ocean eyes

act six

Hoseok's mind was running a haywire.

He's descending the stairs with messy steps. His fingers were slightly trembling that he found it scary. No. Scary was Taehyung hitting the wall with a force of a bulldozer. Scary was the possibility of finding Taehyung unconscious.

No, he echoed again, ordering his mind to believe. No, he's a Golden Boy. He's strong. He won't fall asleep this time around.

Hoseok ran faster. It was as hard as convincing himself Taehyung wasn't dangerous.

When I said I wanted to see you too, I didn't mean it like this.

The whole team assembled, some of them crouching down to Taehyung's lying figure, and his heart stopped at the wrong beat. Faces of worry and fear dominated the whole team, and Hoseok remembered Yoongi claiming them as the epitome of braveness.

It's not what he's seeing right now.

'...'m fine.'

There was a groan, short and painfully small, but Hoseok could recognize that voice at any time. He whimpered in relief that Taehyung was awake. His legs suddenly felt weak.

'Go to the nurse, Kim Taehyung. Right now.' a man in his early fifties said. There was absolute control in his voice and Hoseok assumed he was the coach. 'I'm not having another ace down. Namjoon is enough.'

'But why me? Namjoon hyung still gets to play.'

'You know why, kid.' a taller male replied. 'This isn't your last game, Taehyung-ah.'

'It is!' Taehyung broke. 'I won't be here next year!'

'What?'

All heads turned.

Hoseok clamped his mouth shut, but it was too late for he already blurted out his mind. Between staring people, Taehyung peeked, and Hoseok pretended to not see the bitter expression dominating his face.

'H-Hoseok.'

Even among his teammates, the tone Taehyung was using was different when he was talking to him. Hoseok squirmed under the younger's intense gaze, a fluttery feeling invaded like a friendly intruder.

'Kid, you're not supposed to be here.' Coach said, standing up and fixed him with a look. 'Go back to the tribune.'

'B-But,' Hoseok stuttered, 'When I said I wanted to see Taehyungie too, I didn't mean it like this.'

There was a pregnant silence, like an ice had redeemed a roaring flame.

'Hoseok,' Taehyung was looking at him so softly that his legs melted right away. The younger was making grabby motion with his hand. 'Hoseok, come here.'

'Kid–'

'I'll go.' Taehyung cut. 'I'll go to the nurse. Hoseok's glare is telling me to do it too. So I'll go. But let him come to me. Hoseok come to me.'

The owner of the name felt heat surged to his face where once a breath away from Taehyung's mouth. He watched in vague amazement of how Taehyung still had the energy to get up after looking so beaten, both mentally and physically, yet still reaching his arms for Hoseok to fill in.

When I said I wanted to see you too, I didn't mean it like this.

He walked towards the built ace, thinking just how broad his chest was when his body pulled into a familiar heat. It's stinky and engulfing, Taehyung's sweat latched to him like he's marked. He was marked.

'Taehyung-ah.' he warned lowly but he wasn't pushing him away. 'E-Everyone is watching. Here, the tribune...'

'I know.' Taehyung's hand around his neck circled tighter. 'Part of why I'm doing this.'