Yongho followed the younger boy through the copse of trees; Taehyung's being fascinated him. The whole village knew about the rich family who lived on the estate just miles from their village. Their family had ties to aristocracy and were well off aside from the father being the governing officer of the surrounding communities.

The Kim family was talked of generously, rumors and and assumptions and grand speculations circulating regularly. Sir Kim Jaehyun was a wise ruler and a strict father, but he was a snobbish ruthless man and that was reflected in his parenting. Or rather, the lack thereof. His son was rumored to have lessons in everything, highly intelligent, ruthless as his father, cold and rude. He was supposed to be as snobbish as his father, looking down on those less fortunate than himself. His father gave orders, not guidance.

But contrary to all those rumors was this boy in front of him. This curious, handsome boy with an appetite for adventure, knowledge, and freedom. He rebelled against his father in his goings and humbled himself to the task of an herb gatherer such as Yongho with no qualms.

Taehyung didn't have a vast knowledge of plants, quite obvious from his careless attempt to grasp the bear root just minutes ago. He seemed inclined to speak, but afraid to. He'd listened with so much interest to Yongho when he'd prattled on about his sister and his life.

He liked the way his hair tickled the edges of his ears and curled up over the collar of his shirt. Currently it was sticking to his neck with the dampness of his sweat. He had broader shoulders than Yongho and was taller, surprising since he was two years Yongho's junior. He liked the way his head only reached around Taehyung's shoulder, something he could see clearly from behind him on the uneven forest path.

"Taehyung, tell me about your family." Yongho suggested, lightly panting from doubling his pace, it was hard to match Tae's long strides.

Tae looked over his shoulder just slightly at being acknowledged and smiled. "What would you want to know?"

"Oh, what's your father like, your mother. Do you have any siblings?" Yongho asked.

"I have no brothers or sisters. My mother is unwell often, I'm not allowed to see her often. She needs her rest to heal. Father doesn't see me much either. He busies himself with affairs of the villages and tells people to tell me what to do." Taehyung's voice became sad at mentioning his mother and bitter at his father.

"That sounds..." Yongho searched for a word appropriate. "Lonely."

"I don't feel lonely with you." He smiled, "Can I help you often?"

Yongho laughed lightly at the change in attitude and nodded. "I'd like that."

"Ah," Taehyung sighed. "we're here."

It was a high stone wall, trees grew close together and vines wound through the cracks. With agile limbs, he swung himself up the wall, finding invisible handholds and climbing up at a surprising pace.

"Tae," Yongho whispered. "Come back."

Looking down quizzically, Taehyung nodded and let go, dropping softly to the dirt. "What is it?"

Yongho reached forward and pulled the younger against him, patting the soft hair on his head and pressed his lips to the side of Taehyung's cheek. Taehyung leaned back in surprise, face heating up and a pink blush spreading up his neck. Yoongi smiled fondly. "Good bye for now."

Taehyung nodded and climbed back up just as quickly. Yongho called out once more.

"Taehyung,"

"What?"

"You're supposed to say it back."

Taehyung smiled sheepishly, "Goodbye for now, Yongho hyung."

Yongho nodded in satisfaction and waved, setting off for home himself. Songhi was inside, preparing a poultice for a sick neighbor. She looked up as he came in, hair slipping free of its ties.

"Yongho, you aren't so often late. Are you alright?" Then she frowned, "Or did you fall asleep again?"

"I didn't fall asleep, I met someone and walked him home. Here, he helped me gather today."

She raised her eyebrows at him and inspected his haul. She could tell the difference, as could Yongho, between what he'd picked and what the stranger had.

It looked like the work of a child, the dirt still clung to the plants and some of the stems were ripped or crumpled. But there was a lot. Songhi laughed lightly, taking the pack from Yongho's grasp.

"Did he now? And who is this boy?"

"Kim Taehyung."

Songhi looked at him sharply and Yongho nodded.

"Really, he was exploring, he shared his lunch with me and helped me gather. I left him at the gate of his estate."

She shook her head sorrowfully. "Yongho, be careful. You could get in trouble."

Ignoring her warning Yongho took his time setting out food for their meal, "They should be grateful to me for getting their son home safely."

With a burdened sigh, Songhi sat with him, urging him gently to tell her more about him. She knew he would do what he wanted. All she could do was be here for her brother in the way no one had been for her, in the way their parents weren't.