Nickname AU

The Lion and the Bunny

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥

𝐓𝐚𝐠𝐬: 𝐅𝐥𝐮𝐟𝐟, 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥, 𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝, 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠,

𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐤𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐱 𝐓𝐚𝐞𝐡𝐲𝐮𝐧𝐠

Prompt from Busan-Skyline (a.k.a satinandsteel here on Ao3): OOH - okay, so like preschool/elementary school Taekook, and their school is doing like performances with each class (they're all dressed up like different animals) and so little lion Tae's wandering around because of course he's separated from his class and he finds this kindergartner hidden in a corner with bunny ears on, so of course he deems it his mission to learn the kid's name (Jungkook) and make him laugh (and of course insists on dragging him onstage when his class goes up)  

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"Where are they?" Taehyung murmured as he wandered through the school, head turning left and right, searching. He had looked away for a second – one second! – and somehow his teacher, along with the rest of his class, had managed to get themselves lost – how a class full of twenty five students and a full grown teacher got lost in the first place, Taehyung would never know. So, here he was, trying to find them.

Taehyung stepped into the courtyard, pausing to survey the area. Apart from a group of boys playing soccer and a class – they seemed to be fourth graders – in the middle of practicing for their performance later, he couldn't see anyone else, which mean the hunt – he was dressed up as a lion, and lions hunt (his mother had told him that as she'd made his costume) – must go on.

Heaving a sigh, Taehyung turned to make his way towards the canteen – maybe they were there (getting lost must work up an appetite after all) – but he paused, spying something out of the corner of his eye.

Turning his head, Taehyung's eyes fell upon a small figure, nestled down between the rose bush and where the hibiscus grew tall and wild, small arms wrapped around his little legs, face half buried against his knees, his eyes barely visible from underneath his heavy fringe, big, white bunny ears contrasting with his dark hair.

The boy seemed to be watching the fourth grader practice, eyes glued to the older kids as they ran through their routine over and over again, his eyes scarcely blinking. Taehyung tilted his head, observing the boy for a moment before taking another look around. There didn't seem to be anyone here with the boy – no parents hovering around nor any class of kindergarteners... Could that mean...

So engrossed in his staring, the small boy didn't hear Taehyung approaching until the older boy was practically on top of him. Large eyes turned upwards, silently regarding the boxy smile Taehyung was sporting. He shrunk back slightly when Taehyung kneeled down beside him, wary of the other.

"Hey," Taehyung greeted cheerily. "What are you doing here by yourself? Are you waiting for someone?" The boy stayed silent, watching Taehyung with an uncertain gaze. Just when Taehyung was about to repeat the questions, the dark haired child shook his head. "Oh... Then... are you lost?" Another shake of the head. "Are you lonely?" This time, the boy gave a hesitant nod.

Taehyung gave a soft hum, tilting his head to the side again. "Would you like to help me? My teacher and class has gotten lost and I'm trying to find them. Maybe we'll find them together!" When the boy only stared at him, Taehyung pouted. "You look lonely and I haven't found them yet so... Please?"

For a moment, the small boy frowned, eyes straying over to the fourth graders before he gave a little nod, murmuring a quiet, 'Okay'. Taehyung gave a happy exclamation, leaping to his feet, holding a hand out to the younger boy. "Let's go!" he cried, smiling wide and enthusiastic. "Come on!"