fortuitous odds

[17] give in, give in, give in

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"Do it again!" Cried the enthusiastic deviant in sheer amazement.

"I'm not a show pony." Grumped the other back sarcastically, dusting off the red dirt that had dirtied his pristine white boots. "Is one not enough?"

"Never is. Could've totally hallucinated one backflip. Two? Now that's real life!" Jungkook rolled his eyes at the despicable excuse, staring back into the silver swan's gleaming eyes. There was something about his stare that could challenge the gods. Stern and mighty, yet holding the intricacies of a million lifetimes. A boy who had seen it all and more. Yet here he stood, presenting so unbelievably put together. It was the few around him that got to tear down the mask.

It wasn't just his eyes that could tear the will of a man, it was the way he spoke, a mellifluous plead for curiosity. Jungkook couldn't help the way he'd focus on the lips that continued to demand an encore, wondering not of their words but of their touch. Then they stopped talking, pursed into a frown.

"Hm?" He finally snapped from the haze, zooming out to the full picture of the room they were in.

"I said, if you don't stop staring I'll flip you myself." Huffed Taehyung with a mocking glower, beneath that a cheeky smirk. "Sometimes I wonder whether you're even from earth. The countless times you space out is truly a feat no human could match."

"Funny, was just thinking you're not so human yourself." Jungkook bit back with a grin, stepping forward until his knees collided with the other's still seated on his couch. "Something about..." He reached out, fingers catching on the edge of the older boy's jaw. Surprisingly, Taehyung allowed him to take control, gaze following each movement as Jungkook looked over the faint scars across his cheeks, unhealed and imperfect; dots he'd never quite connected before. "Not as inhuman as you seem," He murmured absent-mindedly, feeling the change in tension beneath his fingers when Taehyung broke into a grin. He realised what he'd been doing, hand snapping away and curling under his sleeve. "Sorry..."

"Did it seem like I was complaining?" Taehyung remarked coyly, chin still held at that angle. "Your need to touch is something I admire. Your tendency to doubt yourself, not so much." Jungkook frowned, arms crossing and cheeks puffing up in silent frustration. "C'mon, you do this everytime. If I was uncomfortable don't you think I'd tell you?" His ongoing silence only stoked Taehyung's fire, ankle snatching at the back of Jungkook's heel and gently tugging. It brought the blue haired boy staggering forward slightly, arms still closing off his chest as he inhaled sharply. "One more. I'll keep my word," He warned, prepared to swipe the supports out from beneath Jungkook as he snapped into realisation.

"One more," Scoffed Jungkook quietly, attempting to shake off the heat of his cheeks before he squatted down and swung himself into an effortless back tuck, landing on both feet with ease.

"So cool..." He heard his witness whisper. Then a cold hand touched his forearm, twisting his body until it was stopped by the path of another, left to stare up at Taehyung's confident smile. "See, touch isn't so scary."

"Speak for yourself," Choked Jungkook through a heavy breath, whole body on fire as he stared at the firm grip keeping them both in such close proximity. He could tell from the shit eating grin of the other that this was the intention. A ploy meant to expose every nerve that fueled his body's need to run and hide at the first sign of progress. Give in. Give in. Give in. Everything in him wanted something to happen, to push beyond that shallowness he'd cursed every mutual connection with.

"Wanna join me?"

"What?" He spoke almost silently. Left to refocus on Taehyung's unwavering eyes.

"For work today. Wanna join me with the kids?"