Little things - Taekook (ON HIATUS)

Chapter 21

YOUR CHOICE: it's time to see what Hobi thinks. 

I know this book is on hiatus, and it probably will be for a while. But we need fluff right now, and a chance to just see something light-hearted. So this is my best solution, getting a few updates in for an old classic. Most of us have probably forgotten this whole book: I had to reread it to remember the plot xD. But here we are again. Enjoy the chapter, and I'm sorry it took so long to happen. Love you all. 

Within about twenty minutes of their reconciliation, Taehyung and Yoongi wander off into Yoongi's room. Hoseok and I watch them for a few seconds, making sure that everything's okay, and then allow ourselves to relax. And I think that's the moment when Hoseok turns to me and really looks at me, really tries to understand me. 

I don't say anything for a few moments, allowing him to process his own thoughts, because I know that it's hard to mix his image of me with what he just saw. I don't think he thought I was a bad guy, but I don't think he realised how invested I was in Taehyung's life at this point. I don't think he really figured out how important the adorable Little is to me. 

"You really care about him, don't you?" Hoseok asks me quietly, and I glance over at him as we head back into the kitchen to sit by the breakfast bar. 
"Has it become that obvious?" I return simply, smiling a little nervously. He just raises an eyebrow at me. "Okay, yeah. I do. And maybe I messed up a little by getting involved, but I wasn't trying to attack Yoongi hyung, I just-" 

I break off, shaking my head and lowering my gaze to the counter, so I don't have to look my friend and boss in the eyes. "I know it's not my place to intervene, I just wanted to make sure they understood each other's perspectives. At the end of the day, we're all human, and we all screw up. I guess I just wanted to help, even if I have no right to-" 

"Jungkook, with all due respect, shut up," Hoseok interrupts, holding up a hand. "You're not a bad guy." My head lifts before I can stop it, hopefully. 
"Honest?" He nods, offering me a reassuring smile. 
"Honest. I think you did the right thing. Maybe you were a little uncertain, but even a blind man could see how much you care for Tae. I can't ignore that any more than you can." 

"I didn't even mean to be so invested in everything, it just happened," I admit quietly. He just laughs lightly, nodding again. 
"Yeah, that's what happens when you fall in love." 

There's a moment of silence after that, and then his words process in my brain. I stare at Hoseok for a good few seconds, genuinely shocked, and eventually he takes the bait to just carry on speaking. "Look, I'm not an idiot, Kook. You may be blindly falling for Tae, but I can see it happening from the outside. Some people would kill to have someone else look at them the way you look at him. Maybe I'm reading it wrong, but I think you need to think about those feelings before you act on them." 

"I just think he needs someone to protect him. And when you or Yoongi hyung aren't available, I guess I offer that support?"
"Which is why you wanted to punch those teens?" Hoseok points out simply. I shake my head determinedly.
"I just don't like injustice-"

"You can preach your 'Justice Warrior' outlook to me all you want, Kook, but I think there's more to it. And you may not see it yet. But it's been a few months now. You're allowed to have feelings. Nobody's gonna hate you for them unless they're homophobic assholes, and if you're worried about my reaction, you're thinking about this whole situation wrong. It's not about what I think. It's about Tae. He's the one who'll be affected by your choices. Remember that." 

I tilt my head at him, and he sighs, running a hand through his hair and standing up. "I need a coffee if I'm going to explain this to you," he mumbles, heading towards the machine quickly, before turning to glance at me. "Do you want one?"
"Do you have any decaf ones?" He raises an eyebrow. "What? I've already had three today, don't wanna go mad." He chuckles and nods, holding up a small coffee capsule. "Thank you, hyung." 

He starts the process of making the coffees, grabbing two mugs and some milk, the typical stuff, and for a few seconds, we just exist in silence. Then he speaks up. "Put as simply as possible, Kook, I think Jin was right. He told you that you needed to figure out where your loyalties and ideas lie. And that's not always easy. Nobody said it was. But you need to understand where you stand in order to know where you want to go." 

He pauses for a second to concentrate on the art of being a makeshift barista, then brings the two mugs over and hands one to me, nodding when I thank him quietly. "There's a lot to consider when you're in that position, and it's hard. But don't think that you have to retreat from Tae's life entirely just because of some feelings. If you care about him, you'll stay regardless of what the future holds for you both." 

I nod immediately, and he sighs in relief. "Good. Second point: it's not morally wrong to be in love with another adult, whether they experience Little Space or not. You are entitled to having emotions. The problem comes when you expect things from them in the wrong headspace. A Little will not want to partake in your fantasies, and if they age-slide, your priority is them, not yourself. It's okay to be frustrated, but not to take it out on them. They can't control it, a lot of the time."

"Obviously, yeah," I agree instantly. He smiles slightly, taking a sip of his coffee.

"I'm not claiming that you'd do anything to hurt him. I just think you have to remind yourself of your motives. After all, Tae is like a little brother to me, and I really care about him as well. It's like....basic morals that I do the 'big brother talk'. You'll get one from Jin, one from Yoongi, probably one from Jimin and Joon. We don't think you're gonna be an asshole. We have faith in you. But we've seen good people act up in awful ways simply because they get high off the power, people leave because they can't handle him. And I don't wanna see it again."

"Handle him?" I ask out of nowhere, and Hoseok shrugs. 
"Apparently, basic human decency and basic common sense is lacking for certain individuals." He frowns, something appearing in his memory for a second before he shakes it away. "Tae will talk about that if he wants to. It's not my story to tell. But if I catch a glimpse of anyone, regardless of who they are, emulating that kind of behaviour, you bet I'm gonna call them out on their bullshit." 

He shifts slightly in his chair. "Even if it means breaking their fucking limbs." 

CHOICE ONE: Jinnie time!!! 

CHOICE TWO: Lisa, plz help me/uni time

CHOICE THREE: Minjoon time!!

CHOICE FOUR: let's get some dance teacher kook in this plot..what about my ultimate ship, those two girls? 

CHOICE FIVE: Big Tae time, as they have a serious discussion about shit for once

CHOICE SIX: i want lil meow

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Izzy x