The archery range's changing room smelled faintly of wood polish and fabric softener. Jungkook slipped into a fitted white shirt, the material snug against his toned frame, while Taehyung wrestled with the ties of his arm guard.
"This thing's trying to strangle me," Taehyung grumbled, tugging at the strap with a dramatic pout.
Jungkook glanced over, biting back a smile. "It's not that hard, Taehyung. Do you want me toâ"
"No!" Taehyung cut in, holding a hand up. "I've got it. Just... give me a second."
Jungkook rolled his eyes but leaned casually against the lockers, crossing his arms as he watched Taehyung struggle. His heart fluttered at the sightâTaehyung's slightly disheveled hair, the furrow in his brow, and the faint dusting of pink on his cheeks.
He's adorable when he's flustered.
Finally, Taehyung managed to secure the strap and turned to Jungkook with a triumphant grin. "See? I told you I could do it."
"Sure," Jungkook replied, his tone teasing. "Only took you five minutes."
"Yah, do you want me to shoot an arrow at you instead of the target?" Taehyung huffed, brushing past Jungkook as they made their way to the range.
______
They stood side by side in their designated lane, bows in hand. Jungkook adjusted his stance with practiced ease, the fluidity of his movements making Taehyung feel like a complete amateur.
"Alright," Jungkook said, nocking an arrow onto the string. "Watch and learn."
With a smooth pull, Jungkook drew the bowstring back to his cheek, his muscles taut but relaxed. He exhaled slowly and let the arrow fly.
Thud.
The arrow hit dead center, the vibrant yellow bullseye quivering from the impact.
Taehyung's jaw dropped. "Show-off."
Jungkook smirked, lowering his bow. "That, Taehyung, is how you do it."
Taehyung scoffed, feigning nonchalance. "Big deal. Anyone can do that."
"Oh?" Jungkook tilted his head, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Go ahead, then. Prove it."
Taehyung squared his shoulders and stepped up to the line, determined to look confident even though his grip on the bow felt clumsy. He mimicked Jungkook's earlier stance, but the moment he tried to draw the string, it wobbled dangerously in his hands.
"Uh..."
"Need help?" Jungkook asked, clearly holding back laughter.
"No," Taehyung lied, his voice a pitch higher than usual.
But the bowstring slipped from his fingers, the arrow clattering harmlessly to the floor.
Jungkook burst into laughter, his shoulders shaking. "I wasn't kidding when I said you were bad at this."
Taehyung glared, his cheeks burning. "I wasn't bad! I was just... letting you feel good about yourself."
Jungkook arched a brow. "Sure you were."
Taehyung hesitated, then sighed in defeat, his bravado crumbling. "Fine. I lied. I don't know what I'm doing, okay?"
Jungkook's laughter softened, replaced by a fond smile. "Come here," he said, gesturing for Taehyung to step closer.
"Alright," Jungkook said, stepping behind Taehyung and wrapping his hands around the other's. "First, relax. You're too tense."
Taehyung's heart skipped a beat as he felt Jungkook's warmth against his back. "IâI'm relaxed," he stammered, though his stiff posture said otherwise.
Jungkook chuckled softly, the sound low and comforting. "No, you're not. Just breathe."
Taehyung tried to focus, but Jungkook's voice was too close, too gentle. He could feel Jungkook's breath against his ear, and it made his mind whirl.
Why is my heart racing? It's just Jungkook... right?
Meanwhile, Jungkook was having a battle of his own. Standing this close to Taehyung, feeling the warmth of his body and catching the faint scent of his cologne, was almost too much to handle.
Focus, Jungkook. Don't make it weird.
He adjusted Taehyung's grip on the bow, his fingers brushing lightly against Taehyung's. "Now pull back the string," he instructed, guiding Taehyung's hands with his own. "Slowly. Feel the tension."
Taehyung obeyed, his movements shaky but steadying under Jungkook's guidance. "Like this?"
"Perfect," Jungkook murmured, his voice softer than he intended.
Their eyes met briefly, and something unspoken passed between them. Taehyung's breath hitched, but Jungkook quickly looked away, clearing his throat.
"Okay," Jungkook said, stepping back slightly but keeping his hands on Taehyung's. "Now aim. Take your time."
Taehyung focused on the target, his nerves slowly giving way to determination. He released the string, and the arrow soared through the air, landing just outside the center ring.
"Not bad," Jungkook said, smiling proudly. "See? You've got potential."
Taehyung turned to face him, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Of course, I know that."
Jungkook's heart swelled at the compliment, but he quickly masked it with a teasing grin. "Don't let it go to your head."
As they reset for another round, Jungkook couldn't help but think:
If only you knew how much you mean to me, Taehyung.