[ CHAPTER 13 ]
carnival chaos

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

IT'S almost cliché that the two of them are ushered, unwilling they would say, into a pastel pink carriage rimmed with white floral designs and winged handles.

dismissing the smug smiles that adorn their friend's expressions as the two step into following carriages, both men are resolute to avoid any physical contact with another as they purse their lips and glare out the glass interior of their compartment.

it's a stunning view and despite the resentment spitting at his tongue, taehyung hums his content, "pretty isn't it?"

and so it is. the sky a flushed rose, a sea among its never-ending body as it dips and turns, streaks of magenta and thumbing pearl all the while accompanied by a streak of honey gold that glitters fireflies at their skin.

glancing momentarily at the silver-haired male who's hair glows in the gold lining that basks at his tan skin, jeongguk nods, "gorgeous."

there's a brief silence, one that isn't their general stifling one that both yearn to break with a snarled curse of mockery and insult. instead, it's serene, comforting even as they gaze at the blanket of knitted mustard and mounding fabric below them.

"you know," taehyung murmurs, eyes flickering upwards to smile gently at him, "you never told me what got you so worked up that night."

both need not to elaborate of what he meant, the frosted chill and the lurking shadows stir at their minds as jeongguk shifts upon his cloud-painted wooden seat, frowning lightly, "uh-just a normal argument with my dad."

peering at the younger male beneath his lashes, taehyung purses his lips as he prods on, "define normal."

at this jeongguk's eyebrows knot close, lips quirking downwards, "why?"

shrugging nonchalantly, he leans back against his seat, "might be good to get the crap out of your system?"

raising an eyebrow in speculation, jeongguk purses his lips as he speaks, "and why would i tell you out of all people?"

"because we're not friends, i won't judge you and there's no hard feelings."

the raven-haired male shrugs inwardly, nodding as he casts his gaze to the dwindling rose tent in which they had left from, "okay."

"okay?" taehyung repeats, brows furrowing close as he tilts his head.

jeongguk dismisses him, sighing softly, "my parent are very expectant people."

taehyung opts to say silent at this, watching the younger male as he runs distraught fingers through his ebony locks, knee jutting into rocking taps against the floor of their pastel compartment.

"even as a kid, 99 won't cut the chase it's 100 or nothing." he recalls and taehyung takes note of the way jeongguk's eyes flash with irritation, fingers clenching into tight fists upon his lap, "grew up being the best of the best, got whatever the hell i wanted if i did whatever the hell they wanted me to do."

"so they were strict?" taehyung says slowly, careful to not to toe the boundaries.

"in a way." he nods, "but it wasn't all that bad. i had boundaries any kid would have, you want that toy car? top your class and we'll see. i wouldn't have really minded if i actually got the darn lambo but why spend a couple of bucks on a plastic toy when you can buy yourself the rolex you've been eyeing for the past month?"

"a win-win for them." taehyung offers, nodding as he listens on.

flexing his jaw, jeongguk nods grimly, eyes flickering to their elevated view, not yet at the point of the ferris wheel.

"basically yeah, i guess their overbearing attitude ticked me off as i grew up. do what they want or your credit cards blocked or sometimes they're more creative and i'm locked out of my own apartment for the night, bit of a pain when that happens during january." he laughs bitterly.

"tough." taehyung muses, "parents can suck."

"yeah?" jeongguk murmurs, throwing the elder a fleeting glance, "tell me about it."

"so what they'd do to you that night?"

"tried to set me up on a date with my best friend's ex." he snorts, rolling his eyes, "as if i would even breathe in the same room as that bitch."

"nasty break up?"

"she cheated on him with some guy for the last two months of their relationship, she's bloody lucky that she's even got a roof over her head, yug's always been too forgiving."

whistling lowly at the news, taehyung frowns as he dismisses the tuft of rose a few metres above them, jimin's grinning face lobbing up the clouded stairs as he wiggles his eyebrows suggestively.

"what'd your parents think of that?"

scoffing, jeongguk spits, "didn't care, she was loaded and so was i, the dollars added up so screw morals."

snorting, taehyung tilts his head in a comprehending shrug, "so that worked you up that bad?"

"throw in a bit of paperwork, a heartbroken idiot waiting for you back home, constantly disappointed parents and a bit to drink." jeongguk grins, "shit adds up."

humming, he supposes his actions were justifiable but the distraught whines and shivering form of such a sweet dog doesn't pass well with him as he purses his lips and casts his gaze to the city unfolding before them speckled in dim lights and coated with a thin expanse of honeyed yolk that glitters at the glass of shooting buildings.

"i know what i did was terrible." jeongguk confesses, voice cracking as his shoulders sag, "a-and there's not a day that goes by when i don't regret what i did to misun, believe it or not. if there's anything i could do to make it up to her i'd do it in a heartbeat."

it is the raw sincerity that slathers at the male's chipped vowels that tugs at taehyung's heartstrings, his toes propped against the floor as he leans forward, eyes soft as he slots their fingers close.

"i'm sorry too." he murmurs, thumbs rubbing gentle circles upon the younger's knuckles, "i was being an insensitive dick about it when i didn't know your back story."

they're so impossibly close to one another, fingers intertwined upon their knocking knees that jut forward to lean their frames even closer. he can see the moles that star taehyung's skin, tethering at the curves of his lip and prodding at the dip of his nose.
his eyes, dark mocha that strings him within the bottom less flask of honey, palms at his back.

it's alike to the night jeongguk had lobbed him into bed, lips eliciting softly strung verses of the song that had sparked such animosity between them mere minutes ago.

but what bound both scenes so far from one another we're the lack of burning nectar scorching at their throats, pulling at their eyelids and twisting at their garments for now both are aware, comprehensive of the consequences and the future ahead.

the heat that flutters at the skin beneath the pads of fingers and the flourish of fairy lights that ignite across their chests.

"silver." he rasps, voice hoarse and stifled with unknown want as his eyes flit down to the elder's plush lips, "so fucking pretty."

and it's true. for the last slabs of honey gold that set over the hills and slip past the shards of stalking glass all glow so vividly within his eyes, cheeks warm with the healthy hue of the dying sun. and his lips, rose and full, alluring and slick with the sugar of cotton.

laughing softly, taehyung dismisses the burn that slathers the expands of his cheeks, "you're not so bad yourself."

a gentle smile curves at their lips, fingers tighter than ever as they tilt even closer, breath fanning across the other's lips in a hazy mist of coral light.

"guk." taehyung murmurs breathily, heart thumping in his ears.

"yeah?" he says, eyes never once straying from the other's lips.

"kiss m-"

"excuse me sir, i'm afraid it's time to hop out."

~

[a/n]

made brownies today, and yes my brother and i still fight over who licks the bowl and spoon, it'll never die out.