taehyung and the boys were watching a movie, blankets to their noses, squished together, when tae's phone started ringing violently.

"who is it, tae?" jimin asked tiredly, even though it was only 2:00pm.

"the school?" taehyung answered, almost as a question, before picking up the call.

"hello, taehyung. don't think i didn't forget about our meeting. now if you're not in your fourth period class, where are you?" taehyung's counselor, ms lee, asked.

"i-i was picked u-up," taehyung lied, the hand that was holding his cell phone was shaking visibly.

"the staff said you never came to the sick room. how were you picked up? your parents never signed you out," the lady's voice seemed sweet, but to taehyung it was eating at his skin and he just wanted to hang up so badly.

"look i'm sorry i just had a bad day and left please just let me go!" taehyung cried, shaking so much that he dropped his phone and fell off the couch.

"taehyung? taehyung.. taehyung!" not getting an answer, ms lee sighed and hung up the phone.

"taetae are you okay?!" jimin gasped before helping taehyung back onto the couch. "someone get him some water!" jimin yelled before whipping his head back to face taehyung. "you're going to be alright... you're going to be alright, just calm down okay, baby?" jimin brought taehyung's head into his chest, rubbing the younger's back gently. "shhhh, don't be scared. no one's going to hurt you or be mad at you. you did nothing wrong. don't cry." taehyung lightly grabbed jimin's sweater, trying to look up at him. "hey don't talk. namjoon's getting water and seokjin is starting you a bath. keep your head down and breathe."

although taehyung and jimin weren't that close, taehyung felt right to be in his arms. maybe it was because he knew jimin had a crush on him. or maybe it was because he has soft skin. it might be because jimin smells good too. but whatever it is, taehyung doesn't want to let go.

jimin frowned as taehyung sunk deeper into his lap. he didn't like seeing the younger like this, so broken. but eventually taehyung calmed down, and he rested peacefully on the elders lap. jimin smiled as he looked at the other's expression. he didn't know why, but taehyung reminded him of someone. he wanted to get to know the younger better. and it wasn't like he felt obligated to befriend taehyung, as others might think. he wanted to.

"i'll be there for you. i promise," jimin whispered gently, before picking up taehyung to take him to the bathroom.

"the temperature is nice and warm," jin assured. "and i hope he isn't allergic to bath soaps, because i put in one of the bath bombs from my shop," seokjin nervously laughed.

namjoon walked in with a tall glass of water and placed it on the counter. "hey guys. i'll help tae into the bath, alright?"

"alright," seokjin and jimin said in unison, both leaving the bathroom.

namjoon took taehyung and carefully woke him up. "tae~ i'm going to help you get undressed, okay?"

"mhmm," taehyung hummed, his eyes fluttering open. "but i'm not a baby, you know."

"yeah okay, but you can barely move, tae," namjoon chuckled, helping taehyung remove his shirt.

"ow," taehyung whined. "this is embarrassing."

namjoon gave taehyung a smile before pinchjng his cheek. "don't be embarrassed. i won't look, i promise."

the blonde huffed out a fine, puffing out his cheeks as he tried not to wince.

"i'll set up the tv for you so you can watch netflix," namjoon said as he helped taehyung into the bath. "seokjin and i will make you some dinner, so if you need anything call jimin."

"okay. thanks again... you guys are the best," taehyung said while giggling, accidentally splashing some water on namjoon.

"only for you," namjoon playfully winked, leaving taehyung to do his own thing.

the strawberry blonde sat in silence for a bit, scrolling through shows and movies to watch on netflix. not knowing what to watch, he called jimin over.

"jimin, help!!" taehyung yelled, causing the elder to race into the bathroom.

"what's wrong?" jimin breathed hard from running as fast as he could.

"i don't know what to watch," taehyung cutely pouted, fluttering his eyelashes.

jimin stared blankly for a second. "hm let me see," he said, taking the remote. as jimin browsed, taehyung couldn't help but stare at the smaller.

"your makeup is really pretty," taehyung complemented, taking a closer look at jimin's face. "you should do my make up!" taehyung said absurdly, causing jimin to flinch and bump foreheads with taehyung.

"o-oh! uhm yeah sure i can do it for you after dinner," jimin grinned, petting the boy's hair.

"yayy, thanks jiminnn~," taehyung splashed lightly in excitement.

"you're so cute~," jimin cooed. "but be careful or this bathroom might flood." taehyung immediately calmed down and froze due to the compliment.

"c-cute?" taehyung whispered, more to himself.

"oh shush," jimin sighed. "guess i'm just gonna have to teach you how adorable you are."

"weirdo," taehyung stuck out his tongue, folding his arms. he winced.

"tae you still need rest. just relax," jimin sadly smiled, poking taehyung's cheek.

"fine. but can you help bathe me?" taehyung asked in a soft tone.

"o-of course. i'll be as careful as possible."

jimin grabbed a cloth and some soap, gently lathering taehyung's chest and arms. he was buff. jimin couldn't keep his eyes off of taehyung's body. damn if only his baton dancer self could have a body like that. taehyung noticed the staring, but didn't say anything because he was quite embarrassed. he didn't know what jimin thought of his body.

as jimin continued cleaning taehyung, it begun to get a bit awkward. he didn't know how far to go, as he's never really done this for anyone before.

"i'm sorry that we're getting so personal on our like... second meeting," taehyung nervously sighed, flicking the purple colored water. "purple is my favorite colour, wonder how hyungie knew." taehyung giggled, picking up some of the water to watch the sparkles. it made taehyung feel more comfortable to play around, and jimin enjoyed the show.

finally jimin finished up with washing taehyung's hair, and wrapped him in a towel to carry him back to his room.

"wanna see you do baton sometime, chimmy," taehyung randomly said as jimin searched for clothes for taehyung to wear.

"huh, you know i dance? and that i do majorette?" jimin asked, not remembering ever mentioning it to taehyung.

"o-oh yeah! i saw a picture of you twirling a baton in your living room," taehyung nervously laughed, scratching his ear.

"oh okay. well yeah sure, you can come to my class sometime. it's just me and jung—," jimin stopped and frowned, realizing that he'll be the only majorette dancer from now on. "never mind. here's some clothes, i'll get namjoon to put them on for you. then we can eat and do your makeup." jimin smiled at tae before leaving the room.

a few long minutes later, namjoon brought taehyung to the table and they started eating.

"i made shrimp pasta for you guys, and plain for joonie," seokjin said proudly. "oh and namjoon microwaved the peas!" seokjin slightly teased.

"not my fault you don't let me use the kitchen," namjoon muttered, frowning a bit.

"hey namjoon don't frown, i'm sure your peas taste amazing," taehyung sincerely sarcastically said, joining in on the fun.

jimin laughed obnoxiously at taehyung's statement, causing an awkward silence and nervous laughter to erupt.

"anyway," namjoon started. "how are you feeling, tae?" taehyung's eyes widened as he genuinely didn't expect this sudden question.

"i—uhh... i'm okay. i'm physically sore, but you guys cheered me up a lot," taehyung grinned, showing bread cheeks.

the three awed at the pureness of taehyung's confession, happy that they were able to bring joy to the younger.

"just know that we will continue to support you and associate with you and never leave your side, sweetheart," seokjin said, reaching out to grab the hand he used to be afraid to grab. "if anyone is gonna try to hurt my baby, they've gotta get through me first." the oldest rubbed taehyung knuckles, giving a bright smile.

"thanks hyungie, i'm always here too," taehyung returned the smile, letting go of seokjin's hand as he felt a burning stare.

although he knew his friends couldn't be there for him all the time. he didn't want them to be there for him. taehyung knows that if any of them are caught standing up for him, they won't be respected and will become outcasts. the last thing taehyung wants is for his friends to feel a fraction of his pain. so of course he won't tell them the truth... the full truth for he most part.

the four finished eating dinner in silence, all enjoying seokjin's food too much to even concentrate on talking. when they finished jimin offered to wash the dishes, and taehyung dried and put them away.

"that's teamwork!" jimin cheered, giving taehyung a high ten. taehyung seemed to be more mobile, which was secretly due to an ingredient in seokjin's bath bomb.

"now let's do my makeup so i can look as cute as chimin~," taehyung playfully said, grabbing jimin's hand and slowly took him to his room.

taehyung waited on jimin's bed as jimin went to the bathroom to retrieve the makeup he'd be using. suddenly the younger was worried. he realized jimin would have to touch his face, look at his face for a long period of time, and taehyung felt unconfident.

"taetae, what's wrong?" jimin asked, noticing the sudden mood change.

"u-uhm well you don't have to do this if you don't want to!" taehyung blurted, not making eye contact with jimin.

"and why wouldn't i want to?" jimin inquired, placing a hand on taehyung's shoulder.

"i-i don't know!" taehyung coughed, staring at jimin's hand that made it to his thigh.

"tae, if you're going to lie, at least do it confidently," jimin teased, slapping the younger's thigh gently. taehyung nodded before giving a small sigh. he has to stop thinking so lowly of his friends. he knows they aren't like that.

(an: ion know how makeup works so like... don't yell at me😭)

jimin started with priming taehyung's face, and added a thin coat of foundation with a brush. taehyung giggled, as the brush tickled his skin.

jimin loves when taehyung is happy and giddy like this. it brings a warm feeling to his heart.

"why do you want me to do your makeup?" jimin inquired, applying a powder taehyung didn't know the name of to his cheekbones and the tip of his nose.

"well... i don't know if it's too personal," taehyung shyly admitted. "but-."

"you don't have to tell me if you don't want to," jimin assured before taehyung could continue.

"oh, well i'll tell you anyways. we're friends and i like you," taehyung chuckled, scratching his neck. "when i was young, i would steal my mom's makeup because i thought that makeup would make me pretty. unfortunately, wearing makeup made things worse for me, as i was still ugly and called a girl. i hadn't touched makeup since then, and began to think that only girls could wear makeup. but after seeing you look so cute, i wanted to look cute too."

jimin pouted at the youngers explanation, adding blush to his cheeks.

"you don't need makeup to look pretty, tae," jimin admitted, looking into the younger's eyes for a second. "but if you feel confident and good about yourself in it, that's what matters most. and makeup is a form of art, and in art there is no gender, just passion."

"thank you, jimin. i'll remember that," taehyung grinned, looking down at his hands for a second. "in art there is no gender, just passion."

those words will stick with taehyung for a while.

___________________

huh i'm so stresseddddd😫🤒

but yah here's a chaptie for you✨