3000 Stars

Kindness

"Why are you here?" Taehyung asked, lifting his eyes and glaring at Yoongi.

"Because Hoseok got called out for trying to talk about it while class was starting, and he couldn't afford to sneak out," Yoongi said, sitting down next to him. "How are you feeling?"

Taehyung wanted to scream. "Just go away, alright? I don't feel like talking to you."
"Is this about your powers?"

"Go away, Yoongi!"

"No."

Taehyung looked at him, startled. Yoongi gave him a small smile.

"You're logged out. Good. I can talk to you like a human."

"So I'm not human when my account is active?" Taehyung asked without thinking.

Yoongi bit his lip, smiling and shaking his head. "Nah, you're just way more on edge."

That shut Taehyung up. He sighed, turning away from Yoongi and leaning against the wall. What could he say? Yoongi was right. He was more on edge when he was logged in. It didn't matter which account it was. He was always waiting for someone to lose their temper, to tell him to grow up. Why? It didn't matter whether he grew up or not anyway. He had nothing else to do with his life but fight, and even that was always taken away from him.

"So," Yoongi said. "Fight clubs."
"No," Taehyung said.

Yoongi raised his eyebrows. "You're not gonna hear me out?"
"Do I look like an angel?" Taehyung snapped.

"Frankly, yes," Yoongi said.

Taehyung whipped around, gaping at him. Yoongi chuckled. "Got your attention, huh?" he said. "I'm not taking it back. Dye your hair if you want to look like something else."

"What-- you--" Taehyung spluttered.

Yoongi laughed. "Wow, has no one told you before? You're breathtaking, Kim Taehyung."

Taehyung scowled. "Stop trying to flatter me."

Yoongi crooked an eyebrow, smirking. "I'm not. But we're getting sidetracked. If you're so upset about having a high score, why not just quit the app again? I'm sure your friends would understand."

"They wouldn't," Taehyung said. "You've seen Hoseok. He thinks I should be some kind of arena prodigy."

"Well, you don't have to be," Yoongi said. "The arena isn't for everyone."
It was for me, Taehyung thought, but he just stared at his hands, swallowing hard. "It doesn't matter," he said. "They won't change their minds."

"How do you know?" Yoongi said. "Hoseok says you never told him why you quit in the first place."

Taehyung nodded, blinking at the stairs and leaning against the wall. "I didn't."

"... did someone get hurt?"

Taehyung sighed. "Why do you think that?"

"Namjoon showed me some videos of V fighting," Yoongi said. "I didn't realize how risky it was to fight back then."

Taehyung turned slightly, meeting his eyes. "You weren't disgusted?"

Yoongi tilted his head, furrowing his brow. "Why would I be?" he asked. "If you mean his fighting style, a lot of his friends and rivals were worse. Besides, he never acted like he took any joy out of hurting people."

"He didn't," Taehyung said. "He never did."

"Did you two quit at about the same time?" Yoongi asked.

"Yeah," Taehyung said.

"What year was it?"

"I don't remember."

It was a lie. Taehyung remembered the year very well. He remembered the cameras, the screams, the blood. He remembered the fighting that was to continue for months after, the corrective therapy, the anger and confusion and hurt. He realized he had forgotten to breathe and gasped, shaking his head. No. He couldn't think about that day. If he thought about it, he might come undone for real.

"Taehyung?" Yoongi asked.

"I'm sorry," Taehyung said. "I just... I need to be alone for a bit."

"Alright," Yoongi said. "Come meet us whenever you're ready." He stood, and Taehyung noted the way he shoved his hands in his jacket instead of trying to touch him. It was a small gesture, but it made Taehyung wonder if Yoongi understood more than he let on.

He was right, after all.

Someone had gotten hurt.

And it had been Taehyung's fault.