;;;

taehyung had missed training for the last six weeks.

now, theoretically it wasn't a big deal, because it was only one out of the twelve sessions that they had as a team a week and it was on a tuesday night, a night that not many swimmers showed up to anyway. and more importantly, taehyung was the strongest athlete in the squad, a few missed practices wouldn't change his technique at all. he'd still be the same.

but the regional gala was coming up and the members seemed to be getting more agitated by the day. afterall, they wanted to keep their winning streak, and they couldn't do that with the absence of their captain and his vital position in the relays; taehyung swam butterfly.

without him and his powerful strokes, the team wouldn't get their well needed head start in the race and would have a slim chance at clutching the pathetic plastic trophy at the end of the whole useless ordeal. but, despite the twelve-plus hour wait and only the inclusion of thirteen or so races, taehyung had to shamelessly admit that he did like the feeling of the waves weaving through his fingers, gliding across his body and the ceasing or his heart as he let the adrenaline take over and force his breath out of his lungs, the rush and tug of water at his heel and the stark temperature difference that always made him shiver whenever he'd first dive in.

he fucking loved swimming.

just... not with his team. taehyung enjoyed independence, he liked living his life with his own rules- something he had never been able to do. but the team was exactly that; he had to listen to everything that the coach had to tell them, he had to listen to the disgusting string of imperatives being spilled from his mouth like poison. bossing around these kids and instructing them, well, he understood that that was his job, but it made taehyung despise him, nontheless.

taehyung meant everything to the squad.

but the squad meant nothing to the taehyung.

of course, he certainly couldn't tell them his excuse. and no, his excuse wasn't just that he 'may-or-may-not-have-a-weird-obsession-with-jeon-jeongguk-and-feels-the-urge-to-stalk-him-at-the-library.'

that was an urge he couldn't quite explain, but he wasn't a creep; he had other, more important, incentives as to why he chose to go there.

___

another week had rolled by in a blur and jeongguk was at the library again, gazing out at the grumpy-grey sky, trying his level best to mind his own business and not glance at kim taehyung. (who was staring intently at the rows and rows of tattered children's novels. some were picture books, others were simple poems. but no matter how hard he was searching, he couldn't seem to find what he was looking for.

he'd been there for an hour, scouring the shelves on a potentially endless quest.

"jeongguk, i'm gonna head home, my mum said you should come 'round to dinner this week," lizzy, jeongguk's co-worker smiled, pulling her hoodie over her head and following jeongguk's transfixed gaze.

"whoa, he's still here? maybe you should help him gguk, he seemes lost," she started, furrowing her brows at the boy in confusion. "you're not too scared are you? come on gguk, we're not in school, what's the worst that he can do?" lizzy whispered, sniggering at the shocked expression on jeongguk's baby features.

"anygays, i'm off, go get him, bunny." she said, slamming the door of the library shut before the small boy could say a single word.

he gulped, putting down the scanner and the book that he held in his hand, tentatively walking around the isles to get closer to taehyung. oh dear, what was he doing?

jeongguk looked around to ensure that the library was empty, when he was satisfied that it was, he finally stepped out silently from behind the kids shelf.

"can i help y-" jeongguk started.

"shit." taehyung cursed, dropped the book he was holding on the floor in the process.

aggravated, taehyung whipped his head around in annoyance to face the younger boy, there was something in his gaze that told jeongguk that he didn't want to be messed with, right this second.

oh.

he snarled, glaring at the smaller before bending down to pick up the dropped novel, dusting off the cover and scooping it up with his big hands to tuck it under his arm, scrunching his nose before continuing his search along the dusty library shelves.

jeongguk didn't appear to appreciate the fact that taehyung was cursing in the library and another thing: he was in the kids section.

again.

he didn't know what taehyung's unhealthy obsession was with this area but who was he to judge?

in class, jeongguk wasn't afraid to be rude to him at all, in fact, he probably would have glared back. but right now, he was intimidated more than anything, but... he was volunteering. and that meant helping. helping all customers.

jeongguk suddenly forgot all about his sassy side, he lowered his gaze quietly, shuffling his small foot about the carpet awkwardly, not wanting to help but attempting to anyway;

"d-do you n-need somethi-"

"no." taehyung growled.

rude. fine kim taehyung, suit yourself.

with that, the smaller boy huffed and swivelled around to go back to the desk where he continued scanning some books absent mindedly.

but in the matter of about ten minutes, kim taehyung came up towards the desk, head hung low with shame.

looks like jeongguk had won then.

"actually... yes," the older grumbled, slamming a tiny piece of paper down onto the counter top.

jeongguk searched his face for a sign of defeat but taehyung just looked... tired.
he didn't seem to be in the mood to mess about with anyone or anything.

"beetroot porter?" taehyung read carefully, furrowing his eyebrows at the strange little name, he ran a perfect hand through his silver locks in frustration. "i've literally searched for her everywhere, i can't find her books."

jeongguk bit the inside of his cheek and his lip to prevent himself from smiling but when taehyung ran his hands over his face in frustration... he couldn't take it any longer.

he burst out laughing.

he laughed so hard that suddenly, there were goddamn tears in his eyes.

"do you mean... beatrix potter?!" he cried, holding onto the table for dear life.

taehyung looked absolutely furious, but the smaller boy couldn't care any less. oh, wait till he told lizzy about this, he wouldn't hear the end of it. 'BEATROOT PORTER'!

jeongguk brought a finger up to wipe away his actual tears and took the thin piece of paper in his hands, spinning it around to glance at the scrawny writing. it looked like a child had written it. wtf??

but jeongguk knew why taehyung had gotten the name mixed up though, the words were practically illegible. he had to squint to make out the wobbly lettering, despite it being written quite largely. this wasn't taehyung's handwriting. so who's was it?

"yeah, whatever." taehyung mumbled, looking out of the window at the gloomy night, not that there was anything fascinating about that but jeongguk couldn't help but notice the way that the dusty glow of the desk lamp cast a dull shadow of light over taehyung's already golden skin. he was so perfect, jeongguk could stare at his face all day, if he was allowed to without it being weird.

jeongguk huffed silently, walking around the desk to grab taehyung's black hoodie with his small hands. he dragged the boy to the same place he had been for the past hour, halting before a certain section. no... he wasn't going to give the book to him right away because that would be useless, how would he learn?

"they're arranged alphabetically, if you notice. now you know the author's actual name, you can try and find her." he beamed, but his grin faltered when he turned around to face the taller boy.

because kim taehyung was nowhere to be seen.

;;;

soz i haven't updated in a while but...

CAN SOMEONE TELL THEM TO FUCKING STOP, ITS CONFIRMED GUYS THEY'RE TRYING TO KILL US:

*screams in this is too gay for me*