Chapter Text
“Look, tennis team’s here,” someone said upon seeing the arrival of the tennis players.
“Jeon.”
“Kim.”
The words were exchanged with venom threaded between the letters. Those who knew better had quieted down in the locker room, choosing to pack up their belongings quietly. The unknowing freshmen from both teams were still talking loudly with one person even singing in the shower. The silence coming from the rest confused the freshmen who turned their heads to see what caught everyone’s attention.
Jeon Jungkook and Kim Taehyung were staring each other down. Taehyung had one hand over his shoulder that was holding onto his duffel bag. Meanwhile, Jungkook was clutching onto the towel wrapped around his waist. His relaxed body from taking a hot shower seemed to have tensed upon seeing the other.
Taehyung was taller by an inch or two, but Jungkook was more muscular and built. Taehyung’s eyes were squinting with condescension and Jungkook’s lips were curled into a cocky smirk. There was a childish staring contest going on that neither seemed to be backing down from. They stood a foot apart from one another, and some guys watched with bated breaths fearing what would happened once that distance was closed. Whoever was singing Anaconda by Nicki Minaj in the showers can be heard, voice bouncing off the tiles.
Yugyeom whispers to Hoseok, confused. “Dude, what’s going on right now?”
Hoseok is slightly taken aback how clueless Yugyeom is, but nods towards Jungkook anyways, “That’s Jeon Jungkook, captain of the football team.”
Yugyeom forms an o with his lips in understanding. He widens his eyes when he sees a small person step forward in between the two who looked ready to kill each other.
Jimin, who was standing in between the two boys, plants a hand on Taehyung’s chest and another on Jungkook, separating the two even further. He looks down in exasperation and sighs, “Why are you two so stupid?”
Although they have both visibly relaxed, Taehyung and Jungkook are still maintaining intense eye contact.
“He’s a fucking sight for sore eyes,” Jungkook scoffs.
Taehyung rolls his eyes. “Excuse me, do you want to fucking-”
“Yeah, you may be excused. Now fuck off.”
“Jungkook, Taehyung, stop. That was a really exhausting practice so I’d appreciate if I don’t have to change your ice packs tonight,” Jimin glares at Taehyung, “and hear you,” Jimin prods Jungkook’s firm chest, “bitch tomorrow about how much your injuries hurt.”
Taehyung’s facial features that were previously contorted harshly softens at Jimin’s words. “I’ll see you back at the dorm,” Taehyung says to Jimin, his best friend, before walking off towards his locker. He turns around quickly to flip Jungkook off though and Jungkook retaliates with one fist raised in the air.
Jimin slaps Jungkook’s hand down. “Can you just chill? You put us through hell during practice, this is the least you can do for me.”
Jungkook looks away from Taehyung and glances at Jimin who’s giving him an annoyed look. “He’s the one who needs to chill.”
“O-kay,” Jimin replies, stretching out the syllables to indicate that he is done with Jungkook. Jimin pats him on the back and heads towards the showers. Jungkook stands in place and rubs his temples in frustration, and goes towards his locker soon after.
It was well known between the sports teams that there was an intense rivalry between the tennis and football team. It was expected for there to be some dislike between the two captains as well. Everyone knows that Jeon Jungkook, quarterback and captain of the football team, and Kim Taehyung, intellect and captain of the tennis team, absolutely hated each other. Perhaps it was because they were expected to, perhaps it was because of something that happened. Many people had made speculation, but no one really knows why.
Whatever it is, they always seem to be able to rile each other up. Jungkook, known as the level-headed and collected player during football games, always seem to lose his cool near Taehyung. Taehyung, who’s always kind and friendly, seems to change into a completely different person when met with Jungkook.
Death glares and harsh insults were nearly always exchanged with Jimin usually acting as the mediator before things got too bad. As Taehyung’s best friend and Jungkook’s teammate, he was the only one who could interfere without getting hurt. No one really wanted to know what would happen once the point of too bad was reached. Jungkook could definitely beat up someone and leave them seriously injured. Taehyung himself wasn’t far behind Jungkook in terms of athleticism either, arms and legs being toned from playing tennis for years.
Last year though, Taehyung missed one of the most important tennis matches at the end of the school year between the rival university. Though there were no visible injuries, Taehyung had had serious trouble being able to run for a few days. He never explicitly said it was Jungkook who did it to him, but everyone knew that it couldn’t have been anyone else. Taehyung was too nice to have any enemies. He brushed it off as a mere accident, but there had been an eyewitness who saw Taehyung drag Jungkook into the locker rooms by the wrist the day before. Soon, muffled sounds were followed with repeated banging against the lockers. Rumors flew through the school the next day about how Jungkook had beat the shit out of Taehyung, careful not to leave any visible marks. Taehyung, who was supposedly too embarrassed about losing the fight, lied about the situation, others speculated.
Jungkook is taking clothes out of his duffel bag to wear as he still only has a towel wrapped around his waist. He feels eyes on him and turns around to see Taehyung staring at his naked torso. He smirks, “Like what you see?”
“As if,” Taehyung scoffs. He steps forward and uses his towel to smack Jungkook square across the chest. The sound resonates within the locker room. At that, a few people turn their heads to the noise. Seeing that it was Taehyung and Jungkook, they turn their heads back around, not wanting to have to speak up if anything were to happen. As he turns around to go back to his locker, Jungkook sticks a foot out so that Taehyung would trip.
Taehyung is about to fall flat on his face when he feels a strong arm wraps around his waist to hoist him back up. He’s slammed against a locker with Jungkook’s hand resting against the surface next to his face.
Jungkook’s face is getting closer and Taehyung knows something stupid is about to come out of the other’s mouth. Before he could hear it, Taehyung slams his head forward and headbutts Jungkook. Jungkook pulls back and uses his hand to rub his forehead where he had been hit. He genuinely looks shocked and Taehyung smiles in pleasure.
“You are so-” Jungkook splutters. Before he could continue though, Taehyung runs off cackling with his shower caddy in hand towards the showers.
Jaebum, another football player, walks to Jungkook. He nods towards the direction Taehyung had run off to. “Do you want me to...?”
“Nobody but me is going to be laying a hand on Kim Taehyung. You got that?” Jungkook spits out.
Jaebum backs off with two hands raised. “Alright, just thought you might need some help.” He walks away and packs up his stuff to leave.
Jungkook huffs and packs up his own clothes. He pinches his nose bridge, trying to alleviate the headache that Taehyung always seem to cause.
-
Jimin is tired. He really is. He thinks that in another life, Jungkook and Taehyung would have been great friends. Their personalities seem to match in terms of how weird they both are as well as how much annoyance they cause him on a daily basis. Jimin sighs at what could have been. Everyone seems to think that Jungkook and Taehyung get violently physical, but Jimin knows they don’t actually try to hurt each other. It’s usually just childish arguing. The worst he’s seen in the past three years was a punch or two. Well, at least he thinks so. He’s not really sure what to think after the incident that happened last year.
Taehyung was so excited to play against their rival school, but he ended up having to miss it, being unable to walk without wincing that day. Upon interrogation, Taehyung mildly shut him out. When Jungkook’s name was mentioned however, a series of emotions flashed across his face before it turned completely blank again.
Frustrated that Taehyung wouldn’t tell him why it simply hurt to walk , Jimin decided to investigate even further. He had stormed up to Jungkook and slammed him into a wall, hands clutching the front of the other’s shirt. Jungkook’s face looked mildly constipated and guilty when Jimin attacked him with accusations. He simply pushed Jimin off and said that he didn’t mean to hurt Taehyung.
Jimin couldn’t be mad at either one of them for too long anyways and the matter was soon dropped. However, he is now determined to get the two to be on good terms, if not best of friends. Okay, maybe best of friends is a bit of a reach but hey, baby steps.
That is why he is currently in this predicament, to say the least. Jungkook was walking on his right, on his phone, refusing to talk to him. Taehyung was walking on his left, also on his phone, refusing to talk to him as well.
Jimin crosses his arms and huffs. He’s just trying to be a good friend and resolve whatever kind of stupid hatred they have going on. He turns to his right. He turns to his left. He looks straight ahead. Jimin sighs in frustration for what must be the eightieth time since the three left the locker room together, now walking together towards Jimin and Taehyung’s dorm.
“Guys, this isn’t going to work unless you talk each other.”
Jungkook rolls his eyes. “I don’t have the energy today to try to communicate with any lesser beings.”
Taehyung, too absorbed with texting whomever, ignores him.
“Okay and whose fault is it that football practice was fucking hell?” Jimin snorts.
Jungkook smirks but does not reply, choosing instead to reply to whomever he’s texting. Completely and entirely fed up, Jimin snatches Taehyung and Jungkook’s phone. Taehyung squeaks and Jungkook has to hold himself back from snapping Jimin’s wrist. Jimin steals a quick glance at Taehyung’s phone and immediately regrets it when he sees the words “suck ur dick.” He shoves the phones into his hoodie pocket and turns to his left to glare at Taehyung.
“I cannot believe you are fucking sexting someone right now. Unbelieveable. Have you no decency?”
Taehyung blushes like some shy virgin and Jimin wants to slap him because that’s the least from what Taehyung is. Jimin rolls his eyes. Jungkook seems to be too quiet and Jimin turns to his right and sees that Jungkook’s face was also red.
“Hey, is there just like, some intense sexual tension going on between the two of you?” Jimin suggests while repeatedly raising his eyebrows. It’s just a joke though because Jungkook has established himself as straight as fuck while Taehyung has declared himself gay as fuck.
It’s completely silent.
“I would never-”
“He is so-”
“I’m not even gay, and even if I was-”
“ Excuse me? You would be luc-”
“Excuse me? Excuse me? Excuse me?” Jungkook mocks Taehyung with a high pitched whine.
Jimin groans smacks the both of them on the arm. “Shut up and just act like civilized people.”
“He’s the only one who has to act.”
“Oh my god, Jiminie, do you hear someone speaking? It, it almost sounds like a, like a fuckboy.” Taehyung theatrically gasps.
“Kim motherfucking Taehyung-”
“How dare you accuse me of incest?”
Jimin screams. He actually screams. Jungkook and Taehyung shut up because Jimin almost never screams unless he was about to snap.
“I’ve had it up to here with the two of you.” There is little space between his index finger and thumb, which he’s holding up to emphasize his point.
“Now. We are going to watch a movie at the dorm. We are going to enjoy said movie. We are going to play some board games. We are going to have fun. And the two of you are going to be friends by the end of today. Got it?”
There’s no reply from either of them.
Jimin screeches, “Got it?”
Jungkook mumbles something unintelligible and Taehyung squeaks out a tiny “Yessir.”
They walk towards the dorm listening to how Jimin’s day went.
-
They arrive in front of Jimin and Taehyung’s dorm. Jimin pulls out his keys from his pockets and unlocks the door. Jimin is the first to step in with Taehyung following him. He blocks the entrance with his body and looks at Jungkook.
“Sorry, no animals are allowed past this point.”
Jungkook growls and walks back as far as the tiny hallway would allow him. He then charges forward like he does during football games and Taehyung is actually scared that Jungkook is going to knock him over like a bowling pin. Instead, Jungkook picks him up, both hands around his waist and runs before dumping Taehyung onto the couch roughly.
Jimin takes off his shoes and can only watch in amusement. He knows Taehyung absolutely loves being manhandled. From the door, Jimin smirks as he sees Jungkook standing over Taehyung, obviously proud at tossing the elder onto the couch. For a second, Jimin remembers that Jungkook is younger than the both of them and shakes his head at the amount of disrespect despite the age difference. Jimin sees a red-faced Taehyung sprawled across the couch and trying to hide something that might be a boner from being manhandled. Jimin snorts before deciding to come to his rescue.
He steps in between the two of them and hands them their phones.
“Jungkook, leave Tae alone. He does not deserve this. He is nothing but a child.”
Jungkook snorts before plopping himself onto the other couch. Taehyung’s offended blubbers was cut off by Jimin’s announcement.
“Alright well that was fun. Nature’s calling now and I expect the two of you to behave while I’m gone. If I go back and see anyone lying unconscious on the floor then I will not hesitate to call the cops and disown the both of you as my friends.”
Jimin looks at the both of them expectantly, receiving a “whatever” from Jungkook and a sheepish smile from Taehyung, whose body is still draped across the couch.
Jimin walks to the bathroom and hopes for the best while he’s gone. He hates leaving the two of them together but business needs to be taken care of.
As soon as the bathroom door is shut and locked, Taehyung and Jungkook make eye contact.
“I’m not even gay,” Taehyung mocks with a ridiculously low voice that does not sound anything like Jungkook.
“How dare you accuse me of incest?” Jungkook mimics Taehyung with a high-pitched voice.
Taehyung breaks out into giggles and walks over to where Jungkook is sitting on the couch. Jungkook is grinning at him with his bunny teeth out and Taehyung can’t help but smile back. He straddles the younger with his thighs on either side of him.
Taehyung wraps his arms around Jungkook’s neck and buries his face where Jungkook’s neck and shoulders meet. Jungkook responds by wrapping his own arms around Taehyung’s thin waist.
“I really thought you were going to charge into me back there.” Taehyung says while leaving kisses down the column of Jungkook’s neck.
Jungkook tilts his head to give Taehyung more access and hums in contentment. “I could never hurt you. I don’t think you can say the same though.” Jungkook frowns. “I still can’t believe you headbutted me the other day.”
Taehyung laughs at which Jungkook playfully bites his shoulder. Taehyung immediately knows he’s been forgiven and continues to leave kisses along Jungkook’s jawline.
“We gotta give the people a show.” Taehyung murmurs and Jungkook chases Taehyung’s lips with his own. Taehyung seems to melt against Jungkook’s lips so Jungkook holds him even closer.
Taehyung parts to rest his head against Jungkook’s shoulder.
“Gukkie, this is getting really exhausting.”
Jungkook sighs. They’ve had this conversation a million times before. Having to sneak around and keeping this secret from Jimin really has taken a toll on the both of them. It’s been two years. He doesn’t know how they managed to do it, but nobody really suspects anything when they constantly seem to be at each other’s throats. It’s easier when they don’t have to see each other and have to pretend to hate each other’s guts. But what with tennis and football season starting, they’re bound to bump into each other in the locker rooms after practice.
They almost told Jimin on many occasions just to make their relationship a little bit easier. However, it was decided against because Jimin was a terrible liar who people always went to when they wanted to hear about the latest fight between Jungkook and Taehyung.
“I know. I promise it’ll be over soon.” Taehyung doesn’t know if he exactly believes them. He’s heard those words from Jungkook so many times before yet nothing has changed.
Jungkook still hasn’t come out of the closet yet. Taehyung knows that Jungkook wants to show him off to the world- he’s seen how possessive and jealous Jungkook can get- but Jungkook is simply not ready. His parents aren’t exactly the most understanding people. Taehyung recalls all the nights he’s held Jungkook as he cried about how all he wants is acceptance from his parents. It happened very rarely but when it did, it completely breaks Taehyung’s heart. It’s hard for the both of them, being in a relationship when they were supposed to hate each other due to the sports’ rivalry as well as with Jungkook being closeted.
In that moment though, Jungkook’s promise was all he needed to hear. Taehyung relaxes even more in Jungkook’s arms and continue leaving kisses all over the younger. As usual, heavy neck-kissing had led to an intense make out session.
Taehyung was holding back moans as Jungkook harshly tugged on his hair. He grounded himself by clutching onto Jungkook’s locks as well, loving the feeling of Jungkook’s silky locks between his fingers. Taehyung immediately flies off from Jungkook’s lap when he hears the sound of the bathroom door being opened.
Jimin walks out and inspects the scene before him. Both of their hair is ruffled and Taehyung’s lips appear to be swollen. They’re both heavily breathing and their faces are flushed.
Jimin groans and shakes his head in disappointment. “Jungkook, did you punch Tae in the mouth? I was literally taking a shit for five minutes and you guys managed to get into a fight? Unbelievable.”
Jungkook, who is still trying to catch his breath, can only nod quietly.