Archive of Our Own

The first time Kim Taehyung ever heard of Jeon Jungkook was some time in the second month of senior year in high school. It had been a hot topic among the students in school recently. News spread like wildfire throughout all the grades and it had been no surprise his classmates ended up talking about it.

The Jeon Jungkook kid was a first grader who had somehow made quite a reputation in school in a span of two months since the year started, earning himself the title of a delinquent just like Taehyung. He heard that the kid was fearless and simply loved challenging people until the point the other party loses it.

Taehyung though, prefers to walk away and stay out of trouble most of the times, only pouncing when someone crosses the line. He honestly isn't one for violence. He may have spent the last six years living in the shady parts of the town but that doesn't mean he lives for violence. Plus, being expelled isn’t worth it when his mother had personally spent money to put him through high school.

Sure he's had his own share of fights with other delinquents in school but it was purely out of self-defense and well—okay—maybe he did did it out of rage. But only because he was provoked. He usually has a high level of tolerance and self-control.

At least he thinks he does.

As usual, Taehyung doesn’t head home after school. He hangs out in an abandoned classroom in the school’s old building alone, smoking his time away until the sun sets and the classroom is illuminated by the moonlight. Why go home early when there’s no one?

Moving in to the slums with only his father six years ago had left him feeling lonely. His mother had offered him to stay with her and his younger siblings after the divorce but Taehyung had declined. No matter how alcoholic his father is, a father is still a father. Taehyung couldn't bear to live the old man alone. So he followed his father, moving into the shadier parts of the town because it was extremely cost-saving. But along with the low prices, living conditions and safety were extremely unfavorable. Yet Taehyung managed to survive.

By resorting to violence.

In the evening, Taehyung is half done with his cigarette when the door to the classroom opens and a dark maroon-haired boy casually walks in, stopping a few meters away from Taehyung’s spot at the back of the classroom. The senior remains silent and unfazed, even as the boy stares at him longer than necessary.

“Kim Taehyung?” the boy finally asks, cocking his head to the side.

Taehyung takes a drag on his cigarette, eyes scanning the boy in front of him from head to toe. His eyes catch the nametag on the breast of the boy’s blazer and he finds the corner of his lip tug up. “What’s the infamous Jeon Jungkook doing, looking for me?”

Taehyung is pretty sure he’s been laying low for quite some time. The last time he had beaten up someone, and sent him to the hospital while earning himself a suspension, had been the previous year in second grade. That was before the new batch of freshmen came in. So he’s not sure why his peaceful alone time is being interrupted by none other than Jeon Jungkook.

Jungkook slips his hands into the pocket of his pants and shrugs, “Everyone’s afraid of you. So I came to see for myself who this Kim Taehyung is.”

Taehyung almost wants to scoff. What is this, sightseeing? "Is that all? Exit's the same as entrance," he takes another drag and flicks the ashes away.

But Jungkook doesn't leave, only cocks his head to the side again, doe eyes looking innocent, "Wow is that how you welcome people?"

Taehyung suddenly feels annoyed because what exactly does this kid want? "Were you expecting me to throw a fucking party?" he snaps.

When he sees Jungkook smirk at him, Taehyung inwardly scowls and takes another puff from his cigarette.

Jungkook shrugs, “I wasn’t expecting anything honestly.”

The raven-haired boy watches as the other walk towards him, their eyes locked. Taehyung feels himself tense up slightly when Jungkook steps into his personal space. The first grader takes the stick out of Taehyung’s hand and inhales it before exhaling the smoke right into his face. Jungkook gives him a final smirk before turning around and making his way out of the classroom.

Taehyung can only stare at Jungkook’s retreating figure in shock and disbelief, his eyes going back and forth from his empty hand to the door.

“The nerve of that kid,” he mutters under his breath, annoyed, and reaches out for his pack of cigarettes.

That was the first time Taehyung met Jungkook, but it certainly isn’t the last.

It’s not until a few days later that Jungkook comes strolling in but instead of saying anything, he heads straight to the tables and chairs opposite Taehyung, and promptly falls asleep.

Taehyung isn’t sure what to make of it. He tries to go back to peacefully watching the scenery outside but can’t help turn his head to look at the other boy just in case he was up to something. It gets to his nerve when even half an hour and many turns of head later, Jungkook does nothing but remain fast asleep. It makes Taehyung nervous and he lights a stick each time to calm his nerves.

By the end of the day, his cigarette box is half-empty and he’s feeling agitated at how much Jungkook’s presence is making him tense.

Travelling back and forth from his neighborhood to school isn't far, but he always has to keep his guard up and be ready to pounce. One will never know when they will be jumped at by the many wannabe gang members loitering around just waiting for a victim to walk by. He's never at peace even in his own house because he will never know when his drunk father will bring drunk friends over and things might get nasty.

Hence, the times he spent in the classroom is one of the rare times he is able to relax and not worry too much about other students’ stares and whispers. It's one of the rare times he can keep calm and watch the almost silent surrounding out the window.

But then there's Jeon Jungkook coming into his peaceful haven on certain days and even though the younger boy does nothing but sleep, listen to music, sometimes stare at him, or smoke at the opposite side of the classroom, Taehyung can't lower his guard. He feels as if Jungkook is just waiting to catch him off guard; waiting until Taehyung thinks it’s safe and then strike him like the sneaky predator he is.

And he becomes restless every single time Jungkook is in the same room as him. He'd ask what the fuck the younger boy wants but in reality Jungkook hadn't been doing anything except occupy a space in the classroom. He figures that if Jungkook won't speak to him, then he wouldn't either. There is no need for unnecessary interaction.

“Taehyung,” Jungkook finally says one evening.

Taehyung flinches just a little bit at the sudden break of silence. Jungkook had been giving him the silent treatment for a few weeks now and all of a sudden the first thing that comes out of that mouth is his name. Just his name, without any form of respect.

He stares at the younger boy. “What am I, your friend? Haven’t you been taught to respect people who are older than you?”

Jungkook smiles cheekily at him, “I don’t give out respects. You need to earn it.”

Taehyung feels his eye twitch but he keeps his cool, drumming his fingers against the desk. He nods, “Point taken. So how can I help you?”

“Fight me.”

Taehyung’s eyes grow wide for a second before he laughs. “You’re a kid,” he emphasizes and he takes note how Jungkook’s eyes turn dark.

“Why does it matter how old I am? Fight me, Kim Taehyung.”

A chuckle escapes Taehyung’s lips and he smirks, “Why should I?”

"If you're a man you fight," Jungkook tells him and Taehyung narrows his eyes at the underlying meaning of it. 

"Listen here kid, I don't just fight. It takes a whole lot more for me to want to put an effort in raising a finger than just being a man. I don't want to waste time for useless shit like fighting, especially over pathetic as fuck reasons. So you can take your shit and scram." 

Jungkook looks a little taken aback at the response. It came out with much more venom than Taehyung had intended but he doesn't care. Jungkook had been making him pent up so much frustration with his mere existence the past few weeks.

"Killjoy." Jungkook utters with brief disappointment clouding his eyes and he plops himself onto the chair in front of Taehyung, looking almost unaffected.

"Glad I'm responsible for being a killjoy in your life," Taehyung retorts as he reaches into his pocket for his trustworthy cigarettes.

Jungkook scoffs, watching Taehyung light up a stick. The older boy startles when Jungkook snatches the box and lighter out of his hands and helps himself, sighing after he takes a puff and exhales.

"I'm going to spend a lot more on cigarettes because you're stealing mine you fucking shit." Taehyung hisses, trying not to stare at Jungkook's sharp jawline and lidded eyes, and how the smoke leaves his lips.

The corner of Jungkook’s lip quirk up in a smirk, "Glad I'm responsible for being the reason you spend more money." 

He glares at Jungkook, unamused, but that seems to amuse the younger boy who had turned his head and is looking at him smugly, doe eyes twinkling playfully.

Hate is a strong word. Too strong actually. So Taehyung won’t use that. Taehyung strongly dislikes Jungkook. 

Food in the cafeteria sucks, but it’s definitely way better than what Taehyung can eat at home. He’s seated at the back corner, alone and away from majority of the students. He isn’t even halfway done shoving food down his throat when a shadow looms over him.

Usually, he’d ignore, but this person sits in front of him and Taehyung wants to take a good look at which student actually dared to approach him.

It isn’t Jungkook, but by the looks of it, this student is another freshman. The student smiles at him, but it’s no where near innocent or genuine, just plain sinister.

“Sunbaenim, I heard you’re from the slums,” he says with an accent and Taehyung briefly realizes he’s a foreigner.

“And?”

“Heard you’ve sent so many students into the hospital. And they say you’ve killed people back in your neighborhood.”

Taehyung wants to roll his eyes. Whoever started that that rumor deserves his foot up their ass. “Okay?”

"I thought you'd look a little more... threatening." The boy laughs and Taehyung feels the incoming wave of irritation.

Taehyung then chooses to ignore, opting to take a bite out of his coleslaw. Hmm, not bad, he thinks, and takes another bite.

"I also figured you'd be in a group of scary-looking people, but apparently you're a lone wolf." The boy laughs again and Taehyung doesn't know what's so funny.

Silence.

"Why don't you have friends here? Because you're from the slums?"

Taehyung's spoon clanks a little too hard on his plate and the freshman seems to take this as a hint that Taehyung is slowly riling up.

"I don't know how you've managed to get to senior year since people from the slums usually drop out after their first year or really, don't go to school at all."

The coleslaw is starting to taste bad and Taehyung thinks he's starting to see red.

"Pests like you don't belong here,” The boy says, voice low. “In fact, I think it's about time I put you back to where you belong: the fucking dump—"

The freshman doesn't get to finish his sentence because Taehyung suddenly flips his tray to the side and leans over, hauling the boy out of his seat until half his body is on the table. He's seething as he glares into the boy's wide eyes, wondering if it's fucking worth it to hit this boy.

The cafeteria has gone completely silent as every head turns and watches. From the corner of his eyes, he can see the boy's friends had taken a step closer and just waiting to get involved.

"Oh so he does bite. I thought you were all talk,"

"Bambam, stop it," one of his friend warns and Taehyung decides that at least there is a clever one.

"So, how about it sunbaenim? Shall I kick you back to—"

Taehyung completely pulls the boy, Bambam, over the table and punches with all the frustration he's feeling. Then he backs them up to the nearest wall and roughly pushes Bambam against it, his hand curling around the younger boy's neck.

"How about I put you back to your place below me?" Taehyung mocks and his hand around the boy's neck tighten, making him gasp. "Or would you prefer I give you the honor to be above me?" He effortlessly lifts the boy up, whose face is starting to turn blue and is grappling with Taehyung's hand.

He can hear the murmurs of the students in the cafeteria, all of which he chooses to ignore.

"What's wrong?" He sweetly asks Bambam. "Thought you were going to put me back to where I belong in the fucking what? Dumpster?"

There are sounds of footsteps behind him and Taehyung briefly turns around to look at Bambam's friends.

“Step closer and I'll fucking break his neck,” Taehyung threatens, grip tightening just a little.

They raise their hands, looking frightened and taking a step back. “We w-won't. Just- just let him go."

Taehyung narrows his eyes at Bambam. “Don’t fucking underestimate people from the slums. Not even if they are lone wolfs. These lone wolfs are more than capable to crush you.”

With a final glare and squeeze of his grip, he lets the freshman go. The boy falls to the ground limply, coughing and gulping for air and Taehyung only watches for a second as his friends crowd around him before he turns around. No one dares to speak and all eyes are on him as he walks out of the cafeteria.

He’s annoyed and extremely pissed.

Just because he’s alone and doesn’t have friends, did people think they could pick on him? Did he look easy? Just because he’s from the slums he’s supposed to be degraded like that? It’s annoying. Especially these freshmen who are looking for some thrill and decide to challenge him.

The washroom is empty when he steps in and he heads over to look at himself in the mirror, trying to calm down.

People who come from the shady parts of the town are an immediate outcast. It’s the normal stereotype where others who come from the “better parts” of the town automatically assume that they are worthless and are monsters just because they come from the slums. But they don’t understand that living there is hard. Circumstances force them to stoop low because they desperately want to survive.

The need to always be on the lookout and never appear weak had somehow deeply integrated into his bones. He can't shed it off and it's only natural he brings along that personality to school, that he acts vigilant even in school. Friends? Not when he has an intimidating aura and always seem to carry himself arrogantly with a Do Not Fuck With Me attitude. That, coupled with the fact that the entire student and teacher population knows that he is living in the slums.

But people seem to forget that he’s human after all. He gets lonely and words do hurt him, even if he doesn’t show it.

He’s splashing water on his face when he hears the door creak open and footsteps echo until they stop right behind him.

When he looks up, he isn't sure if he should feel surprised that it’s Jungkook he sees in the mirror, watching him wordlessly. He blatantly ignores the younger boy, using the sleeve of his blazer to wipe his face.

“If I were you, I wouldn’t let him go. I’d finish him off instead of threaten him.”

Of course Jungkook would be one of the spectators in the cafeteria. “Well that’s the difference between you and me isn’t it?”

Jungkook smirks, “That’s right.”

It’s silent after that and there’s a sort of tension that fills the air as Taehyung grips onto the side of the sink and the both of them stare at each other through the mirror.

“What would it take?” Jungkook muses and Taehyung lifts an eyebrow. “What would it take for you to strike me?” When Taehyung keeps quiet, Jungkook continues, taking steps closer and voice becoming quieter and huskier. “Which button should I caress? Which button should I press? Which button should I shove?”

By then, Jungkook is standing so close behind him that he can feel the other's body heat and the breath fanning down his neck.

Taehyung feels his heart is racing at the close proximity. He swallows and turns to face Jungkook. They’re so close and Taehyung can count Jungkook’s lashes, can see the specks of dark brown in his irises. "Ever wondered how the water in the toilet bowl tastes like?" he asks lightly, voice mischievous but threatening.

Jungkook chuckles, looking thoroughly amuse. “I don’t. But I do wonder what something else tastes like..." he trails off, gaze dropping down to Taehyung's lips for a split second before returning back up.

The older boy feels his body heat up and his mind almost goes blank when Jungkook starts leaning closer. He feels their noses brush, the younger boy’s breath warm against his lips.

But Taehyung puts a hand on Jungkook’s chest, halting and pushing him back.

Taehyung peers into Jungkook’s eyes before he leans forward to whisper, “Don’t get ahead of yourself, kid.” He makes sure his hand brushes against the younger boy’s abs and a little lower on his stomach when he brings his hand down.

Taehyung leaves, the tension growing much thicker than it was before.

It’s normal for Taehyung to spend most of his time sleeping after school. Especially since he pretty much stays up all night just in case someone breaks into their house or his father’s drunk friends stumble into his room. It’s happened before, he isn’t going to risk it.

Taehyung stirs, feeling himself becoming conscious of his surroundings. He groans a little at the ache in his neck. Maybe he should stop sleeping like this, slouched on the chair and legs perched on the table in front of him. Sighing, he arches his back a little before slowly peeking an eye open. The just awaken boy clucks his tongue in annoyance when he sees a figure sitting on the table in front of his, cheek resting against his palm and intently watching him with a smirk.

It’s been a few days since their encounter in the washroom, four to be exact if weekends are excluded, not that anyone’s counting. And Taehyung doesn’t know if he actually wants to see Jungkook again.

“Fuck off,” he mumbles irritatedly, closing his eye and intending to go back to sleep.

“You should treat your guests better,”

“I don’t remember inviting anyone.”

Jungkook chuckles, “Then I guess I invited myself.”

Taehyung sighs and runs his hand through his raven locks in frustration, messing it up. He hates how Jungkook sounds alluring to his ears. “What do you want, Jeon? If it’s a fight, the answer is still no,”

“Why?”

Taehyung ignores. Maybe if he pretends he’s asleep then the boy will leave him alone. But of course that won’t happened.

“Is it because you don’t want to hurt that pretty face?”

The raven-haired boy snaps his eyes open, “What?”

Jungkook gives him a smirk, eyes trailing all over his face and Taehyung feels irritation prick at his skin. “Are you a man? You’re too pretty for that, Kim Taehyung.”

Taehyung narrows his eyes at the younger boy, jaws clenched as he brings his legs down from the table. “What are you playing at now?” he leans forward, voice barely supressing his anger.

“What?” Jungkook feigns innocence, head tilting to the side and Taehyung feels his hands twitch. “I don’t think you’re what the students make you out to be. The other day was a fluke. Bambam was too easy.”

“What—“

“Can you really throw a punch?” Jungkook’s voice is filled with an annoying curiosity and Taehyung clenches his fist. “You don’t look like you’re capable enough,” he continues, eyes travelling down to Taehyung’s arms and he, too, leans a little closer.

Jungkook’s eyes turn dark, and Taehyung can feel the tension thickening in the air, just waiting to be sliced.

“Unless, you’re hiding things underneath those clothes—”

Taehyung barely registers his hand flying out to land a punch on Jungkook’s face.

The younger boy stumbles backward with a groan and Taehyung strides over, pulling him up easily by his blazer and landing another fist to his temple before shoving him up against the closed window. He’s so damn pissed at the moment and seeing Jungkook smirk back at him makes him absolutely livid.

“You’re fucking annoying,” Taehyung snarls, carelessly throwing the boy into the tables and chairs.

Jungkook merely chuckles as if Taehyung hasn’t just thrown him down and he isn’t sitting on the floor. “I get that all the time, Taehyung. Find another word to describe me instead.” 

Taehyung feels himself fume, this lil’ shit. He grips onto Jungkook’s blazer, hauling him up and pushing him hard against the dusty wall at the back of the class, glaring daggers into Jungkook’s challenging eyes.

Fucking prick trying so hard to make him break. But he guesses this is what Jungkook wants from the very start. For him to fight. And for him to give in like this means he’s losing and Jungkook’s winning. He's better than this.

Loosening his grip, he sighs, “I don’t have time to fuck around with you, kid.”

At that, Jungkook glowers, “I’m not a kid!” He pushes Taehyung’s hands away and knees him in the gut, making Taehyung immediately bending over in pain. As quickly as the kick came, a punch lands on his face.

“Shit,” Taehyung grunts.

Taehyung can barely pull himself together, feeling his head spin at the force of the punch, when Jungkook slams him into the wall.

The younger boy smashes their lips together, biting and nibbling his lips. Taehyung finds himself glaring at Jungkook whose dark eyes are boring into his. He tries to push Jungkook away and he succeeds only by a bit before Jungkook is pressing his body flush against Taehyung’s, pinning his wrists up above his head and effectively immobilizing him. A harsh bite to his lip makes him yelp and Jungkook tilts his head to deepen the kiss, to shove his tongue into Taehyung’s mouth.

Taehyung can feel a whimper at the back of his throat with how Jungkook is moving his tongue in his mouth and how he can feel Jungkook’s hard body against his. His head is getting cloudy and his hands are feeling numb at how tight the younger boy is gripping his wrists. He feels helpless, and all of a sudden he feels mad at how weak Jungkook is making him feel at that moment, how Jungkook is trying to dominate him by having him pinned against the wall and trying to kiss the breath out of him.

He’s not weak.

Jungkook’s tongue is sliding against his so sensually that Taehyung can feel blood rushing downwards. He bites down hard on Jungkook’s tongue and when the latter hisses and pulls away, Taehyung takes the opportunity to throw a punch before switching their positions. He puts his entire body weight on Jungkook, roughly kissing him, and Jungkook is scrambling at his back, trying to peel him off and shove Taehyung’s tongue out of his mouth.

The younger boy succeeds to push them both off the wall and they are tumbling backwards, crashing into the tables as they ferociously try to pin one another down and gain an upper hand. When Jungkook finally trips, he unfortunately brings Taehyung down with him. Fortunately though, Taehyung falls on top of him. The older boy takes advantage of this.

“Can I throw a punch, huh?” He tangles his fingers into Jungkook’s hair and tightens his grip before throwing his fist across the other’s face, making Jungkook quietly groan, eyes clenched shut.

Taehyung holds Jungkook’s head still on the floor by the grip on his hair as he leans down to bite his way into Jungkook’s mouth. It’s warm and wet and he can taste blood when he slides his tongue against Jungkook’s.

The younger boy is tugging at his blazer, trying to pull his body down flush against him but Taehyung won’t let him have it. His grip on Jungkook’s hair only tightens more while his other hand goes down to hold the boy’s hip down. But that doesn’t mean he won’t tease Jungkook by grazing his ass on the freshman’s growing erection, lowering his own hip and their bulges just barely touching. He senses Jungkook’s frustration when the boy glares at him through hooded eyes and bites on his lips hard enough to sting.

Jungkook’s hands trail down his back slowly, leaving a burning heat even through the layer of clothes, and stops at his ass, forcing his hip to grind down. Pleasure shoots up both their spines and they both find themselves slowly losing control. The sensation is addicting and Taehyung finds his eyes falling shut as he pants into Jungkook’s mouth, the two boys trying to find a rhythm.

They both don’t last long.

Jungkook still comes over every now and then. This time round though he sits closer to Taehyung, sometimes in the chair beside him, sometimes in front. On most days they don’t speak, just relish in the silence. On some days they snap at each other and banter back and forth, especially when Jungkook decides to steal a stick from him.

It’s funny how Jungkook sticks around often. Taehyung’s seen Jungkook with his own group of same age friends. Shouldn’t Jungkook be out wrecking havocs like the teenager he is? Or at least hang out with people his age? Rather than sit in the classroom with someone from the slums doing nothing.

"Don't you have better things to do?" Taehyung asks, lighting up a cigarette.

Jungkook looks at him with an unreadable expression, "No."

It renders Taehyung speechless as he blinks his eyes at Jungkook who is making himself comfortable and leaning against the wall, closing his eyes.

Taehyung leaves it as it is.

He doesn't even bat an eyelash anymore when Jungkook comes in and spends the entire day with him, or when he wakes up from a nap and finds Jungkook looking at him. He’s even starting to not mind anymore when Jungkook takes a stick from him or when he leaves school together with him at night.

Even on days when Jungkook comes in fuming, kisses him harshly and roams his hands all over Taehyung's body, Taehyung lets him. He lets the younger boy lazily make out with him for hours, enjoys it even, and he is surprisingly okay when Jungkook makes him come in his hand or mouth.

Taehyung decides to take Jungkook’s presence in stride. He actually gets used to Jungkook’s presence. Maybe it’s because Taehyung sees no malice in the younger boy—at least not intentionally. Maybe it’s because it feels less lonely with Jungkook around and he feels calm and peaceful, not having to worry about Jungkook suddenly pouncing on him with a knife because he just knows Jungkook won’t. Yeah, maybe Taehyung is starting to trust the younger boy.

It’s no surprise to Taehyung when Jungkook walks in with bruises decorating his face. Jungkook doesn’t flinch or hiss in pain during those days and it’s honestly admirable how he does it. It also kinds of make him look a bit more attractive and manlier—or at least that’s what Taehyung thinks.

“Why do you do it?” Taehyung asks one day when Jungkook comes in with a battered lip and purple bruises around his eye and cheekbone.

Jungkook looks at him questioningly.

“Fight, I mean.”

The younger boy stares at him for a brief moment before he shrugs and smirks, “Adrenaline rush.”

Typical. A typical reason among every teenager who doesn’t get by a week without fighting. But he kinds of get it. The rush that comes along when you flare up in anger and the first hit you strike makes you feel extremely pumped up. Seeing your opponent bruise and crumple to the floor gives a sort of satisfaction.

Sadists, Taehyung thinks, everyone in this twisted world.

“What about you?” Jungkook asks curiously.

“Survival instincts.” Taehyung answers without thinking.

Jungkook nods in understanding.

And that’s what he likes about Jungkook. Always not questioning further and always seeming to understand how tough it is living in the slums when you have to go through a day without knowing whether you’ll make it to the next. Jungkook isn’t even from the slums, yet he must be one of the only students in school who doesn’t degrade him for living in the slums, who isn’t afraid of him and challenges him without ending up begging for his sorry-ass’ mercy.

As he smokes the evening away and watch the shadows fall on Jungkook’s sleeping face, he realizes he’s in deep. It’s dangerous how lax he has become the past few weeks, not that he doesn’t realize it. He does, in fact. He struggles with himself though, torn between conflicting feelings of negativity and positivity where Jungkook is concern. To push him away? Or to keep him close?

It’s a big question for him and it’s making him feel frustrated and restless with each passing moment he doesn’t have an answer for it.

It's hard to fall asleep and it isn't because of the laughing and shouting of his drunk father and friends, or the occasional commotion outside his window caused by rowdy teenagers. It's because his thoughts are too loud. Thoughts that are full of Jungkook's smirks, Jungkook's eyes, Jungkook's kisses, Jungkook's touch, Jungkook, Jungkook, Jungkook. 

That’s all he can think about as he laid on the thin mattress in his room—a sorry excuse for a bed—with his arm thrown over his eyes. He wants to be annoyed with how much the younger boy has been occupying his thoughts throughout the past few weeks but he simply can't when all he feels is warmth. For once he feels relaxed and calm around someone else and he doesn't have to worry about anything. It's different than what he's used to for the past few years; it’s different, but a good different.

The hairs on his neck stand and he tenses, realizing a little too late that he had lowered his guard when he gets yanked by his hair and dragged off his mattress. He grunts in pain when there is a slap to his face and he looks up to have a look at his assaulter. He’s a burly middle-aged man that Taehyung recognizes to be one of the man that comes over for drinks with his father.

“T-t-teenagers these daaaays,” the man slurs before grabbing a hold onto his hair again, pulling him up to stand.  “Uselessss—“ he hiccups and throws a punch to Taehyung’s face, “—just like my sonnn.”

Taehyung fumes as he feels the sting on his face and he punches right in the nose of the drunk man who lets go of his hair and staggers backwards.

“Why yer lilshit—“

The boy’s strength is nothing compared to the man, despite his own experiences in fighting. The man is continuously slapping him and he can taste blood in his mouth as he tries to block the attacks, waiting for an opportunity to strike back. When the man misses a hit, Taehyung kicks him where the sun doesn’t shine, making him double over in pain. Taehyung can feel his head spin but he scrambles out his window into the cold night.

Anywhere is better than home, he tells himself when he picks himself off the ground and unsteadily walks forth.

But maybe he should have thought about his own condition before recklessly getting out from the slightly safer house. Because not too far from him, he can see a duo who had caught sight of him and is making their way over.

“Fucking hell,” Taehyung mutters, spitting to the side. He tries to walk away but a boy appears right in front of him and Taehyung’s gaze hardens, body immediately tensing in defense.

“If it isn’t Kim Taehyung!” The red-haired boy, Mark, smirks.

“Ooh! Look at what happened to you!” The other boy, blond, whom he recognizes as Jackson, teases and grabs onto Taehyung’s shoulder, effectively stopping him in his tracks, and taking a good look at Taehyung’s face. “Shall we add on to those and make you a piece of art?”

It was difficult trying to fend off the two boys. While he had managed to land a few hits on them, it’s nothing compared to the blows he’s receiving on his face and torso. He only hopes he doesn’t have any broken bones.

“What’s the matter Taehyung? Can’t fight anymore?” Jackson teases and cackles when Taehyung furiously glowers from where he’s kneeling on the floor, clutching his stomach. His face feels sore, he can taste blood in his mouth, some dripping down his lips and he spits. He’s so tired. And for once he feels fear.

The two boys are circling him and Taehyung feels dizzy. He knows he’s going to fall unconscious soon but he holds on. If he falls right now, these two idiots are going to fuck him up so bad he isn’t sure he’s going to live to see another day. He needs to think of a way to save his ass but there isn’t much options seeing his current condition.

“That’s a change isn’t it? You were the one always—“

“What the fuck is this?” A gruff voice growls and Taehyung finds himself smiling. Yoongi hyung. That’s all he can remember before the world goes dark.

Taehyung spends four days in Yoongi's small house, the older boy nursing him with a blank look on his face whenever he comes back home from work. He doesn't head back home and he doesn't head to school either.

He spends those days silently fuming over the fact that he had let other people lay their finger on him, that he had been too busy thinking of Jungkook and let someone come into his room and take advantage while he’s unaware. He hates how weak he’s feeling, how weak he’s become ever since the whole Jungkook fiasco.

“What happened?” Yoongi asks when he is changing Taehyung’s dressing at night. “You were always able to take two down. Mark and Jackson’s strength combined may be a bit too much but to the point you’re bloody and bruised like this?”

Taehyung sighs, going deep in thought and he hisses when Yoongi accidentally presses a bit too hard. “I don’t know, hyung,” he mumbles, defeated.

Yoongi drops his hands and gives Taehyung a stern look. “Well whatever it is, you better pull your shit together. You can’t survive here if you’re weak.”

Having it being pointed out by someone else makes him feel angrier. Having it being pointed out by his neighbor, Yoongi, goes to show that this is a serious matter. After all Yoongi had practically lived in the slums his entire life and had taught Taehyung a lot when he moved in back then.

The raven-haired boy doesn’t even know if he’s mad at Jungkook or himself, doesn’t even know who to blame. In the end he settles on being mad and blaming the younger boy. If he hadn’t met Jungkook, if the younger boy didn’t slowly implant himself into Taehyung’s life, this wouldn’t happen.

“Fuck off,” is the first thing he says when Jungkook strolls into the classroom, bag slung across his back.

The younger boy only raises an eyebrow before stalking over to Taehyung and sitting on the desk in front of him. "I thought we were past that point,"

"Well maybe you thought wrong!" Taehyung snaps, eyes glaring into Jungkook's and he can see how the other clenches his jaw.

Those doe orbs narrow, scrutinizing his face and Taehyung looks away when he realizes that he still has bruises on his face. A hand grips onto his chin however, forcing him to look up and Taehyung tries not to let himself waver. He can see Jungkook assessing the purple bruises decorating his entire face.

"What happened?"

The question makes Taehyung’s heart clench and he hates how there is concern laced in Jungkook’s voice and worry swimming in his eyes. Taehyung shuts his mouth though, almost biting on his tongue. He slaps Jungkook’s hand away but that only fuels the younger boy more. Jungkook harshly grabs onto the sides of Taehyung’s head, and Taehyung can feel fingertips pressing hard.

“I fucking asked what happened, Taehyung,” Jungkook’s voice audibly shakes from anger and Taehyung finds himself feels irritation boil within him. There is no reason for Jungkook to get angry.

“You wanna know what happened? You,” he accuses. The older boy stands up and leans closer to the confused looking Jungkook. “You happened.”

If anyone should get angry then it’s definitely Taehyung, for letting himself become so vulnerable and weak, for allowing Jungkook to become the reason he let his guard down.

“I was doing fucking fantastic alone, before you came. It’s because of you I continuously let my guard down, it’s because of you I’ve become so weak!”

“Who did it?”

“Why does it matter to you?” Taehyung snarls, feeling his eyes prick as he pants.

“Taehyung—“

“Fuck. Off. Jungkook,” Taehyung doesn’t miss the flash of hurt in Jungkook’s eyes that was gone as quick as it appeared.

The older boy swings his bag over his shoulder and storms off, leaving Jungkook alone in the classroom.

Taehyung doesn’t want to hang out in the classroom anymore. Not when there’s Jungkook there. He decides to head elsewhere, find another abandoned place where he can have his peace. Maybe the old train port.

It’s usually easy for Taehyung to take down people, one on one or three on one. A single punch of his is enough to temporarily confuse one person, allowing him time to tackle another one to the ground and throwing a kick to the last one before he goes back to the first person. But not when they attack when he’s least expecting it, not when he’s taken by surprise.

The kick to his gut is so strong it knocks the air out of him. He barely has enough time to breathe before a punch lands on his face and he falls to the ground. Before he knows it, he's being forced to kneel on the ground, both arms being held by two other people.

He snickers when he sees the boy in front of him, recognizing him to be one of the current second grade students he beat up last year. "Can't beat me yourself so you get other people to help?"

"Shut up!" The boy, Kihyun, snarls, kicking him in his side and Taehyung groans in pain.

Taehyung can easily take pain but this honestly hurts. His wounds from a few days ago were still not fully healed.

“It doesn’t matter if I get people to help. As long as you crumble by my hands then it’s enough.”

Kihyun harshly grips his hair and yanks his head back, scrutinizing him with such strong distaste.

“Gonna ruin that pretty face, sunbae,” Kihyun smirks and exposes Taehyung to an onslaught of slaps and punches to his face. It stings and Taehyung can’t even find it in himself to scream when he gets a kick on his side.

Dark red drips on the floor when the attacks stop and Taehyung’s head limply falls forward. He spits the blood in his mouth, feeling weak and helpless.

“Don’t you think this is unfair?” A voice breaks through and Taehyung isn’t sure if he should feel relieved.

“Who are you?”

“It’s a pity you need people to hold Taehyung off while you try to take him. So weak, aren’t you.”

“I asked you who you are!”

There’s the sound of shoes sliding across the sand and Taehyung can hear them fighting with one another. The grips on his arms loosens and he finds himself falling to the ground, unable to keep himself up.

“The name’s Jungkook, you shitty coward! Better remember that name for life.” There’s a pained groan followed by the sound of someone collapsing on the floor. “I fucking dare you to hurt Taehyung again, we’ll see after that if you can take another breath.”

It’s silent while Taehyung is staggering as he tries to push himself to stand. He’s panting, aching everywhere and he feels liquid trickling down the side of his face. He hopes it’s sweat, not blood. His vision is spinning and he’s seeing double of everything, including Jungkook who is currently approaching him. A distant call of his name is all he hears before he blacks out for the second time that week.

When he wakes up, it's already dark. He assumes he's in the same place but he's not so sure, because he’s lying on something sturdy yet soft. It takes a while for his eyes to adjust to the darkness but when it does, he sees Jungkook's sleeping face.

Taehyung is lying on Jungkook's lap, blazer draped over his body.

He doesn't plan on getting up or moving anytime soon, still feeling a dull throb throughout his entire body and he's feeling way too comfortable at the moment. His mind reels back to the events that happened earlier, when he had unsuspectingly been attacked. And surprisingly, Jungkook had come after him, albeit a little too late. He still came even after Taehyung had told him to fuck off.

The raven-haired boy reaches down into his blazer's pocket, retrieving his trustworthy cigarette and lighter.

It takes every inch of him to not hiss at his own movements and even placing the stick between his lips hurt. But fuck, he needs to smoke. He's not sure of the exact time but he's damn sure it’s been a few hours since his last puff. He tries to flick the lighter like he usually does but no matter, the fire won't ignite and his hands are trembling too much to even grip it much less properly press down.

"Fuck," he mutters in frustration, frantically trying to flick the lighter with such shaky hands until another hand gently takes it out from his, momentarily surprising him.

Silently, Jungkook successfully flicks it. A small amber light dances at the edge of the lighter and the other brings it closer to the tip of his cigarette, lighting the tip. Taehyung inhales, feeling relieved at the familiar smoke invading his lungs, and Jungkook takes the stick from his lips, bringing it up to his own lip and inhaling.

They watch each other in silence, neither boys uttering a single word as Jungkook alternates between letting Taehyung inhale the cancer stick before inhaling it for himself. The two boys barely see the white puffs of smoke surround them, the place poorly lit by the moonlight, before vanishing in the air. Just like the tension between them dissolving with every single puff of smoke.

A man, a doctor, which seems to be very well acquainted to Jungkook comes to pick them up. He assesses Taehyung and after confirming that he doesn’t have broken bones, carefully carries him and drives them back to his clinic.

Taehyung gets treated for his wounds and he sleeps through it all. When he wakes up again, he’s still lying in one of the rooms of the clinic. Despite his face feeling swollen, he feels slightly better. He looks around to look for someone—anyone—and right at that moment, Jungkook walks in with a bowl in his hand.

“You’re awake. Jungsu hyung made porridge for you,” Jungkook slides into the empty chair next to Taehyung’s bed and the raven-haired boy wonders if Jungkook had been by his side the entire time he was asleep. Guilt starts to poke at him.

When Jungkook holds the spoon out for Taehyung, the latter refuses to accept it. “I can feed myself,” his voice comes out scratchy and he frowns.

“Don’t be stupid,” Jungkook scolds him and shoves a glass of water to his lips. Taehyung accepts this and he tries to hold the glass but Jungkook wouldn’t let him. The older boy rolls his eyes.

Jungkook tries to feed him again but Taehyung leans away, “I’ll feed myself.”

“No,” he says impatiently.

“I’ve troubled you enough so just let me do this myself—” Taehyung proceeds to try and take the bowl and spoon from Jungkook’s hand but the other pulls away and Taehyung glowers. “Jungkook,” he warns and tries again. “Fuck, Jungkook I swear to God—”

"Shut up and let me feed you, hyung!" Jungkook growls in irritation.

Taehyung glares hard at the younger boy, feeling his hand itch at the thought of hitting the boy. He takes a long look at Jungkook’s tired face before he finally sighs and gives in.

Jungkook proceeds to feed him, blowing on it first before bringing it up to Taehyung's lips. They do it in silence and Taehyung can slowly feel his anger dissipate into that same warmth again. It feels nice to be cared for and he would never admit this out loud but he feels safe around Jungkook. Because Jungkook’s shown him that he’s got his back and even if he pushes him away, he’ll still want to come back. Because Jungkook doesn’t seem to mind the fact that Taehyung is from the supposedly horrible slums.

"Jungkook," Taehyung calls out softly, looking down and playing with the blanket.

"Yes, hyung?" 

Taehyung feels his lips tug up. He shakes his head, "Nothing."

Jungkook sighs, putting the bowl aside and sits on the bed, facing Taehyung. He runs his fingers through Taehyung's hair and the older boy closes his eyes, slightly leaning into the touch. "I hate you, you know that?" 

Taehyung peeks an eye open to look at Jungkook and he smiles at the worried look on the other's face. There isn't any malice in the words and he's going to interpret that as you scared me. "I'm not sorry," Taehyung says playfully, but hisses when Jungkook's fingers tighten and pull on his hair.

The bed shifts slightly when Jungkook moves closer to Taehyung. And he really hates how his heart speeds up and his eyes flutter shut when Jungkook's hand trail down to the back of his neck before placing a feather like kiss on his forehead.

Jungkook is resting his head on the desk between them, staring at Taehyung. It’s been quite some time and Taehyung is starting to feel annoyed under Jungkook’s heated gaze. The younger boy had been like that the whole week: lifeless and gaze never tearing away from Taehyung. He lights up a stick and mentally curses Jungkook for agitating his nerves. Trying to ignore Jungkook is hard, not when the younger boy is all Taehyung can think about.

“Quit staring,” Taehyung finally snaps.

“I’ll stare at you all I want,” Jungkook retorts and Taehyung looks away.

“What’s wrong with you?”

Jungkook sighs, finally tearing his eyes away from Taehyung and leaning back against the windows, his eyes falling shut.

 “You’re graduating,” he states vaguely.

Taehyung inhales his stick. Oh, he thinks, oh. “Yeah. So?”

“Nothing. Never mind, forget about it,” Jungkook resigns and Taehyung finds himself smiling.

“What? Gonna miss me?” Taehyung teasingly asks even though he knows he won’t get an answer. Jungkook remains silent and unmoving. “You can find someone else to bother. Freshmen comes in every year and you’ll have more people to annoy.”

The younger boy opens his eyes and furrows his eyebrows at Taehyung, “What?”

“What? Isn’t that it? Once I graduate you won’t have people to bother or play with.”

Jungkook evidently scowls, leaning forward, “You know it’s not like that.”

“Do I?” Taehyung smirks in triumph but it changes to worry and he feels guilty when hurt and sadness flash in Jungkook’s eyes, his lips turning down in a frown.

Taehyung stubs his cigarette out under his chair before throwing it out the window. He leans forward, propping his head in his hand and resting his elbow on his desk. Jungkook watches him silently, emotions flickering all over his face and looking insecure. The older boy reaches his hand out and lightly traces his middle finger down Jungkook’s jawline to his chin. Then he brushes his thumb over the boy’s cheekbone, until Jungkook relaxes into his touch.

“I know,” Taehyung says quietly, thumb still caressing the fair cheek.

Taehyung will graduate and he’s going to find a job. Jungkook has two more years of high school. Things will be different. They won’t be hanging out in the classroom together anymore and they don’t know when they’ll meet. For all they know, they might even drift apart. The thought hurts Taehyung a little. He’s become so used to Jungkook’s presence and even if Jungkook is annoying and can’t keep his temper in check, Taehyung enjoys the younger boy’s company.

It’s what he had been looking forward to each day for at least the past half year.

“But I don’t think that will stop you from hunting me down, right?”

Jungkook’s lips quirk up, “Guess not. I’ll still have to look out for your ass.”

Taehyung immediately pulls back, offended. “I can take care of myself,”

“Sure you can.”

Taehyung wants to hit Jungkook so badly for ruining the moment. “We both already know this but you’re annoying, kid.”

“Will you stop calling me that?” Jungkook growls and Taehyung smirks.

“But you are a kid. Can’t even buy a pack of cigarettes for yourself.”

Jungkook’s jaw clenches when he gets up from his seat, removing his blazer and chucking it aside. “Get up,” he commands and Taehyung smirks even wider.

He takes his time standing up, sliding his blazer off and unbuttoning his sleeves and rolling them up, all the while with his eyes trained on Jungkook. His body heats up and he feels the first rush of adrenaline when Jungkook’s eyes turn dark and predatory.

The first strike comes from Jungkook and Taehyung only stumbles a step back before he is launching forward, smirk never leaving his face.

Fighting sessions with Jungkook will always be fun. (Especially when it ends with hot, steamy make-out sessions.)

Taehyung surprisingly attends the graduation ceremony. He didn’t want to but what could he lose? Wrong. It’s boring, with all the speeches by teachers and top students and halfway through it he wonders why the hell he even bothered to grace such a ceremony with his attendance.

When the ceremony ends, every student has a smile planted on their face as they hug their friends and family members. There are screams and tears of happiness and it annoys Taehyung greatly as he makes his way through the crowd. He leaves the school alone, no family and no friends.

Not even Jungkook.

It doesn’t matter, Taehyung tells himself as he walks down the familiar path leading to the old and abandoned train port.

The sun is setting; hues of orange and red are slowly filling the sky when he reaches his new hangout place. He immediately throws his bag up into his usual cabin before climbing his way up with slight difficulty.

But he didn’t expect someone else to have already occupied the cabin.

Taehyung didn’t expect the strong punch to his jaw that made him fall with a groan either.

He feels a weight straddling him and he opens his eyes, blinking as he tries to clear his head from the punch. There, hovering right above him is the face of a boy whom he’s become familiar with over the past few months. The one who not only grates on his nerves but also steals his breath away.

“Congratulations on your graduation,” Jungkook smirks down at him before adding, “Asshole.”

Taehyung smiles, amused, “Is that how you congratulate people?”

“Were you expecting me to throw a fucking party?”

Taehyung laughs, warmth spreading throughout his chest and he feels lighter than he had when he left school. “Well that was- that was a unique graduation gift.”

Jungkook hums, smirking, “But I have one more gift for you.” The younger boy runs his fingers through Taehyung’s raven locks.

“Oh?”

“Yeah,” Jungkook breathes against his mouth. “Do you want it?” he asks with a roll of his hips and Taehyung’s breath hitches.

“Yes,” he rasps out, pulling the front of Jungkook’s shirt and biting on said boy’s lip.

It’s a little cold when they lie on top of the cabin afterwards, calmly and silently enjoying each other’s presence. Taehyung feels tired and his body is aching. He finds himself almost dozing off every few minutes but he holds it, not wanting time to fly by so fast.

“I fight to protect.”

Puzzled, Taehyung asks, “What?”

There is silence and Taehyung briefly wonders if he had imagined Jungkook speaking.

“If you ask me now why I fight…” Jungkook mumbles, “I fight because I want to protect.”

Taehyung keeps quiet, trying not to read between the lines of Jungkook’s statement.

But maybe he doesn’t have to, because further into the night when they are watching the starless sky, Jungkook slowly and gently entwines their fingers, leaving their joined hands to rest in the small space between their bodies.

Working at the car garage had been working out well for Taehyung the past year. Yoongi had been the one to recommend him to the Boss. Repairing cars were not really his thing, hell, he barely knew how to fix a broken door handle at home. But Yoongi had been patient enough to teach him and now he can attend to customers by himself.

It's past closing time and he's cleaning up his mechanic space, carefully storing his equipment when Yoongi approaches him. "Taehyung, I have to run some errands. You'll have to head home alone."

Taehyung nods, smiling, "Sure, hyung. No worries."

Considering they're neighbors who work at the same place, he often hops on Yoongi's motorcycle each morning and evening. Except on days like this where Yoongi has other places to be or when Taehyung has other stuffs to do.

Yoongi gives him a pointed look, "And be careful, kid. I don't want your blood in my house again."

Taehyung laughs and Yoongi looks at him annoyed, waving his hand and then walking off.

It's somehow darker in the slums when evening rolls around, but it’s not like he isn't used to it. He drags his feet down the road, smelling like petrol and tires. The streetlights are dim and he isn't surprised when he sees a few teenagers loitering underneath the overhead bridge.

They stare at him like a predator would its prey yet Taehyung walks past them, unaffected. If they didn't touch him then he wouldn't either. But ahh, youngsters in the slums will always be looking for victims, just so their name would rise and people would fear them.

A boy stands up and walks, blocking Taehyung's path a few meters away. Taehyung keeps walking, unfaltering; his gaze locked with the boy and he stops an arm’s length away. The boy is almost his height but he looks young and cannot be over sixteen. That makes them at least four years apart then. Taehyung wants to scoff and tell them to go home and maybe drink orange juice.

The two engage in a stare down, unmoving, until the boy smirks and draws a fist back. Taehyung doesn't move, only prepares himself for the punch that comes. His head snaps to the side and he hears the boy and his friends snickering. Taehyung chuckles and the laughter die down. 

Punch of a kid, he muses. Except for the slight sting, it barely hurt. He turns to face the boy in front of him with a smirk. Swiftly, he draws his hand back and punches, aiming for the boy's jaw. The impact makes the boy fall on his back with a grunt. It riles up his friends who are now standing up and walking towards Taehyung. He glares at them all, challenging them to come forward. 

Cracking his knuckles and rolling his shoulders, he braces himself. Working at the car garage and carrying tires had been a daily workout for him.

Piece of cake. 

He’s taking care of the third boy when he hears a pained scream behind him. A little shock, Taehyung kicks the boy in his hold to the floor and promptly turns around. Kneeling and cradling his thigh is one of the boys, a baseball bat lying on the floor near his hand and Taehyung frowns at the weapon.

Taehyung’s gaze flicker up. Standing behind the kneeling boy is Taehyung’s favourite boy, who is currently scowling disapprovingly at him. Taehyung can only smirk lazily before he turns his attention to the remaining boys.

When all boys are down, some limping and running away, the only sounds that can be heard are pants of two boys.

Taehyung sighs. He’s tired and all he wanted to do after he got off from work was shower and wash away the grease and smell of tire. Now he has to wash away sweat, blood, and maybe treat some of the wounds and cut he’s gotten. Yoongi is going to be mad tomorrow morning when he finds out Taehyung had gotten into a fight again.

“You!” Taehyung sighs again. But first… Jungkook.

Jungkook stalks up to him and grabs onto the front of Taehyung’s shirt, glaring furiously, “You’re such a magnet for trouble! I’ve been saving your ass so many times. I’m not going to help you next time.” With a huff, the younger boy lets Taehyung go with a shove before walking down the path to Taehyung’s house.

Taehyung rolls his eyes, almost snorting. That’s what Jungkook said last time, and the last last time. “Who said I needed help?” he walks after Jungkook, not bothering to catch up.

“Pretty boys like you need help,” Jungkook yells over his shoulder and Taehyung fumes.

“Fuck you,” he spits. “I dare you say that again, asshole.”

Jungkook turns around with a smirk, walking backwards slowly until he’s manoeuvred himself in front of Taehyung.

“Pretty boys like you need help,”

The older boy throws himself forward, intending to teach the prick a lesson but it’s honestly half-assed and Jungkook easily catches his hand and puts them both to a stop. Taehyung narrows his eyes at the smirking Jungkook who is coaxing his fists to uncurl before entwining their fingers together. He can’t even stay mad at Jungkook.

“I know you can fight. But what if there’s too many? What if they have weapons?”

Taehyung reaches up to graze his thumb over the bruise on the side of Jungkook’s lip. “But I have you, right?”

The younger boy sighs, eyes softening before he leans in a little closer, lips ghosting over Taehyung’s and the older boy feels his heart soar, “You do.”

“You smell gross, hyung.”

“Go home, Jungkook.”

“I am. Can’t wait to crash on your mattress tonight.”