Camp Counselors | vkook

06 | day 28

He'd never been a star player - in capture the flag, he'd never been much of a player to begin with. While Jungkook did most of the dirty work for the team, Taehyung cashed in capture the flag afternoons as an extra break in his day. Around him, people were running from one side to the other - his teammates were avoiding getting tagged, and opponents were making mad dashes for the flag. Taehyung, with his feet dipped in the river and head tilted back to catch the sunlight, should've made an effort to tag anyone who ran next to him. But when he was on break, the most Taehyung could ever bring himself to do was entertain Jungkook's conversations. He should've at least tried to make a run for the flag, but Taehyung wasn't fast on his feet.

At the end of the day, whether or not he tagged a camper from the other side, Taehyung wouldn't be recognized for it. Regardless of who won, Jungkook was always the first in everyone's hearts. Whoever actually captured the flag came in close second. Taehyung didn't see the point in making himself sweat when he wasn't going to be cheered for it. It wasn't that he was insulted by the lack of attention; he just wanted even his minimal efforts to receive applause, which they didn't.

But for the first year, Taehyung was given a purpose to serve for his team. Even if he was just a distraction, he liked that he could be important. He liked the idea that, if things went how he wanted them to, he'd finally have a spotlight to stand under.

Crouched behind a thicket of brambles, Taehyung was concealed. In the clearing, he could see the way tree branches and their leaves parted. It was a subtle flutter of orange, but the contrast on brown and green was sharp. It was enough of a giveaway for Taehyung to know he'd found the flag. As long as he hid under thorns and behind bushes, Taehyung should've been able to make his way to the flag unnoticed, but that wasn't the plan.

He went straight; the rest of the team went around and through the back.

When Taehyung got to his feet, he trembled. The sun was out high enough to draw attention to the fine sheen of sweat on his forehead. There were no goosebumps patterning his skin, but still he shook. Because as he made his way out into the open, glancing over his shoulder cautiously, he knew there were eyes watching him. He didn't know from where, but he knew there were a familiar pair of eyes running over his body.

The flag was in his line of sight; if he walked fast enough, Taehyung could've grabbed the flag and made a run for his side. He wouldn't have made it, but he could've tried - for the first time in his life. But that wasn't the plan and Taehyung refused to be the one to jeopardize a victory. Especially not when he stopped in his tracks as Jungkook dropped from his vantage point in the trees.

Taehyung had to admit that he looked good - as it turned out, sweat-soaked white shirts were a good look on Jungkook. Taehyung liked that the shirt was fitted in all the right places - around his shoulders, along his chest, and at his stomach. He liked the way the material plastered to his body, outlining every dip and curve of Jungkook's skin.

As Jungkook sauntered towards him, water gun slung over his shoulder, Taehyung decided that his new favorite color was white.

"I've been watching you for a while. Didn't think you'd be stupid enough to go out into the open like this."

Taehyung shrugged. "Maybe I would've known better if I actually cared for the game."

Jungkook was circling him, like a predator with its prey. As if he was seeing if Taehyung was a snack worth his time. Taehyung's new favorite look on the younger boy was damp, side swept hair. As cute as Jungkook looked with his bangs falling over his eyebrows, nothing quite matched how deadly he looked with one eye hooded by his hair and the other glowing with mischief.

"You're telling me someone who doesn't care for the game came all the way out here for the hell of it? Unbelievable."

"I wanted to keep you company."