TAEKOOK / TIGER LILY

o1.

The first time Taehyung sees Jungkook, the boy is running. Over time, Taehyung will come to realise he's always running.

The sun had just embarked upon its journey into the ground, and a marmalade sky warmed the land in it's wake; sunbeam cascaded through the window of the old, orange Beetle, as the car trundled down the winding streets of the countryside.

Light seemed to submerge Jeon Jungkook as Taehyung first set eyes on him, and it danced all across his skin, in a mouth-watering chassé. The moment is fleeting, and the boy doesn't look back, but, the grubby beauty of him is enough to leave his image in Taehyung's mind throughout the rest of the day. With his muscular frame, shrouded in khaki pants of militant green, and a black t-shirt that shows off the gallery of pictures in the form of tattoos winding up his arms, he was eye-catching.

He had a backpack slung over his shoulder and a bouquet of flowers in his hand, his face folded into a frown.

He was running passed the car Taehyung's in, and he was almost like the wind, almost managed to surpass the speed of the car itself. He ran with purpose, along the cobbled street, and it was ever so intriguing for the glum brunette. Bored in having been stuffed in a car for three hours, he couldn't help but fixate on the only interesting thing he sees on his journey: a boy whose sweat makes it look like he's bathed in pixie dust.

As soon as the running boy is ripped away from view, Taehyung turns dull again, until the car finally slices to a stop outside a large, brown building. Contaminated with lively green ivy, the bricks look a little like they're decaying; all the windows aligned along the front pulled open, white linen curtains billowing in the soft breeze, as the sun bats down upon the large house. Taehyung's heart churns with the crackling of car wheels against the gravel drive.

His heart seems to stop all together as the car parks.

"Well," His father's voice is a deep breath of hope, as he peers at Taehyung through the rear-view mirror, "this is nice, huh?"

Absently, Taehyung shrugs, and his voice is a lot quieter than usual as he says, "yeah, it's pretty." It's horrible.

His dad sighs deeply and shuffles around in his seat, fully turning in order to look his son in the eye; he smiles kindly as he tells him, "it's just for a few months, Tae. It'll be good for you to— well, you know." His hands, weighed down by the silver band of his wedding ring, gesticulate around, hoping his son will get his point. After a beat, he adds, "You'll love Namjoon, as well."

Sensing his dad's imminent desire to derive some sense of joy from Taehyung at the current situation, the boy gives in and smiles, forcing it, but melting into it nonetheless. "I'm sure."

As soon as he opens the car door, he meets the Namjoon in question — his uncle is handsome, and he's young, younger than Taehyung had imagined. He's the brother of the boy's mother, and he was somewhat estranged; he never attended a family function, and was always just referred to as your uncle — or, his eccentric uncle, sometimes. On account of the large age gap between Namjoon and Taehyung's mother, their relationship was a little strained, and, it seemed the younger liked to keep himself to himself, locked away in this brick mansion in the countryside.

Taehyung doesn't think he can blame him.

He's very tall, is what Taehyung first perceives — of course, following the time he takes to devote attention to the kind eyes the man shares with his mother, and the dimples pressed finely into his golden cheeks. "Welcome!" He calls out, his voice booming enough to cause a flutter of birds. He's in baggy white trousers, and a flowing yellow cardigan, his hand clutching a glass of orange juice.

Pulling himself from the vibrant, red door of the house, Namjoon reaches their car at the same time Taehyung and his father manage to exit it.

"Greetings," The elder replies, his biggest, waxiest smile slathered across his face. He's rapid in the way he ushers Taehyung toward the man who'd kindly offered his house to Taehyung as a recluse. His voice is a little stilted, distorted by uneven breaths, as he goes to the boot, prying the boy's baggage from it. "You're looking well, Namjoon."