Chapter Text
One Week Later
“Hell no.” Jungkook crosses his arms. “Totally unfair. I’d basically be handing you the win on a silver platter.”
“Pshh. Not true. I’m not that good.”
Beneath Jungkook’s yellow bandana, one eyebrow raises. “Oh, sure. Let’s just pretend you haven’t won the Hilderock Games archery match every year since you were 15.”
“You’re a good archer too! Plus, I jammed my finger playing basketball yesterday. I’ve got a handicap.”
“We can only bet on archery if we also bet on diving at the lake later.”
Taehyung considers this as he picks up his bow and arrow. “Who will be judging that?”
“ Not Jimin and Jin again. That’s for sure.”
“How about the campers?”
“No, no, no. Luca’s got too much of a sway over Benny. I know — the Flamingos are gonna be there. We can have Yoongi judge it.”
“Oh, he’ll love that.”
“He’ll be fair. That’s the important thing.”
“Fine. Stakes?”
With a twinkle in his eye, Jungkook whistles.
To anyone else, that might not seem like much of an answer, but the corner of Taehyung’s lip quirks up. He nods. “For which competition?”
“For both.”
“Fine.” Taehyung strolls up to the line and lifts the bow and arrow with expert form. Then he adjusts his position, takes a breath, and lets go of the arrow. Bull’s eye. “But I don’t know if I can go twice in a row.”
_____
They may have joked about tidying the shed following their seven — scratch that— five minutes in heaven, but they actually ended up doing it one night not long after. It just made sense, considering how much time they chose to spend there during the final days of camp. The most important update? One of the walls could be quickly and completely cleared of all its rakes, shovels, and hatchets in less than a minute, leaving a flat surface perfect to lean back against. Well, as perfect as a shed wall could be anyway. They’d take what they could get. Making out against a faraway tree was doable, but as soon as hands went roaming beneath hemlines, Jungkook got skittish and paranoid and Taehyung worried about bug bites. The shed was their safe haven.
Jungkook leans against the wall now, wearing his Camp Hilderock t-shirt and basketball shorts, his hair still fluffy from his shower. He smells like Irish Spring soap and toothpaste. Tastes like it too. Taehyung should know. He’s on his knees, using an old life jacket as padding, his right hand grasping one of the thighs he’s been ogling all summer, his left hand grasping the base of Jungkook’s cock as he licks it like a popsicle.
“Ahhh, god, Tae,” Jungkook groans, his fingers threading through Taehyung’s hair gently.
“Too much? Should I slow down?” Ignoring his own words, Taehyung takes Jungkook’s cock into his mouth and swirls his tongue around it, relishing the gasp he hears above him.
“No, no. Keep going. Just. Aerkhgrg.”
After several seconds of especially enthusiastic sucking, Taehyung pops off to add, “You’re lucky Yoongi awarded you top dive. You totally flubbed it. Everyone said so.”
“Well I was nervous. ‘Lot riding on it.”
“Did you pay him off?”
“Tae, just —”
He doesn’t even have to finish the sentence before Taehyung has him in his mouth again, one hand reaching down to grasp his balls while the other reaches around to squeeze his ass. It’s the first time he’s tried either of these moves on Jungkook, and he’s immediately rewarded by a low groan. Then, Jungkook’s knees begin to shake, leaving him wobbly and weak. It’s so freaking cute, Taehyung wants to pause and give each knee a kiss, but he knows Jungkook would kill him. Instead, he drops his free hand to Jungkook’s right knee, bolstering it with a squeeze. Both of Jungkook’s palms are back against the wall now, fingers spread wide, his head thrown back.
“Christ, Tae. I’m gonna — I’m gonna —”
Mere seconds later, a warmth spurts into Taehyung’s mouth. He keeps his hand firm on Jungkook’s knee, propping him up as he swallows him down. He only lets go when Jungkook hisses from the sensitivity.
As he’s wiping his swollen mouth on his sleeve, Jungkook pulls up his basketball shorts and slides down the wall jerkily, landing on his ass with his knees bent in front of him.
“God, you’re good at that,” he mumbles dazedly. “Sorry, I wasn’t as good. I’m still, you know — still learning.”
“Don’t apologize. I like it. It’s cute.”
“It is?”
“You’re so eager to learn.”
On his hands and knees now, Taehyung crawls between Jungkook’s legs to kiss him. Though they’ve kissed an absolutely absurd number of times since the first time they entered this shed, it still feels fresh and new and electrifying. He loves the way Jungkook holds his face in his hands when he kisses him and that he still has this stunned, satiated look in his eyes.
“Just wish I could get a little more practice in before we leave.”
Taehyung chuckles. “Oh that’s it, is it? You just wanna practice?”
“I mean, hanging out with you is pretty okay too.”
His voice is laced with fondness. After so many years on the outs, Taehyung had almost forgotten how soft and sweet Jungkook can be. When he looks at Taehyung with those big brown eyes, Taehyung can’t help but kiss him again.
He’s never felt such an extreme physical draw to another person. Perhaps the allure is amplified by the fact that they have to hide the relationship for now, but Taehyung’s certain there’s more to it than that. It’s also just the utter thrill and delight of learning that the person you’ve been lusting after for literal years now has the hots for you too.
“Can’t believe I once thought you were super promiscuous.”
“Yeah, nope. Just a late bloomer. And I felt like I couldn’t really trust anyone fully until . . .” Jungkook looks between Taehyung’s eyes and then smiles shyly. “Until . . .”
“Until you entered heaven?” Taehyung says in a teasing, rumbly voice.
“Until I entered a run-down shack in the middle of the woods.”
“Tomato, tomahto.”
“Until you, you idiot.”
_____
As it does every year, camp ends far too soon. One minute, they’re taking lake baths and roasting marshmallows around a campfire and rejoicing at the arrival of the soft-serve machine in the mess hall. The next minute, everything is being dismantled. The canoes are carried back to the storage rack in the garage. The archery equipment is cleaned and stowed away. One camper has to leave early to attend her uncle’s wedding, and her departure sends a shockwave through the cabins, making everyone realize the end is nigh.
On the last night, Namjoon hosts a closing ceremony followed by stargazing (as a reminder that the universe is vast and life is long) as well as dancing and ice cream (as a reminder to have fun). And then — that’s it.
Camp is over.
On the last day, Taehyung and Jimin sit on top of a large steel storage box near the gravel parking lot, waving goodbye to the last of their campers. Jimin keeps banging his heels against the metal in a way that vaguely suggests a song — but not quite. Taehyung has his legs drawn into his chest, resting his chin on his knees.
“I hope we can be Cardinals again next summer,” he says. “It’s one of my favorite cabins for sure.”
“Why? You just like the red?”
“I guess. But also, cardinals are cool. And they feel like a wintery bird to me.”
“Ah. A winter bird. Perfect for summer camp. Makes sense.”
“Do you not want to be a Cardinal again? What’s your favorite?”
“No, I do. Love the Cards. And if we get it, I’m dying my hair red next year.” Jimin runs a hand through his floppy locks, which are basically blonde now. “I just don’t want to be an Oriole. Riley was just telling me that the cabin’s had ladybug infestations three times now. He saw one last night and totally freaked.”
“Ladybug infestations are a thing? But they’re so cute.”
“The more you know.”
“Yikes.”
They watch as Luca, leaning out the window of a yellow school bus, shouts something to Benny, who’s standing beside a pickup truck with his dad. Benny laughs and waves, and Taehyung breathes one final sigh of relief. They’re still friends.
“See you next year!” Jimin calls as the bus pulls out of the parking lot.
“Bye, everybody!”
“Bye!” a dozen little voices shout back.
Out of the corner of his eye, Taehyung also watches Jungkook, who’s tossing his duffel bag into the trunk of Hoseok’s car. They’ve technically already said their goodbyes, but he doesn’t want to miss the actual moment. They promised to write to each other during the school year — hearkening back to their days of writing each other notes through the tree mailbox. Perhaps Jungkook feels Taehyung’s eyes on him because he glances up, a smile in his eyes.
“Ermm. Hi? Taehyung? Jimin?” a little voice asks.
Taehyung looks down to see Benny. Across the parking lot, his dad sits behind the steering wheel of his truck with crossed arms.
“Hey, Benny. What’s up?”
“I was just wondering if you could — well, see, Luca and I are going to be penpals this year, and I’m gonna go first, and I thought it’d be really cool if you and Jimin signed the first letter. Like a yearbook? I haven’t written it yet, but —”
He pulls a piece of paper, ripped from a spiral notebook, from his pocket and holds it up along with a blue pen.
A grin stretches across Taehyung’s face. Not only did Luca and Benny’s friendship last the summer, but they’re already making plans for the school year too. “No problem, bud. I think it’s really cool that you guys are gonna be penpals.”
Taehyung writes a quick note — You’ve got what it takes to fly far, Luca. See you next summer! Go Cards! Taehyung. — and then passes the paper to Jimin, who sketches an abysmal drawing of a cardinal wearing a bandana and a Camp Hilderock tee.
“Did you have a good summer, Benny?”
“Yeah.” Benny nods shyly.
“What’re you gonna do with your Hilderock Games medal?”
A shrug. “I dunno yet.”
“Are you hoping you’ll be a Goldfinch again next year?”
Another shrug. “Maybe. If Luca is too.”
Taehyung grips his knees and nods. He doesn’t know exactly who will be in charge of cabin assignments next summer, but he’s already plotting how to ensure Benny and Luca end up in the same cabin. They’ve already suffered through one year apart and survived — why subject them to another? He’ll go to battle if it means saving these kids from his and Jungkook’s fate. Though of course, in the end, in a weird roundabout way . . .
He glances over at Jungkook again. He’s deep in conversation with Hoseok but somehow, yet again, he senses Taehyung’s gaze. Their eyes meet and when Jungkook smiles, it feels as though he’s smiling just for him.
“There you go,” Jimin hands the paper back to Benny. “It’s a little lopsided but — you can tell what it is, right?”
After tilting the paper this way and that, Benny squints and nods. “Umm, uh-huh. It’s really good. Thank you.”
Kids are the worst liars.
Taehyung titters, and Jimin pinches his thigh. “Have a good school year, Benny!”
As Benny runs back to his dad, Hoseok closes his trunk and puts his hands on his hips. “Hey, guys? I think we’re gonna head out.”
“Okay!”
Bouncing off the storage box, Jimin rushes over to give Hoseok a hug and remind him to update his Instagram. He and Hoseok are so busy chatting, they barely notice when Jungkook asks Taehyung if he’ll help him grab something from behind Basecamp. They tromp off together quietly. And they’ve barely edged past the corner when Jungkook spins around, takes Taehyung’s face in his hands, and kisses him.
“Sorry. We can be quick,” Jungkook breathes between more kisses. “Just didn’t want to leave without —”
“I know.”
Goodbye kisses are the best and the worst all at once. So fierce and frenzied yet tinged with sadness. At first, Taehyung just lets Jungkook do what he wants, lets Jungkook squeeze him round the waist and suck his bottom lip into his mouth. But then his own hunger grows too great, and he ends up pushing Jungkook up against the wood siding and slipping a hand beneath his t-shirt.
“We gotta go.”
“I know.”
They kiss again, breathing heavily. Jungkook laughs, and Taehyung can’t help but smile too.
“We’re being ridiculous. You’re gonna come up for Homecoming, right?”
“Gonna try to.”
“You better.”
“Are you gonna write?”
“I said I would.”
They kiss again, but it ends tragically quickly. In the distance, they hear shouting and it draws them back down to earth. But they stand close, clearly both dreading their inevitable separation even if they’re hesitant to say it aloud. This thing between them is so new and fragile, they don’t want to threaten it with unruly emotions. Taehyung pulls on a loose thread on Jungkook’s sleeve, and Jungkook traces the opening of one of Taehyung’s shorts pockets.
“Can’t believe we’re friends again.”
“I know. Are you gonna tell Jimin?”
“About us being friends or about . . . this?”
“Both.”
“I’ll have to at some point. It’s gonna be so weird next year.”
“Jin’s gonna go nuts.”
From afar, they hear Hoseok yelling, “JK!”
Jungkook bites his lip, grabs Taehyung’s hand, and kisses him one last time. Then he jogs back toward the parking lot.
Taehyung slowly follows, dragging his feet in his slip-on sandals. When he rejoins the others, Jungkook is already in the car with the window rolled down, pretending to fuss with the alignment of his seat. Hoseok gives Taehyung a hug before jumping into the driver’s seat. When the engine starts, Jungkook finally looks up again.
“Bye,” Jungkook says to Jimin, who rolls his eyes.
“Peace out, loser!” he says cheerily. Then, beneath his breath, to Taehyung, “God, I hate that guy. Good riddance.”
“Yeah, he’s the worst,” Taehyung murmurs, sharing a tiny eye-smile with Jungkook.
Though he thinks he’s being discreet, Jimin immediately detects the lack of enthusiasm. He raises an eyebrow at Taehyung and then follows his eyeline to Jungkook, who’s now giving Taehyung a small wave alongside a crooked smile. Barely perceptible, but nothing gets past Jimin.
“Oh my god. Something happened, didn’t it?”
“Don’t know what you mean.”
“Just tell me one thing. When I woke up last night and you were creeping into bed, had you really just been going to the bathroom?”
Taehyung shrugs, fighting back a smile.
“Oh my god.”
For six years, Jungkook and Taehyung had dreaded saying goodbye on the last day of camp. For seven years, they’d pointedly ignored each other. And now? Now, Taehyung is bummed, of course, that their new flame was snuffed out before it could really blaze. But it’s still burning. And he’s still daydreaming about what they’ll do when they reunite this fall and wondering what cabins they’ll be assigned to next summer and planning what to write to him when he gets home . . .
He raises his hand — one final wave — as the car heads into the woods surrounded by a cloud of dust. Though he thinks Jungkook didn’t see it, at the last second, a hand juts out of the passenger’s seat window.
Like a bird, a yellow bandana flits in the wind.