"Is that a fucking star chart?" Jeongguk asked in disbelief earning a reproachful look from Taehyung.

"Jeongguk! Language!" He reprimanded sharply.

The boy rolled his eyes. "Whatever." Came the familiar reply.

"Not whatever." Taehyung disagreed. "No swearing."

"Or what? I won't get a gold star? Stop treating me like a kindergartener!"

"Stop acting like one." Taehyung retorted swiftly, ignoring the way Jeongguk stamped and seethed at the rebuke. "The rewards are simply incentives. You're free to refuse them if you find them offensive in some way. The rules, however, are nonnegotiable."

Taehyung was a little wounded at Jeongguk's scorn for the chart he had worked so carefully on. Yes, perhaps it was a little childish, decorated with stickers and silly doodles, but he liked bright, pretty things and he suspected under that rough and tumble exterior maybe Jeongguk did too.

"Have shower, make breakfast, brush teeth, make bed." Jeongguk read aloud. "I already do all this stuff."

"Then what's the harm in getting rewarded for it?" Tae reasoned with a raised eyebrow.

"Ice cream? Park trips? Aquarium? Seriously? I'm not five." The hybrid scoffed. Now he was just arguing for argument's sake. I mean, who didn't like ice cream or the aquarium?

"We can tailor the reward system to your individual interests. What would you prefer to do?" Taehyung negotiated smoothly.

"This whole thing is stupid." He said, instead of answering.

"Like I said, the rewards are optional, the tasks and behaviours outlined are not. It's really up to you how you want to do this, but you will do it." His tone brooked no argument but Jeongguk's mouth opened to protest anyway. "I won't be moved on this, Guk. Sulk about it if you want, but you will behave yourself. Don't make me use negative reinforcement. It's never as effective."

Jeongguk's ears flicked and his eyes narrowed. "Negative reinforcement? Isn't that just a fancy way of saying you'll punish me?"

"I suppose if you want to look at it that way." He sighed, already tired of the boy's arguments.

"What are you going to do, spank me?" He jeered.

"No, I don't enjoy physical chastisement. I can and will take your privileges though. Like your consoles, tv time, wifi, dessert, those treats you don't think I know about, stashed under your socks in your top drawer." Tae threatened casually.

"I hate you." He snapped.

"Oh I see what's going on. It's too difficult." He deliberately goaded Jeongguk's fierce competitive streak. He'd heard the boy shouting down his headset at his teammates, he knew how badly he needed to win. "Maybe I shouldn't have made it so hard for your first try. You kept telling me you weren't a baby so I just thought you'd be able to follow the chart." He made a show of pity, sighing in disappointment. "I tell you what. Show me which ones you can't do and I'll make an easier one."

"I didn't say I couldn't do it. I said it's stupid." He crossed his arms over his chest defensively.

"Guk, it's ok to admit when something's too hard. You don't have to be ashamed of being incapable of-"

"I'm not incapable." He snatched the chart from Taehyung's hands impatiently. Tae bit his cheeks to stop the smile threatening to curve his lips.

"Are you sure? Because I can rewrite it..."

"I already said I can do it!"

Taehyung beamed at him, patting his cheek softly. "That's my clever bun."

"I told you not to call me that." Jeongguk muttered, jerking away from Tae's warm hand but Tae caught the way his cheeks tinted.

"Of course. Sorry, Jeongguk." He apologised mildly. "Now what do you suggest for the rewards?"

Once Jeongguk was successfully redirected they were able to revise the chart fairly quickly. Jeongguk agreed to personal tasks like grooming and cleaning his room, a few chores such as helping Mrs Kim twice a week with dinner and stacking the dishwasher every other day. He also agreed to use appropriate language, address his elders with the proper honorifics and use his manners. In return he was allowed to phone Namjoon on the weekends, go on an outing of his choice once a week, choose a treat to be added to the weekly grocery shop. He'd balked at Taehyung's suggested bedtime of seven thirty PM but he'd set it deliberately low to give the boy a sense of victory when he successfully convinced Taehyung to raise it to ten. 

The most unusual reward Jeongguk demanded, however, was that Taehyung wash, dry and brush his hair at the end of each visit. He would later learn that this was very much a rabbit thing to do, akin to grooming behaviours. Taehyung had agreed without argument, knowing Jeongguk needed a few wins to salve his dented pride.

Which was why Jeongguk was now stripping his shirt off in the small bathroom without a qualm while Taehyung tried to look anywhere but at his entirely too well sculpted physique. Of course, Jeongguk noticed, his lips twisting into a taunting smirk.

"They're just abs." He teased.

"I know what they are, Guk. It's just been a while since I've seen any this close." He explained dryly.

"Why would that matter unless... Are you gay, Taehyung?" It was the first time Jeongguk had used his name and it could not have been under more awkward circumstances.

"Honorifics, Guk. It's Taehyung ssi or Mr Kim." He corrected, deliberately ignoring the invasive question. "Or I suppose you could call me hyung, if you wanted to." He shrugged.

"You didn't answer the question, Taehyung ssi." Jeongguk put undue emphasis on the title mockingly.

"That's really none of your business, Jeongguk. Now go sit down on the chair so I can get started."

He'd forgotten how nice it was to touch another person. It'd been so long since he'd given more than a brief handshake that running his fingers through Jeongguk's soft locks as he made channels for the detachable shower head to form water rivulets in was a sensual shock. He took his time with the task, massaging the shampoo into the bunny's scalp with firm fingers. He tentatively touched one of the laid back ears, marvelling at it's softness as he gently worked the lather up it's length. Jeongguk began the strange purring again, making Tae's lips curve in a soft smile. The boy kept purring while Taehyung carefully cupped his hand around the boy's hairline and rinsing off the shampoo he'd worked into the locks. And while he gave a head massage a hairdresser would be proud of waiting for the recommended time to leave on the conditioner ticked away. It wasn't until he'd finished rinsing again and shut off the water that Jeongguk quieted.

He gently wrapped the hybrid's hair in a towel and directed him toward the mirrored dresser in the bedroom where Jeongguk kept his hair dryer and brush. He unwrapped the towel, rubbing it gently through the boy's hair, taking particular care around the boy's velveteen ears. They seemed to be quite sensitive and he didn't want to hurt him. When Jeongguk's hair was towel dried to his satisfaction, he tested the heat of the hair dryer on the sensitive inner of his elbow before directing the blast through Jeongguk's hair. He used his fingers to lift and roughly style the wavy mop, very deliberately running his fingers over the smooth ears with pleasure while Jeongguk once again made that toothy purr.

By the time he was done Jeongguk was so relaxed he was almost asleep.

"All finished, bun." Taehyung husked lowly.

"Told you not to call me that." Guk murmured sleepily.

Tae just hummed noncommittally, giving the velvety ears one last stroke between his fingers. "I'd better get going. Night, Guk."

"Night hyung." He yawned and Tae smiled at the familiarity of the address.

A/N Probably the last one for today, lovelies! 

Our Taehyung is a bit tricksy, precious. Do you think that's the best way to deal with our rogue rabbit or is it too underhanded?

What are you thoughts so far? Do you like how their relationship is progressing? Too much, too soon? Not soon enough? This one is a lot slower burning than my other fics. 

Don't forget to vote! 

I purple you!