The last few kids were taking their cone full of ice cream scoops and then rushing outside to their parents, happy that they got free yummy food. Taehyung was beaming. It made him bloom on the inside knowing he made those little kids happy.

Jungkook, on the other hand, was sitting on the floor, looking achingly exhausted. Taehyung noticed how after almost two hours of firing stupid yet amusing insults to the little kids who didn't understand it, Jungkook quietened down and just gave them ice cream silently.

"You okay?" Taehyung asked, and Jungkook looked up at him from where he was crouched on the floor.

"Hm? Yeah. Just tired." Jungkook mumbled, looking ahead.

"I'm charged the fuck up, man. Feel like I could go run a mile. It's like- doing something good just rejuvenates you, y'know?" Taehyung said, and then noticed Jungkook grunt.

"Stop talking, my head hurts," Jungkook grumbled. Taehyung hummed, turning around and then seeing the sweet lady that owned the place thanking them gratefully. Taehyung smiled at her, and then took his apron off.

"You boys can take some ice cream too!" She said happily. Taehyung smiled and took a cone with two scoops of chocolate ice cream, while Jungkook took a cup with salted caramel. They hung up the aprons and walked out of the ice cream parlor.

"I want 5 kids when I grow up," Taehyung said, and then licked at his ice cream and looked up. "Big house in the suburbs. Picket fenced. They go to a nice school nearby. We have a dog. My wife's doing what she loves. I'm doing what I love. Sounds nice." Taehyung finished, nodding.

"I want no kids," Jungkook said. "I'll get married when I'm 53 to an old Croatian lady who sells scented candles for a living. We will flee to Istanbul and live our lives by a lake. We will have 7 frogs and no furniture. I will sell my watch to survive-"

"Stop!" Taehyung burst into laughs. Jungkook smiled a little. "You're so fuckin' weird, bro. I love it." Taehyung said, swinging his arm around Jungkook's shoulders.

"Can I try your ice cream? Looks good." Taehyung asked, looking at Jungkook's salted caramel ice cream. Jungkook shook his head.

"No. You have your own."

"But I wanna try yours."

"Then you should've gotten it."

"I'll let you have some of mine!" Taehyung tried. Jungkook shook his head, and then pushed Taehyung's arm off him. Taehyung humphed, turning back to the front. "Rude."

Jungkook, untethered, kept walking. Taehyung walked beside him in silence. They reached the frat house and found it rather empty. Right, everyone's out helping bake sales or other kids of charity-related activities. Taehyung looked at Jungkook.

"Wanna hang out?"

"No," Jungkook said, walking to his room. Taehyung frowned and followed him upstairs.

"Why not? Do you hate me? Wow, you hate me. I knew it. You hate me. You know, maybe if you had a fucking business that you were passionate about, you would know what it's like to run a fucking business but you don't-"

"Stop quoting Khloe Kardashian." Jungkook snapped, turning around.

Taehyung frowned harder. "It's KIM Kardashian, you uncultured bitch."

"Who cares?" Jungkook gruffed, and then walked into his room and took his jacket off. "I wanna be alone for a little while. I've been around people for too long. Everything hurts. I'm exhausted."

"I get it, you're an introvert," Taehyung said, and then stood by the doorway. Watched as Jungkook took his shoes off and flopped onto his bed, curling up. Taehyung smiled a little. "Well, aren't you cute?"

"Shut up," Jungkook muttered, turning over. "Leave me alone."

"Okay fine. Tell me if you need anything." Taehyung said, and then closed Jungkook's door and walked into his own bedroom. He doesn't know why. But usually when Taehyung was with someone cold and had to talk to, it'd ruin his own mood as well.

Jungkook just made his mood better. Taehyung had no clue why.

______________________________

________________________________

"Jungkook, you blocked me on Instagram AGAIN???" Taehyung cried.

"I'm not cute," Jungkook said, and Taehyung frowned at the statement, almost offended. Taehyung ignored him and then looked at Namjoon, who walked into the living room where the boys were seated.

"Good job you guys! One of the local newspapers is going to have this picture of Taehyung giving ice cream to this little girl. Jungkook, you aren't in the picture, sorry." Namjoon said hurriedly to Jungkook.

"I don't appear in pictures, nor in mirrors, nor as a shadow," Jungkook said, a tone so flat you would almost think he was being serious. Jimin looked at him with big eyes. Hoseok gulped nervously.

Taehyung started laughing and brought his hand over to pinch Jungkook's cheek.

"You're so silly," Taehyung said fondly, and Jungkook gave him a weirded-out look.

"Right. Anyways. Yoongi, Hoseok- good job at the bake sale. The girls are really pleased with our help." Namjoon said. "Except they said you guys kept feeding each other the cupcakes and naming each other different types of baked goods??"

"Can you blame me? Yoongi's my little mooncake." Hoseok cooed, pinching Yoongi's cheeks. Yoongi looked shy but then swatted his hand away, holding them firmly instead, cuddling up to his side.

"Ew," Jungkook said under his breath, and then Taehyung laughed. "That's so cute! You guys should get married. Dibs on best man!" Taehyung said loudly.

"Fucking- damnit! I want to be the best man." Namjoon grumbled, and Jin patted his back.

"You guys are being loud," Jungkook said, looking down at his fingers, picking on them. Taehyung looked at him and then smiled a little. "Aww, cutie-"

"Get some headphones then, fuckface." Jin snarked, and Jungkook looked at him, frowning.

"Maybe stop yelling."

"Maybe stop listening."

"Maybe stop breathing-"

"Jungkook, Jin, relax," Taehyung said, putting his hand on Jungkook's thigh. Taehyung looked at Jungkook. "Sorry, Jungkook. We'll quiet down. Are you alright? Getting a headache or something? You can leave if you-"

"Dude, chill. I'm fine. Stop coddling me." Jungkook snapped abruptly. "Fuck's sake," Jungkook muttered, and then a heavy tense silence fell across the room.

Jungkook noticed how everyone was looking at him awkwardly, and he got up and walked out of the living room. The boys looked at Taehyung, who scratched the back of his neck in confusion.

"Did I say something?" Taehyung asked softly, looking at the boys with wide eyes.

"I think it's 'cause you keep calling him cute," Jimin said. Taehyung's fingers dug into his knee, and he looked at where Jungkook went off. Taehyung's fingers started drumming, and leg started jittering.

"Tae," Namjoon said calmly. "Tae."

"I'm not- I don't care. He's probably not actually upset at me. He just lashed out." Taehyung said quickly, not looking at Namjoon.

"Tae. Not everyone's going to love you at times-"

Taehyung shot up from his seat and towards Jungkook's bedroom. He knows. He knows not everyone's going to love him. But god fucking damnit, he can't handle people being mad at him. He's a perfectionist in that way. He doesn't let people be mad at him. Why is Jungkook even mad? Because Taehyung was being... nice??

Taehyung knocked Jungkook's door.

"Jimin, go away."

"It's Taehyung."

"Jimin, go away."

"I literally said it's Taehyung." Taehyung snapped, and Jungkook opened the door.

"Privacy is a thing you should start valuing more," Jungkook muttered, and Taehyung leaned against the doorway.

"Okay, Jungkook. Relax. Talk to me and tell me what's wrong."

"Why do I have to tell you? I'm pissed right now and don't want to talk about it." Jungkook said, a glint in his eye.

"You want me to leave you alone?" Taehyung asked.

"Finally, I was starting to think you don't have a brain at all," Jungkook said, and Taehyung stood straighter and rose his eyebrow. He walked closer to Jungkook.

"Hey," Taehyung said lowly. "If you're so pissed because I was being nice to you, then I won't say shit, alright? It's your third fucking day here, I'm trying to make it easy for you."

"Don't," Jungkook replied. "I'm fine. You- you think I can't survive on my own or something. I need you to make friends. No. I don't. Thanks for your help, but it's a little overbearing. Leave me be."

Taehyung paused for a second. "Why're you so closed off? I was only trying to get to know you better."

"No, you weren't. I'm getting a feeling that you think I'm someone I'm not." Jungkook said firmly, looking at Taehyung. "You think I'm cute. You think I'm adorable. You think I'm going to break out of my shell one day and be this giggly goofy guy- and I'm not. You've got the wrong impression. Just- stop. I'm not some damsel in distress, waiting for you to fix me. I'm fine." Jungkook gritted, words low and hitting Taehyung, almost making him stumble back.

"I-" Taehyung began, a little confused what to say, never been hit with something like this before. "I know you're fine, Jungkook. I know you're not pretending to be how you are. I know you're not a damsel in distress, I-"

Jungkook looked at him as if waiting for him to leave. Taehyung took a deep breath. "Okay, maybe I did get the wrong impression. I just thought- I just thought you're a fun guy who- who- likes- who likes-"

"Who likes what?"

"Intimacy!" Taehyung let out. "But lacks it! I don't know, I was just trying to be a friend-"

"Then treat me as a friend, not psychology homework." Jungkook cut, and Taehyung stilled. "And we're not friends. Stop saying that."

"We are friends-"

"Taehyung, just leave me alone," Jungkook said, closing the door shut. Taehyung stood outside, mouth open, words he wanted to say never coming out.

Jungkook thought Taehyung was trying to... change him? Taehyung didn't really understand where Jungkook was coming from, but obviously, he wasn't going to try again, leaving him alone would be best. So Taehyung walked to his bedroom instead, closing the door.

Taehyung fell onto his bed and then wondered to himself. Psychology homework? Is that really what Jungkook thought?

Maybe it's because Taehyung was caring a little bit too much. Caring too much about what Jungkook thought, to make sure Jungkook was comfortable, to make sure he settled in. To make sure Jungkook was his friend. Taehyung just wants them to have a bond. Why? Why was Taehyung freaking out over him like that?

It's never been hard for him to make friends before. Taehyung met Jimin not too long ago and already felt like he could tell him everything. People are different, Taehyung knows this. Why was he fretting so damn much over Jungkook?

If Jungkook wanted distance then Taehyung would give him some.

-

Back down in the living room, Namjoon groaned, stretching his arms and standing up. "I have an essay to write for my Sociology class. Ugh."

"I have to write one for that class too. Let's work together, Joon. Seriously. I'll just copy what you write except use thesaurus to change all the words." Jin said. Namjoon snickered.

"Sure, Jinnie. Let's go to the library. And ooh- we can get some food after." Namjoon said, and Jin nodded, and both of them went up to get their things.

Jimin got up from his chair and followed them. "Hey! I can help too."

"You take sociology?" Namjoon asked. Jimin hesitated.

"I mean... no... but... I-I can help-"

"It's fine, Jiminie. You're so sweet. Honestly, we'll be fine working by ourselves. Don't wanna pressure you. Plus, Jin gets really cranky while writing essays and then I'll have to give him a back massage. You don't wanna be there for it." Namjoon chuckled, pinching Jin's waist as the two disappeared into their bedroom.

Jimin bit the inside of his cheek. Jimin then turned by the heel and walked to his own bedroom, quickly. Jungkook was lying on his bed.

"Can you turn the lights off?" Jungkook asked, and Jimin walked past the light switch and towards his laptop.

"What happened?" Jungkook asked, and Jimin saw Jungkook looking at him with wonder. Jimin sighed.

"Well, I don't know. I think I might apply for the sociology class. I really shouldn't, I already have too much on my plate right now. I don't even need it for business. Or- well- maybe I could incorporate it someway. I don't know! I just feel really confused right now. My heart's being weird. I don't know Jungkook. Do you know what I should do? I hate being left out, y'know what I mean? And also-"

"No, Jimin. I mean, what happened- why didn't you switch the light off? I wasn't asking what happened to you?" Jungkook cut him off.

Jimin looked at him and blushed. "Oh. Um. Sorry." Jimin mumbled, getting up to turn the lights off. The moment he did, Jungkook turned his side and hit his head against his pillow, trying to sleep. Jimin pursed his lips.

Jimin then climbed on his bed and decided to sign up for the sociology class anyway, even though he had to give an exam for it and would be a few weeks behind. That's alright. He knows two people who could help him out.

*

Jungkook was pissing Taehyung off.

A few days passed since that 'fight' happened or whatever you want to call it. Jungkook would call it that. Taehyung would call it 'mutual misunderstanding'.

Taehyung did his best to be away from Jungkook. Only talked to him when necessary. Jungkook flat out ignored him and only talked to Jimin or no one at all. Taehyung was getting pissed off by his attitude.

"Jungkook, want breakfast?" Namjoon asked as Jungkook walked into the kitchen. The boy wore boxers and a t-shirt as he did most mornings.

"Sure," Jungkook said groggily. Taehyung stood by the pans. "I'm making bacon and eggs for everyone," Taehyung said.

"I'll eat from the cafeteria," Jungkook said instead, deciding to walk away and towards his bedroom. Taehyung saw him leave and his shoulders fell.

The boys looked at Jimin pleadingly. Now that Jimin was Jungkook's roommate, he'd formed a closer bond with Jungkook, and the boys depended on Jimin to get Jungkook to do stuff.

That pissed Taehyung off even more. He doesn't know why. It was completely irrational. But Jungkook completely forgot about the nice shit Taehyung did for him. Whatever.

"Jungkook, seriously. Just come make yourself cereal, you'll get hungry." Jimin called, and Jungkook didn't respond for 20 seconds or so and then returned, walking past Taehyung to get a cereal box for himself.

Jungkook took out a box of lucky charms and then into a ceramic bowl. He then opened the fridge door, at the same time that Taehyung did.

"What do you need?" Taehyung asked.

"I'll get it myself," Jungkook said back.

"Get it," Taehyung said, and Jungkook looked at him for a second, and then bent over to get the carton of milk. Jungkook stood up straight and then saw Taehyung looking at still- and then turned away carelessly.

"Lucky Charms suck real life butthole. Cinnamon Toast Crunch is better." Yoongi said.

"Anyone who wants Cinnamon in their cereal deserves to go to jail."

"Nutter Butter is the best."

"I'll nutter in your butter."

"Hoseok, please."

"Lucky Charms is better than whatever you're having," Jungkook said to Yoongi.

"I'm eating your mom's pussy."

"Here," Taehyung said, placing a plate full of eggs and bacon on the table. It was sort of burnt. The boys still took some and ate it, not wanting to be rude. Jungkook hummed.

"They're burnt," Jungkook said to Taehyung. Taehyung kept quiet, just taking a piece of bacon and biting into it, hearing it crisp far too loudly. It was burnt. Badly.

"Eggs are unsalted too. Here-" Jungkook grabbed the salt shaker. "Just add some-"

Taehyung took the whole plate of bacon and then put them into Jungkook's cereal and then walked out of the kitchen. Jungkook blinked.

"What," Jungkook said.

"Taehyung doesn't like messing up," Namjoon said. "When he fucks stuff up a lot in a short span of time he gets upset. You should apologize."

"I didn't even do anything," Jungkook grumbled.

"Believe me, Jungkook. You don't want Taehyung to be mad at you. Him being mad at you is like... getting scratched and having your hair pulled out by a feral red squirrel while walking past the art building in the campus, minding your own business," Yoongi said softly.

"Yoongi, did a squirrel fucking attack you?"

Jungkook sighed to himself, walking out of the kitchen and realized he didn't want squirrel shit to happen with Taehyung. Jungkook walked to his bedroom, and then opened it and saw Taehyung changed into a snapback, ripped keans, and t-shirt.

"Are you going somewhere?"

"Not to you, don't worry. Won't force my friendship upon you." Taehyung said, smiling at him. Jungkook looked at him and raised his eyebrow.

"Can you seriously not handle a bit of rejection?"

"I can," Taehyung said. "Will you leave me alone, too? I have a class to go to." Taehyung said, getting his things. Jungkook saw him get up to leave.

"Oh my god, fuck off!" Taehyung snapped, turning around to look at him. Jungkook got startled. "I'm not fucking pissed off because of you. I just hate- I hate fucking up, okay? I'm not perfect, stop reminding me. Let me go to class." Taehyung simmered down, and then turned around and walked out.

"You pissed him off!" Jin said from the kitchen, Jungkook walked down the stairs. "Told you not to do it. Now you have gonorrhea from a squirrel."

"Jin, are you eating the cereal Tae dumped burnt bacon into??"

"Stop judging me."

"He hates me," Jungkook said. Jimin walked up to him.

"He doesn't hate you. Just apologize to him."

"I didn't do anything wrong. I just want space. He's too much." Jungkook said. "I-" Jungkook began, and then looked away. "I don't know why he's bothering me so much. He's always in my head. I-" Jungkook realized he said too much and then left to run back to his bedroom.

"Weirdos," Hoseok said. "Let's make bets. They'll have a fistfight and then Tae will kill Jungkook."

"No. Look, they'll sort it out, I'm sure. Anyways- Jin, Namjoon! Wait for me, okay? I'll go get changed and then I'll go with you to sociology!" Jimin said cutely, giving them a big smile. Namjoon and Jin looked at Jimin and nodded.

"Why are you doing Sociology??" Yoongi asked, frowning.

"Shut up, Yoongi, you got gonorrhea from a squirrel." Jimin snapped and then ran up to his bedroom.

*

Taehyung returned way after classes ended, smelling of sex and walked to his bedroom and didn't talk to anyone until nighttime came. They had another frat party.

"Let's get drunk!" Bambam said, rolling in a barrel full of beer into the house. Yugyeom followed him, rolling in another barrel, again, full of beer. Namjoon widened his eyes.

"Where did you get these from??" Namjoon asked. Bambam grinned. "From the... um... we bought it from this... shop... and basically, we-"

"We stole it. Let's go." Yugyeom said, and Bambam and Yugyeom rolled the barrels into the kitchen. Namjoon sighed, hands against his face.

"Namjoon, you're freaking out. Don't freak out. Bambam and Yugyeom steal stuff all the time. They've been in jail, they know how it is." Jin said, hands placed on Namjoon's arms. Namjoon looked at him, eyes wide.

"What???"

"Relax," Jin whispered, and Namjoon nodded. "Stop freaking out over this 'frat leader' thing. The more you have fun with it, the better it'll be for everyone." Jin said softly. "Okay?" Jin said, and Namjoon nodded, a little shyly. Jin kissed his cheek. Namjoon blushed.

Jin turned and saw Jimin looking at both of them, standing awkwardly by the stairs. Jin smiled. "Hey Jimin, are you-"

"Nevermind," Jimin mumbled, turning around to walk away.

The party arrived. Same as usual. There's no need to describe it. Music boomed, lots of sweating people dancing, drunk kissing. All of that.

Taehyung was drunk~

He did that stupid college boy thing college boys do and chugged a whole bottle of alcohol at once, feeling stupidly lightheaded and dizzy after. But hey, it made people laugh, so.

"Wow, alcohol poisoning is so cute," Jin said sarcastically. Taehyung giggled at him, pushing him away.

Taehyung turned and saw Jungkook with a bottle of beer, talking to Jimin, who was drinking beer as well. Stupid Jungkook. Taehyung walked up to him.

"Hey, fuck." Taehyung began, and Jungkook looked at him. "You're so annoying. I'm nothing but nice."

"Taehyung," Jungkook began, but Taehyung let his hands run through his own hair, and then got closer to Jungkook.

"I mean fuck, man, what'd I do to you? So afraid of intimacy, isn't it? Hm, psychology homework?" Taehyung slurred, and Jungkook stilled.

"You're drunk, TaeTae. Let's get you someplace else." Jimin said, turning Taehyung around, not wanting a fistfight and death as Hoseok said.

But before Jimin could steer him completely, Taehyung turned his head. "This is why you have no friends!" Taehyung said, loud and clear. He saw Jungkook look at him with a look Taehyung didn't understand, and then Jungkook looked away.

Jimin left Taehyung with Namjoon and Jin (who were dancing, Jimin ignored them). Taehyung began dancing with them. He made out with some girl he didn't know and did a handstand which he didn't even know he could do. His friends went crazy.

Taehyung stumbled to the side and threw up in a plant, so Hoseok helped him up to his bed as he always does.

"Always get so drunk," Hoseok mumbled.

"I don't. I don't drink. I didn't." Taehyung shook his head. "Mhmmmmm. Yeah. Just drank a littleeeeeee bit. As littleeee as your penis," Taehyung giggled.

"Fuck you, I have a huge dick."

"Not as huge as mine," Taehyung stuck his tongue out, and Hoseok pushed him onto his bed and tucked him in and remembered to close his window this time, and then left.

Taehyung got up after a few minutes of sleep, peed and then realized he had more things to yell at Jungkook for. So he stumbled out of his bedroom, over to Jungkook's.

Taehyung reached the outside of his door. "Fucking. Bitch," Taehyung decided to just push the door open, thinking of all the swear words he had in store to release at Jungkook. But he stopped.

"Oh, fuck-" Taehyung let out, letting his eyes adjust at the sight. Jimin was bent over his bed, and Jungkook's dick was in Jimin's ass. What the hell.

"What the fuck is-" Taehyung began, and they must've not heard him over the dark lights and loud music, because they kept going. Taehyung caught a glimpse of Jungkook fucking into Jimin, grasping his hips tightly, and Jimin moaning out more, more, more-

Taehyung walked out, to his bedroom, and then fell asleep the moment his head hit the bed.