TAEKOOK / TIGER LILY

12.

Taehyung lies to Namjoon. It's the first time he's done it so blatantly, but it's with a huge onslaught of remorse; he'd been an effortless liar, once upon time, had never deemed lies to be thought of as anything more than a means of having fun. But, there's something about lying to his uncle Namjoon that makes him feel so abundantly awful.

It sinks like stones in water, thudding into the grimy pulp of his stomach and weighing down his whole body, as he ambles toward the town centre. He'd told Namjoon he was going to meet Jimin, and the older had been delighted — a little surprised, but nonetheless joyful — and Taehyung doesn't know why he'd done it. He's not even sure Namjoon himself has anything against Jeon Jungkook in the same way Seokjin does, alas, subconsciously, he succumbs to the notion he shouldn't test it.

He couldn't imagine not being allowed to see Jungkook. Though, he supposes, they only ever manage to sneak around with each other at night, so, should Namjoon disapprove, not much would really change. Alas, he's latched onto Jungkook and requires him to have fun — he's sunk his teeth into him and constantly consumes the nectar of his blood, rich with the inkling of a good-time.

So, he waltzes to town and waits outside the second-hand clothes store, letting the fire of sunshine cascade across his vision. It burns his skin red, scalding his entire body with a sense of heat that leaves him tranquil in the most heinous way.

"You're here." Jungkook's voice is the first thing he hears that actually sticks in his mind, everything else blurring to background noise. The boy is behind him, walking out of the shop and, as soon as Taehyung turns to greet him, he feels sick with nerves. He's not sure why, but Jungkook's pretty face looks even more pretty in the sunlight, with the glory of the day varnishing his gaze and the breath of the sapphire sky blowing gently across his hair, making him windswept in the best way imaginable.

"Hey." Taehyung replies, trying not to show his exaltation too radiantly. "I'm here."

Jungkook beams at him, and gestures for them to move forward, with a gentle push of his fingertips between Taehyung's shoulder blades. "Can you ride a bike?" He asks him, right against his ear, like it was a secret, pushing him away from the small street.

The brunette frowns a little, confused. "Yeah, I can." He laughs, "why?"

"Great." Jungkook tells him, and his smile is more devilish than Taehyung thought possible to exist on the face of a human being. Perhaps Jungkook wasn't human, after all. Taehyung swallows that notion and follows the prods of the younger's fingertips, as he drags them to le lagune bleu.

Park Jimin is stood outside, leant against the garish, blue wall, one arm crossed over his chest, covering his name tag on his gaudy-looking uniform. The other is over his lips, and he's got a cigarette wedged between two fingers. His leisurely smile turns into a surly sort of recognition as they approach him. "Hello." He nods toward them, greeting their senses with a coughing burst of smoke.

"Can I borrow your bike?" Jungkook asks him, ignoring his greeting, cutting straight to the point.

Jimin scoffs at him. "Um, no you can not."

"Why not?"

"Dunno, probably because I need to ride home on it?"

"When does your shift end?"

"Like..." Jimin thinks for a moment. "Eight."

"That's hours away."

Jimin pauses, looking him up and down. "You'll break it."

"Will not." Jungkook cries, like he's offended.

Jimin rolls his eyes, and, without taking his gaze from them he throws his cigarette to the ground. "I'm not letting you have it."