黄色いばら
spring

The normally obnoxious shrieking of the alarm clock was drowned out by the patter of rain hitting the roof that morning. Jungkook almost missed the alarm, only having woken by the sounds of life in the other parts of his house. He got up with a sigh, stretching as he slowly got out of bed. After opening the curtains he could tell that it was indeed raining, and the noise wasn't coming from some other source. This made him sigh again. He hoped he made it to the bus this morning.

Fortunately, he did, and he ended up arriving at the flower shop relatively dry. It appeared Seokjin wasn't so lucky as he was drenched by the time he entered the store and he'd had an umbrella. The boss sighed as he shook himself down, peeling off his wet jumper and placed his umbrella in the little container beside the entrance. Just his appearance made Jungkook grateful for his own luck, because Seokjin looked incredibly cold as he walked into the back room. He didn't even notice the other male on his way past.

Taehyung arrived not long after, only a little wetter than Jungkook. His arrival confused Jungkook as the door had been unlocked when he got there, making him assume Taehyung was just in one of the other rooms or something. The fact a blue sweater Jungkook had seen Taehyung wearing lay on the stool had only strengthened this belief. But there he was, evidently not in the back room.

"Oh! That's where I left that." Taehyung said as he walked past the stool, providing an explanation for the sweater's presence. "I was looking for that all evening."

Today, Taehyung had chosen warmth over fashion ー not that what he was wearing was particularly unattractive or unfashionable. He had a large, black coat on that kept him relatively dry out in the drizzling weather. As Jungkook looked at him, he decided it was quite possibly the most masculine he'd ever looked. And then he took the outer coat off, revealing a pastel pink sweater that hugged his thin body.

"I doubt we'll have much business today." Seokjin said when he returned, his hair still damp but the rest of his body seemingly dry. He was in the process of shrugging on a thicker jumper as Taehyung folded up his blue one. "But, I guess we just have to make the most of it. I know it's a pain with the weather and all but would you guys be able to run some errands? We need some bouquets and plants delivered and other things picked up. Like a new watering can."

Taehyung gulped uneasily, mainly because he was the reason they needed a new one. It was a complete accident, of course, but their old one broke after he dropped it a few days back. They had a back up one, but it was starting to show its age and it would be safer just to get a new one.

"I can get the watering can." The guilty man said. "And I'll drop off some of the things that are along the way."

"I'll do the other ones."

"Thanks guys. I mean, I know it's your job and all but I feel bad sending you out in this weather." Seokjin sighed as he looked out the window, patting his two employees on the shoulders. "Well, I have paperwork to do. Enjoy your runs."

As he retreated into his office, Taehyung glared at him and suddenly burst out angrily, "stupid, sneaky, lazy bastard! He did that on purpose! We'll be getting wet and working our butts off while he sits in his warm office and keeps dry."

"It is our job."

"But still... I don't want to get wet." Taehyung whined, pouting as his shoulders slumped forward.

"Tough luck, princess." The words came out of Jungkook's mouth without him even fully comprehending what he saying. But, he didn't really take it back either. He pat Taehyung on the shoulder, just as Seokjin had not long before. "I'll see you when you get back, I'm gonna get started on mine while the rain's still light."

By the time Jungkook returned from his run, Taehyung was already there. In fact, it appeared he'd been there long enough to set up a picnic on the ground and order pizza. He sat there on the blanket he'd somehow conjured up, smiling up at the wet mess that was a Jungkook. The younger boy stood at the door, a puddle pooling at his feet as he struggled to catch his breath. He couldn't feel his face at all, or his fingers, and he was beginning to question if this was Spring or Winter ー because it felt like Winter right now.

"Hey, you need to get out of those clothes." Taehyung said, suddenly standing beside Jungkook. Jungkook had been so engrossed in his self pity he didn't even notice the other move. He was that cold that when Taehyung started pulling his jumper off him he couldn't even move to protest. Soon he was standing in his white t-shirt and black pants as Taehyung walked off with the soaking pile of clothes he'd taken. He waited, even more cold now that the air could hit his bare skin, until Taehyung returned with some new clothes. The new clothes consisted of his blue sweater... and that was it.

"It'll probably be warmer if you take your t-shirt off as well, because it's wet." The older male pointed out as he poked the shirt. "You can get changed elsewhere; don't worry, I'm not trying to see you shirtless or anything."

"Thank you." Jungkook responded quietly, taking the sweater. He then left to get changed.

The first problem Jungkook had with the jumper was that it barely fit his build. It was no surprise that Taehyung was obviously a lot smaller than him, and that made it difficult for him to pull the jumper on without breaking it. Fortunately it had a bit of give and he was able to get it on. He sighed as he looked down at his body, as the sweater was practically a second skin. It also limited how much movement his upper body had, he soon discovered as he returned to Taehyung.

Jungkook felt ridiculous and once Taehyung started giggling at his appearance he knew he looked ridiculous. But at least it was warm, he figured as he sat down on the blanket. Well, warmer than his t-shirt.

"You don't have any dietary requirements, do you?" Taehyung asked as he opened the box of pizza. Jungkook shook his head, his stomach immediately growling at the smell of it. "Good, because I just got meat lovers. There's also fizzy drink, if you're thirsty."

"I'm fine, thank you." The older man took the first slice of pizza, signalling the start of their lunch. Jungkook grabbed the smallest piece he could see, nibbling at it as he watched Taehyung devour his own slice. He frowned at the miracle being performed in front of him. Despite the fact that Taehyung was inhaling the pizza, he still managed to eat it neatly and without looking like a pig. It amazed Jungkook.

"So I was thinking," Taehyung said as he wiped his clean lips with a napkin, "given it's pouring outside and we've closed early, maybe we can play a game to pass the time."

"What sort of game?"

"I was thinking truth or dare, but a more mild version because we're stuck in a shop."

"Okay... I guess it would pass the time."

Taehyung nodded slowly as his gaze travelled around the small shop. He ended up looking at Jungkook again and smiled. "So, Jungkook, truth or dare?"

"Truth." The younger male wasn't feeling too confident at the moment so he chose the easy way out.

"Hmm..." Taehyung tapped his chin slowly as he thought of something to ask. "Do you... have any pets?"

"You're not very good at this." Jungkook remarked after getting the mild question. He'd been expecting something more private or personal, like 'have you ever taken drugs?'. The lilac haired man's expression grew mock-offended, which managed to elicit a small chuckle from the other. It was only a quiet noise, but it sounded nice to Taehyung and made him want to get Jungkook to laugh more. "But, since you asked, no. Animals are noisy and messy so I can't have any in the house."

"What about a fish? They're not messy, or that noisy."

"We had an aquarium once, but we went on holiday and the fish died." Jungkook shrugged. The fish hadn't been that important to him. "Anyway, truth or dare?"

"Dare." Taehyung grinned as he waited for his dare.

"Alright. Um, I dare you to... This is hard." Jungkook frowned as he tried to find something he could dare Taehyung to do. His gaze landed on the bottle of fizzy drink neither had touched yet. "I dare you to scull as much of that as you can in thirty seconds."

"This bottle?" Taehyung asked, pointing at the drink. Jungkook nodded. "Piece of cake. You'll time me, right?"

"Yep." Jungkook pulled his phone out and opened the timer. When Taehyung was ready, he hit the start button. The older male immediately started drinking, tilting his head back with the bottle. Jungkook found himself distracted momentarily by the Adam's apple that became visible, the small bump bobbing up and down as Taehyung swallowed. He almost missed the thirty second mark. "U-uh, you can stop!"

Taehyung dropped the almost empty bottle, his eyes widening as he gripped his throat. "Ah! It burns!" He shouted as he fell on to his back. Jungkook chuckled as he scooted over to where the other lay, checking to see if he was alright. Taehyung's eyes watered as he looked up at Jungkook, but he was still smiling which reassured Jungkook.

"I think we should probably take dares out." Jungkook said as Taehyung regained his composure. He nodded, sniffing.

"I think that's a good idea. So, truth or truth?"

"Truth."

"Well given my last one apparently sucked: have you ever had sex?" Jungkook shook his head quickly. "Have you ever kissed someone?" Jungkook shook his head again. "Been in a relationship?" Another shake of the head. "Want to be in one?" Shrug. "Wait, do you like guys, girls, both or neither?"

"That's five questions, it's my turn." Jungkook pointed out. This made Taehyung huff, but he let Jungkook ask his question. "Have you..."

"Yes." The younger frowned.

"I didn't ask anything. All I said was 'have you'."

"Oh... I thought you were asking if I'dー never mind, you can have a bonus question." Jungkook continued to frown, although he had a feeling he knew what Taehyung was saying yes to.

"Um... What's your sexuality then?"

"Homosexual, you?"

"I'm straight." Taehyung nodded slowly, the movement making his hair bob with it. After getting wet in the rain, it had dried in a massive fluff and was rather bouncy. Jungkook sighed as he looked out the window, noticing the rain had started to let up. "I think the rain's stopped, for now. Do you think we should wait a little longer or make the most of the break?"

"I think we should go now. I'll just pack up this, you can run off ahead if you want."

Jungkook stayed to help Taehyung put everything away and chuck out the rubbish. Thankfully the rain still wasn't falling by the time they finished and both rushed out after. They said goodbyes under the shelter of the flower shop before running off in opposite directions.

Taehyung, being closer to the shop, got home long before the rain started again. Jungkook also managed to, but only just. He sighed as he pulled Taehyung's sweater off, staring out at the rain streaking down his window.

He really hoped the rain stopped soon.

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note : if the formatting is a bit weird, I apologise. I've tried to fix it so I hope it works, but I dunno.