ken/leo; you make me fall
title: you make me fall
pairing: ken/leo
genre: fluff, romance, kindergarden!au
rating: pg
words: 1,177
summary: 'hi, my name is jung taekwoon. it's nice to meet you.'
a/n: requested by anna. she wanted either haken or keo and as keo just has my writer's heart rn, this fic happened. might do a sequel, I wanna write this more as there's basically nothing happening haha
“Hi, my name is Jung Taekwoon. It’s nice to meet you.”
Jung Taekwoon’s voice is soft and high, Jaehwan notes as the new intern introduces himself to the entire teacher body. He looks a little lost, his feet shuffling together and his fingers twisting in nervousness. They’re long and delicate, Jaehwan notices that, too.
“I’ll be the new intern. Today is going to be my first day, so I… I hope you can help me get along well. Thank you for taking me in.”
Jung Taekwoon bows, and there is a short welcoming from everybody else before it is time for them, including Jaehwan, to return to their jobs. Jaehwan pouts a little. He would have liked to talk to the new intern a little, even more because he didn’t say under who’s care he was going to be put. Then again, Jaehwan would never admit that dark hair and poised lips had a tendency to lure him in. That is causing enough trouble in his mind as it is.
-
Fourth period - also known as drawing class - rolls around. It’s already twenty minutes into class when suddenly the door to Jaehwan’s classroom opens, and the director trudges in. Jung Taekwoon follows him closely, and Jaehwan can feel his smile light up a little more.
“Hey kids, time greet our director!”
The kids greet the boss (it’s what Jaehwan calls him, really, because he finds ‘director’ a much too boring term, and he’s too endearing to actually get away with it) in a choir of voices, and Jaehwan turns to the two arrivers, beaming.
“What’s up, boss?”
The director gives him a sharp glance but let’s it slide, instead gesturing to Jung Taekwoon. The intern looks at Jaehwan silently, bowing his head as a greeting.
“I am just finishing up with showing Taekwoon here around the facilities. I was thinking, as you are one of the most popular teachers, wouldn’t you like to take him in?”
Jaehwan’s mind stops for a second before he answers, eyes travelling to the intern and back, another smile breaking free.
“Of course, it would be a pleasure! Right, Jung Taekwoon?” Jaehwan grins at seeing the intern’s face heat up when addressed by his full name. Cute.
“J-just Taekwoon, really.”
Jaehwan nods, extending a hand to Taekwoon. “Alright, Just Taekwoon. I’m Lee Jaehwan. But you can call me Simply Jaehwan.” He ads, and throws in a small wink for good measure. Taekwoon takes his hand hesitantly, but Jaehwan can clearly see the almost secret upturn of his lips at the joke.
“Perfect!” The director exclaims, rubbing his hands together, “then it’s all settled. Would you mind if I leave him here with you? I have a meeting to attend.”
Jaehwan shakes his head. “No, not at all. I think we can keep him entertained, don’t you think, kids?” Excited cheers fill the room, and Jaehwan thinks that maybe Taekwoon is already too popular, judging by the glances some of the little girls send him. He can’t help but snicker into his collar. He can see Taekwoon’s cheeks colouring with a slight pink spree, and Jaehwan has to resist the urge to pinch them.
After the director leaves the class, there’s a short silence before the commotion starts. One of the little girls dashes forward to grab Taekwoon’s hand, blabbering about how he really should see the picture that she’s drawing, much to the dismay of some of the others. Quickly, the intern’s legs are surrounded by a flock of squealing kids, and even though Jaehwan can clearly see him glow with happiness, he looks back at him, mouthing a small ‘help’.
Jaehwan laughs and claps his hands to get the kids’ attention. “Everyone back to their seats! If this goes on, I am going to pout in a corner because it seems you’ve transferred all your affection!” He mimics crying and sobs exaggeratedly, which makes the little girls and boys giggle and coo with “no, Lee-seonsaegnim, you’re still our favourite”s and “don’t cry!”s. Jaehwan takes a few of the kids into his arms, hugging them for good measure, before ushering them back to their respective seats.
After everything settled down and the two adults go their rounds, attending to some calls here and some there, Taekwoon finds his way next to Jaehwan, leaning against the teacher’s desk.
“Uhm… thank you… for before.”
Jaehwan blinks at him, surprised. Taekwoon’s eyes are set on the kids, and Jeahwan swears that now that they’re standing close to each other, Taekwoon most defenitely glows.
“Ah, you’re welcome.” he replies sheepishly, bringing his own eyes back front in case he might end up staring a bit. There’s a short pause in which Jaehwan tries to fight the urge to be curious, but in the end he can’t help himself.
“You know, you looked really happy being surrounded by them. You seem to have a hand with kids - you’re in this class barely twenty minutes and they already adore you,” Jaehwan snickers a bit, albeit it was more half-hearted this time, “even I took about a week to make them appreciate me like this.” He nudges Taekwoon’s arm in playful jaelousy. Taekwoon glances at him and looks back at the children, and now Jaehwan is 187% sure he’s smiling.
“I don’t know why. I’ve always… had a little affinity for children and animals. I guess it’s just my nature.” Taekwoon’s eyes are as soft as his voice as he says the words, and Jaehwan can feel himself stumble down a cliff. Oh boy. He simply nods, and they stay silent, attentively watching the class until the bell rings five minutes later to signal the break. Jaehwan lets out a breath he didn’t he was holding before ushering the kids to their next class.
After the last ones trudged out, he turned towards Taekwoon.
“Well, uh, this is the last class I am teaching today. They have PE now, and the only thing I have to do is go through a little bit of paper work so… It’d be pretty boring for you.” Jaehwan finds himself searching for words, something that doesn’t happen frequently. He stays silent, watching Taekwoon watching him, and he has to laugh to clear the awkwardness surrounding them.
“I guess I’ll see you tomorrow, then?”
It was Taekwoon saying those words, and Jaehwan’s heart somehow speeds up when he meets eyes with the intern. He gulps.
“Sure, I’d like that.”
With a small smile, Taekwoon brushes past Jaehwan and to the door, waving insecurely before turning around the corner, disappearing from sight. Jaehwan stands a little dazed, eyes still fixed on the spot where Taekwoon walked past the doorframe, and his words hit him then. He burries his face in his hands, turning to the teacher’s desk to slump against it.
“‘I’d like that’?? Lee Jaehwan, you’re so not smooth.”
Jaehwan sighs and picks up his paper work, teeth worrying at his full bottom lip. Jung Taekwoon might just be the worst trouble he’d have to go through as of yet.