FATE // vminkook

31

———

Jungkook tapped his foot along to a tune stuck in his head as he leaned against the huge tree next to the pond. It was a chilly morning, and he was waiting for the other two to show up.

For some reason, they always take their time. Jungkook usually doesn't mind, but his was too important. He just really hated that Taehyung could never get a break. Like, the boy must have the absolute worst luck.

Finally, Taehyung and Jimin walk into the clearing giggling like school girls. For fuck sake, they better not have kissed again.

Once they reach him, Taehyung gets a concerted look when he sees Jungkook's face.

"Jungkook, what's wrong?" He asks, Jimin looking at him as well and raising an eyebrow.

"Well, I got bad news," Jungkook says, pushing off the tree and uncrossing his arms.

"What is it?" Jimin asks.

Jungkook sighs, "Taehyung, your dad is looking for you."

Taehyung goes pale and seems to stumble back. Jimin grabs Taehyung's arm so he would trip and fall.

"What? H-how do you know?"

"My mom ran into him at the store and he was asking for around for you. Said you ran away," Jungkook explains.

Taehyung starts to breath faster, making Jimin look over at Jungkook in worry. Jungkook walks over to Taehyung and takes his face him his hands, "Taehyung, can you breath deeply for me?"

Taehyung looks up at Jungkook and gives a little nod, shakily taking a deep breath.

"There. Now, there's no need to be scared. I promise that that scumbag isn't going to ever see you, okay?" Jungkook says, rubbing the back of Taehyung's neck softly.

Taehyung nods, looking at the ground. His whole day was ruined. Just because of words. He hated that that man still had control over his life.

"Taehyung, are you okay?" Jimin asks, eyeing Jungkook's hand on the back of his neck. It was a rather intimate place. But Jimin pushed his jealousy aside and tried to comfort the boy.

Taehyung nods, but continued to look down.

Jungkook sighed, "Do you trust us?" He asks, bending down to look into a Taehyung's eyes.

Taehyung looks up and gives a nod.

"Then you have no reason to be sacred!" Jimin smiles, poking Taehyung's cheek. Taehyung cracks a small smile.

The guys all freeze when they hear rustling coming from the woods close to them. They all stare until a tall, broad figure comes out.

Jungkook huffs, "Jin, what are you doing here?"

Jin shrugs, "Well, I'm bored." He states, "and I knew you sneaked off to be with your friends. Thought I could barge in and hang out too."

Taehyung gives a shy smile, "Of course. Do you want to see the fish?" He politely asks.

Jin's eyes light up, "Fish?"

Taehyung nods and takes Jin's hand, leading him towards the pier, "Yeah! The little fishies you can see when the light hits the water!"

As they walk away, Jungkook turns towards Jimin, "Jimin, let me handle
Taehyung's father alone, okay?"

Jimin furrows his eyebrows, "What? Why? We both want to protect Taehyung!"

Jungkook nods, "Yeah, but I want to protect you to. I was on edge when we went and beat that guy up. If you got hurt then it would have been my fault," Jungkook claims.

Jimin looked shocked, "Jungkook, I'm not Taehyung! I can fight and I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty. Just because I'm smaller you assume that I must be careful? Hello no, I'm going to beat his ass if I see him."

Jungkook smiles and shakes his head, "Jimin, you are something else."

It was silent for a few seconds.

"I can beat your ass, you know," Jimin suddenly says, smirking when Jungkook raises his eyebrow.

Jungkook snorts, "Jimin, having a dream is good, but at least be realistic," Jungkook winks as he walks towards the two idiots amazed by little fish.

———

"So how did you like Kim Namjoon?" Jimin's father asks once he sat down for dinner.

Jimin shrugged, "He was cool. I think we will make great friends."

Jimin's father scowled, "Jimin, we aren't hooking you up to make friends."

"Yeah, but i just don't like him in that way."

Jimin father sighs, his mother smiles, "It's okay, jiminie," his mother pats his hand, "Do you perhaps like the boy living in your room?"

Jimin almost chokes on his chicken.

"H-how on earth do you know about him?" Jimin asks, bewildered.

Jimin's parents simply laugh, "We know everything, honey. And you two aren't quiet. It like you don't care you are trying to hide him," his mother claims, taking a sip of her wine.

Jimin finally gets over the shock and chuckles, "Yeah. So it's okay that he stays here?"

"Of course, but who is he exactly? He must be poor to be living with you is that correct?" His father asks.

Jimin nods, "Yeah. He was. His dad didn't care for him so he ended up starving most nights. He finally ran away, so I offered him a place," Jimin tells him, hoping they will accept.

His mother's face falls, "Poor thing. Does he eat here? Jimin please invite him down! I would like to meet him!"

Jimin nods, "Uh, Okay."

Jimin runs upstairs and enters his room. Taehyung smiles at him, but furrows his eyebrows when Jimin holds out an outfit for him, "Put this on. You are eating dinner with us."

Taehyung gets up, "What? They know about me?"

Jimin smiles, "Yeah! They want to meet you! Which is a good thing."

Taehyung nods and puts on the jeans and button up. Jimin brushes Taehyung's hair and leads him downstairs.

"Mother, father, this is Taehyung," Jimin says once they enter the dining room.

His mother smiles, "Wow, so handsome! Please come sit down. We have made another plate for you, Taehyung," she says.

Taehyung widely smiles, "Thank you, Mrs. Park."

She gives him a smile back.

Jimin grabs Taehyung's shaky hand under the table, giving it a squeeze.

"You're going to do great. Just be yourself and have good manners, which isn't a problem for you, okay?" Jimin whispers.

Taehyung nods his head and looks up at his parents. They are making his plate and chattering amongst each other.

"Okay."

———

Big step for Taehyung.

So any thoughts?