[Taekook AuChurch Boy Tae Badboy Jk]

Jungkook didn’t go to church.

He had nothing against it. But he also had nothing that really pushed him to go, either—and for him, that was enough reason to stay away.

Once in a while, his mother liked to drag him along for an event.

This time it was the summer bake sale, and she made her opinions on his outfit very clear on the walk over from their car.

“You’ll never meet a nice girl looking like that,” she chided. She gave a cursory glance at his tshirt, tattooed arms fully on display.

Jungkook pressed his lips together in response, staying silent. He wasn’t into girls, anyways.

His mother seemed to have spotted some friends, and just like that, the split moments of attention Jungkook had been being given evaporated.

She reached into her wallet and pulled out a few bills, already waving the women over. “Here, sweetheart. Go buy something you want.”

Jungkook bit back a sigh and accepted the money. He stood in the parking lot for a moment, surveying the scene.

It was relatively crowded.

The day was hot, but it did little to affect the crowds of people mingling around the tables filled with baked goods.

Jungkook caught more than a few stares being thrown in his direction. They were the types of stares that really irritated him.

The ones that pretended they weren’t /actually/ staring, where they glanced his way and looked away just as quickly.

He was genuinely considering finding his mother and stealing the car keys to go back home.

He moved towards the back of the parking lot while he entertained the idea, trying to ease away from the crowds for just a moment.

He was just about to call her when something caught his eye.

Or more specifically, some/one/.

There was a booth tucked into the back of the lot. There wasn’t much foot traffic around, and only one person stood behind the table.

It was a boy. He was smiling at the woman he was talking to, eyes bright. “Hello, would you like to buy a brownie? They’re made from scratch.”

Jungkook stared at him. He had a strange smile. It was almost too large for his face, but somehow it suited him. He looked like the type of person who came to church often, with a neatly pressed shirt tucked into belted jeans and well combed hair.

Jungkook felt his gaze linger on the soft brown locks. They were just shy of too long, to the point where they curled past his ears.

Long enough to tug on.

And just like that, his feet were carrying him towards the stand.

The boy glanced up as he approached, falling back into that beaming smile.

“Hi, would you like to buy a brownie? They’re—”

“Made from scratch,” Jungkook interjected. “I know.”

The boy faltered at that, smile fading ever so slightly. “Oh. Um, okay. So you’d like to buy one?”

Jungkook hummed then, moving a little closer and picking up one of the pre-packaged desserts. He saw the boy’s gaze drift down to his tattoos, seeming to linger on the letters etched onto Jungkook’s knuckles.

Internally, he smirked.

“I don’t know,” he finally said, placing the dessert back down. “What else do you have to offer?”

The boy cleared his throat, eyes snapping back to his face. There was a soft blush dusting his cheeks, as if he were afraid he’d been caught staring.

“Well, we have cookies and cupcakes. We’re almost out of the—”

“No, no.”

Jungkook leaned over the table until he was just a little too close for comfort. Until he could see the boy’s eyes widening slightly, could see his lips part in surprise.

Jungkook smiled. “What else do /you/ have to offer?”

The boy’s entire face flushed.

He took a small step back, stammering. “I-I—um, we don’t have anything other than—”

“Not we,” Jungkook corrected. “Not the church. You.”

He cocked his head a little, genuinely a little endeared. It was hard not to be, with the flustered way he’d started stuttering.

The boy bit his lip. “I, um—I actually am with the church. My father is the pastor.”

Jungkook blinked.

“You’re—wait. Fuck. Kim Taehyung?”

He gave another smile. This one was smaller, but it somehow felt a lot realer than the teeth-bearing grins he’d been giving everyone earlier.

“That’s me,” Taehyung said. “And you are?”

Jungkook felt his lips twitching, but he fought back the urge to smile.

“Jeon Jungkook,” he finally said.

It was almost satisfying the way Taehyung’s eyes widened again.

“Oh,” he said softly. “Oh, wow. You’ve, um—” His gaze flickered down to his tattoos, face blazing before he forced his eyes back up. “You’ve...grown up.”

“So have you,” Jungkook hummed. He remembered Taehyung from Sunday School, when he used to attend. Cheerful, obedient Taehyung who always paid attention. Who always watched with wide eyes whenever Jungkook was kicked out of the classroom for being disruptive.

Taehyung hesitated, as if recalling the same memories. “You don’t come to service very often anymore, do you? I haven’t seen you in a long time.”

“Never really found any interest in it,” Jungkook replied honestly. He paused then. “Oh. Uh, no offense to your dad, or anything.”

The remark made Taehyung smile. “None taken.”

Despite his best efforts, Jungkook found himself smiling back.

There was a small lull in the conversation. There were people milling around them, but no one had yet approached the booth.

For some reason, the momentary lapse in conversation didn’t feel awkward. It was almost comfortable, with the two seeming to be sizing each other up.

Jungkook felt Taehyung’s gaze lingering on his biceps, and he returned the favor by staring just a little too long at his waist.

It looked even smaller with the way he’d tucked his shirt in.

God, he really wanted to dig his fingers into that waist.

He was snapped out of his thoughts when Taehyung spoke up again.

“Um.” A hesitant smile. “Not to be rude, but are you going to buy anything? I just—the table is being blocked.”

Jungkook paused. “Are you offering anything else?”

Taehyung looked unsure. “Everything I just listed is all—”

“Taehyung,” Jungkook said flatly. “I think you know exactly what I mean.”

He flinched at his name, as if he hadn’t been expecting it. His throat moved as he swallowed.

“I’m not offering......what you’re asking,” he finally said, voice soft, cheeks bright red, gaze lowered.

Jungkook cocked his head. “You sure about that?”

“I’m very sure,” Taehyung said, the words just a little firmer than before.

Jungkook leaned back. “Okay,” he said after a moment. “Then I’ll take two brownies.”

Taehyung’s shoulders seemed to relax.

He nodded, reaching for the cash Jungkook extended towards him and handing him the desserts.

It was strange, Jungkook thought. He felt strangely cheerful after the conversation with the other boy. A feeling he didn’t often associate with the church—or anyone associated with it.

“Well, it was nice seeing you again.” Jungkook felt his lips twitch to fight back a smile. “Maybe you’ll see me at service soon.”

Taehyung looked a little surprised. “I thought you didn’t find it interesting.”

Jungkook held his gaze for a beat. “Not the sermons, no.”

The remark made Taehyung flush. He mumbled an incoherent response, already turning towards the woman that had approached the booth.

Jungkook stared at him for just a minute longer before leaving, brownies held tightly in hand.

*

“—aehyung. Taehyung.”

“Hm?”

Taehyung snapped out of his thoughts to see his father giving him a disapproving look. He winced, lowering his head in apology.

“Sorry,” he said quietly.

“You’re distracted,” his father said simply.

Almost without meaning to, Taehyung’s thoughts drifted back towards Jungkook. It was so stupid, but he hadn’t been able to get him out of his head since the bake sale.

“I’m sorry,” he repeated softly. “What were you saying?”

“We were discussing tonight’s youth group meeting,” his father sighed. “May I ask why you’re so distracted?”

Taehyung swallowed, heartbeat picking up a little bit for no real reason. It almost made him frown. He didn’t have any reason to be nervous.

He was thinking about an old classmate of his. What was so strange about that?

He let out a breath. “I’m just excited for tonight.” His tongue felt strangely heavy with the lie.

There was a beat of silence before his father nodded.

“Good. As you should be, we’re expecting quite the turnout.”

And quite the turnout it was. The church was bright and full of life that night, bustling with teenagers.

Taehyung kept a bright smile as always. He genuinely did enjoy the youth meetings most of the time, after all.

That night, he tried to pretend he wasn’t searching the crowd all night for a familiar face, but he felt a strange surge of disappointment when he didn’t see Jungkook.

Ridiculous. He was being ridiculous. Jungkook wasn’t the type to come to a church youth meeting.

And even if he did, why was it any of Taehyung’s business?

He found himself asking that question more than once that night.

The meeting ended as usual, and Taehyung stayed behind afterwards to clean up the mess that was always left behind once everyone had gone.

He had just dusted one of the tables into the trash when the sound of the heavy church doors opening made him look up.

Despite the hot summer air, Jungkook was wearing a jacket. He stepped inside with his hands in his jeans, looking younger without his tattoos on display.

“Damn. Looks like I missed quite the party.”

The words were said teasingly. His eyes glittered, lips twitching with a smile.

Taehyung had to stop himself from smiling back.

His heartbeat had picked up again. It was strange, almost foreign to him.

He’d found it happening twice now around the younger male, and it was confusing to say the least.

He schooled his features into as flat an expression as he could, but he couldn’t do much to hide the way his cheeks flushed.

“We just finished our weekly youth meeting,” he replied, brushing a few crumbs off the tabletop with a napkin.

Jungkook hummed. “And I wasn’t invited?”

Taehyung spared him an unimpressed look as he began to pick up the stray cups and stack them.

“Your mom goes to this church, Jungkook. You know when our youth meetings are held.”

The words were a little too curt. Taehyung had to bite the inside of his cheek, had to remind himself to tone it down. Why did he care if Jungkook showed up or not? Why was he acting so bitter?

Without any warning, Jungkook moved closer. It made Taehyung falter, dropping one of the cups in his hand.

Jungkook caught it easily, handing it back with the world’s most annoying glint in his eyes.

“Maybe I was just hoping for a more personal invitation,” he continued.

His voice was soft, despite the fact that they were alone in the church.

Taehyung felt his face growing hot. He gritted his teeth, continuing to move down the table as he cleaned. Jungkook followed him, standing across from him and moving along at the same slow speed.

“I don’t know why you’d be hoping for that,” Taehyung mumbled. “We aren’t that close.”

“What if I want to change that?” Jungkook murmured.

His voice caught Taehyung off guard. It had softened even more, grown just a little deeper. Almost husky.

He glanced up to find Jungkook was looking at him through his eyelashes. His eyes had darkened.

Taehyung shivered.

“Well, I—then you should come to services more often,” he managed to stammer.

“Maybe you should come hang out with me instead,” Jungkook offered.

He rolled his neck, looking unfairly at ease compared to how tense Taehyung felt.

Taehyung frowned. “What do you have against church?”

Jungkook held his gaze.

“Nothing at all,” he murmured. “I think the church has a lot to offer, actually.”

His gaze slid down Taehyung’s body, painfully slow and painfully obvious. Taehyung felt himself flushing.

Wrong, it was so wrong. One look and he could feel his pulse quickening—and he was in the /church/.

/They/ were in the church.

“I-I’m not offering anything to you,” he managed to hiss, hurriedly turning around to make his way towards the trash can. “And if you aren’t here for the right reasons, then you should just leave.”

Jungkook trailed behind closely, too closely.

Taehyung could feel his body heat, could almost feel his breath on his neck.

“And who gets to decide what’s right?” he asked.

“You don’t know what you’re saying,” Taehyung said stiffly.

God decided. And his father, and the rules, the rules that Taehyung knew and lived by.

/They/ dictated what was right.

And this? Jungkook, him, the way his stomach had been in knots for the entire duration of his conversation?

This wasn’t right.

He’d gotten rid of the trash, too caught up in his thoughts, and he turned around to find Jungkook standing close.

Too close. Taehyung took a step back and found his back pressed up against the wall.

Jungkook’s eyes were dark again as he looked down at him, just a few inches taller. “Am I making you uncomfortable, sweetheart?” he asked softly.

Something inside of Taehyung’s stomach fluttered at the pet name.

He let out a shaky breath.

“N...no.”

When Jungkook stared at him, his gaze was smoldering. “Are you as good as you pretend to be, Taehyung?”

Taehyung’s chest clenched, throat feeling inexplicably tight. “I-I don’t know what you’re—”

Jungkook leaned down and Taehyung’s breath caught in his throat, the rest of the sentence dying on his tongue.

The younger male pressed his lips to his ear. The action sent tingles shooting down Taehyung’s spine, and he dug his fingers into the crevices of the brick wall behind himself.

“...Can I kiss you?”

Taehyung’s heart jumped into his throat.

He felt his breath hitch. Jungkook was silent, and the air between them felt stifling as he waited for his answer. His entire body was on fire with Jungkook pressed up against him, so close.

He could say yes.

His toes were fucking tingling, his lungs felt tight, and he /wanted/ to. He wanted to—

—And that terrified him.

He swallowed hard before shaking his head.

Jungkook leaned back and took a step away, dusting himself off.

“Didn’t think it’d be that easy,” he said, smiling. “But I figured it was worth a shot.”

Taehyung let out a shaky breath, hugging his elbows tightly. “You should...you should leave.”

Jungkook hummed. Nodded. Handed something to him.

Taehyung started in surprise as he pushed the item towards him. His eyebrows furrowed, looking down at the wadded up napkin.

“It’s my number,” Jungkook said, laughing a little. “Text me next time.”

Taehyung hesitated before curling his fingers around the note.

“The youth meetings are every Thursday ni—”

“Text me when they’re /over/,” Jungkook cut in. He held Taehyung’s gaze again, signature smirk having returned. “I’ll stop by. Help you clean up.”

Taehyung hesitated. “I really don’t need—”

“See you around, Taehyung.”

He left as abruptly as he’d arrived, leaving Taehyung standing there alone. He stayed leaned against the wall for a few minutes before he found the energy to stand up and continue cleaning.

*

Against every logical thought telling him not to, he texted Jungkook that night.

Taehyung
Thank you for helping me clean up tonight

He stared at the text, biting his lip. A minute ticked by and no response came.

Taehyung sank into his bed a little, burying his nose in his blanket. Ridiculous, how strangely sad it made him. He should have been thrilled that the younger was finally off his back.

The three dots that signified someone was typing suddenly appeared. Taehyung straightened up.

Jungkook
i wasnt much help

Taehyung gave a small smile at that. Technically, he was right. He hadn’t done much besides tease him.

Taehyung
Still

Jungkook
you know how you can repay me? :)

The message had Taehyung pausing. He bit the inside of his lip, hard, hoping so badly this wasn’t going in the direction he feared it might be.

Taehyung
Do not send me any inappropriate pictures or I WILL block you

Jungkook
wooooow
thats how low you think of me huh
im wounded taehyung
youve wounded me

Taehyung laughed. He didn’t even realize he was smiling as he typed, fingers moving far quicker than they usually did.

Taehyung
Sorry

Jungkook
i was GOING to say
go out with me tmrw

Taehyung’s breath hitched. He felt the smile slide right off, and stared at the text with his heart skipping every other beat.

He didn’t realize how long had passed. He stared at the text for a while without responding, thoughts running a mile a minute.

The three dots popped up again.

Jungkook
ouch
was it something i said

Taehyung
I’m not allowed to date.

Jungkook
well fuck, you put a period and everything
did i make you mad
im sorry :(

He tried to fight it, but the sight of the smiley face made him smile.

Taehyung
You don’t have to apologize
My father is a little strict

Jungkook
yeah
he doesnt like me very much does he

Taehyung sighed. Seeing the words on a screen made the obvious even harder to ignore.

Jungkook
plus you know
the fact that i have a dick probably doesnt help

Taehyung sat up, nearly choking.

Taehyung
That has nothing to do with my dad
That’s something God is against

Jungkook
lmao
yea ok
youre telling me youre not even the least bit attracted to me

In the silence of his bedroom, Taehyung let out an indignant sound.

Taehyung
You’re one of the most arrogant people I’ve ever met

Jungkook
and yet you still havent said no

Taehyung clenched his teeth.

Taehyung
NO.
No, I DONT find you attractive

Jungkook
but what i asked was if youre attracted to me sweetheart
and you still havent said no

Taehyung made a sound through his teeth, toes curling. He didn’t know what he was thinking, texting him.

Clearly, they were very different people. Too different.

He was just about to say as much when the three bubbles popped up once again.

Jungkook
im just teasing you tae
im sorry ill stop

He let out a breath.

Taehyung
I’m going to bed now

Jungkook
youre mad

Taehyung
I’m not mad, I’m just tired

Jungkook
if you say so
sweet dreams

He stared at the text for a beat longer before turning off his phone. It was uncharacteristically sweet of Jungkook, and for some reason, it made the rest of the annoyance Taehyung had felt throughout the conversation disappear.

*

The next time they ran into each other, the sun had set and Taehyung was sitting on the church steps with his jacket wrapped tightly around himself.

He was waiting for his ride, when an unfamiliar car slowed to a stop in front of him.

He felt his eyebrows furrow as the window rolled down, and his lips parted in surprise.

“Jungkook?”

The younger male had one hand on the steering wheel. He looked relaxed, his other arm thrown across the other seat, lips twitching with that signature smirk.

“Hey, love. Waiting for me?”

“I’m waiting for my cousin,” Taehyung said hesitantly. “Why are you here?”

“My mom left her wallet.” Jungkook lifted the item in question before tossing it back onto the seat. “Let me give you a ride, Taehyung.”

He swallowed, tucking his sweaty palms beneath his legs. “No. Um, no thank you.”

Jungkook reached over and pulled on the door handle, pushing the passenger door open.

Taehyung stared at it. “I said—“

“I heard what you said.” Jungkook’s gaze was fond, just on the edge of teasing. “It’s cold out here. Come on.”

Taehyung shifted, pulling on his jacket a little. It was uncharacteristically cold for a summer night. And his cousin was always late.

And Jungkook was already here, after all.

He bit his lip. “You have to bring me straight home. No detours. Promise?”

Jungkook merely grinned in response.

Taehyung slipped in and closed the door, and Jungkook revved away almost immediately.

He gasped when his gaze landed on something. “You’re not wearing your seatbelt!”

Jungkook laughed a little. “No, I’m not.”

Taehyung scrambled to put on his own, feeling his eyebrows furrow.

“You should always wear your seatbelt, Jungkook,” he said firmly.

He felt the younger’s gaze flicker towards him, lips twitching with a smile. “Worried about me?”

Taehyung’s cheeks warmed. “No. It’s the law. You could get pulled over.”

“So you’re not worried about my imminent death,” Jungkook clarified, eyes twinkling with amusement.

“Just whether I get arrested or not.”

Taehyung felt his nose wrinkle. “You’re so annoying.”

“Only around you,” he laughed.

Taehyung’s cheeks burned. “Why?” he asked, frowning slightly.

Jungkook’s gaze flickered towards him. “I don’t know. There’s something so satisfying about annoying you.” A pause. “Maybe it’s that perfect pastor’s son bullshit. Whenever you’re pissed, the whole act just drops for a second.”

“T-that’s not true,” Taehyung said defensively. His eyebrows furrowed. “And it’s not an act, either. I never claimed I was perfect, but I try to—”

“You’re telling me you actually like spending your Friday nights at church every week?” Jungkook cut in.

Taehyung clenched his teeth. “Yes, I do. Some of us /enjoy/ helping out with the church, Jungkook. I realize that might be impossible for you to fathom.”

“Ooh, big word,” Jungkook teased.

Taehyung shook his head. “I don’t even know why I try,” he muttered.

They drove in silence for a few minutes, before Jungkook spoke up.

“Let me ask you something,” he said.

Taehyung pressed his lips together, almost certain a smug, flirty comment would be coming next. “Go ahead,” he muttered.

“Say I come to church next week.”

He looked up in surprise. Jungkook wasn’t looking at him, gaze focused instead on the road.

Taehyung hesitated. “Okay...”

“If I do,” he glanced at him briefly, a spark in his eye, “you have to go out with me.”

Taehyung’s face flamed.

He sputtered, turning his head towards the window immediately as if it would end the conversation.

“Absolutely not,” he managed to choke out. “I told you. I can’t date.”

“Can’t or won’t?” Jungkook raised an eyebrow.

“Can’t,” Taehyung hissed. “This is a small town, Jungkook. You really think we could go out and no one would see us? My dad would find out before the night ended. And all of that aside, we can’t—” His jaw clenched slightly, and he looked away. “We’re both boys, Jungkook.”

There was another stretch of silence. Taehyung was almost worried he’d upset the younger, and he avoided his gaze studiously.

“So what I’m hearing,” Jungkook finally said, voice quiet and steady, “is that you want to go out with me.”

Taehyung’s mouth fell open. “How is /that/ what you got out of that?”

“You said you’re not allowed to date,” Jungkook said, throwing a grin in his direction. “That it’s a small town and people would talk. That your dad wouldn’t approve. And that it’s—wrong, or whatever.”

“But what you /didn’t/ say was that you don’t like me.”

Taehyung was speechless.

He could see they’d turned onto his block, and his street would be nearing any moment.

“I’m not going to pressure you, Taehyung,” Jungkook added, for once not sounding as smug or cocky as usual.

“But I like you. Seriously. All jokes aside, the offer isn’t going to stand forever.”

His street neared, familiar mailboxes passing by. Taehyung swallowed, staying silent.

“And if you’re worried this is like. I don’t know. Just a joke, or something. It’s not,” he added softly.

Jungkook turned onto his driveway, and Taehyung found himself unable to get out of the car for some reason.

He’d closed his eyes, trying to find some sort of reason as to why he suddenly couldn’t breathe.

When he opened his eyes, Jungkook was looking at him.

Taehyung stared back at him, and his stomach lurched as a particular bible verse danced through his thoughts.

/Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak./

He swallowed, opening his mouth to thank the younger for the ride and step out of the car.

“We’d have to sneak out.”

Jungkook looked surprised to say that least. He sat back a little, before a slow grin overtook his expression. “That’s fine by me.”

Taehyung let out a breath. His stomach was churning, butterflies climbing up his chest. “I-I’ve never—you’ll have to help me, okay? I’ve never done this before.”

The younger’s eyes softened. “I know, Taehyung. I can drop by later tonight. What time will your parents be asleep?”

Taehyung bit his lip. “Usually by 12.”

“I’ll be here at 1.” Jungkook unlocked the car doors then, giving him an almost encouraging smile. “Way to let loose, Kim. I’m proud of you.”

Taehyung opened the door, still not quite sure he wasn’t dreaming.

“Thank you for the ride,” he said, voice just a little hoarse.

“See you in a few hours,” Jungkook said. He was smirking again, that smirk that did funny things to Taehyung’s stomach.

The flesh was weak, indeed.