Taehyung spat. “He`s just a piece of shit, ignore him.”
Jungkook`s lips wobbled. “Don`t you- like- ahm-“
`think so too?` Was that how people always reacted to him being a hybrid? Taehyung felt sick to his stomach.
“Jungkook. No.” He needed Jungkook to stop crying, his heart was ripping apart. He kept his voice quiet like he knew Jungkook liked, tried to make it soft and soothing. “Kookie. You`re a hybrid, so what, that`s perfectly fine. I`m very sorry that just happened, but let`s calm down now, yeah? There`s no need to cry, Kook-ah, everything`s fine.”
Jungkook sniffled and his nose twitched. And now that Taehyung was thinking about it, it probably wasn`t entirely human.
“I`m sorry, I`m-“ Jungkook stood up and Taehyung followed him. “I`ll go make you tea-“
“Kookie, can I hug you?” Taehyung called, he just had to, and Jungkook stared at him before nodding jerkily, lips wobbling again.
Taehyung wrapped his arms around him and Jungkook whined quietly into his shoulder, hands clutching at his coat. Taehyung stroked his back, pressed his cheek to the top of his head. Jungkook was soft and warm and he wasn`t small by any means but right now he felt weak and tiny, shoulders twitching with little jerks. He smelled of cotton and fabric softener.
“He was so loud.” Jungkook whispered and Taehyung groaned, held him tighter.
“I know, Kook. I`m so sorry.”
Jungkook pulled away with a sniffle, guilt heavy in his voice. “Sorry. I`m sorry, really, like, you probably had such a long day and just wanted some tea and quiet and instead you had to deal-“
“Hey.” Taehyung sighed, brushed Jungkook`s cheek with his soft sleeve and the boy startled. “I didn`t want any tea or quiet, I wanted to see you. Okay? Jungkook-ah, please, stop worrying so much.”
Jungkook blinked several times and then nodded, hurried away to the front of the shop with red cheeks.
It took a bit of convincing, but Taehyung managed to lure Jungkook out from behind the counter and sit him down on one of the couches. The boy gripped his own cup of tea, sleeves tugged down over the knuckles, and stared into it stubbornly. He seemed pale and shaken and somehow even more on edge than when that man was screaming at him.
“You don`t have to pretend you`re okay with it, you know?” He suddenly spoke. “Like, ahm, I totally get it if you don`t wanna keep talking to me now or- or something.” He bit the inside of his cheek and it looked painful.
Taehyung leaned down over the table, trying to catch Jungkook`s eyes. “Kook-ah? Jungkook.”
The boy blinked at him.
“I don`t care.” Taehyung held his gaze, sure and honest. “I swear to you I don`t. Literally why would I?”
Jungkook huffed, thumb flickering on the cup handle. “Cause I`m weird. You`re just not thinking this through.”
Taehyung opened his mouth but Jungkook exclaimed, suddenly tugging his beanie off and brushing his hair back to show the place where his ears were supposed to be. “Come on, look! See? I`m weird.”
There were no ears there, just normal hair, and, Taehyung wasn`t gonna lie, that was a little- very fucking unusual. But he also kind of couldn`t even focus on that part and his jaw was on the floor because holly fucking hell-
He clasped both hands over his own mouth not to scream in excitement. “You have ears!”
“I don`t, that`s my point!” Jungkook stressed but Taehyung ignored him completely.
He shifted in his seat restlessly and twisted his hands together to stop himself from just- grabbing Jungkook.
He also felt like he`d cry.
Because there were two big, soft, white, fluffy, adorable, absolutely gorgeous bunny ears standing up on the top of Jungkook`s head.
“Oh my fucking god.” Taehyung whispered, choked up. “Jungkook.”
“I know they`re creepy.” Jungkook nodded, lifting up the beany, but Taehyung grabbed his hand on instinct.
“No, please, don`t! Sorry, I`m sorry.” He quickly let go when Jungkook startled. “Sorry, please don`t put it back on? I mean-“ He faltered, staring at the bunny ears and forcing his own brain to fucking start working. “I mean of course you can put it back on if- if you`re uncomfortable, or something, but just-“ He sighed, gone entirely. “They`re so pretty.”
Jungkook gave him a long, intent look. “You… don`t think they`re freaky?”
“What?” Taehyung frowned. “Jungkook, they are beautiful.”
Jungkook huffed, almost rolling his eyes, but let go of the beany, and Taehyung didn`t get why he didn`t believe him. Like, okay, he could understand why some people could have been making fun of his lack of human ears, but the bunny ones were breathtaking and they looked sooo fucking soft and Taehyung`s hands literally hurt with how badly he wanted to touch them.
They were big, too.
“How do they even fit under the beanie?”
Jungkook shrugged. “I kind of… roll them? Or like- fold them?”
Taehyung felt his awe-struck impression morphing into a frown. “That can`t be comfortable.”
Jungkook shrugged again.
“Is that even healthy?”
Jungkook tried to smile. “It`s only for when I`m not home.”
So… for at least seven hours of school and the entire evenings of work? Taehyung`s stomach twisted.
“Jungkook-ah.”
“It`s fine.” Jungkook waved. “It`s better for me too, you know, `cause- `cause some people know and it`s okay, like my boss here, he knows, and sometimes people know and it`s really- really not… safe. So.” Jungkook`s nose twitched and he gulped down some tea.
“Kook-ah.” Taehyung wanted to hug him again. “That is horrible.”
“You promise you don`t mind?” Jungkook pushed and Taehyung answered with all the honesty he had in him.
“I swear.”
Jungkook breathed out slowly, finally – finally, finally – relaxing a bit. “Okay.”
Taehyung smiled. “You`re a bunny hybrid.”
Jungkook huffed, ducking his head so his curls brushed over his cheeks. “Yeah.”
His ears flopped down then, laying over the back of his head, and Taehyung let out a quiet gasp. “Wow.”
Jungkook`s eyes snapped to him. “What?”
Taehyung waved. “They move.”
“Ah.” Jungkook smiled and it was small but real this time. “Yeah.”
He lifted one ear up and flopped it back down and Taehyung`s mouth was hanging open again.
They looked so soft. So soft, Taehyung couldn`t get over it. He would die to touch them once.
“That is so…” Cute, cool, pretty, beautiful-
Jungkook drank some more tea.
“Oh, is that why you don`t like loud noises?” Taehyung suddenly realized and Jungkook`s eyes filled with surprise, all dark and big and gorgeous.
“Ahm. Yeah?”
Taehyung also realized that Jungkook looked really tired. Exhausted, even.
“Are you hungry?” Taehyung asked, moving his untouched croissant to Jungkook, but the boy shook his head, features warm.
“Thank you, but I shouldn`t eat this. My stomach will hurt.”
“Really?” Taehyung pouted. “What do you eat, then?”
“Well, carrots.” Jungkook chuckled, brushing his curls down clumsily. “And just vegetables. And fruits. I mean, I eat normal food like rice and bread and sweets too, but it`s not very good for me.”
Taehyung nodded. “Do you have something with you?”
“It`s fine, I`ll just close up and go home.” Jungkook sighed, looking around the café.
He looked so soft, so pouty, so tired.
Taehyung offered to drive him home but Jungkook wouldn`t agree no matter what Taehyung said. Taehyung was also apparently not allowed to even broom the floor to help Jungkook close up faster.
He decided to make himself useful anyway and quickly looked over the map on his phone.
“Kookie?” He called, and the boy looked up from where he was typing something into the cash-register. “I`ll be back in ten minutes, okay?”
“Okay?” Jungkook frowned. “You don`t have to be back, though, I already told you, you can just go home- I really don`t mean to be holding you up-“
“Jungkook.” Taehyung sighed. “Ten minutes.“
Jungkook was just locking the door when Taehyung jogged back up to him, eyes growing huge when he took in what he was wearing.
“What the hell is that?”
Jungkook blinked. “What the hell is what?”
Taehyung made a scandalized noise and promptly started tugging off his scarf to wrap it around Jungkook`s neck and shoulders.
“That jacket is ridiculously thin, Jungkook, my fucking god, what are you thinking? It is winter and night and- No, shush! And you were the one scolding me?”
He bundled Jungkook up, pushing away the disappointment at seeing the beanie on his head again. It was probably best like that, though, overwise Jungkook`s ears would freeze.
Jungkook squealed something and Taehyung pulled away, satisfied with his work.
“Okay. Now- Right, there.” He passed Jungkook the small paper bag that he brought and Jungkook took it hesitantly.
“What`s that?”
“Just some carrots. And apples. I washed them!” Taehyung assured. “Oh, and some snack bars? I don`t know if you eat those, they were just near the cash-register and they`re just nuts, so…”
Jungkook stared at him, cheeks growing pink in the cold air. “Did you run to the store to get that?”
“I mean, it`s night and if I were you I`d be starving and you once said you live like an hour away, and- Jungkook?”
Jungkook sniffled, and then sniffled again, and then his whole face screwed up, tears pouring down, and he hid into Taehyung`s shoulder.
“Oh my god, Jungkookie, what-“ Taehyung held him back just on instinct. “Kookie, fuck, why are you crying?” He couldn`t deal with any more of Jungkook`s tears, he really couldn`t, they were killing him. “Kook-ah.”
Jungkook whimpered, hurt and quiet. “Thank you so much!”
“Jungkook, what- They`re literally just some carrots, Jungkookie, why are you crying?”
“They`re not- Tae, thank you so much!”
Taehyung didn`t know what hurt more – the way Jungkook just called him Tae for the first time, or the way he kept shaking, or the fact that Jungkook was so not used to being taken care of that he would cry over a simple bag of carrots.
But Taehyung guessed this was all really a lot for Jungkook. Getting yelled at, having to tell Taehyung he`s a hybrid, showing his ears… Taehyung held him close, rubbed his back soothingly.
It kind of killed him to let go and he asked another four times if he could please drive Jungkook home himself or at least call him a taxi but Jungkook insisted that he preferred to take the bus and Taehyung should just go home and sleep. And Taehyung did go home and he did want to sleep except he obviously couldn`t and he walked around his couch in circles to keep himself awake until he got Jungkook`s text that the he was home.
The thing was, Taehyung wasn`t used to dancing around what he wanted. But he was also very much not used to feeling that sort of way, to wanting someone so beautiful, so fragile, wanting to just watch that someone laugh, blush, eat carrots.
And if it was that shocking for Jungkook to be cared for that he would cry over some goddamn vegetables… then Taehyung thought he should dance a bit this time. And he really, really didn`t mind.