Night Rider- Tyunning

Getting a routine

The week before school was expected to start, Soobin spent the nights teaching Taehyun to ride while Beomgyu got him used to their day routine.

A typical day started by waking up at 6am. School started at 8am but the bus stop was a 10 minute walk and a 45 minute drive. That was basically an hour just for transportation. Between 6am and 6:15, they got dressed and did their morning bathroom routines. From 6:15-6:45 they had breakfast and cleaned the house. 6:45 Beomgyu walked Taehyun out the door. He made sure Taehyun knew the route by heart in case there was a day he would have to go by himself. Soobin took the extra time to check the traps for the shed since school didnt actually start yet.

To fill the time, in place of when school actually would be, they took turns taking Taehyun out to memorize the surrounding area. Soobin took him out in the jeep to show him the near by town where the school was located.

It was almost picture perfect. It had old timey red brick buildings with a tall clock house in the town center. Colorful murals were spray painted on the side of every bar and bookstore. A small white church could be seen at the opposite end of the town. Local coffee shops and other small businesses emerged the further into the center they went. Small houses in different colors were replicated throughout neighborhoods. None of the houses were built earlier than 1970. Taehyun fell in love with the place.

They made a large withdrawal at the local credit union. Taehyun learned Soobin had a large inheritence from his mother being a dragon breeder but they chose live frivolously on purpose. "This money cant support us for the rest of our life. Its only enough to support us now. I spend the money on the stuff that matters like decent groceries and clothes that actually fit you."

The clothes they gave Taehyun were a bit baggy. He hadnt finished puberty yet. He was still quite small and skinny. The couple stood at 5'11" and 6'1" with Soobin being taller. Taehyun only stood at 5'7". He didnt care though. The clothes were clean and warm. Not much more to ask for in his mind.

Soobin pulled him into a local clothing store and made him try out things of different sizes to see what fit. Once he got his measurments, he told him to get 5 shirts, 5 pants, 2 winter jackets, a pair of gloves and a hat.

To be humble, Taehyun just chose the cheapest stuff in the store. Picking expensive things was never an option to him before. Soobin put everything back and said "okay lets try this again. Choose the things you actually want to wear. Forget about the price tag." Taehyun looked at him hesitantly. He kept eyeing one of the more expensive wool sweaters but still refused to grab it. Soobin ripped it off of the hanger and said "what else?"

An hour later, Taehyun had a small pile of clothes. Soobin promised to take him shopping again when he was done growing.

They walked to the local grocery store and Soobin showed him around his weird version of paradise. He went on and on about the farms that grew each thing in there and how the local butcher always gives him a better deal than the public gets. Taehyun couldnt care less but he thought the glimmer in Soobin's eye was adorable.

The last stop was the local bakery. They bought Beomgyu's favorite cupcakes and headed back home.

When Beomgyu took him out of the woods, they drove to his favorite nature settings. One of them was the top of a hill, over looking the tree line of the forest. Beomgyu took him here at sunset and they traded stories of their crazy parents.

Another time, they drove to the middle of a farm and stole some of the corn in the field. Beomgyu told Taehyun the owner of the land was a bitch so he liked coming there once in a while to fuck with him. Apparently one time he even managed to steal 2 chickens.

Taehyun's favorite place was a small light house along lake superior. Beomgyu refused to take him to the main ones in duluth. "Too touristy." They went a little out of the way to his favorite. No one else was around, even at 12 in the afternoon. The waves crashed against the base as they stood at the top. Ice chunks glistened in the sunlight. This was the closest thing to being by the sea he had ever been. Beomgyu and him took turns throwing ice chunks back into the lake. They cracked and skated against the frozen edges. He never wanted to leave.

Riding wasnt as hard as Taehyun expected it to be. Kai took direction well when he wasnt playing around. Tae was thanking god for the saddle. It made him feel so much safer. The snow on the ground kept the nights from going completely dark so it was easier to navigate. Soobin taught commands while Beomgyu taught star navigation. "If you ever cant see the sky, just fly above the clouds."

"You hear that Kai? Just fly above the clouds!"

Kai took off as he was told. Taehyun realized what he did. "Wait! Wait! I didnt mean now!"

Beomgyu and Soobin laughed as they rode Sara up to follow. The clouds became their new floor and they raced among the stars. The dragons flirted the line between impossible for their riders to breathe and just difficult to. Taehyun was breathless regardless of altitude. He couldnt believe this was his life now.

The couple looked over at Taehyun gazing at the stars and beamed with pride.

Sara looked over at her baby and saw him racing a shooting star. The streak of the star disappeared and Kai started whining. Sara breathed a trail of fire and sped past, willing her son to catch her. They chased each other in no direction. Taehyun saw Kai's eyes. They reflected the universe.

Soobin motioned for Sara to take them back home so they could go to sleep. They had to get their sleep routine down to get used to waking up so early.

Taehyun lay in bed and stared out the window. He saw Kai sleeping under a pine tree in a pile of snow. He looked like a big rock if you didnt stare too hard.

Beomgyu knocked on the open door and wished him good night. "See you tomorrow. Were getting school supplies in town before lunch. Ready to start?"

"Ready".