The Kids Aren't Alright.

Chapter 1: The beginning

(AH! Hi, this is one of my first fanfics here on Wattpad and I'm excited! Hopefully you enjoy this story that I worked insanely hard on.

Taehyung is my ultimate bias so of course I had to write about him. I have panic disorder which is a form of anxiety and I have trouble going out because of it. So I wrote this story about how most people feel with anxiety? For Taehyung I made him have a different type of disorder, one where he needs to be around someone in order to function and escape his vicious nightmares and anxiety.

Yes this is a Taekook fic cause its one of my favorite otps. Ill try to update here every three days or so? PLEASE ENJOY ^0^

Also English isn't my first language, I'm sorry if theres many mistakes ><)

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Taehyung was afraid of growing up, scared of what he couldn't understand. The responsibilities of life, and having to deal with problems alone.
Even the mere thought of being alone was enough to make him shiver with anxiety, his chest feeling extremely tight.
Having both his beloved parents dead, barely graduated from a crappy high-school and being extremely poor, only earning enough for food and his seemingly never-ending bills, didn't help. Though being raised how he was, he was cheerful, most of the time. Always making sure to surround himself with people constantly. Even if they were complete strangers. Never being afraid of people, they were a temporary cure for his terrifying thoughts. Taehyung was almost convinced that his own brain was against him.

It was rare if he ever got an attack when he was with people. So rare that when he vomited on the pavement outside of the cafe he worked at, trembling as his lungs tried to find air, anything to make the smothering feeling of anxiety go away, his friend Yoongi was even concerned. He was the type who would care silently, never expressing his worries until that incident. Taehyung passed it off as an upset stomach leading to the older telling him to take a break, Taehyung panicked even more, swallowing his acidic breakfast and begging to stay at the cafe. "Alright man, calm down you can stay." Taehyung remembered how relieved he felt, attaching himself to Yoongi, faking a playful giggle and a soft "Thanks, hyung." as Yoongi shrugged him off. Taehyung was grateful that he never asked any more questions.

The cafe was where he spent most of his time, either the cafe or a seemingly nice orphanage a couple blocks away. Only coming to his apartment when he had nothing else to do. It was the worst thing he could ever do if he was honest.

His love of the orphanage started at a very young age, his mother wanting to instill in him appreciation of what he had. As a thirteen-year-old he expected it to be trashed just like how all the movies showed orphanages, but instead he was met with white clean walls, nice staff and tons of children playing outside. It was a calm building, childrens laughter was all Taehyung heard. He wondered why visiting this wonderful place would make him appreciate what he had. Ever since that day, he visited the children every chance he got. Reading them stories, spinning them in circles causing them to burst into fits of giggles. "Hyung! Do it again! Do it again!" The kids would yell. Holding up their arms for him to pick up. "Give me a break~" He would whine as the kids tackled the fifteen-year-old to the ground.

He remembered spending countless hours there, always a little heartbroken when one would be adopted. He witnessed about twenty or more kids get adopted, always cheering with them when they would tell him the big news. "Oppa, someone wants to adopt me!" Taehyung would kiss her forehead "Who wouldn't want to adopt you?" He would watch the girls face flush excitedly as she packed her small bag with the few things she had. Often the next day, the kid would be gone. Bittersweet memories.

So here he was, finishing up his shift by wiping counters and clocking out, Minjae waited for him by the door as Taehyung slipped his apron off.
"You sure you can take my shift tomorrow?" He asked, walking alongside Taehyung.
Taehyung had met him in highschool, they weren't the closest of friends but Taehyung learned to appreciate his presence. "Yea, I got nothing else to do so don't worry about it." He flashed his ever so famous 'box smile', readjusting his backpack as not to let it slip off his shoulder. "You're always working though Tae." Minjae sighed, watching the other almost bouncing as he walked. "Gotta pay the bills somehow Jae~" Taehyung smiled again, seeing the orphanage in the distance. "Alright, but don't overdo it, see ya later." Taehyung nodded his head as the other turned on his own route. 'To his home' Taehyung smiled bitterly, he couldn't really remember a time where he had a place to call home. He didn't consider his dumpy apartment his home. Ever since his parents sudden death, he couldn't call his old house his home. Staying in that house made all his nightmares worse, leading to him selling it and keeping the money for emergencies or for buying kids toys that the orphanage couldn't afford. Taehyung shook his head, shaking his thoughts away, it wasn't the best to think about his parents. It would only make him anxious.

He ran quickly inside the entrance to the white building, the simple sign saying "Busan Orphanage."
"Hey, Tae. Back so soon?" Jimin, a new employee who quickly made room in Taehyungs life with his adorable fluffy cheeks and easygoing personality. His first encounter with the boy still managed to make him laugh much to Jimins annoyance.

Taehyung recalled sitting outside with the kids as Jimin came out, his aura screamed that he was nervous. "Must be new." he mumbled, mischievously whispering to the few kids around him. "See that small guy over there? Go jump on him and ask for gold. He's a leprechaun." The kids, oblivious to Taehyungs antics, immediately ran over to the short boy and held onto his legs, causing the other to yell in panic and fall over. "Mr.Leperchaun! TaeTae said you have gold! Give us gold!" Taehyung had doubled over in laughter, quickly telling the kids to scurry to the play room as he held his hand out to the shooken employee "I'm Taehyung, welcome to the orphanage Mr.Leperchaun."

Ever since they became best friends, Taehyung had always asked him how he earned his position as manager so quickly. "Its just my overflowing charms Tae, jealous~?"

Taehyung smiled at the memory, following Jimin to his office, handing him a freshly made coffee he had made for the other.
"Mhm! I wanted to meet the new kid." He sat in the office, spinning on the chair. "I don't know this time, he seems extremely shy." Jimin was flipping files around, mindlessly reading the file names as he spoke to Taehyung. "Whats his name?"
"Jeon Jungkook."