Archive of Our Own ^beta

***

Yoongi loved his niece. Jiyun was his favorite. Also, his only one, but that didn’t matter. She was adorable, had been from the moment he’d seen her in a little blue onesie. And then when she’d started crawling after the dog, and then walking after Yoongi, garbling his name (often just a single syllable), and depositing stuffed toys in his lap. She’d been bright, adorable, and addicted to books. Staring at them, touching them, graduating from chewing on them. It’d been more than Yoongi could resist one night, after a particularly charming story his brother had relayed about her trying to finagle a cookie, not to write her a little story. His drawing skills left something to be desired, but he could draw passable houses, and milk cartons, and the little cookie existing in and around them. He’d stapled it together, and passed it along, to Jiyun’s delight. The dramatic little cookie and his adventures had to be re-stapled, and after a breathless moment with a rip, eventually laminated. His brother had given it a little cover with some scrap cardboard and wrapping paper, and it had eventually gotten a second volume, albeit not quite so finished.

Yoongi had published a couple of novels, wasn’t exactly rolling in cash but it was a point of professional pride at the very least. So he was pretty used to the writing process. He just figured that was it, really, write some cute stuff that his niece loved, get about with his day job, and all was well.

At least, until he received a text from a teacher at his niece’s school regarding that first little book. A text about which his brother revealed nothing, only that he should go to the meeting if he could.

“Why does it feel like I’m in trouble,” Yoongi muttered. He’d been to the school before the year started, just walking around at the open house. Even if the message was upbeat, getting called in by a teacher - not even his niece’s teacher! - felt a little wrong.

***

The bright red visitor’s sticker was affixed to his jacket, and Yoongi was escorted right to seeing-distance of the room he was going to. There were two kindergarten classrooms, and he walked to the room marked “1 - Mr. Kim.” Kim Taehyung, the teacher who’d reached out to him. He wasn’t sure what to expect walking in, as it wasn’t some kind of day care. The room he eased into was longer to his right than in front of him, with windows lining that righthand wall. A big white board was straight ahead, a desk to the right of it, and an obvious little area for people to sit. Little cushions, a box of toys. He didn’t see anyone at first, scanning past the semi-circle tables, shelves of books, and other storage. By the cubbies and closest to the window was thankfully not a child, but an adult, industriously pinning something to a board on the wall.

Yoongi cleared his throat, and the man’s head turned toward him immediately.

“Oh, hello!” Pins and papers got sat on the top of the wood cubbies and Yoongi stayed still as the teacher, or he assumed it was the teacher, strode toward him.

No loafers like his teachers seemed to wear. And though maybe his teachers had worn sweater vests like that, and maybe even rolled up the sleeves like that, they certainly had never looked like that wearing them. It wasn’t like he came at Yoongi like a runway model, either.

“Shooky the cookie?” he was asked.

Yoongi blinked. “I, uh. Wrote that, yes. I don’t answer to it, though.”

Taehyung burst out laughing, grinning and extending a hand. “I just wanted to make sure you were the right person, and not a father I didn’t know. Nice to meet you! I’m Mr.— I’m Taehyung.”

He probably got used to introducing himself in a certain way. There was a bit of green paint, maybe, on one forearm, and smear of something else on his sweater vest. But Yoongi shook his hand anyway, and hoped he’d sanitized them recently at least. He figured teachers had to.

“Nice to meet you,” Yoongi said, rejecting the obvious joke of greeting him as “Mr. Taehyung.”

“I feel like I’m meeting a celebrity! The kids would certainly feel like that. Come in.”

There was a wall of art above the cubbies, different flowers as the kids had interpreted them. There clearly was still some cleanup going on, but Yoongi didn’t mind that. From the teacher’s desk, Taehyung pulled up a familiar, brightly-decorated “book.”

“Your niece brought this in to her class next door, and everyone loved it. So much so their teacher, Ms. Lee, couldn’t help but share it after she got permission. Now my class is addicted, and I had to see where it’d come from. I think I hear more about Shooky these days than I do about actual cookies.”

Taehyung was grinning, eyes laughing too behind bight blue, plastic-framed glasses. They would’ve looked garish and comical on maybe every other human on the planet, and yet somehow managed to look normal.

“It was just something I doodled one night. Jiyun was cookie fan, too, so it was just a cute story I wrote down. There’s one other one, but it’s not put together like that.”

Taehyung sat back on the desk like his legs had cut out from under him. “I’d heard rumors of there being more. The kids are just going to flip. And that you’ve published professionally?”

“A couple of novels. Not kid’s books,” Yoongi said. He had to be honest about that. There was a hell of a difference between novels he’d so far been interested in producing, and books meant for the more innocent.

“Still! A lot of people talk about doing it, and it’s really something to accomplish. Whether you had been published or not, you clearly have talent, and we’re always trying to get authors in here, let them talk to the kids, or read part of the books to them. The kids love it, like a show and tell. Even better if it’s a book they love.”

Yoongi almost looked behind himself, as though Taehyung were talking to someone else. Him? Taehyung wanted him to come in and speak to a bunch of wiggly kids. Maybe he’d gotten books on shelves, but the Shooky story wasn’t even professionally published. His pulse kicked and he grasped at anything.

“It’s not really…any kind of final product?” The wrapping paper was fraying at the spine. “Plus they’re probably expecting someone to show up in a cookie suit.”

Taehyung accepted that. “Some of them probably have a preconceived idea, but no, we’ve had other authors in, and no one’s cried because their favorite donkey didn’t walk in the door. We always want to give them the truth. Most authors have done a lot of little reading groups and things, so that’s why I wanted to bring you in and talk to you in person. Let you see what the room looks like, and stuff.”

That was something that Yoongi appreciated, even if his brain was still shouting that it was a terrible idea. He hadn’t read out loud in front of a group since college at least. Sure, he’d done some signings, but that was different than trying to hold the attention of a bunch of young children. Even with a teacher’s help.

“I’m not sure I’m exactly what you’re looking for,” Yoongi said honestly.

“It’s just an idea I had,” Taehyung said, giving him some leeway. “If… This class could be a trial run. Would your niece like to see you read your story for her class?”

Oh. Oh, a low blow. Wrapped up in innocent eyes and a mercenary soul apparently.

“I imagine she’d love it,” Yoongi said grudgingly. No imagination needed on that. She’d bounce right into the stratosphere if she thought it was even a possibility.

“So the second story isn’t bound like this?” Taehyung asked, tapping the little book’s cover.

“It has some crude, really crude drawings. But no, it’s not laminated, not bound like that one is.”

Taehyung opened his mouth, closed it, and then thought better of that decision, too. “Could I see the story? If we’re going to do a reading, maybe we should do the second story, since it’d be new to them.”

“I have some scans and have it written out on my computer. I could e-mail it to you.”

Taehyung clapped, standing up again. “That’d be great! Though, I think I just steamrolled right over you. I mean, I still want to see the story. But would you? Be interested in reading for the class? I’m happy to help out, practice with you. Anything you might need. Think about it, anyway! Here.”

Taehyung handed him a business card, his e-mail on it. Taehyung’s enthusiasm for the idea was almost, almost infectious. If he’d been faced with a bright-eyed horde right at that moment, he’d even have been tempted to give in.

“I’ll think about it,” Yoongi said. He certainly wasn’t promising anything, but that seemed good enough for Taehyung.

Maybe it would be easier to show up to read in a cookie suit. Though as he made his way out from the maws of the school, he kept that idea to himself. He resisted the urge to edit and contemplate, once he was back to his own computer. He sent the scans and text copy to Taehyung, still making no promises, though there was an ominous little cloud of foreboding prodding at him as he pushed send.

***

Yoongi’s stomach clutched when he saw he had a reply to the e-mail he’d sent to Taehyung. It seemed absurd. Taehyung was neither his teacher or boss. To get nervous about getting feedback one way or another about something so inconsequential? It was still something very personal, something that had come from him, and even more importantly as a gift to someone he loved. Judgement would spit on him, but also her enjoyment of it.

There was a second, similar swoop when he saw that it wasn’t just a few pithy lines, but several paragraphs. The more he skimmed, though, the more he relaxed - into incredulity. He didn’t know what a review of a story for children looked like, but it looked more like reviews he’d gotten for his novels. Albeit, with a few more exclamation points. Story progression, and what a cute plot, and how charming, and Shooky being a great protagonist, and how Taehyung wanted to see where it went. Yoongi found himself grimacing, there. Because his brain was an addict, taking praise and encouragement, chewing it up, and loudly excreting thoughts and urges to maybe do a little more writing, form that half-dreamed other story and get another hit.

Sure, his brain would respond to him without it, but that seemed to send it into overdrive. Like he was going to write a whole story in five minutes and ship it off for a pat on the head.

And in the midst of all that disgruntlement, he realized that Taehyung hadn’t referenced the proposed reading. On one hand he thought, that was nice that Taehyung wasn’t trying to guilt him. On the other, he wondered if it was a calculated decision, just laying it all on Yoongi with a skim of flattery. He could say no. Could and should, in fact. He didn’t think he was built for it. He grudgingly jotted down notes for the other Shooky story his brain had foisted on him, and decided there was really only one thing to do.

He called his brother. His brother, who’d been the source of Yoongi’s phone number to begin with, and clearly the permission for the book to have gone to the school to start. As he described what Taehyung had proposed with the reading, his brother made thinking sounds.

“I had a feeling it was going to be something like that. So, are you going to do it?”

Yoongi paused. “Well.”

His brother burst out laughing, and Yoongi grimaced on the other end of the line. “Oh, wow. You got talked into it!”

“I didn’t say that!”

“In so many words. If you were determined not to, you’d have said no without hesitation.”

“It’s not quite like that. I’m being coerced into it. I’m being threatened into it.”

“What? How?”

“He mentioned it could be a trial and how much Jiyun would enjoy having me read it to her class.”

There was an exhale and slow whistle. “Man. You got played good. To be expected from someone who teaches young kids, though. He could probably talk someone into almost anything.”

“That doesn’t really help me, though.”

“I mean, it does. It’s like doing a presentation in…class. Right, that’s funny. You’ll be a hero to Jiyun. She’ll be telling you about it when she’s 45.”

“Yeah, keep laughing your ass off.”

His fault for calling someone up who would certainly be on anyone’s side but his. He should’ve found some other outside opinion, like maybe from a doctor, or a priest, someone who could excise or exorcise the inclination out of him.

The thought of reading to Jiyun’s class and seeing her so happy about it was the one nagging thing that kept him from just e-mailing back a no immediately. “Glad you enjoyed it, and also no thanks to the reading!” She was proud of him right then, and also a fan of something he was doing right then. And that could change. One day she’d be embarrassed to hug him, or talk about him. Her weird uncle instead of her thinking he was cool. He was cool, in ways that one awesome five-year-old could see anyway.

As his brother had said, it seemed like his decision had already been made.

***

Taehyung was as on the ball scheduling Yoongi to come in again as he had been reaching out to a perfect stranger the first time. Yoongi better knew the way, and the classroom was as empty of people again. Except for Taehyung, who was behind his desk that day. No blue glasses. Brown. No sweater vest, just a nice dress shirt, and buttoned at his wrists. Yoongi didn’t know what the dress code was for kindergarten teachers, but he looked more intently right then because he was evaluating what would be appropriate for him to wear. Obviously he wasn’t going to walk in in shorts and flip flops.

“Hey!” Taehyung said, when he saw Yoongi darkening the entrance. “Come on in! I got everything all set up for you.”

Set up? He was only reluctantly wanting to be coached through a dry run. He’d read half a dozen articles and watched at least that many videos about how to read to kids. Methods. Techniques. Be yourself! Tone of voice!

But he almost stopped walking when he saw what Taehyung had meant by setting up. In a semi-circle reminiscent of an amphitheater were little mats for kids to sit on. But instead of kids, there were various toys. A few stuffed animals, some cars, a plastic dinosaur, some dolls, a horse. Positioned as though they were the kids to listen to Yoongi stumble around. At least the story wasn’t that long. He could be grateful for that at least. There was an adult-sized chair at the front, and an easel with “Welcome Mr. Min and Shooky!” written on a blank sheet of paper and a little drawing of Shooky that was charming.

“Well, shit,” Yoongi said out loud, before considering where he was. He looked around like kids were going to pop up out of a potted plant to glare at him for cursing. “I won’t say that in front of the kids.”

Taehyung just laughed.

“No, I get that. I was nervous the first time I led a class, too. The class I have now, all you really have to do is be alive and you mostly have their attention. Not every class is like that, obviously, and you’ll have stray wanderings of attention. But I’ll be right here to redirect if you need. I’ll have one of the assistants bring you in, and I’ll have a seat at the back for you to sit in while I get everyone over here. Then, I’ll have you come up to the front and I’ll introduce you— They’ll know at that point you’ll be there. I’ll have teased and given them information that we’ll have a special guest, so it won’t be a surprise.”

Yoongi grunted his understanding of all of that. The closer they inched to the chair in front of the sitting mats, the closer Yoongi got to realizing that rehearsing meant, well, actually rehearsing. And somehow Taehyung’s party of one was somehow more intimidating than a herd of kids. Then it was going to be the kids, plus Taehyung, plus maybe any helpers, plus—

“It’s not too late to back out,” Yoongi said.

“Not technically,” Taehyung said, but he didn’t stop either, just herding Yoongi with him. “But you’ve got this! Class, friends, Miss Mane ’n’ Tail, we have a special guest today! This is Mr. Min, who wrote Shooky and the Milk Glass. Say hello!”

In a terrible attempt at ventriloquy, Taehyung attempted to say hello for the class.

“Hello,” Yoongi said, staring into the cold, dead eyes of the stegosaurus and thinking, same.

“Now, who wants to hear Mr. Min read to you?” Taehyung asked all peppily, raising his own hand and trying to simulate a chores of simultaneous “Me!!”s. “Okay, let’s get ready for Shooky!”

Taehyung did a little happy dance and then put on a serious face, like he was trying to keep the assembled toys from rioting.

“That’s about all that will be. We’ll ask some questions. I’ll ask what they think of Shooky, if anyone wants to tell you how much they like the story. They love talking, so that’ll take a few minutes,” Taehyung said. “While that’s happening, you can stay standing. When I say you can have a seat, that’s usually a clue to them to focus and put on their listening ears. In addition to me saying so.”

The little grin was cute, like he knew his class like the back of his hand.

“That sounds good,” Yoongi said. He didn’t know what else to say. He felt exhausted already, like he’d run the longest race and was just looking for the nearest cubby to lie down under.

“Do you know which story you want to do? They are familiar with the first one, but I think it’d be a lot of fun to introduce the second. You could get a lot of excitement out of. Leading little questions like, what should Shooky do??”

Cue Taehyung pulling a face like out of the “The Scream” painting.

“I know the first book isn’t exactly polished, but the second one… It’s not even partially colored. Would that be kind of boring?”

Taehyung nodded along with him. “I’ve been thinking about that! It’s not like we have to create giant posters or anything, but if we make a sort of normal-sized pages with text and pictures, it’d be something easier for you to show and keep their attention. We could pretty it up. I actually have a friend who does some really good art. He fixes some stuff up for me sometimes, does some design work. I think he’d get a real kick out of this.”

Taehyung had taken his initial idea and dialed it up to something near eleven. Eleven thousand. Not just showing up, reading, and going. But also having to think about trying to make a book out of some sketches and blobs of text.

“I think that would probably make a better experience for the class. If that doesn’t work, then maybe just… Do the original one.”

“That’d be fine. I did print out what you sent to me! Just so we had a hard copy for you to practice with.”

Yoongi, taking a seat on the chair, felt a little bemused. “Have you already talked to your friend, too?”

It maybe was a touch of chagrin as Taehyung laughed. “No. No, I was waiting until I talked with you. I do draw the line at messing with people’s creations. But with your okay, I’ll send this story over to him, have him do some mock-ups. And then we can meet with him.”

Yoongi felt like he wanted ten years to decide, and he had the socially acceptable silence of maybe ten seconds.

“Sure, I’d be interested in seeing what he has,” Yoongi said. His mouth said it, his brain feebly agreeing. It was just preparation for the reading, that was all. Like choosing his shoes would be, and with as little investment of his time as it took to meet. Or, that was what he was telling himself, anyway. Much as he had told himself about the same thing walking into the school.

“Great!” Taehyung said. And he took a seat on one of the tiny mats for which he was incredibly oversized, crossing his legs and putting his chin in his hands. “I’ll be up there closer for you, but for now…”

For not the first time since Taehyung had fixed him with a smile, Yoongi acknowledged that he had a nice face. Unfortunately nice faces didn’t make the situation any less daunting. Nor did a fuzzy white bear (how did they keep that clean?) or any other toy. He revisited the thought of just wearing a cookie suit, and fiddled with the stapled 8.5x11 pages with Yoongi’s own writing and line drawings.

“Shooky and the Dairy Farm,” Yoongi said out loud. Taehyung nodded encouragingly. “Does anyone know what a dairy farm is?”

***

The meeting with Taehyung’s friend was not at the school, but rather in a coffee shop in a part of the city Yoongi rarely visited. It was spacious, however, and quiet, and Yoongi was the last to arrive. Taehyung at least he knew of, but the man who peered at him curiously, not so much. He supposed he was a curiosity. He had no idea if Taehyung trotted out all varieties of strange projects. He got a stiff drink - coffee, iced, black - because he felt like he was going to need it to get through.

“This is Jungkook,” Taehyung said, introducing them. “And our newest kindergarten guest author and reader, Yoongi.”

It was good Taehyung winked at him because Yoongi would’ve scoffed as it was. His glasses were a little understated that day, and suited his face. What glasses didn’t suit his face, Yoongi certainly hadn’t seen them.

“Nice to meet you,” Jungkook said. “The story was really cute!”

“Sorry about the drawings,” Yoongi said.

Jungkook shook his head with emphasis. “You had a really specific style for them, through both the books since Taehyung let me see the first one. So I tried to keep in the spirit of that, just sort of cleaning it up a little, adding some backgrounds and a place for text. Everything can be changed! So, don’t be afraid to say something you don’t like. Did you want to see it now?”

“Sure,” he said, not sure of what he was expecting. No small talk, just diving in, and Yoongi got that. He’d have wanted that if he was Jungkook, too. Jungkook opened the presentation app on his laptop, and exhaled like he was as nervous as Yoongi felt about the whole thing. Which at least meant the nervous outnumbered the confident, if that counted for anything.

“This is the mock-up title page,” Jungkook said.

Yoongi wasn’t sure what he was expecting. The cheerful green barn and yellow sun, the distant grazing cows, the title, and the…shook cookie careening across the tableau. Shooky looked as Yoongi drew him, in terms of style, but in form and polish? It was way advanced. Bright, defined, actually circular and interesting to look at. It looked similar to some of the kid’s books he’d read when he was young, and words that usually came quick and easy to him, failed.

“Wow,” Yoongi said. It didn’t look like a mock-up. “You do graphic design?”

“Mostly as a hobby,” Jungkook said. “Some commissions, and work for friends.”

Hobbies loved that turned into work didn’t always work out, and Yoongi got that. “It looks like you could professionally.”

Taehyung was nodding his agreement, and Jungkook was waving that down, which was cute.

“This is really just simple stuff. Here’s the start of the story,” Jungkook said, bristling up like he was trying to make himself bigger and command attention.

The start of Shooky’s journey. Jungkook stopped at each page, asking Yoongi’s suggestions, his thoughts. All his meager line drawings again took on life, from Shooky getting licked by a cow, to catapulting over a pail of milk. There were even details he hadn’t drawn in but had inferred in the text. Shooky huddling under a rainbow umbrella as milk drops fell around him, Shooky getting a ride on a cute calf. One of the pages even made Yoongi laugh as Shooky ran away from the farm’s kitchen.

“That’s fucking awesome,” he said.

That perked Jungkook up considerably. “Yeah? It’s mostly just flat fill coloring right now. I didn’t do a whole lot of shading. More to give you an idea of what it could look like.”

“That’s still a hell of a lot of work. I don’t know what I was expecting, but I sure wasn’t expecting all of this.”

Taehyung beamed like he’d been the one to do it himself. “The kids are going to love it,” Taehyung declared.

“How much do you usually charge for a page like this?” Yoongi asked.

“Oh.” Jungkook looked really flummoxed then. “I’m not charging. We didn’t have any prior agreement.”

“You should, though.”

“Taehyung and I do things like this for each other sometimes. It’s really…” Jungkook looked to Taehyung for some kind of backup.

“Taehyung brought us together, though. I mean, however you work your rate is your deal. But this is something my family and the kindergarten classes are going to enjoy. I definitely don’t mind throwing some money at you. I might not be able to match what you deserve, but you deserve something.”

“Can I think about it and get back to you?” Jungkook asked.

“Of course,” Yoongi said. He wasn’t going to just shove cash down Jungkook’s shirt. Forget eleven, Taehyung had inadvertently or intentionally dialed it up to eleven hundred. But he at least wisely stayed out of the negotiations.

“Would you be okay using this then to read to the class, then?” Taehyung asked.

“Way more than I would be with my scratches. Can I wear a mask?”

It got a giggle out of Jungkook anyway. Taehyung just leaned back with his glaringly pink drink and looked just a little bit smug. Yoongi guessed he deserved that.

***

It felt different being in the school during operating hours. There was almost a hum to it, the chatter of kids, of adults, the distant smell of food. He and his escort passed all of the bustle, and he was instructed to wait while she ducked into the classroom to be sure Taehyung was ready for him. He was let in, directed to the chair that Taehyung had promised would be at the back of the classroom for him. He pasted a pleasant expression on his face when he saw a few kids had rubbernecked to gawk, but Taehyung and his aide commanded their attention again. And it gave Yoongi a chance to look around. To really look, because there were some major changes from when he’d been there just two days earlier.

The flowers were gone, and instead the room was decorated like a national holiday had crept up without knowledge. Except instead of flags or holiday paraphernalia, the wall was decorated with Shooky. Lots of Shookys. All of them drawn in a little different way, in different situations, some colored haphazardly and in increasingly varied colors, but all of them with effort. A tribute by the children of the class to his little guy that he’d created on a whim. His cheeks physically heated, which was better than the prickling of his eyes. It took a few swallows to get himself all calmed down. It’d been a busy few days, a dozen e-mails traded with Jungkook as they finalized some things. And despite all that, he’d practically had to twist Jungkook’s arm to accept compensation. It wasn’t like Yoongi was as yet rolling in cash, but he understood that good work shouldn’t ever be taken for granted. Even if nothing came of it but a reading and delight from Jiyun, it was worth it.

“Are we ready for story time?” Taehyung asked, smiling at the kids gathering.

There was a chorus in the affirmative. Yoongi slowly stood as Taehyung got the kids settled on their mats, and there were a bunch of eager faces as Taehyung gestured him forward.

“We all know Shooky, and I promised we’d get to meet the man who brought Shooky to life!”

There were a few squeals, like maybe Taehyung was going to produce a pony. But no one looked all that disappointed when it turned out that Yoongi was the guest of the hour and had neither crumbs nor a tail, and they all said hello back to him without ejecting him from the building.

“We have a new Shooky story for you,” Yoongi said, as he sat down. Which was good, before his knees gave out. Just as they practiced, Taehyung gave him the “book.” It was spiral bound, laminated, in landscape format so Yoongi could just slip the page over and present the next one without issue. No one did oohs and ahhs quite like a bunch of kids. It might as well have been a pony. A few wiggled closer, like they were absorbing the title page’s energy. Maybe his voice shook a little, but the words were familiar. There were questions built in both in his own head, and from suggestions from Taehyung - actually written on the blank back of the pages as he turned them. Taehyung hadn’t only prepared for Yoongi, he’d Prepared. And he knew Taehyung would hop in if things went off the rails.

No one wandered away, no yelling, no crying, no riots. One little girl did get distracted, but Taehyung corrected that with a some eye contact and a sound. He fell into the rhythm of turning the page, reading the text there, looking for reactions. Every so often, he had them suggest what they thought would happen, what they thought of what was happening. Their little brains were churning, not judging him. Shooky was off to his next adventure, at the end, and the kids deflated like maybe Shooky was their friend who was leaving forever. They perked up thinking about all the other things he could get up to, and Taehyung helped lead that, letting the kids ask Yoongi other questions about writing, about stories.

“I want to write stories,” one little girl said solemnly.

“Everyone can. Don’t let anyone tell you you can’t, even if it’s just for you and your friends,” Yoongi said. It was too bad Jungkook wasn’t there to enjoy their enjoyment of the illustrations, too. They talked about the pictures on the wall as well, with Yoongi admired them and their art.

“We’ll be decorating some clay “cookies” with paint in a little while, too, won’t we?” Taehyung asked as the kids bucked and wiggled like they were going to run to that immediately. Taehyung caught his eye, and Yoongi nodded to indicate he was finished with whatever he’d prepared. Taehyung had promised he would keep it reasonable, and Taehyung stood up again, looking over his class as Yoongi imagined a general did. “Wasn’t it fun getting a new Shooky story today? What should we say to Mr. Min for reading to us today?”

“Thank you, Mr. Min!” they chorused. And one child in the front row, on Taehyung’s signal, picked up a gift bag Yoongi had seen but hadn’t paid attention to.

“We got you a gift,” the little boy said, his smile a little shy and lacking a tooth.

“Thank you very much,” Yoongi said sincerely as he accepted it. And he fought the laugh when he glanced down into the bag. Of course, it was a package of cookies.

“Time to get the wiggles out!” Taehyung said, and the teaching aide stepped up to cheers. Taehyung more or less herded him to the door while the kids started dancing.

“You did great!” Taehyung said, his grin almost disarmingly close. “I know Mrs. Lee will want to schedule you next door if you’re still up for it, but I’d love to touch base with you about today also, if that’s okay?”

“I don’t think I’d want to do it solo, but it wasn’t as bad as some of my worst imaginings. But yeah, just let me know.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“Going to go not move for a week.” Or until Mrs. Lee contacted him. Maybe he’d gotten it backwards. Maybe he should’ve done his niece’s class first, but then he’d have been tempted to have bowed out, so maybe it was right after all. “Go get your wiggles out.”

Taehyung laughed, almost winking, waving Yoongi on and Yoongi flew on rubbery knees toward the exit and his car. He treated himself to a steak dinner, and put the bulk of his worries behind him.

***

“I should be mad at you,” Yoongi said, shoving his bag aside as he relaxed in a booth opposite Taehyung. And he could say it, now that he wasn’t imminently appearing in Taehyung’s own classroom. Like it was mocking him, the laminated version of Shooky and the Dairy Farm was sitting on the table, Shooky’s brightly smiling face right out there.

At least Taehyung didn’t play at not knowing what Yoongi meant. “But it was worth it, right?”

“I read to about five classes in my dreams that night. But yeah, I wasn’t traumatized for life.”

“Luckily classes aren’t comprised of goblin sharks and tarantulas,” Taehyung said. And they took a pause, putting in an order for drinks. “I know kids aren’t everyone’s ideal cup of tea. If the story hadn’t been so good and so loved by the kids, I wouldn’t have pursued you so hard.”

Pursued. An interesting word. “Good for a man to know what he wants. Mrs. Lee’s class will be Monday. Jungkook is the one who really helped bring it to life.”

“He did! And I heard Mrs. Lee had booked you in. That’s part of why I wanted to meet before then, in case you had any questions. Oh, and I have pictures of some of the clay cookies we decorated that day. Some of the kids wanted to draw you pictures, too, but I’m waiting until the other class has you in so we can give them to you all together.”

“I’ll treasure those,” Yoongi said. He kept reviews, the nice ones anyway. It’d be something to get a kick out of those in the future, too. Memories for the sweaty palms.

“You were good with the kids. Some people don’t talk to them like they’re humans, but you did really good.” And Taehyung leaned forward, getting his elbows on the table. “And you know, there was something that came up.”

Yoongi wasn’t sure if he should be afraid or not, feeling boxed in by Taehyung’s closeness despite the fact he wasn’t. He didn’t even have a chance to get a buzz from the praise. He reminded himself that no was an easy word to say. If Taehyung wanted him to attend an assembly and read to the whole school, or some other school, or a twig, he was out.

So his “What’s that?” was a little wary.

“When kids were being dropped off the next morning, I had a number of parents ask about this Shooky book and where they could get a copy.” Taehyung let that hang in the air for a second as Yoongi’s mind blanked. “Have you thought of getting them published?”

Yoongi’s eyebrows rose. “Not really. Before recently, it was just a story.”

And so had his novels been. Until they hadn’t been “just” anything.

“I know. But as someone who most weeks reads more books for kids than for adults, it’s something to find a story that’s fun and doesn’t feel overdone. It’s great as it is, I’m just saying. Seeing it like this?” Taehyung gestured at Jungkook’s art and layout. “I suspect you couldn’t keep them on shelves, and make money hand over fist. Though I don’t work in book sales.”

Taehyung shrugged. Maybe he wasn’t a leader in the book industry, but he did know kids, and certainly parents knew their kids. That counted a little for something. They accepted their drinks, and Yoongi shook his head.

“I never really gave it much thought, really. I do have an agent. It’s a thought, even if it’s a weird one. I could send this on to him, and the other one, and see what he thinks. He might have contacts.”

The nods were enthusiastic. “Yes! And there could be a TV show. Movies!”

That had Yoongi laughing. “Maybe you should be in marketing. A Shooky on every corner.”

“And in every grocery store. Talk about a character made for products.”

“But could you get kids to have milk with them?”

“I think so!” Taehyung said. “Some of the kids even had him making friends with a glass. Did you have any questions about what happened? Anything I could’ve done to help more?”

Swerving from the bewildering thought of publishing a book for kids and back to something in the past was settling somehow. He didn’t have so many questions, though Taehyung did have a couple of thoughts for some new questions to add based on his conversations with his class after. Taehyung jotted those on the back of the pages for him as they talked. It was helpful. It was also helpful that Taehyung didn’t think he’d totally failed. He said that, not in as many words, though also not like he was praising one of his students either. The rest Yoongi read between the lines.

“How did you end up becoming a teacher?” Yoongi asked.

“I used to pretend I was teaching my siblings, so I think it was inevitable. I’d tutor the younger kids in school when I could, so I took it from there. Next best thing to having a bunch of my own.”

Yoongi wasn’t sure how anyone would have the energy to go from keeping a herd of other people’s children in line to going home to take care of their own kids, but he figured Taehyung would be one of the ones who could do it. Jiyun let him know at least that his feelings about children would be a little different when they’d be his and not just little two-legged mysteries.

“Kids can be great. Confounding but great,” Yoongi said.

“Absolutely. How did you end up becoming a novelist?”

“The usual,” Yoongi said. “First, I opened up a word processing program…”

Taehyung, maybe by virtue of having to follow the convoluted thought processes of very small children, caught up to that immediately. But it got Yoongi a guffaw, anyway, and an interested audience for his story of him saying what the hell, and submitting his first book to an agent after it’d lived in his head for too long. And then stress editing and doing it all over again until one had finally bitten.

“If it’s okay to ask, do you write under a penname? I have to confess I poked around a little to see if I could find what you wrote.”

“I don’t mind,” Yoongi said. “I did publish under a penname just for some distance, and they’re not about farm adventures. I can e-mail you the links.”

“That’d be great. Oh, what happens if I’ve already read them?”

“You’d get a gold star.” And Yoongi’s unending surprise. “Do they still give gold stars any more?”

“Sometimes,” Taehyung said. “Oh! Speaking of…”

Yoongi watched with curiosity as Taehyung dug into his bag, pulling out of sheet of what looked like paper, peeling something off of it. He held out his hand, expecting Yoongi to offer his. And when he did, still unsure of what was happening, Taehyung clasped his fingers for half a second, and planted a sticker on the back of his hand with a flourish.

“There!” Taehyung said. “It’s scratch and sniff!”

It was what looked like a very happy lemon proclaiming he’d done a great job. Yoongi obligingly scraped at it with a nail, lifting it and taking a whiff. It smelled as lemony as a sticker could, he supposed.

“Well, now I know for sure I’ve done a good job,” Yoongi said.

Taehyung nodding, sagging back in the booth with satisfaction.

It wasn’t until after Yoongi had left and was partway home that he realized he still had the sticker on his hand. He peeled it off, and after a moment of debate, stuck it onto the back of his phone. He might have to re-gift it to himself after reading to his niece’s class.

***

Yoongi felt a severe sense of deja vu making his way back down the hall of the school. There was the scent of something pungent and tomato-based in the air from the cafeteria, and it almost turned his stomach as he stared down the “2 - Mrs. Lee” sign. He decided that no, there was no disappearing into the ether. Importantly, Jiyun knew he was going to be there. There wasn’t any hiding it, since the teacher was going to announce they were having a guest. And he suspected, based on the other class, there might be more drawings. Not that teachers didn’t have their own methods, so who was he kidding. And from the reaction, Jiyun was going to have to be restrained not to jump up and down the whole time. She had the benefit of knowing the story already, and he’d teased that there was new art for it. So she couldn’t just “guess” what might happen next. That made her a little smug.

Taehyung’s classroom loomed large on the far wall, as he got himself set. He’d gotten a text from Taehyung that afternoon, both wishing him luck and requesting that Yoongi stop by Taehyung’s classroom afterwards. He resisted the urge to give Taehyung’s closed door the finger, and composed himself.

He didn’t even get to settle at the back, because when the teaching assistant retrieved him and brought him in, the teacher was already getting the class settled. So he went from zero to in front of at least ten million eyes.

“Good morning, Mr. Min!”

Though he heard a sneaky uncle coming from a certain direction. And he was indeed introduced as Jiyun’s uncle, though he suspected they already knew. Yoongi took a deep breath after he’d seated himself with the newly annotated version of Shooky and the Dairy Farm. Jiyun was all but glowing belief at him, and that kept his voice steady as he read the title.

***

Mrs. Lee was just as pleasant as his conversations with her on the phone had indicated, and she was just as good at keeping the class together. Jiyun behaved, as she usually did, gawking at the new art and joining her class in giggles at Shooky’s antics. Shooky traveled down the road, and so did Yoongi. He got another gift bag, and a hug from Jiyun, and paused in the hall with Mrs. Lee.”

“Taehyung asked if you could return the book to his class after you were done,” Mrs. Lee said. “Thank you so much for coming in today. Jiyun is going to be talking about it for weeks, I know it.”

He was going to be hearing about it outside of school, too. But he thanked her for having him, at least, and took a few slow steps toward Taehyung’s classroom. The door was open, and it was quiet. Still he approached with caution, seeing that the classroom was empty except for Taehyung sitting at the desk. Just being done with the reading felt finally more like a culmination rather than a midpoint, which increased his sense of relief by tenfold. He didn’t need another pat on the head, and yet, almost felt like he got it when Taehyung glanced up with a growing smile.

“Come on in! No afternoon class for me today. I peeked in while you were reading! Looked like you had a captivated audience.”

He hadn’t even seen Taehyung in the doorway, which went to show the blinders he’d had on.

“They listened really well. They seemed to like the story.”

“Of course. They have to be sure Shooky is okay! How did it go otherwise? Was it more comfortable having done it once?”

“It was.” And it was a grudging admission. Taehyung had such confidence like the kids not liking it or listening had never been in question. Yoongi set the book on Taehyung’s desk, and stood there, a hand attached to the strap of his bag across his chest. “Having it be a quick turnaround kept me from thinking it over too much.”

“That was what I was hoping. I do that, too.”

It was a pretty common human problem, from what Yoongi understood. But he still needed to get out from underneath of it, even the thought of it. There were smocks hanging over a chair in front of the desk, and Yoongi touched the edge of one.

“Painting today?”

“That’s right! All clothes were preserved, too. Even mine. I have my own smock, that probably should be washed, but it ends up with hand prints and glue smears and glitter blobs. It’s kind of my canvas of the school year.”

That was cute. Sentimental, and maybe a little gross, but cute. He exhaled, his body still relaxing, and paying attention to what Taehyung was doing was a welcome distraction.

“Does it take you very long to grade things?” Yoongi asked. Not that Taehyung was grading things then, so much as organizing a seemingly endless stack of workbooks in what looked like alphabetical order. The sound of Taehyung setting another stack aside seemed to echo in the empty classroom, and the question was mostly a tease with Taehyung laughing just as Yoongi intended.

“You mean am I reading many dissertations after finger painting?” Taehyung shook his head, grinning. “Most of my work at home is just getting things ready for the next day, especially if my schedule went to hell and I have to find something new. Then I’m watching TV and cutting things out, or making posters, or things like that.”

It sounded…cute. Yoongi didn’t know if that was a problem or not, but he’d seen Taehyung surrounded by a lot of kids like tiny ducklings waiting for his direction. He imagined Taehyung probably had several things on deck, just in case things didn’t pan out on one activity. If Yoongi had learned anything, it was that kids were unpredictable. And put them in a pack, and it was one amorphous blob of uncertainty that Taehyung had to hold together.

“I would probably end up with them using me as a trampoline after a few hours,” Yoongi said. Admiration where admiration was due. Though it didn’t help when Taehyung squinted cutely at him through his glasses.

“You have more skills with them than you think.” Yoongi’s lips quirked, shrugging. One of them was sure of that at least. And of the two of them, Taehyung was the right one. “Just like you have more skills with writing stories for kids than you knew.”

Yoongi wasn’t going to argue, and yet, it reminded him of something else he had in his bag.

“Oh, speaking of. I didn’t get a chance to send you the links to my books, but I had some extra copies at home, so I figured I’d just bring them today. If you’re not interested, just pass them along.”

He wouldn’t be offended. He’d be a little offended, but as long as Taehyung wasn’t someone who had to detail just why they didn’t like something, he’d live.

“Ooh,” Taehyung said, holding out his hands.

Taehyung accepted the books, looking at both titles, turning the top one over to read the back. And, something Yoongi could appreciate, Taehyung brought one up to his face so he could sniff the pages. Like he was evaluating a wine, or something.

“Have you read them?”

“I don’t think so! They look really interesting, though. I love mysteries.”

“No gold star for you, then, I guess.”

Taehyung laughed at the reference. “I’ll get it another way then. I’d say I’d take you to get something to eat in celebration of your accomplishments, but I have some meetings in a while. Maybe another time?”

“You don’t have to feel like you have to.”

“I’d like to! I guess I couldn’t tonight anyway, except… A friend of ours opened a cafe recently, and Jungkook and I were going to go in a couple of days. Want to come?”

Want might’ve been too strong a word. Intrigue maybe, for why Taehyung was asking. But beyond that, Yoongi had his own agenda.

“I actually sent my agent copies of this and the first story, but I told him I didn’t want to hear anything more specific if he wanted to move forward until Jungkook could be involved, too. So if he’s free that day, we might be able to cross that off the list.”

Taehyung stood up. “So he did want to move forward?”

“He said to tell me when would be a good time to call, so I’m reading between the lines on that one.”

“Yes!” The shout was understated but there, and Taehyung enthusiastically patted the bound book he’d put together. “I knew it. Holy— Jungkook is going to pee himself.”

“Maybe we should call outside of the cafe then,” Yoongi joked.

Taehyung’s laugh was delighted. “I feel like I wrote it myself. This is so fu— Uh. So cool! So great. I’ll text you the address! Will your agent still be working at five that day?”

Yoongi resisted snorting. “No doubt about that. I’ll give him a heads up anyway, and I’ll meet you there, then.”

“Great! I feel like we should high-five or hug or something. But we’ll save that until after the call!”

Yoongi agreed.

Yoongi on the way out didn’t feel like he was walking on shaky ground, at least. Taehyung had distracted him from that. But he realized after he got the text with the address, that he still had the sticker on his phone that Taehyung had given him. A good job in advance.

***

Yoongi had divested himself of all his daytime clothes by the time he got a text from Taehyung.

Started reading your book during dinner. Good thing I don’t have much grading tonight! ;)

It wasn’t as though he’d told Taehyung he had to run right home and start reading, though Taehyung’s interest was flattering. He got a few more texts with Taehyung musing as he read a little more. By the time Yoongi rolled over to sleep, he’d put it out of his head.

At least until he peeked at his phone with one half-open eye, as he tended to do every morning. But that one eye got continually more open as he saw a string of texts, and the other eye opened to join it. He unlocked his phone, getting into his text messages, into the conversation with Taehyung, and realized it started where Taehyung had left off the night before. From the unfolding of the mystery, on which Taehyung occasionally commented and pondered on what might be happening. He wasn’t always right, but he absolutely was gleeful when he found out he was right, and delighted at the twist.

It made Yoongi want to pick up the book and read it just to experience Taehyung’s journey through it, and he’d written the damn thing. He’d already read it more times than he had fingers.

But he could feel the palpable surprise when the protagonist stopped the dance around the man who’d been on the peripheral of the investigation - and kissed him.

A KISS!!!!!!!!!!!

It didn’t seem disappointed.

I KNEW they were into each other. No one else made sense and I kept hoping that was what you were leading to because there were so many moments, but I’m so used to it not happening I didn’t expect it???

There was a text next was a poorly lit but still clear image of Taehyung appearing to “sleep” with his head resting on the book. His hair was tousled, clearly in bed. Both cute, and oddly sexual, maybe only in his own mind. He wasn’t sure if it was showing Taehyung had enjoyed it, was communing with it, or that he’d been exhausted by the journey of it. More the former, he thought, considering that the next two texts, three really, expounded on why, how Taehyung had loved the relationship interaction, the tension, how it’d seemed like it’d make sense but had him holding his breath, and also mad he couldn’t start the second book immediately to see what was next for them.

Yoongi was amused, a little touched, and a lot intrigued. He never warned people about the content of his book - it could be inferred, maybe, from the imprint and some of the description, but he sort of liked that it weeded out the bigots based on reactions. Lukewarm because it wasn’t their cup of tea, that was fine. But there had been a certain amount of awkward avoidance in a few people. To call out the relationship, remark upon it, be pleased by it, it sent off alarm bells. Not that every person who appreciated a gay relationship was gay, or even some variety of it.

Am I contributing to the delinquency of society by sending you to work tired, when you have to teach our next generation? Yoongi texted. Glad it was acceptable!

He understated it on purpose, even though his foot was tapping happily under the blanket just reading back over the texts again. Taehyung had some good points, some speculation that had Yoongi cackling. Some of it he was off on, and some things he’d find out when he read the second book, and others Yoongi was still working on for the third one.

And of course they had to kiss. No queerbaiting in this universe.

I had at least a half gallon of tea this morning, so kids are blissfully unaware of my poor decision making. But thankfully not yours, because blessings on you and your whole lineage, Taehyung wrote back after about an hour, and long after Yoongi had finally peeled himself out of bed. Getting my hopes crushed is the worst, and they were clearly meant to be together. So much better than acceptable!!

If Taehyung wrote all the reviews for his books, Yoongi either would have to write a book a week to get more, or just give up writing because his head was so swollen that he couldn’t reach the keyboard.

Though Taehyung couldn’t just sit around chatting, as he had other things to do and children to teach. Still, the exchange continued on and off, with Taehyung sprinkling in anecdotes of his day. Which turned out to be more interesting than Yoongi had figured, considering. Like the tale of woe because someone had sat in “her” chair, even though she had chosen her chair first. And the Missing Dropcloth Incident, the reason for which they used washable paint always.

Always, Taehyung had typed. Like it was a dire, and all-consuming consequence.

Sorry if I’m talking your ear off about it, Taehyung said about the book, with both a shameless and sheepish emoji both. Which, that made sense for Taehyung.

Don’t worry, my ear for this kind of thing is about the size of Saturn, Yoongi assured him. Maybe if there were ten million of you.

I’m going to carry that image with me through snack time.

Well. Yoongi was good for something.

***

When Yoongi’s phone rang, he’d already given up on all hope of productivity. He wrote a few pages, did some research for Jiyun’s birthday gift, and settled for languishing and reading the news. So the sudden vibration and darkening of his screen threw him off. To see it was Taehyung, that surprised him a little more, especially when he looked at the time.

“Class over already?” Yoongi asked as he answered.

Taehyung laughed. “It sure has. Everyone’s safely on their way home. Is this a bad time?”

“It’s as good as any,” Yoongi said. Taehyung had a pleasing voice. Maybe he should’ve been the one to read Shooky to the kids. That would’ve been something he’d been interested in seeing. “Any other crises today?”

“Thankfully no. Carpet is restored to normal, and I’m just getting some things wrapped up before I go. You?”

“Just holding down the couch so it doesn’t blow away,” Yoongi said. “Worked the morning in the office, and only got a little done after getting home.”

Books brought in income, but they didn’t pay all the bills.

“Glad the couch is safe. I was thinking of calling you to see if you wanted to meet up to talk about the book some more, but I sort of changed my mind.”

Yoongi’s hand, en route to his coffee mug, paused. “Oh?”

“Yeah. I’m not a fan of queerbaiting either. Still would love to talk more about the book, but was hoping we could make it a date.”

Yeah, he was definitely glad he didn’t have anything in his hand as he sat up. “Are you asking me out from a kindergarten classroom?”

“Sitting at my desk, yeah. I promise if I ever proposition you it’d be from a more neutral location.”

Well, there was a relief. If he was interested seemed less of a question. “Good to know. I’m definitely open to a date.”

“Good. Good, that’s really good. I couldn’t ask you before you read for the class, that seemed… Opportunistic, and I didn’t know if you were into guys, but then reading the book…”

“I wondered about your reaction to it,” Yoongi murmured, and Taehyung hummed in pure amusement.

“Yeah, I guess that wasn’t very subtle. But hey! I hate to be all last minute on you. I know we’re meeting up with Jungkook tomorrow. Are you free tonight, if the couch can do without you? Or this weekend?”

“The couch will probably survive. And since the book’s all fresh for you. What do you have in mind for tonight?”

“Buying you dinner, if that sounds okay. Running around all day makes me hungry. I’ll buy, and you can choose what we go to get.”

Yoongi paused a moment, considering. “Pizza.”

Though his eyes widened at the sound Taehyung made. Not just a sound. Practically and…really, it was a moan.

“Okay, I like you a lot,” Taehyung said. “And you’re really talented, and— Which means, yes, pizza. When?”

“An hour? I can get you the location of a place I like. It’s more local to here, but it’s good.”

“I like that.”

Yoongi could hear Taehyung’s chair backing up. “Okay! I’m going to get my things and I’ll look for your text. Date you later!”

Yoongi huffed out a laugh. “Sure. See you,” he said.

But when the phone disconnected, he blew out a breath. Not just caught up in the moment, it squashed right on him and he flopped right back where he had been. Thought he swiped with his thumb, getting the address of the restaurant and sending it without comment. Oh, he had a lot of comments, but none of them he could cogently arrive at. One story written for a growing human had introduced him to a hot kindergarten teacher, and another story he’d written for himself had scored him a date with the same guy. Life was fucking weird.

***

Maybe Taehyung was still dressed from school, but Yoongi’s perception of it had changed. His shirt was a green button down, pants dark, and smile stunning as Taehyung stood up straight from where he’d just leaned against the brick. He looked at least a little tired, but didn’t project it.

“I might’ve hurried a little too much,” Taehyung said. “I just got here.”

“I saw you walking up,” Yoongi said. He left his hands in the pockets of his jacket, still just a little surprised he was standing there for the reason he knew he was. “Let’s go in.”

“It smells amazing even from out here.”

The tables weren’t set up like the usual restaurants. Everything was communal, which meant they wedged in together on one side of a table, getting water and a menu.

“This is the great test of life,” Taehyung said. “Seeing how well we can order pizza together.”

“Make or break compatibility?” Yoongi wondered.

Sure, he had some didn’t-wants, but he wasn’t all that choosy after those. It wasn’t the typical pizza place with a lot of options, but rather some presets to choose from. He tossed out a couple of options, and Taehyung offered a couple of his own. So they settled on one of each, since nothing Taehyung wanted was heinous to his stomach, and he actually liked the one they chose.

“Potatoes on pizza sounds a little weird, but it’s good,” Yoongi said. Their order was flying off so the pizzas could be cooked to perfection and get in their bellies. “How did we do?”

“Gold star,” Taehyung said, his face twitching in what might’ve been a wink. More saucy than greasy, and Yoongi grinned. He’d have relaxed, but the stranger next to him was partly in his space and kept him in Taehyung’s orbit. Nothing like a forced sense of closeness.

“Here we are then,” Yoongi said. Taehyung had a mole on his lip that Yoongi hadn’t seen, or at least never paid attention to before. It half made him want to touch, a distraction when Taehyung was talking.

“Here we are. You know, I know I’d met your brother, but somehow I wasn’t really expecting you to walk in. When you think of someone’s uncle, even when that someone is five, I don’t know. It was either that or I was expecting you to look like Shooky. And you were worried about the kids thinking that. I had my brain on backwards, I guess. So it was a pleasant surprise.”

It was amusing how closely it tracked to his own experience. “Same for you, I guess. I wasn’t expecting you to be as young as you are. I was never attracted to any of my teachers, so it’s a new situation to think of a teacher as something more than that.”

“It’s my day job,” Taehyung said. “Luckily they let me go home sometimes.”

“I know we talked about how you wanted to be a teacher, but did you always want to teach younger kids? Not high school, college?”

“You can probably find a number of college students with a lot of wonder. But yeah, I pretty much always knew I wanted to teach younger kids. I thought maybe first or second grade, get them once they’re sort of established, but kindergarten is a lot of fun. You get over the first days, the scary new moments, and then there’s just…wonder. The awe of a baby chick, the way they get all excited over tie-die, or scented markers. They’re just absorbing everything, and sure, there are grumpy days, but others they’re having so much fun singing, and exploring.”

“And then you have to send them off.”

“There’s that,” Taehyung said. “But even kids from last year, they’ll wave in the hallway, or come in with a parent after school to say hi. I’m just building the first step for them, and if I can make that step as solid, fun, and informative as possible, then they’ll hopefully have an easy hop up to the next step.”

It was a passion, there wasn’t any other interpretation. That was admirable, especially in something Yoongi couldn’t imagine doing. Some people were equipped for it, mentally, emotionally. Spiritually, even.

“That’s a good way of looking at it.”

“Everything starts somewhere! Like you probably didn’t write a novel the first time you wrote. But oh man, I’m so glad I hadn’t read the book before we met. You were so cool walking into the classroom! And then my head just couldn’t take in what I’d read, like… I’m still thinking about it. If you hadn’t been able to meet up, I’d probably be reading right now.”

Yoongi couldn’t just squirm off in embarrassment, or he’d end up in the lap of the man to his right.

“The cool is absolutely a front. Walking into a school now gets me a little uptight, like I’m getting called to the principal’s office.”

“Something that happened a lot?” Taehyung wondered.

“No, actually. I think I got a stern talking-to once when I missed a day, but I was a pretty good kid. I just wanted to do my thing. Oh yes, that’s us.”

The pizza had arrived, hot and tempting. One was a plain margherita, the other potato, and it seemed like they both had that in mind, each taking a piece. Yoongi put off taking a bite, watching Taehyung instead, and he wasn’t disappointed. From the close of Taehyung’s teeth on the pizza, to the first surprised sound, to the expression of enjoyment as he turned his head to look at Yoongi.

“Wow, that’s good!”

It wasn’t like he’d made it personally, but that was satisfaction as Yoongi took a bit of his own. It was good, different, but that was the point. Expanding horizons, like Taehyung did with his students.

“I bet it gets really wild in here,” Taehyung said, nodding around where the tables had filled and turned over just while they were sitting there. “And it’s such a little place. I know some restaurants have mini golf.”

“I’m bad at golf,” Yoongi said. “I prefer basketball, but I'm also competitive, so it can be rough.”

“Ooh, basketball. We should play! I’m not very good, but I enjoy it. We have a hoop out in the playground, but the kids are too small to get the ball up there. I like it, though, even if it’s just playing HORSE. I like winning, too.”

With a sly look. Yoongi would never have guessed.

But Taehyung paid, as he’d offered during their call, even with Yoongi’s nominal offer.

“This one’s mine,” Taehyung said. Assured and confident. It was appreciation as Taehyung led them back out to the sidewalk, where it was dark already, and getting cooler.

“Ahh, I love fall,” Taehyung said, stretching a little. “When it gets a little cooler, it just feels refreshing.”

“It’s a lot better than bathing in humidity,” Yoongi agreed. They fell into step together, walking in no direction in particular. Yoongi was in within walking distance of his own building, but it didn’t seem like either of them were quite ready to call an end to things. Their elbows brushed occasionally, hands in their jacket pockets. Talking about the neighborhood, how long it had taken Taehyung to get there. There was a natural curve, and Taehyung eased up beside him. Traffic was slow but steady, and people passing.

“Pizza was a good idea,” Taehyung said. “Plus we passed the test.”

Yoongi nodded. “Seems like it’s worth repeating, then.”

Taehyung would have raised his hands up, had they not been trapped in his pockets. As it was he just pouched his jacket out. “Yes! I’d be greedy and say tomorrow, but we’re already meeting with Jungkook tomorrow. So I guess I’m getting part of what I want, anyway.”

It made his lips twitch. “Taking it slow.”

“Pretty slow,” Taehyung agreed. “Pretty…slow.”

All Yoongi really had to do was stand there, back braced against a pole, as Taehyung leaned into him and pressed the softest kiss against his mouth. Just the one, trading smirks, bumping elbows again as they started walking again. Just one slow step after another.

***

Despite being early, Yoongi was still the last one to arrive at the cafe. It was tucked between stores on a side street, though in view of the main route. Jungkook spotted him as he got through the door, waving him over. Unselfconscious and inclusive, as well as a talented artist, then. Taehyung didn’t have on a Teacher Outfit, but rather jeans and draping t-shirt, but even as Yoongi registered that, he almost did a double-take when he realized that Taehyung didn’t have glasses on, either. Luckily not noticed as Taehyung patted the bench beside him, inviting Yoongi to take a seat.

He’d texted Taehyung before heading out, to see if Taehyung was giving Jungkook a heads up about the call they’d be having with his agent.

No way! Have to see the deer eyes in person!

Which Yoongi got, even if he didn’t quite get it. He asked about whether Jungkook knew about The Date, as Taehyung was referring to it also, which had the same response. At least it wasn’t that Taehyung was wanting to keep it a secret. As it was, it took Jungkook a whole minute before he broke amidst the hello’s and how are you’s, and letting the waitress know they only wanted drinks for right then.

“Taehyung is making me nervous. He keeps hinting at big things happening, but he won’t tell me what,” Jungkook said.

Taehyung looked like the cat with the cream, looking between them. Yoongi didn’t figure there was any point in holding off, at least on the biggest thing that dealt with him anyway.

“After I asked you for permission to send what you’d put together over to my agent, he got in touch with me and asked to talk to both of us since he’s seen the art and everything together,” Yoongi said. “So, we’re going to have a little conference call.”

“Okay,” Jungkook said, shifting, and glancing between them. “Shit, really? That’s good?”

“I promise he won’t yell,” Yoongi said. Except maybe in excitement. “I actually don’t know what all he has to say, because I wanted him to tell us at the same time.”

There were the deer eyes. Yoongi got what Taehyung had been trying to say, then. The phone was set between them, (“You mean now now?” Jungkook asked), and Namjoon answered.

“I have you on speaker,” Yoongi said. “I’m here with the illustrator, and the teacher who introduced us. This is Kim Namjoon, literary agent.”

“Nice to meet you, virtually anyway,” Namjoon said.

Jungkook echoed it, a little quieter.

“So, Yoongi wanted me to tell you both together, but I had a chat with another agent in the firm who deals more in children’s books. Usually art and story don’t go in together, unless it’s an author/illustrator both, however, she was really charmed by the flow of it and how well everything fit together.”

Taehyung was nodding, again with that dogged belief.

“So what does that mean?” Yoongi asked.

He’d have sworn he had little investment in it, and that if Namjoon laughed them off, it was no skin off his back. But even the positive tone Namjoon had taken about talking to them had given him some over-inflated sense of Taehyung-style optimism.

“It means she knows an editor we can send it over to. I’d rather have the first one done up in a similar style. Doesn’t have to be completely finished, but just to sort of enforce how well they fit together. Is that something that could get done?”

“Of course,” Jungkook said, when Yoongi glanced at him. “I, uh. I actually already started, so I could have it done by the weekend?”

Which was a surprise to everyone but Jungkook it seemed.

“Let me check the— With that in mind, can you come in Monday by chance? I know my partner will want to talk to you, also. We can formulate more of a plan, get you some paperwork, Jungkook, as well.”

“Any time,” Jungkook said, and Yoongi agreed with that. Any plans he had could be rescheduled, so they nailed down a time, and that was that, and the call was over. One of them shellshocked (Jungkook), one of them surprised (Yoongi), and one of them Taehyung.

“I work Monday,” Taehyung lamented. “Not that I have any reason to be there, but I could’ve cheered you on from the street anyway.”

“You’re not innocent of guilt in the whole thing,” Yoongi said. He wouldn’t have argued if Taehyung had tagged along. “And you were working on the first one?”

Jungkook gave a fake-innocent smile. “It was…fun? It distracted me from some of the other stuff I was doing, and it felt kind of unfinished with just the second story done. I thought it’d be nice if it matched. It’s really not totally done, just a mockup like you saw the first time.”

“That’ll be enough,” Yoongi said. “Seriously don’t stay up all night. They’re not going to run it to print tomorrow.”

“To print,” Jungkook echoed.

“To print! I feel like I birthed the idea myself,” Taehyung said, cupping his face with his hands.

“Who’s birthing what now?”

Yoongi looked up at the man who’d stopped by their table.

“A book! These two! Yoongi is the author, Jungkook drew the pictures,” Taehyung said, touching Yoongi’s shoulder and gesturing at Jungkook. “This is Jimin, the friend who opened the cafe I was telling you about.”

It was Yoongi receiving the introductions, and Jimin smiled at him, offering a hand. “The writer! Taehyung told me about you. No wonder he wouldn’t tell me if you were taken.”

Taehyung guffawed right after Yoongi’s eyebrows rose.

“Seems like information you’d keep to yourself,” Yoongi said, just as Taehyung said, “I didn’t ask!”

“I know,” Jimin said, like Taehyung had failed somehow. But his smile to Yoongi was genuine. “It’s really nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you, too. Seems like a really nice place.”

Jimin beamed. “Thank you! It’s really been a labor of love in the works for a while. Have you ordered?”

“We had a call, so we just got drinks to start with,” Jungkook said.

Though the cafe was busy, there still were empty booths, so they weren’t just hogging space where money could’ve been coming in.

“We’ll order in a minute,” Taehyung said. He poked one of the menus to Jungkook, and Yoongi pulled his closer.

“Let us know if you need anything,” Jimin said, looking between Yoongi and Taehyung significantly for a moment.

Jungkook puffed out a breath after Jimin had walked away. “Ooh, he let you off easy.”

“I’ll get it later, don’t worry,” Taehyung said.

“Likes to meddle?” Yoongi asked.

“You could say that.” Though Jungkook giggled at Taehyung’s hedged words. “He wants the best for everyone.”

Yoongi examined Taehyung’s face. “I don’t know if I’ve been called the best.”

“You’re certainly not the worst.”

He’d never been called the worst either, and the tingle shot through his elbow as Taehyung squeezed it briefly.

Jungkook cleared his throat. “Probably should order.”

And not… flirt, right.

Jimin was the one who came to bring their food after they’d ordered. “For the record,” he said after Jimin had set down his food, “I wasn’t taken.”

Jimin looked to Taehyung, almost like he was asking permission, and Taehyung shrugged.

“So when’s the first date?” Jimin asked.

“What do you mean? We’ve been on six already,” Yoongi said as though dead serious. He waited just a beat, for the surprise to register before adding, “And we’re getting married next week.”

The table erupted, Jungkook almost oversetting his drink as Taehyung rattled Yoongi’s shoulder. Jimin, instigator of all of it, laughed, owned for a moment.

“I’ll look out for my invitation, then!” Jimin said.

“Just one. Just one date,” Taehyung laughed. “Yesterday.”

“I knew it!” Jungkook said, as Jimin gasped dramatically.

“No, I knew it,” Jimin said, like they were competing for insight into Taehyung’s brain. “I look forward to hearing about it. And getting to know you and— For now, enjoy your food! Kim Taehyung!”

Jimin sped off, leaving Taehyung laughing and Jungkook sulking across the table.

“Did I get cheated out of a proposal?” Taehyung wondered, nudging Yoongi’s arm.

“Depends on if you were going to ask me out if you never read my book,” Yoongi said.

“This is sooo good,” Jungkook said, almost glittering with amusement as he ate and watched them talk.

“Rain check,” Taehyung murmured. “I read the first chapter of the second book on the ride over! Is it okay to let Jungkook know which book it is?”

“I’m not a superhero who needs his identity shielded.”

“That would be cool, though!” Jungkook said.

In another life. That got the topic at least changed. It felt a little strange hearing some of Taehyung’s spoiler-free compliments as he talked Yoongi and his book up. Almost like he shouldn’t have been privy to it, and at the same time happy that he was. Still, he felt nervy just eating his omelette. Meeting another friend of Taehyung’s, letting them know a date had been had, it certainly hadn’t been the last thing he’d expected when meeting up. Though he teased Taehyung about maybe not asking him out without the book catalyst, he’d known in the back of his head that Taehyung had always been a little too eager, too interested. Maybe just excited about the stories, and yet, that hadn’t always sat right either. They got to settle that Yoongi would meet up with Jungkook outside of the building before meeting with the agency, and that no, he wasn’t required to wear a suit. Because there was still that. Yoongi reminded himself that whatever it was with Taehyung, it didn’t affect what he was doing with Jungkook. Overall, anyway. He himself wasn’t signing a contract with Jungkook. If they got a book deal, that’d be them signing individually. At some point, there’d be no contact between them necessary.

And look at him getting ahead of himself. Just because the agents wanted to chat didn’t necessarily mean a publisher would want to put money on the line, and even if they did, publishing was a far distant horizon. And yet, the whole bizarre journey was skewing him. Taehyung maybe sat a little too close, maybe laughed a little too hard, but it was cute. Not the guy who got the wiggles out of kids, but a man clearly liked by his friends. A guy Yoongi certainly had an interest in.

“Did you have plans for later?” Taehyung asked. Fishing, maybe.

“Babysitting,” Yoongi said. “Date night for my brother, so I get to hop the kid up on sweets and watch a movie about horses. Which are cool.”

He clarified, because he wasn’t making fun. It just happened to be something she loved, and he was certainly more on board if he hadn’t seen the movie 300 times.

“Horses are cool,” Jungkook agreed.

Taehyung laughed. “Miss Mane ’n’ Tail in my classroom agrees. That’s nice you get to spend time with her. Sometimes family…doesn’t.”

“It is. I mean, it’s how the Shooky stories got started in the first place.”

Taehyung was patting his chest over his heart like he was just packing the words in, or maybe like Yoongi babysitting was some kind of lure. And to a guy who clearly loved teaching kids, maybe it was. Yoongi had maybe started out with it out of obligation and baseline familial affection, but for the most part, he treasured it.

“It’s like catnip,” Jungkook said, confirming Yoongi’s suspicion.

Jimin checked them out, Yoongi snagging the check to useless protests, and it gave him a moment to get very gently interrogated. Did he live nearby, had Taehyung mentioned him. It just made Yoongi amused. Jimin waved to them on their way out.

“I guess I’m going to go home and work some more on the illustrations,” Jungkook said.

“Don’t feel like you have to do too much,” Yoongi said, but Jungkook just gave him a smile that told Yoongi he was going to do anything but. He smacked Taehyung on the arm, and it was all very obvious as he rabbited off and left them alone. It left them facing each other, and Yoongi tipped his head back, waiting.

“We should have another date soon. Now that we know the world’s going to see how cute your stories are,” Taehyung said, half winking at him.

It made Yoongi want to laugh. “I’m on board with that. Though nothing’s written in stone in publishing Even if it goes well, it’ll be a whole series of frustrations, boredom, celebrations, and a hell of a lot of waiting.”

“I have faith! Maybe we can get in a date this weekend, and depending on how Monday goes, maybe fit in one of those celebrations,” Taehyung said, not seeming to be put off by that at all.. “I’d love to hear all about the process.”

“I’d love to bore you with as much as you can stand,” Yoongi said.

“I need to look at what I have planned, but maybe Sunday?” Taehyung offered. The day after next. Giving them a palate cleanser.

Yoongi held out a hand. “Sounds like a deal.”

Because shaking on it felt right, and so did the contact, a warm clasp of hands, a curl of fingers.

“Right, Sunday,” Taehyung said.

What was real life? He really didn’t know. He had other things to do, so he sent Taehyung off first, with Taehyung waving back to him out the window of the taxi. Hell, he was going to have to remember how to go on dates. Taehyung seemed like one of those kinds of people who’d deserve it.

***

Yoongi stayed in contact with Taehyung - and with Jungkook - through the weekend. Jungkook sent the occasional updates of pages he was completing for the first Shooky story, which he’d seen as rough outlines and then getting more refined. He appreciated Jungkook didn’t feel constrained by Yoongi’s original layout, but expanded on it. And Jungkook wasn’t going too far either, just keeping it simple. It took a little of the guilt off Yoongi, or maybe worry that Jungkook was doing too much.

Taehyung on the other hand absorbed the second novel Yoongi had written, texting up his reactions between images of a poster he was making for his classroom. For a zoo trip… Which led to their date. Yoongi was absolutely sure that he’d never gone to the zoo on a date before, any kind of zoo, so there was a first. The thought wasn’t a horrible one.

“I have to be upfront about this. It’s kind of a two-for-one. The zoo gives me a free entry to help plan a school outing, and I can get you a ticket to get in with me. So we’re free to just be guests inside while I make a game plan. I like going again even if I’ve been there just to see any new exhibits or construction. Things like that,” Taehyung said, when he called Yoongi to chat about the plans.

“I don’t have any objections to that. Just as long as you don’t ask me to go with the class.”

Taehyung’s laugh was loud over the phone. “No, oh no. I have plenty of parent volunteers for that. It’d just be fun to have some fun at the same time as I’m preparing. Field trips are the best part of school! Though as a teacher I sometimes need a quiet room and some therapy afterwards. Depends on how many kids cry from overstimulation, really.”

Yoongi could only imagine. But the plans were easy enough to make, planning when they were meeting up. Yoongi wore a brimmed cap, liberally dosing himself with sunscreen, but the weather seemed to comply. While it had been warm in the morning, the afternoon began to get a little overcast. Almost to the point where Yoongi thought maybe he should’ve brought an umbrella. But not so cold, at least, that he wanted to crawl into the reptile habitats and never emerge.

“Definitely a more genteel arrival than the field trip will be,” Taehyung said, as they were let through the gates.

“I imagine they’re about bouncing out of their shoes.”

“Pretty much! And even if It’s a bag lunch day, it’s a bag lunch at the zoo! Everything is more exciting.”

“Do you mostly walk around looking at things, or do you take them to the petting zoo?”

Taehyung waved a hand as though no, that was impossible.

“Oh no. The poor petting zoo. We make arrangements ahead of time for a few of the really friendly animals to come out, and then the kids get to meet them in small groups. One year we had a few animals like a goat and a rabbit and the kids would go by one by one and get their picture taken with them to make a card for their parents. One of the staff was showing another animal so the ones already finished wouldn’t riot.”

A riot of five-year-olds. Yoongi couldn’t imagine.

“The staff is great, though. They’re used to getting asked ten million questions, and most of them are super passionate about conservation, so it really kicks off a few weeks of animal focuses in the classroom. And dinosaurs, because, well.” Taehyung shrugged, as though that was obvious, and unavoidable. “Here, which way should we go?”

Taehyung offered the map of the zoo they’d been given and the various paths there were to take. One toward the birds. One toward marine animals, and one geared more toward local animals.

“Middle,” Yoongi said. If nothing else, it’d get them through the more indoor exhibits while it was still a little cool out. He wasn’t disappointed in the entrance, with fish sculptures, smaller aquariums. There were places for children to take pictures, a little video showing information about the ocean, and a rather large tank with a dazzling array of tropical fish.

“Do you think fish are easier to wrangle than kids?” Yoongi asked, glancing over at Taehyung. Though, he mostly saw Taehyung’s grin in the reflection of the tank.

“I wouldn’t put a lot of stock in their grasp of language. And how do you soothe them? I think I’ll stick with kids,” Taehyung said. And he led them, hand on Yoongi’s arm, over to one of the adjacent tanks as they talked more about the ocean, beach trips, favorite spots on the ocean, and the surprise they’d grown up not all that far from each other.

“What are the odds of that?” Taehyung wondered.

Apparently not terribly small. Taehyung wasn’t small either, in his space quite a lot after nudging Yoongi’s arm.

“I know how to hold back, so if I get too touchy, let me know. I know not everyone is into PDA,” Taehyung said. “When I really get comfortable with someone, well…”

Taehyung liked to touch, he guessed.

“I’ll let you know,” Yoongi promised. And nudged Taehyung right back. That was a respect thing, and he appreciated Taehyung not just testing for boundaries until he found one.

Taehyung pointed them along, getting closer to the big event, the polar bears. But not before they stopped to admire the otters.

“I think this is one of my favorite areas. Containment, since the kids can’t spread out is one reason. And they’re so cute!” Taehyung said, so focused on the otters in front of them. “I want ten of them.”

“One or two seem like they’d be more than a handful,” Yoongi said.

“Shh,” Taehyung said. Logic wasn’t going to kill the moment.

It wasn’t like Yoongi wasn’t an expert. Taehyung was at least as cute as the otters, and one of him was turning out to be plenty. And cuddly, it was turning out. As they wandered the exhibits, he occasionally had a Taehyung leaning on his shoulder, squeezing his wrist, touching his back. Just as Taehyung said. But Yoongi wasn’t left out, his hand curling at Taehyung’s waist as they watched one of the polar bears swim. And, they took a picture together, backs to the tank and polar bear nebulous in the background. Yoongi could imagine all the kids huddled by the plexiglass, staring with awe. There was something pretty cool about that.

The sun had peeked out as they got back outside, wandering to other areas of the zoo. More of the land bears, Taehyung hopping in his high-tops as he pointed out the zoo’s new tiger cub. Half grown, but still new enough.

“Need ten of those, too?” Yoongi asked.

“They would eat me,” Taehyung said, a little regretfully. He was pretty sure the otters wouldn’t. Pretty sure.

They walked through past the outdoor elephant enclosure, following a group through into the inner portion. Slightly stinkier, but cool in its own way. Yoongi spotted a man standing in a zoo jacket and cap just a second before the man spotted them. Yoongi recognized the recognition just before the man blurted, “Taehyung!”

Taehyung, who’d been reading a placard he’d surely read multiple times before, came to attention.

“Oh! Hoseok!”

“You never tell me when you’re coming to the zoo,” said Hoseok replied, flicking his fingers at Taehyung’s chest. “Who’s your friend?”

“Date,” Taehyung corrected. “As you know. This is Yoongi, a really great writer. And Hoseok, who works here in the elephant house.”

“Nice to meet you,” Yoongi said, before glancing at Taehyung. “You seem to know people everywhere. Do your parents work in concessions?”

Hoseok caught the question before Taehyung did, bursting out laughing.

“I’m sure he knows someone who does, though! It’s nice to meet you, too!” Hoseok said. “You guys on a time crunch?”

“No,” Taehyung said, shaking his head but looking to Yoongi for confirmation of that.

“Well,” Hoseok said, smiling even more broadly. “Want a peek behind the scenes?”

Taehyung, it was found, didn’t like to take advantage of knowing people. But Hoseok was a chipper tour guide, leading them through a back area that occasionally had regular tours. There were food storage areas, letting them see the inside enclosures that the public usually couldn’t. None of the elephants were inside, but it was still interesting. A peek into something he’d only ever really seen in books or on TV.

“We do some animal experiences, so sometimes people are back here just seeing how we feed the elephants, how they’re cared for. They’ve already had snacks, so all we can really do is look today,” Hoseok explained.

“It’s still a view I’ve never had before,” Yoongi said.

It wasn’t a long tour, though Hoseok too a picture of them with one of the elephants in the background that had wandered in. They met a couple of his co-workers, and received more elephant facts than Yoongi had expected even with a zoo trip.

“You could add an elephant keeper to your next book,” Taehyung teased.

“Always happy to be a resource!” Hoseok said.

And cheerful about it, no doubt about that.

“But you should add a teacher first,” Taehyung said, doing a covert wink like they were in on some secret plot.

“We’ll see what happens,” Yoongi said, amused. He was sure there were any number of ways to work something like that in, but there weren’t any plans as yet anyway. Elephants. Zoos. Teachers. It was all on the guy laughing as Hoseok showed them back out onto the path that would let them out into the public areas.

“And this was all a coincidence?” Taehyung asked, as Hoseok opened the door.

“Of course. Why wouldn’t it be?” Hoseok queried.

Yoongi would’ve sworn that Taehyung muttered “Jimin” but then they were thanking Hoseok for showing them around, and Taehyung tangled his fingers with Yoongi’s as they made their way out onto the main path.

“That was an adventure! I bet getting to feed them is really fun, too. Want to visit the aviary? There’s some food over beyond it, if we want to sit a while after that.”

“Sounds good,” Yoongi said. “It was nice for him to take time to show us around.”

“Oh, he loves what he does. I bet he’d show people around all day long, too, if they let him.”

“And Jimin?”

“I have my suspicions,” Taehyung said.

And explained some of his friend group, as they wandered past some of the larger birds, and then through the aviary. No birds came to light on Taehyung like he was some kind of fairy prince, but one sure seemed to want to converse with him as Taehyung whistled at it. And then there was food, facing each other down on a bench as they ate and shared the food they’d gotten.

“This is where the kids will eat, too,” Taehyung said, gesturing at an amphitheater and surrounding grassy area. “Keeps them kind of contained.”

With the map laid out between them, Taehyung explained his thought of how the trip would go.

“It’s a bit of an abridged trip, so we won’t see everything. Just a nice, exciting outing they will talk about forever. While we’re eating, they’ll bring out some birds of prey here to give them a little show and tell, an owl or eagle or something. Then we finish up, and play, and see a few more animals, and it’s back to the school for their parents to take over.”

“How many are exhausted and how many are keyed up?”

Taehyung hesitated a moment. “It very much depends. Some are both, which seems to be the worst of both worlds.”

“But no longer your…responsibility.” Not problem, and Taehyung grinned at that, nodding. It gave Yoongi quite a lot of insight, almost wishing he could be a fly on the elephant room wall as Taehyung shepherded the kids around, showed his own enthusiasm with sincerity instead of being patronizing. “I asked you what made you become a teacher and if I’d teleported forward, I don’t think I’d have to ask that again. Seems like if someone stuck you in a back office alone, you’d start wilting.”

“Wilting? Like a flower?” Taehyung asked, before cupping his hands around his face and wiggling his fingers. “Does that mean I’m blooming now?”

Maybe it wasn’t the place, but it was definitely the time. And Taehyung leaned in, kissing him back as Yoongi brushed a kiss against his mouth.

“You could say that,” Yoongi murmured. Which didn’t make Taehyung “bloom” any less.

But the food gave them enough fuel to see the other things they were interested in, and when Taehyung confirmed he’d done what he’d needed to in terms of in-person prep, they made their way back to the entrance.

“How much more of other kinds of prep for the trip do you have?” Yoongi asked.

“Enough,” Taehyung said. “Enough I was thinking we could extend this, but I need to go to the school and get some stuff set up. If I was just cutting stuff out…”

“Well, for future reference, I’m pretty good with scissors,” Yoongi said. He wasn’t opposed to helping, even if he hadn’t been asked. Some other day, maybe.

Taehyung’s eyes flared open dramatically. “That’s kind of scary. And hot. I’ll remember that.”

“Good,” Yoongi said. And since they were going opposite ways, a taxi was summoned, and he tugged Taehyung a little closer to reap the benefit of that warm mouth. Not like they were going to make out while the people of the world were there to watch animals, but he had to thank Taehyung for his time, and get out the last of his energy before he went home to never move again. If Taehyung hadn’t had places to go and things to do, he wouldn’t have been the only one tempted to extend the date. While down time was good, important, perfect, so was kissing. Especially with a man as…attentive as Taehyung. It was good, seeing Taehyung away from the classroom. Good seeing him in jeans, and a comfortable jacket. It let his brain settle in from seeing Taehyung as “teacher” and “connected to children” and attraction and interest in him as a person lead more as the main event.

He kept his fingers in Taehyung’s belt loops until his taxi got there as they discussed meeting up after Taehyung was free, post the meeting with Namjoon and the other agent.

“Can’t wait to see you then,” Taehyung said.

Sometimes when people said that, it made him cringe. Too needy. Too…exposing. But it wasn’t exasperation or politeness then that had him saying, “Me, too.”

***

Jungkook did not show up in a suit, or a tuxedo, dressing instead as Yoongi had suggested in a nice pair of slacks and buttoned shirt. They weren’t on trial, or auditioning for some CEO spot. As long as they showed up looking respectful, that was all that was necessary. Even Yoongi dressed up, more to be sure he wouldn’t give Jungkook anxiety, and somewhat since he wasn’t as familiar with Namjoon’s colleague. If it’d been Namjoon, he wouldn’t have hesitated to show up in jeans. But it was showing respect to Namjoon too, since Namjoon had gotten the meeting for them.

“Nice to meet you,” Namjoon said, shaking Jungkook’s hand. He was meeting them for a few minutes first, softening the blow. “I hear you’re a huge part of what got Yoongi to submit this book.”

Jungkook’s mouth fell open, glancing at Yoongi who was nodding, and Jungkook’s head began to slowly shake back and forth.

“It was my friend more. He’s the one who really discovered it, with another teacher.”

“Sure, but how long had it been since he wrote this? I’ve known him all this time, and until you put some pictures to it, radio silence.”

It hadn’t been on purpose. As Yoongi had explained, multiple times, it hadn’t really even crossed his mind. And once it had, well there he was. He couldn’t be held accountable for anything else.

“I’m going to need a new penname,” Yoongi said.

Namjoon laughed, and Jungkook shifted a little closer to Yoongi.

“Yeah, definitely. All right, let’s go. I promise, she doesn’t bite,” Namjoon said, touching Jungkook’s arm as he led them toward a conference room.

Namjoon had all the files queued up, showing the books to his colleague, who as assured, did not bite. She agreed with Namjoon’s assessment, that story and art usually went separate, but also that there was an editor she had in mind. Namjoon would remain as Yoongi’s agent, and she would look out for Jungkook’s interest, if Jungkook was interested in that.

“The drawings are cheerful, colorful, engaging to a child. And not much would need to be done to finish it. Setting the type, and other things the publisher would take care of. It could be a quicker turnaround than a novel.”

“That sounds good,” Yoongi said.

Jungkook didn’t have a whole lot of anything to say, as Yoongi eased to the side to talk to Namjoon as Jungkook was shown a contract he could take to look over.

“He might not sleep tonight,” Yoongi murmured.

“I don’t remember you being quite that wide-eyed about it. A little shocked, maybe,” Namjoon said. “And the friend you’re going out with is better looking than he is?”

How to reply without throwing either of them under the bus. “You could say we connected.”

And he didn’t clarify that, even when Namjoon made a slightly surprised and prudish expression. Not connected like that, yet, but he wasn’t precluding it either. Yet, still, he caught onto a clue.

“You think Jungkook is good looking?" Yoongi probed.

Oh sure, then Namjoon would be all professional. Waving off Yoongi like he hadn’t been probing, hissing when Yoongi seemed like he wasn’t going to take the hint. He said goodbye to both of them, showing them back to the reception area, with Jungkook clutching his folder of paperwork like it was maybe going to explode.

“What did you think?” Yoongi asked, when they were well out of earshot.

“They were great!” Jungkook said. “I knew they weren’t going to just yell at us, but I’m still really… Wow.”

“Yeah, it’s a big thing. If you have any questions, I have my own contract at home. I’m happy to show you anything you need to compare. I’d like to hope they wouldn’t try to cheat you, knowing I have my own contact, but you never know. Actually, I can bring it with me when we meet up with Taehyung later.”

“Oh yeah!” Jungkook said, still a little startled. “I’ll look it over before then in case I have questions.”

“Sounds good,” Yoongi said. He figured Jungkook would be okay. He didn’t look like he’d walk out into traffic by accident, anyway. “I’m going to go get some more work done, and I’ll see you later.”

“Okay,” Jungkook said. “Great. Yes. Thank you!”

Yoongi had to duck his head away to hide his grin at how cute it was. Waving back over his shoulder, and sending a reply to an increasingly exclamation point-heavy set of messages from Taehyung - an emoji of a stack of books. With no comment.

***

Yoongi showed up to their planned dinner with a little cake, with an abbreviated message on it for congratulations on having an agent. Mostly for Jungkook’s benefit. It wasn’t quite as exciting as having a book contract in his hot little hands, but he figured it was still a milestone worth marking. He was the first one there, and when Taehyung led Jungkook into the restaurant, he stormed right over, getting an arm around Yoongi’s neck and getting him in an awkward table hug.

“It went good! Jungkook didn’t want to say anything, so I figure it had to have gone well.”

Yoongi and Jungkook traded an amused look, and Taehyung squeezed in next to Yoongi, still a little cool from outside. The whole story came out as they got settled in and ordered, Jungkook with his contract and little sticky notes where he had questions. True to his word, Yoongi had his own so they could compare. As he suspected, there weren’t a lot of differences. They’d gone over the major points in the meeting, like the scope of the agreement, what it covered, how long they expected it to go for, what the commission would be. He’d given Jungkook the pros and cons he could think of. It wasn’t a long document, but he’d looked at his own like he needed a law degree the first time he’d seen one. A publishing contract on the other hand, that was another animal.

“Do you have any reservations about the process? Any questions?” Taehyung asked Yoongi.

“Yeah. What happens if a rogue cookie makes more money than my novels? I’m going to have to re-evaluate my life.”

“Industries are weird, but it also just means you’re multi-talented. Plus, maybe more time to write the novels?” Taehyung wondered.

There was that. He appreciated the vote of confidence at least. It wasn’t like the novels were going to be less-than. Those were the vagaries of life, he supposed.

“More class readings,” Yoongi said, having a moment of visceral terror as Taehyung huffed.

“I’m still trying to imagine Taehyung trying to get you to read for his class?” Jungkook said, gesturing with his fork before he took another bite of his dinner.

Taehyung was trying to project an angelic demeanor when Yoongi cast a look at him, but Yoongi snorted.

“His being related to a bulldog was most of it. If you can imagine him trying to guilt me with my niece liking it, and when I mentioned it to her, she all but screamed and told me I do the best voices for Shooky, so it was a done deal, then. It was a done deal before I mentioned it to her, really. Kids can be traitors when it comes to something they want.”

“Tell me about it,” Taehyung said.

“And you still get a little teary when they move up a grade.”

“I’m proud of them! And I miss them. Don’t call me out,” Taehyung said, smacking at Jungkook across the table.

“I’m sure he’ll get teary when they’re his own, too,” Yoongi said.

“Won’t you?” Taehyung asked.

He hadn’t even gotten his niece up a grade. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t imagine.

Still, he leaned his knee against Taehyung when he answered. “Probably whether I wanted to or not.”

Taehyung’s lips curved, and he seemed to be going to add onto that, before Jungkook asked a question about the agency. He was content to let that lie, to listen to Taehyung fill Jungkook in on the next day’s zoo trip and how he wished it would’ve worked to schedule it on a Friday. It was Taehyung’s hand on Yoongi’s thigh, and Yoongi’s hand on Taehyung’s, and the satisfaction after eating.

“He was really nice and helpful, even if I had no idea what I was doing. He was really handsome, though,” Jungkook said.

Yoongi’s antennae went up at that observation about Namjoon.

“Was he handsome?”

Jungkook blinked at him and Taehyung clued in. “Your agent is?”

“He is,” Yoongi said. “He’s smart as a whip, too. Maybe we made another kind of connection.”

“Nooo,” Jungkook protested, turning several shades of pink as they laughed.

“Makes this have a new meaning, then,” Yoongi teased, pushing the cake box toward Jungkook.

Congratulations on having an agent. And another agent who maybe thought he was handsome, too. Not that Yoongi was going to say that. That was something they could work out amongst themselves. Though he imagined if Taehyung pressed, he’d let that spill. If only for his take on it.

“Thank you,” Jungkook told him. Sincerely. So nicely, even though he’d done a ton of work for still no guaranteed reward other than what Yoongi had been able to pay him.

Yoongi offered his glass for a toast. “It was your hard work. So thank you.”

They sent the rest of the cake home with Jungkook, and though Taehyung had a big day looming, he also snuggled in as they were walking to whisper, “I think kissing would give me strength tomorrow.”

It was for the good of mankind, then. Against the side of the building they’d ended up at, he truly was going to martyr himself with his hands in Taehyung’s back pants pockets and Taehyung allowing increasing liberties with his mouth. Taehyung’s little purrs were like an engine revving, his hands hot on Yoongi’s face and neck. He should’ve written a book for kids ages ago. A dozen of them.

“You think that’ll get you through tomorrow?” Yoongi asked, the tip of his nose brushing Taehyung’s.

“I think so. I wish I wasn’t going to be so smashed when I get free.”

“There’s always the day after,” Yoongi said.

And that, to Taehyung and him both, was worth another kiss.

***

The zoo trip went well, from all Yoongi gathered. With Taehyung’s thanks for his “help,” for all that Yoongi had just showed up and tagged along. Taehyung sent some pictures during the day, not of the kids but of animals, and one of Taehyung himself with the goat brought out for the kids to pet. Not quite as relaxing as their date had been, obviously. But all kids were accounted for, no one had gotten bitten, no tears, and just an overall fun day. Taehyung had some cute animal pictures Jungkook had colored to put up in class, too, so Yoongi had a good look at those in the images Taehyung sent him. Yoongi rewarded Taehyung for his efforts and energy expenditure with a new scene from his next novel.

Yoongi hadn’t been expecting to nearly cry with laughter at the heavy breathing voice note Taehyung had sent him in response, but he practically felt like he’d been more rewarded than Taehyung had been.

And yet still, it took three, four dates before their schedules and the timing worked out for a date in one of their own homes. Taehyung lived alone, in what he described as “a small teacher’s box” but Yoongi didn’t mind that. He had a couple of chairs, Yoongi saw as Taehyung let him in. There was a desk, with plastic boxes that looked stuffed with colorful things that Yoongi assumed were craft items. A small table, a kitchen, and what Yoongi assumed was a sleeping area beyond that. It was nice. Clean and tidy, though tidy was relative. It could be “company tidy” or “always” tidy, and he had levels of those in his own place.

But before he really had a chance to process his quick glances, and hardly after his shoes were gone, Taehyung was right up in his space.

“Hi,” Taehyung said, and Yoongi both resented and admired the way he had to tilt his head back to return that greeting, and the kiss. No teasing it. Just straightforward, Taehyung maybe greeting him like Yoongi assumed he’d like to be greeted. It was something Yoongi took note of. He hadn’t had any doubts anyway, but he suddenly had a deficits of doubts. All his wiseass greetings flew off, too, with how pleased Taehyung seemed just considering Yoongi’s face.

“Smells good,” Yoongi ended up with. Taehyung smelled good. The apartment as a whole did, and Taehyung’s whole face lit, mystifyingly, more.

“Good! Come on back. I got it started since it takes a while. Are you hungry?”

“On a good day, there’s no negative answer to that question,” Yoongi said.

There was a little collage of small class pictures on a cork board, starting in the middle with one and expanding from there. His first class and subsequent ones, maybe? There might need to be a bigger corkboard at some point. It was cute, though. Keeping them close, but not so present he couldn’t get “away” as it were.

“Good day?” Yoongi asked, as Taehyung parked them both in the small kitchen.

“Very! Nothing exploded, fewer things spilled, and everyone went home with all limbs still attached.”

It sounded like Taehyung was working either in a very toxic or dangerous job, and just the thought of it, the kids in their safety goggles and giggles had Yoongi laughing.

“That’s good to hear. Everyone survived a budget meeting today, also, so it’s a red letter day on all fronts.”

“Good,” Taehyung said. And came at Yoongi with a spoon for him to taste the soup it looked like he was making. It had a heat to it, but it was a good heat, playing up the acid that hit first. Taehyung had made sure that cooking was okay, that Yoongi didn’t have any particular dislikes or allergies.

“Doesn’t just smell good,” Yoongi said.

The compliment got him another of those bright grins, watching Taehyung’s shoulders move under the soft long-sleeved shirt, a substantial man taking up room in the small space. It truly was a marvel, from Taehyung’s profile to the wiggle of his knee as he stirred the soup.

“Cooking looks good on you,” Yoongi said.

Taehyung all but curtsied. He could remember the last time someone he’d been dating had cooked for him, but it’d been a lot further in, and had a different feeling. More perfunctory, maybe. Eating was the most routine of life’s tasks, but it was easy to tell when someone took pleasure in it. Even if it wasn’t in the making, at least in the sharing.

“Do you cook?” Taehyung asked.

“Mostly in my stomach’s self-defense, but yeah, there are some things I really enjoy doing. If this doesn’t kill me, maybe we’ll trade off next time.”

He tried to keep a straight face at Taehyung’s immediate offense, but Taehyung was mollified - they both were - by Yoongi tugging Taehyung close for a few strategic kisses. And a few more after Taehyung tried to articulate that it was nice having him there. Yoongi’s fingers curled under the edge of the countertop, distracting himself as Taehyung dished up the soup. He could put that profile to good use, there was no doubt about that, even doing something so mundane as carrying bowls to the table for them. Yoongi didn’t have quite as much style as he followed with drinks. It was a strange thing, a man with a mouth as eager as his smile was, curiosity in the shine of his eyes. And pleasure, when Yoongi took his first bite of the soup, considering it before giving his thoughts.

“Good thing you made a lot,” Yoongi said.

He wasn’t going to choke down toilet water, and he wasn’t going to go over the top, either. He didn’t figure he could’ve hidden anything anyway as they were, cheek by jowl at the tiny table. It was cozy, no other word for it.

“Sorry it’s kind of close,” Taehyung said, waggling his spoon.

“You shouldn’t be. I always aspire to be basically in someone’s lap at all times.”

“Just someone?”

He knocked his knee against Taehyung’s, musing out a list of the food he could cook, and what he could but didn’t often. It was good to be eating during it, or he’d have needed food immediately after. Some similar tastes, and some overlaps in what they liked. On a lot of things, it seemed like. Taehyung in his effervescence made it almost impossible for nerves to sneak through. Or at least nervous kind of nerves. He had plenty of others, even just watching Taehyung eat his soup. So much so to the point he was almost taken off guard by Taehyung asking a question.

“How’s writing going?” Taehyung asked.

“It’s…going,” Yoongi hedged. “I try and write a little every day. Doesn’t always happen. Sometimes it’s just a typo edit, but anything’s progress, right.”

“I’d think so! Do you have a deadline?”

“In a way. My editor has dealt with me being a perfectionist before, so we have some leeway. But it’s already sold, so that’s both nice and increases the pressure. Living up to the first ones. Especially with it being a continuation.”

Taehyung nodded rapidly, wiping broth that was threatening to trickle down his chin.

“Yeah! Being true to yourself but also being aware of expectations. Do you like talking about it? I mean, I get no one does all the time, but probably some would rather not.”

“I don’t mind. Some of it’s so cerebral, it’s hard to put it out there, but I’d send up a flag if I needed a moratorium.”

“Good. Obviously, I’m interested, both because it’s you and because you’re good. I could probably listen all day. I don’t want to pry with a crowbar and make you think that’s all I’m interested in you for, though.”

That was a bizarre feeling, Taehyung explaining himself, Yoongi considering it.

“My friends, and obviously my agent, probably get tired at times. You know, I don’t know if I’ve ever dated someone who really was interested in it. Not just the process, but the writing. Kind of a cute little quirk of mine or something, oh look you can string words together, instead of something I do to keep myself whole.”

“I get that,” Taehyung said, exhaling. “Some people think I teach kindergarten because I couldn’t get something “better.” When it was my choice.”

“Teaching PhD students isn’t the only goal out there. And they sure wouldn’t want someone teaching their young kids who was dreaming of being somewhere else.”

“Exactly!” Taehyung exclaimed, and then again a little quieter, before he pointed his spoon at Yoongi. “You get it.”

Got it. Got Taehyung.

Taehyung rinsed out their dishes after they were done, leading Yoongi back in the more general living area where the TV and chairs were.

“I’m ready for duty,” Yoongi said, pretending to roll up his sleeves.

Taehyung blinked rapidly at him for a moment. “Huh?”

“Where’s the scissors? You have something for me to cut out for your class? I’m on it,” Yoongi said.

Taehyung just about bent over laughing, shaking his head, waving a hand, like one or the other wasn’t enough. “No, no. I’m all caught up! No work for you today.”

“Softening me up for next time,” Yoongi joked.

Taehyung allowed that one, making them both snort as Taehyung tossed pillows on the floor.

“Come see my life,” Taehyung said. They bypassed the chairs, Yoongi joining him on the floor as Taehyung took him on a walking tour of his life. There were little books of photos, some yellowing on the edges a little, all carefully applied to the sticky backing and captions written in careful hand. Some, though, in a more childish way which Taehyung confirmed was his own handwriting. It was charming, personal, tangible.

“I’d say you didn’t have as much information about me, but you’ve met some of my family,” Yoongi said. His brother and sister-in-law, and Jiyun at least.

“I have! I liked them. Though, not as much as I like you.”

Yoongi huffed out a laugh. “Well, of course. My brother is going to be annoyingly smug when I tell him about us.”

“Really?”

“When I didn’t immediately tell you no, I think he maybe suspected there were reasons. I know him too well. He didn’t say anything, because he didn’t want to get my back up.” Yoongi hesitated before admitting, “It’s in his emojis.”

“His emojis?” Taehyung asked, grinning. “You think he’ll be okay with it?”

“Oh, sure. Like I said, smug. Plus, you’re not his daughter’s teacher, so I think there wouldn’t be any objections anyway.”

“That’s true! I always thought you didn’t turn down reading because of Jiyun.”

“I couldn’t exactly tack on that it was because you were cute. And earnest. And a bulldog.”

He tapped a picture in the book to emphasize his point, Taehyung baring his teeth in an enormous smile, making it clear he was laughing.

“I won’t be able to fit my head back out the door,” Taehyung gasped.

Maybe he wouldn’t. Sure, he hadn’t thought of dating Taehyung from moment one, still too freaked out about being in a school to get that far. But he had most of his senses working. He hadn’t even needed the visuals in the book for that. Small, beaming face of a happy and young Taehyung with his family, gangly teenage Taehyung, college graduation Taehyung.

“You could’ve been a model,” Yoongi said.

The laugh was hopelessly amused, and also endearing. “I do like cameras,” Taehyung said. “But mostly using them.”

“I see some ham in these pictures, too.”

That was a whine, Taehyung gently crashing against Yoongi’s shoulder. “What about you??”

“I don’t have a shred of ham in my body,” Yoongi said, in a tone so flate and bland that the only read for it was fictitious.

Taehyung licked his hand. No, Taehyung actually lifted Yoongi’s hand, licked one of Yoongi’s knuckles, and smacked his lips in a thoughtful way like he was processing what he’d tasted.

“Nope, no ham. Or maybe— No, no ham,” Taehyung confirmed, eyes sparkling.

Yoongi whistled out a breath. “Well, now you leave me no choice but to investigate.”

“Oh yeah? Oh yeah.”

Tugging Taehyung loser, their pillows scooted a little but it got Taehyung in his space, Taehyung’s nose brushing his, Taehyung’s mouth tender against his.

“No ham,” Yoongi murmured. He felt Taehyung smile, and felt Taehyung kiss him again.

***

There was nothing more terrifying than facing down a five-year-old. It didn’t seem like a good plan to tell her about dating a teacher at her school until some stage of equilibrium, or at least until some time had passed. And though even though all parties had agreed that they’d hold off, Jiyun knew of the relationship, by nature of being a bright child. It hadn’t been Yoongi’s fault either, as he hadn’t cavorted Taehyung into any family outings. No, his brother had made an offhand comment to his wife, which wormed it’s way into Jiyun’s steel trap brain. The dating “boys” thing had long since been addressed, so it had been some kind of galaxy mind expansion that one of her teachers - even if not her own personal teacher - could be wanting to hold her uncle’s hand.

So his brother had given her a little information, but Yoongi figured she should hear at least part of it from him. Which was why he was facing down a serious-faced, dress-clad, pigtail-wearing terror.

“So, you dad told you I’d been on a date with Mr. Kim,” Yoongi started. Jiyun nodded, like she was still considering that fact. “He and I are about the same age. We got to be friends after I read to your class, and we’re getting to know each other better. I promise it won’t change anything about going to school.”

It was probably more information than she technically needed, however he put stock in being as honest as possible. Maybe she was five, but she had a good radar for deceit.

“Are you getting married?” Jiyun wanted to know.

Laughter tickled his throat. “That’s something that might happen, but he’s still getting to know me. He might not mind I burp.”

The giggles were a win.

“It’s kind of like having an uncle at school, too,” Jiyun said, hugging her knees. “Will he come here?”

Here? Her home? Her castle?

“If he ever does, we’ll let you know first. I’ll keep him to myself for a while. At least he won’t bring any extra school work for you.”

“But I like school work!”

Oh. She was sweet. And hadn’t learned the cruelties of life.

“Still, I’ll protect you,” Yoongi said. Which seemed good enough for her.

Like having an uncle. Getting married. In a way, and not really, and not quite with that level of commitment. Though Taehyung had been touched, as Yoongi had known he would be. They’d test the waters at some point with a family picnic, probably inviting some friends to sort of spread out the Great Importance of family introductions. The good news was that Taehyung already knew Jiyun, so there was little chance of her hating him unless a twist of logic happened. He wanted to introduce Jiyun to Jungkook, see her reaction to him drawing. And maybe get Jungkook in Namjoon’s orbit, too. There was a lot of weaving together, Taehyung’s life, Yoongi’s.

***

Yoongi was in some variation of heaven and hell. He was sitting down, which was a plus. He was also surrounded by humans. Lots of humans. Lots of very small humans. The happenstance that led to the situation was not particularly hard to follow, and yet he could point to some specific examples. He had two strikes against him, one being he was the uncle of a student, and the other being he was dating one of the teachers. So being drafted into helping out at the little “fair” the teachers had devised for their kindergarten classes, well. He couldn’t have been too surprised. It hadn’t been the zoo, so there was that. But he suspected if Taehyung had known him half a second longer, it might’ve been him for that, too.

Still, Taehyung knew his strengths. He was safely ensconced behind a table, with a washable pen that made little flower marks on the little cards the kids wore around their necks. Apparently they did the marks on cards the kids held one year - there were tears when they were lost. And then the next year on hands - the parents weren’t so pleased. So it was a compromise. The cards were decorated with the kids’ names and stickers that bore resemblance to the fading scratch and sniff sticker still on Yoongi’s phone.

“Kindergarten is an exciting time,” Yoongi mused, when Taehyung was showing him a layout for the anticipated booths.

“It should be! They’re learning so much, and every new experience is great. This is nice because the parents get to all be there with them, get to see their progress. It kind of functions as part an open house, part half-year party, part… I don’t know. But it’s fun! It’s less stressful than a field trip since you still have all the usual resources, and the kids adore it because it’s in the gym and therefore is foreign land.”

There were a number of stations, all of which Yoongi was glad he wasn’t at. The last one was a face painter, doing a cute version of the school’s logo - just the school’s logo - so every kid had one exactly the same. Yoongi gave out the stamp for that, even though it was fairly obvious. They bounded up to him showing off their cheeks like they’d just invented the concept, and he admired them solemnly like they were the most important he’d seen.

Some of the kids remembered him, chatting at him and their parents about the book. Some of the kids didn’t, and others didn’t really care as long as he hurried up with the stamp. Once all the stamps were filled in, from the bean bag throwing, the face painting, the photo booth, the little gift bag of toothbrushes— When they got their last stamp from Yoongi, they got to go to a second table to pick up a free picture book to take home with them, along with their latest grade packet and a sheet of stickers. It was chaotic, and messy, and there was definitely a cleanup when a cup of apple juice got overset.

“This could be your book one day,” Taehyung said sotto voce as he dropped a new stack of supplies on the table next to him.

There was no option to glare at him for the sentiment, even as another small child was approaching him all full of hope with parent in tow.

“Wow, that looks really cool,” Yoongi said, when the little boy craned his neck to be sure Yoongi got to see all angles of the paint.

At least he wasn’t alone. Taehyung obviously was flitting around like a bee, helping control the flow of people, answering questions, talking to the kids. His brother was there too, and Jiyun. They’d seen each other outside of school exactly once, and only for a few minutes. It had been strange, and a little nerve-wracking, but she’d taken it well. They wouldn’t have broken up, if she’d been unable to accept it, but it surely would’ve made things more difficult. Kids changed, people changed.

So it wasn’t for his benefit, when he glanced up and caught only the tail end of Jiyun giving Taehyung a high-five, able to hear both of their laughs in his head.

And maybe it made his smile a little bigger as he admired another painted cheek. He took the little girl’s card, and gave it the best stamp he could.

***

***

Yoongi had gotten past the shaking hands part of the equation. Once the box was open, all he could see were glossy pages. And once that happened, all he could do was go for his pants. The office staff knew him, handing him a visitor sticker with hardly a pause, and it felt like his heart was beating in his ears as he fled down the corridor, evading a class heading somewhere, and hoping no one he knew spotted him.

1- Mr. Kim. The room had changed but little else had. The door was closed, class over for the day, the glass window beckoning like a diamond. All Taehyung had to do was be in view, and— He was. Sitting at his desk, workbooks spread out around him. Yoongi grabbed the book up out of his bag, and plastered it up against the glass - right side up even and font side forward.

And then he knocked.

And waited.

Taehyung looked up.

Yoongi stared at him over the top of the book, waiting for his reaction.

He knew what Taehyung was seeing - a delighted cookie cavorting out of his kitchen home toward his first adventure. In full color. With the bold title, Yoongi’s name, and Jungkook’s. Maybe Taehyung couldn’t read all of that, but the rest was obvious.

It was full on possible that classrooms on both side of Taehyung’s heard the roar Taehyung let out. But it was only Yoongi, laughing behind the book, who saw Taehyung leap up onto his desk, pumping his fists in the air like he’d just scored a goal. If he didn’t break his fool neck, Yoongi kind of had plans to celebrate. He’d barely made it into the room before Taehyung had scrambled back down to the floor, meeting Yoongi almost halfway in. Normally he grumbled when Taehyung tried picking him up, but all he could do was whoop as Taehyung swung him.

“Did you look at it?” Taehyung demanded, dropping him abruptly.

“Of course not. I came right here.”

He was almost offended that Taehyung asked. They settled onto mats on the floor, Taehyung looking over his shoulder and hanging onto him like they both might fly away as they looked through the final version of a book, right from where they’d started.

***