;;
jeongguk hadn't quite
imagined taehyung to
know all of the artists
on the walls.
he'd half expected him to
be a fresh university
graduate from some
big city with a pretty
face and a certain
arrogance that only
a person who was fully
aware of their talent
possessed.
painstakingly gorgeous,
confident, (he certainly was)
self centered and only
caring for the way that
he saw his own
artwork.
he hadn't expected him
to be so humble, so respectful
and admiring of the local
artists, so calm and complacent
and so acknowledging
of himself and his surroundings,
it was endearing,
made the younger boy's mouth
erupt into a soft smile when he'd
come to read the little plaque that
stood proudly next to each piece.
the respect he showed for them
was brutally attractive, went
against everything that jeongguk
told himself not to do.
fall for him.
"ah, mr fieldstein. peculiar
man if i say so myself," taehyung
smiled as he took in the small
canvas before him.
"i dearly admire his
perception, not everything
that holds beauty is natural,
some people say that synthetics
are more aesthetically
pleasing and i must agree with
him on this one, he sure does
know how to make a kitchenette
into a masterpiece." taehyung
chuckled deeply. how was it
that he managed to look so
beautiful doing nothing? saying
nothing? why did he want him
to place his hand back onto
his neck and stroke his skin
like he had only a few brief
moments ago?
oh, jeongguk was in dangerous
waters indeed.
"don't you agree, jeongguk?"
his question snapped him
out of his trance, he exhaled
slightly as he tried to rack
his brain for the words that
had left his full, lush lips.
taehyung's deep, ebony
eyes bore into his own,
assessing.
"y-yes of course mr kim,"
jeongguk let out quietly,
pulling his pink backpack
further up his shoulders.
mr fieldstein lived down the
road from him but he
wasn't going to
embarrass himself and let
out that irrelevant
piece of information.
"he's a proud man."
"as he should be, of a
painting so golden." the older
mused, turning his head to
face the younger. his gaze
lingered longer than it should
have really, it was hot and
heavy and it made his cheeks
burn with pride that he could
capture his attention for this
long. though that wasn't a
surprise, jeongguk often
caught him staring at him.
"shall we go?" the younger
squeaked. he wanted to
move on forward before
he melted into a hot puddle.
"where next?" taehyung
asked, he wasn't asking it
in a way that told him he
didn't know his way around
the place, because he certainly
did. he was asking it in a way
that he wanted jeongguk
to lead them on, he was
asking him where he wanted
to go.
"well, since we've
seen pretty much everyone
here... do you perhaps want to
go to th-the old corridor where
they keep the antiques?" he
squeaked.
"i'd love that."
the older smiled softly,
shoving his hands into his
pockets as his silver hair
fell gracefully over his deep eyes.
jeongguk didn't know
how he saw him half the
time- but something in the
back of his head told him that
he didn't need to properly
see him to see through him.
kim taehyung saw anyone
and everything
without even trying.
a few minutes later, the duo
had made their way past
the barriers of the exhibition
hall, passing dozens
of pieces all unique in style
and colour and fashions and
the story that they held
behind them each.
jeongguk enjoyed that the
most, he loved the pure essence
that they brought, life flourishing
amongst the soft brush
strokes that adorned the
canvases of varying sizes and
pigments. it was one thing
that he'd never get tired of;
seeing the world through
someone else's eyes.
it dawned upon him that
he had no idea what
mr kim painted like.
of course, he didn't want
to assume anything but
he knew for a fact that
his aura screamed realism.
then again, he could be
totally wrong. art was so
unpredictable it'd be wrong
to assume anything
from someone.
take mr fieldstein for example-
he had the most wonderful
garden, jeongguk would
pass it on the weekends
when he'd go to the park
at the end of his street.
it always remained full and blossoming
despite the time of day
or the time of year, you'd think
that he'd be more of a florist
and paint about his forest of
roses and bluebells but no,
he would sit himself down
and paint his kitchen.
bizarre.
they walked down a long, empty
corridor.
hesitantly,
jeongguk plopped his bag down
on the bench before
one of the towering
pieces and began to open it.
"this is my favourite place in the
whole gallery." he began quietly,
testing if taehyung was paying
attention to him. of course he
was- why would he bother
coming with him if he didn't
care in the slightest.
probably nothing better to
do with his life.
"you're right, i don't
have anything better to do
than spend my time
with someone worthwhile,
someone so young and talented,"
taehyung had heard that? well,
that wasn't embarrassing at all.
jeongguk's cheeks burned with
shame as his brain tried
to comprehend the compliment,
he zipped open the bag
and began rummaging
around inside it.
i can't believe i just said that out
loud, what an idiot, gguk.
"my grandfather used to
take me here all the time when i
was younger. it's the only thing
i looked forward to." it was,
sure, he loved
the other artists, but the
old artwork of the
townfolk had always
interested him the most.
some dated back to the
second world war,
where widows would
sit, solitary in their
homes with their
husbands fallen on
the front lines; they'd
mourn them through
the pictures that they'd
paint so vividly, so stark
and bold and true.
through their paintings,
he saw their struggles,
their loss of hope.
untold, silent stories
of the blackouts and
the tears shed from
shattered, porcelain
faces.
jeongguk adored it.
"they're incredible,"
taehyung breathed.
the teenager's heart
soared that he thought of
it the same way.
how could he hold such
perfection in his pristine,
beautifully sculpted hands?
how was it that he could
adhere to anything that
jeongguk wanted in a man?
he needed to get these thoughts
out of his head
but every second that passed by,
he only blushed harder, watched
him more, took in every feature
on his perfect face.
"do you have a favourite
piece, sweetheart?" dear god,
his voice would softly kill him
one day, jeongguk was sure of
it. he wouldn't last but he
wasn't exactly complaining.
and he just called him-
oh fuck. he was in deep trouble.
"u-um it's nothing, really." he
stammered, mentally cursing
at himself for stuttering, yet again.
"i'm sure it's everything." taehyung
spoke lowly, barely audible
as a soft echo in the lonely
corridor. jeongguk was also
sure that his cheeks would fall
off from blushing so hard.
couldn't he see? what he did
to him? how ruined he was before
him? oh how pathetic. his dreams
were far too far fetched for
anything really. reality was
talking to him now and it
was telling him to give up
because he had absolutely
no chance to-
"it's this one, isn't it."
taehyung pointed to
a small, dainty canvas,
plastered on the smooth,
marble wall.
how in the world
did taehyung know that-
how could he possibly
have-
"it just seems like
something you'd admire."
he smiled a deep, merciless
smile that had the younger's
knees buckling under his
intense gaze. this was bad,
this was very, very bad.
did jeongguk...
have a crush?
"care to tell me what
you see, sweet?"
yes, he definitely had
a raging crush on him
alright. this was bad.
"w-well i- um-" he gulped
as his eyes flickered over
the older's strong neck,
his broad shoulders, his
beautiful arms and honey
skin.
shit.
"h-her name was
anne lister. she was
a war widow, her
painting showed
the hurt and pain
and terror that she
endured when she
first received the telegram.
she was brave enough
to paint how lonely
she was, how she
managed to push past
her life after her husband's
passing, her struggles
are shown here so
beautifully. i don't know,
i just adore it, i really
don't know why-"
"it's breathtaking."
taehyung took a
step back, eyes transfixed.
"oh, what i'd give to meet
her- i heard she's still
alive. old but alive somewhere.
probably living alone. It's rather
heart wrenching if you think about
it."
"it's funny." taehyung chuckled.
jeongguk furrowed his
eyebrows.
"excuse me?" what did
he just say-
"nevermind. perhaps
i'll tell you later." the man
ran a hand through his hair
nonchalantly. as though he
hadn't just said something
offensive.
he probably has a good
reason, gguk.
but did he really though?
jeongguk was about to show
him his sketchbook. he was actually
about to open up to him.
he couldn't believe he ever thought
of doing so.
"are you thirsty? i'm
parched." taehyung turned
to face him, as if he hadn't
said something hurtful.
how... careless was he?
"let's go get something
from the café." he smiled
but jeongguk was having second
thoughts all of a sudden.
face crestfallen, he placed his
book back in his bag, never
missing the way taehyung's eyes
flickered over it as he zipped
it closed.
"okay." he let out quietly.
something in his heart sank
as they wordlessly
made their way towards
the café.
_______
I'm sorry this took a thousand years?? :((
抖阴社区r's block can be a bitch >:(
Also.. what do you think Tae was about to say?? 👀