T A E H Y U N G
Taehyung never thought he'd see his Bambi striding around in swimming shorts, but there he was.
Jeongguk looked a tad younger, his hair cut down to a five instead of the usual bangs that dipped over his eyes. Taehyung would be lying if he said the ravenette's toned stomach didn't startle him. His tummy had always been cute, but that's what being on a sports team does to people, he guessed.
Jeongguk rummaged through his locker, pulling out a towel and goggles until another guy showed up next to him and banged his fist against the metal. Hard.
It wasn't just him. Multiple guys surrounded the ravenette and Jeongguk kept his head straight, unbothered.
"See you at the pool, captain," The guy sneered, "We'll be having a jolly good time."
"Scrawny bitch," Someone added.
When they finally sauntered out of the changing room, Jeongguk's shoulders slumped in relief. Frustrated, he shoved his things back inside and slammed the locker shut.
Taehyung approached the ravenette slowly, crouching down to get a better look at his face. "Bambi?"
But he was ignored, and the brunette frowned. Perhaps he didn't exist in this time of Jeongguk's life.
The door opened with a heavy push and voices piled in. Taehyung turned and spotted a bunch of guys in football gear, his heart stopping for a split second when a blonde head appeared amongst them.
Carter's entire face lit up in pleasant surprise when he saw the ravenette sitting on the bench in front of the lockers. He wrapped up his small talk with his teammates, took off his shoulder pads, and headed over to him.
"Hi, Jeon."
Taehyung's eyebrows almost disappeared up into his hairline. Carter's demeanor was unrecognizable— cheery and animated as he wrapped his arms around Jeongguk.
"Why're you still here? You're late for practice," The blonde noted.
A smile pinched at Jeongguk's face, turning back to kiss Carter's cheek. "How was yours?"
Taehyung resisted the urge to gag.
"Twisted my ankle, broke my neck, snapped my spine in half—"
Jeongguk slapped the blonde's chest and laughed. "Shut up you didn't."
Carter chuckled in response, tugging and fondling with the ravenette's ear. "I'm gonna go change. And you better run to swim practice."
But just as the blonde pulled away, Jeongguk grabbed his arm. His smile was gone, replaced by trembling lips and nervous eyes that Carter noticed immediately.
"What's wrong?" He asked, taking a seat next to him.
"Carter... I don't want to go," Jeongguk said so quietly it almost went unheard.
The look on Carter's face hardened. "What'd they do?"
Jeongguk avoided the question in his typical fashion. "I don't want to be captain. I didn't ask to be. That just gives them another reason to pick on me."
"I'll bash their head in." Carter shrugged, a brow raised.
"I don't want you to."
The blonde sighed, reaching up to hold Jeongguk gently by the jaw. "You deserve to be swim captain with or without their approval. Coach chose you cause you're the best swimmer on the team. Everyone knows that."
"Doesn't feel as great as you think," The ravenette mumbled, "I just want them to like me."
"Ah... Come here, Jeon."
Taehyung's face contorted, watching Carter kiss his boyfriend, hands roaming to intimate places. But a soft smile curved into Jeongguk's lips nonetheless, his body loosening in the blonde's arms.
Cause as much as Taehyung hated the sight of his boyfriend kissing someone else, he couldn't deny the fact that Carter meant something to Jeongguk once, whether he liked it or not.
And to be honest, the blonde didn't seem as unfriendly or manipulative as Taehyung remembered.
"Jeon." Carter flattened his palms on either side of the ravenette's face, stroking carelessly. "You are amazing. I can't swim— heck, I can't even float properly in water."
Jeongguk smiled. "That's because you don't relax—"
The blonde snorted. "The point is," He cut off, "Ignore them. They're probably just jealous of you." He left another kiss on Jeongguk's ear and laughed when he squirmed. "If it makes you feel better, I'll wait for you after practice and we can go back to yours, do our homework, and watch some anime."
"I'd like that."
"Good. My friends and I are heading to the vending machines. Want me to get you something?"
A grin bloomed over the ravenette's face. "Pretzels. Please?"
Carter tutted, ruffling Jeongguk's hair fondly. "You're gonna overdose on that shit one day, Jeon, I swear. Pretzels, pretzels, pretzels. Do you eat anything else?"
"Chocolate pretzels, caramel and salt pretzels, yogurt pretzels."
"A very wide range of pretzels I see," The blonde teased, "I'll see you later, okay?"
"Thank you, Carter."
"Don't sweat it. You know I care about you." The blonde squeezed him tight, planting another kiss on Jeongguk before he left.
Suddenly Taehyung was transported to about an hour later in a whiplash, facing the swimming pool. The Jeongguk that climbed out the water wasn't someone the brunette wanted to take his eyes off— chest bare and glistening.
"Where's coach?" Carter asked from the bottom of the bleachers as the ravenette waddled up to him, shivering under his towel, "Are you cold?"
"We're on a ten-minute break. And yeah, a little."
"Well, here's your pretzels..." Carter held it out of reach and Jeongguk made a face. "But! I bumped into your mom earlier and she said you have to drink your ginger tea first or you'll catch a sore throat."
The ravenette groaned when he was handed a thermos. "You both baby me," He complained, shooting a glare at his mother who was too busy doing her job as a lifeguard to spare him a glance.
"Are you kidding? Your mom babies me too!" Carter grinned.
"Cause she likes you."
"Just drink, Jeon. It'll make you warmer."
Jeongguk finally complied, taking a few careful sips of the hot tea before a couple of shadows came lurking.
The same guys who insulted the ravenette earlier.
"Is that your little boyfriend, Jeongguk?" One of them mocked.
Jeongguk didn't answer, silently praying for their coach to come and discipline everyone again.
"Can you guys fuck off and leave him alone?" Carter straightened up in his seat.
"Aw, but this is too sweet to miss," Another one of them singsonged. "Two little gay shits."
"He's just a friend," Jeongguk hissed.
And Taehyung swore he saw the hurt flash across Carter's features. For a second, the blonde seemed vulnerable— human.
"Aw, you're just friends?" The first guy said, before reaching out and gripping Carter's shirt. "Don't mind if I take him for a dip, right?"
Jeongguk's eyebrows furrowed.
"C'mon," He said, gesturing at his friends.
Suddenly Carter was yanked from the bench and forced towards the pool. And through the blonde was relatively stronger than the rest of them, he was no match for so many.
Jeongguk scrambled to his feet. "Wait, wait— He can't swim."
"You're pathetic, Jeongguk," Another guy told him, "You wanna be tough enough to earn our respect? He's not your boyfriend? Really? You act like no one has seen you two making out behind the math building."
"That's literally none of your business." Carter glowered, held at the edge of the pool and trying to break free.
"Jeongguk," He continued, disregarding the blonde, "Go on— show us how rough you are, captain. He doesn't mean anything to you, right? Go on then— push him in."
Taehyung had known the ravenette for such a short period of time, but he was familiar with his body language and his expressions. He was shocked to see Jeongguk actually considering it, lips pursed.
"Weak."
"Pathetic shit."
"Push him in, Jeongguk. If he really doesn't mean anything to you—"
"Jeon?" Carter whispered cautiously.
And that was the last thing Taehyung heard before the ravenette surged forward and gave him a powerful shove.
__________
that was the longest dream chapter
thoughts?
i'm curious