It's a Promise (TaeKook Fanfic)

Chapter 1. Background

"It's a promise?" the little boy asked with a big grin on his face. His features were as soft as any eight year old's would be, but what had always amused the other boy in front of him was that peculiar rectangular smile he had, very unlike his own playful one accompanied by the nose-scrunching gesture that he had developed the habit of doing.

This boy was a year older than him, but the fact that he was the only neighbor in the block that was remotely around his age forced him into making friends with him. It was not like it was a nuisance, though. Ever since he moved to Seoul two years ago and met the brunet, he had quickly found that he was someone he definitely wanted to have around.

Jungkook had always been used to being in a world surrounded by adults. Back in Busan there weren't a lot of kids in the place where he lived, not to mention that his father was a cop, which inevitably gave him quite a different perspective of the world any normal child his age would have.

Fast forward two years and Jungkook's family left Busan and moved to the capital. His father's name was already so recognized the major wanted to make sure to have him close by his side. And of course, as any first son who grew up seeing his father have such a successful career, he wanted to follow his steps. That's how seven year old Jeon Jungkook decided he wanted to be a police officer when he grew up.

"It's a promise." The younger boy finally answered. Now he didn't particularly know the reason why Taehyung wanted to be a cop too, but it wasn't like he was complaining: it was every child's dream to be as cool as his dad, and if they got to accomplish that dream with their best friend, even better.

"Awesome!" Taehyung's big smile hadn't disappeared even though Jungkook had obviously taken a couple of minutes to answer his question. If his father was there, he would have probably said something to his mom about how the kid seemed way too happy and nonchalant to have what it takes to be a cop, just like all those times he had done when he thought Jungkook was not listening.

Both children quickly turned their heads when they heard a feminine voice calling for the younger's name. They knew it was time to go and they had to do something about that, something that would stall time so they could be together for longer because Jungkook never wanted to go back home, even if he had spent the whole day in Taehyung's house. So they did what any other eight and seven year old would do and ran to the backyard in hopes that their mothers would think they got lost and leave them to play a little bit longer.

"Come on, boys. You'll see each other tomorrow at school." Jungkook's mom said calmly following their previous route; she knew the act all too well. "Your dad's waiting for us at home, Kookie. We have to go." At the mention of his father, the brunet opened his mouth widely and made a one hundred and eighty degree turn suddenly determined to get to his house as soon as possible to spend time with his amazing dad. Every other objective he had had, completely forgotten.

With that new focus he quickly said goodbye to Taehyung, who wouldn't stop asking what happened all of the sudden, and his mother, promising his friend that they would see each other at school and went directly home.

Jungkook almost jumped out of the seat when his mother parked the car in the entrance of the house. He quickly opened the car door and closed it two seconds after, telling his mom to hurry up. When the woman finally entered the house key and turned it, he hadn't taken even five steps inside before he was received by a pair of strong masculine arms wrapping him in a big hug.

Jungkook grinned hugely and responded with as much force as his tiny body allowed him to. After the euphoria died down he separated from his father, staring at him with his big doe eyes before tilting his head for a moment when he processed the strange sight of the older man without his uniform. It took his seven year old mind a minute to realize that it was Sunday and he didn't have to be wearing any uniform. He had gotten so accustomed to it that its absence threw him off a little.

It was a couple of minutes of them playing around before Jungkook spoke up. He chuckled happily as his father grabbed him by the arm and swung him back when he passed running by him, with the same ease as if he was grabbing a sack of flour. His father had always been the strongest.

"Daddy, do cops have to be good at keeping promises?" when he was finally put down on the ground his innocent eyes met the bigger brown ones, and the man smiled softly at the boy. He was confused for a second at the sudden thought.

"Of course, Jungkook." He replied sweetly nonetheless. "Cops always have to keep the promises they make, that's why it's important to be sure that you really want to make them."

"Well, I made a promise to Tae!" the son exclaimed excitedly, all his attention on the previous game lost and now on his father's eyes. "Well, we both did." He corrected himself quickly. "We're gonna be cops like you when we grow up!"

The man laughed shortly and looked at the brunet fondly. "Well, that's good." And with all the love only a father could muster he grabbed Jungkook by the shoulders, making sure to keep him still for a least a second while he looked at him direcly in the eyes.

"You better keep it then."