Thirteenth
:Chapter Thirteen:

     Taehyung stood at first, headgear on and glove ready.

The opposing team was batting first while the Panthers all got in their position.

And Jeongguk. He wore a baseball cap, mitt on his left hand, baseball in his right. The audience watched the new pitcher with awe and wonder, Newbie still not being well known around the school so be had questioning eyes on his figure.

The Raiders sent out their first batter — most likely the pitcher or/and captain of their team. He was a very appealing looking boy, dark brown hair and a skinny figure but fit. He had a bright blue bat, a white handle and looked as if he played for awhile.

The real question, however, was if he were a match for Jeongguk who always had a burning passion for baseball.

The batter swung a few times to loosen his arm, stepping up to the plate. He got down in a stance, left foot still and arms pulled back with the bat over his right shoulder. His eyes were locked, ready to start the game up.

Jeongguk tossed the ball into his glove, eyes glued on the batter. Newbie was warming himself up, this being the first game he played at his new school. He pulled in a deep breath before he then gripped the ball and whipped it at the batter. It was between his torso and chest, right in the perfect square.

The batter closely watched the baseball as he flew towards him but he didn't even swing at the said ball. It was so quick and the batter's heart was caught in his throat, forcing him to choke at the plate.

"Strike one!" Called out the umpire, making a signal in the air for the players to see.

The pitcher tongued his cheek cockily, looking over his shoulder back at first base where he saw the aforementioned standing.

His face shown nothing but a smug look. It was enough to make Taehyung's blood boil right there and then. Newbie smirked then winked at the first basemen.

With that, Jeongguk turned back and repeated the process; tossing the ball in his glove before he made the ball speed. The batter swung this time was his swing was very late and he missed it entirely.

"Strike two!" The umpire shouted once more, the start of the game looking bad for the Raiders.

It wasn't dead silent but quiet enough for both teams to be equally concentrated.

The batter stepped out of the box, rolling his head back on his shoulders. He was clearly getting annoyed with his performance and it showed.

He rolled his wrists and shook off his nerves, going back to the plate. He sucked in a deep breath, positioning himself with the bat back over his shoulder.

Jeongguk didn't spare a glance back at Taehyung this time, keeping his eyes on the batter. He watched his every move, thin lips pinched together in a taut line.

He got the ball back from the catcher, doing his thing and then he pitched it.

Unlike the other times, the batter hit it up. Jeongguk snapped his head up and watched it as it flew over his head, going to the outfielders.

Unfortunately, it fell to the ground, making the batter who now ran onto first base safe. Hoseok dashed regardless, speeding over and sliding to pick up the baseball.

He did a crow hop to get the ball further. Hoseok threw it to Taehyung but he ended up throwing it over Taehyung's head.

With that, Taehyung had to leave his base, trying to chase the ball as it rolled.

What that meant is the batter could steal the next base and he did, he sprinted as fast as he could to get to the second base, running with all his might.

The captain got the baseball, scooped it up, and threw it to the shortstop. The batter slid, his foot touching the base.

The umpire ran over, second baseman had the ball in his mitt, left foot on the base, face turned and ready to hear the close call.

The umpire extended his arms, shouting a single word to cause the Panthers dismay. "Safe!" Rang throughout the field, making the home team groan.

"Your fault, Kim!" Jeongguk looked back at first base, seeing the aforementioned raise his brows.

"My fault?! The ball went over my head! How in the hell-" Taehyung was about to lay it in to Jeongguk but he was cut off before he could really start.

"Cut it out!" Coach called out, making both boys shut their mouths and continue the game.

The Panthers player on second base threw the ball to the pitcher who now had an attitude. Even though it most certainly wasn't Cap's fault, he was blaming him a hundred percent.

The horrible start for the Raiders now turned into a blessing.

A miracle but for the wrong team.

***

     "Blondie! What the fuck was that?! That entire game you were absolute ass!" Jeongguk yelled once he stepped foot into the locker room.

Taehyung, being the big boy he was, ignored Jeongguk's antics, pulling off his jersey and slipping on a brown t-shirt. He never used the locker room showers. Most players didn't anyways.

"What? Now you want to shut up?" Jeongguk barked, throwing his bag that held his bat and mitt in it down. He took a seat on the bench, slipping off his cleats. "You were pathetic out there, disgraceful. Your bitch ass cost us the game."

"Jeongguk, maybe it's time to stop." Suwun, the catcher, said. "I mean, we lost as a team, we all collectively made mistakes as a whole, not just Taehyung."

"He costed it for us!" Jeongguk argued. "He planned it, I don't care what anyone says."

"Planned?" Taehyung repeated and turned around, pulling off the belt to his uniform pants. "Newbie, enlighten me, how did I plan for us to lose?" It was the most ridiculous thing for Jeongguk to say and Taehyung had to question it.

"Because you decided to go over to talk to the other team. How are you more of a teammate to them than to us, your actual team?" Newbie questioned angrily.

Hoseok shook his head disapprovingly. "Jeongguk, I told you already, Changmin used to go to our school. Me and Taehyung know him very well." He shrugged, placing his bag beside Taehyung who stood with his arms crossed over his chest.

"You worry about what I do?" Taehyung asked. "I didn't know you and Seok talked about me. How caring of you." He gave the pitcher pouty lips as to get on his nerves.

Which, in fact, was working very well.

"No one is worried about you." Jeongguk commented. He tried to leave it at that but there was other plans from the captain. The pitcher rolled his eyes, standing and removing his own jersey.

"You sure do act like it." Taehyung remarked.

The team didn't speak. The two would have their petty argument and move on until another argument sprung from the dirt.

But the case wasn't the same here.

"If anything, you're the one who likes to have my name in your mouth constantly. Guess it's admiration then, right? Since I took that spot of yours, now you can be inspired by a real baseball player." Jeongguk retorted.

The fact that it was aimed at Taehyung didn't make Taehyung angry. What made him upset is how indirect it was towards the rest of the team who worked just as hard as the next guy.

"Shut up, Newbie." Taehyung tried to not let his blood boil. "You're really saying some fucked up shit."

"You just don't want to admit it, Kim." Jeongguk said, back turned to the captain. "I know I rub it in your face a lot but it never gets old. I cannot believe my first year here and I took the captain's spot. It just shows how disappointing you were."

Taehyung flared his nostrils, throwing his cleats that were in his hands down. He walked over and gripped Jeongguk by his shoulder, spinning him around and slamming him into the locker.

He didn't speak, he gripped the younger by his shoulders and brought his knee up, kneeing Jeongguk right in his abdomen. It was so much shit talk and it irked Taehyung just enough to get a physical action out of him.

The raven-haired didn't let that phase him — though it indeed did hurt. Instead, he then spun Taehyung around, pulling his fist back and decking him in his face.

Jeongguk loved his face shots.

The captain took this opportunity to kick his leg out, kicking the no man's land and making Jeongguk gasp, hands flying down and cupping his junior.

Suwun was going to help. Was. But the two needed to have a one-on-one and get it over with. He stopped any players who went to help, telling them to mind their businesses.

Hoseok didn't listen, however. Taehyung was his best friend and Jeongguk was a good friend of his. He went over and tried to pull them apart.

Jeongguk had regained himself and got Taehyung into a corner, shooting a fist to his gut which hurt like a bitch. The first baseman winced sharply, throwing a blind fist at Jeongguk. He got him on his cheek, throwing another one that made the split on his lip reopen.

Hoseok fought his way in between. "Guys! Stop! Cut it out!" He called out but what he didn't expect was to get hit himself, shoved away at the same time. His hand found itself to his cheek, feeling it pulse immediately. It was a rocking punch from one of the two.

Taehyung used the small gap to kick his foot back out, getting Jeongguk in the gut. He then shoved him further so he wouldn't be backed into a corner again.

Punches were thrown left and right, both hitting each other a fair amount but Jeongguk managed to have an upper hand somewhere.

He got Taehyung on the floor, being on top of him and ready to give the last blow.

Taehyung shielded his face, not wanting to be hit like most people but there was never a punch made.

Instead, the weight on his abdomen was lifted and he uncovered his face, seeing Hoseok have a grip on Jeongguk, cheek a dark purple but eyes full of rage.

The captain pushed to sit up but didn't pick himself up. He grunted, feeling his body ache all over from the game and the fight.

He saw the red marks on Jeongguk. Ranging from his stomach all the way up to his face. His lip was bleeding again and he had a scratch mark on his peck since he was still very shirtless.

Taehyung, on the other hand, had a bloody nose and also covered in red marks. He knew he probably looked worse than the younger but he held his very well.

"I'm so sick and tired of both of you!" Hosoek shouted. "You both are fucking morons! Who cares who did what, grow the fuck up!" He yelled.

Jeongguk crossed his arms over his chest, brows pulled in. He was furious and his hands were trembling with all the adrenaline he had. He wanted to knock some sense into Taehyung and he tried but he was ripped away too soon.

Another player, Minji, came into the locker room with Coach. Jeongguk and Taehyung weren't too sure when the shortstop left but here he was, back with their Coach who looked pissed off.

"You two. My office right now." He said in an awfully calm voice that somehow sounded way too deep to actually be considered calm. He was infuriated.

Taehyung and Jeongguk didn't even realize they had hurt Hoseok. Not yet anyways.

After their coach spoke, they finished getting their things.

Taehyung changing into sweats and slides while Jeongguk just pulled on a shirt since he was shirtless during the fight. They walked to their coach's office, taking a seat and waiting for their coach to come in. He probably was speaking to the other players and asking them for their halves of the story.

"For being as scrawny as you are, you held yours." Jeongguk huffed, looking everywhere but at Taehyung.

"Shut the fuck up, Newbie." Taehyung said finally.

________
A/N:

1. How was that fight?
2. I honestly love the relationship they have
3. Changmin will have more light! :D
4. A longer chapter for you guys to enjoy. Out of the thirteen chapters published (and that you read), do you have a favorite part yet? :0