❧ Spark in the Heart ❧

The evening stroll to the diner was beautiful, the horizon facing East and simply washed with the sun's paintbrush of vibrant hues. The four surfers had arranged the home to their liking that afternoon, waxed their boards and relaxed on the back porch for their first day back by the shore.

They didn't always go to the diner for meals, but it was due seeing as Mark was finally back, having been stalled on his way home earlier with an emergency at the dance studio he worked at in the city.

"Now that's a sunset." Taehyung stared in awe, enamored by Mother Nature's personal canvas. "Best part of the day besides sunrise."

"Ha!" Hoseok threw an arm around his shoulders, dragging him down slightly as they continued down the walkway that hugged the road. "I remember you telling us how you wanted to be, quote, kissed just like the sun did with the earth at this hour."

"Poetic romantics," Jimin sighed dramatically.

"My brother's a hopeless romantic." Jin snorted. "People haven't hit on you in school, Tae?"

"I am pretty quiet at uni," he shrugged, being the center of attention making his confidence cave in. "Not everyone is popular like you, Hyung."

They were approaching the diner quickly, the small parking lot of the cozy beach-side restaurant under their feet as the conversation flowed like the passing breeze.

"What can I do?" Jin grinned. "I'm just amazing."

"You narcissistic fuck." Hoseok scoffed, earning the eldest's dashing smile in return. "People would buy your food just for your looks. Imagine— you could poison them so easily."

"Damn, Mr.Sunshine went dark," Taehyung laughed.

They reached the steps leading to the diner's main entrance, hearing the small bells jingle when they pushed the glass forward, open sign swinging with every movement of the door. The smell of greasy delicacies filled Taehyung's senses and he loved every second of it.

The diner was busier in the evenings, but most customers took seating on the back patio, umbrellas opened for shade and string lights sparkling around the perimeter of the porch. As the sky darkened the lights shone brighter like their sibling stars in the night.

The quieter indoor area of the diner greeted them, and with it, the long-awaited diner owner's son wiping down some tables.

The man's face jerked up at the sound of the entrance bells, jaw slackening in surprise as joy poured into his eyes.

"Taehyung?"

"Mark Hyung!"

The two collided in a clumsy embrace, stumbling at the harsh force tag teaming with the awkward angle. They simply didn't care, holding onto each other after two years of absence.

"Gosh, look at you!" The elder ruffled his fake strands and Taehyung looked at him with scrunched eyes and exposed teeth. "Handsome fella!"

Taehyung felt the flutter in his stomach at the compliment, moving to Mark's side as the elder greeted the other surfers.

"It's so good to see you, oh kind sir." Jin clasped his hand formally and the man his age scoffed, dragging him close to hurl a bear hug at him.

"Your hair is so cool, Hyung!" Jimin gasped, reaching up to graze the blonde highlighted tips, shining platinum in the white diner lights.

"Thanks, Jimin," Mark laughed, face glowing with excitement to see the boys after an overextended wait. "You guys settled alright?"

Hoseok bodied his side, causing the two dancers to stumble on their feet, the group chuckling at their playfulness. "No need to worry about us. Everything alright at the studio? Something happened, right?"

"Mhm, just a scheduling mishap, but I cleared it up," Mark replied, Taehyung watching in awe as the once responsible man had only grown to be more so, juggling helping in the diner, school and dancing all in that summer.

Taehyung was reminded of his deep he was in it.

"Quit staring at him like that, you creep." Jimin scoffed, voice directed at his ear for discretion. "Captain Obvious."

"Shut up."

"You're screaming it with your eyes, you know."

"You're screaming it with your words so shut up."

"What are you two arguing about?" Mark was jumping between them, wrapping arms around them both and Taehyung felt the heat tickle the skin of his neck and cheeks with punches of warmth.

"N-Nothing!"

"Nothing?" The elder teased.

"Nothing." Taehyung squeaked, feet stumbling as he was dragged over to a booth. "You need help cleaning, Hyung?"

"You've been here a day and want to work, Tae," the dancer laughed and patted his shoulder. "You're the guest today."

Conversation bounced around like a game of keeping a balloon in the air, the air was satisfied longing, comfort the hands supporting the words to stay afloat.

Mr.Tuan greeted them again, popping out of the kitchen and smiling at his son blending in with the mix of them.

"Evenings are nice here," Hoseok pointed to the back door, strangers' voices swallowing the quiet of the diner's interior as the glass doors were left open. "We get the inside to ourselves."

"You could ask my dad to reserve it and he'd do it in a heartbeat." Mark joked. Taehyung shifted shyly next to the man, both seated beside each other in the booth. He kept his hands firmly planted in his lap, exerting his nervousness in the form of white knuckles instead of red faces.

"We wouldn't do that," Jin exclaimed. "We know he loves seeing people around. Besides, we would want to hit the waves for some time— as much as we love this place."

"I know, I know," the elder laughed. Taehyung felt him shift and nudge him for attention. "Hey, I wanna catch up. Mind going for a walk with me?"

There was that spark that lit in his heart, making him inwardly panic with the soft nod that followed. They were slipping out of the booth, gesturing quick goodbyes as the other surfers mingled amongst themselves and enjoyed the food brought to them later, Mr.Tuan joining them for a bit.

"The weather is perfect." Mark said first, the warm breeze of the shore hitting their faces once they stepped out of the front entrance. "I missed you last year."

"Me too," Taehyung smiled and they rounded the outside of the diner to take the sandy path on the beach's boardwalk. There were small boutiques and a bakery closed for the night, their gentle lights shining on the darkened path. "You're teaching at the studio I heard?"

"Promoted from a student." Mark winked, causing Taehyung to chuckle knowingly. The man was great at the art form, getting along with Hoseok from the start thanks to their shared talent. "I heard you ended up going for art?"

"I should have stayed in contact," Taehyung mumbled miserably, pouting as Mark patted his back with a hearty rasp of enjoyment. "But, yeah, I was working at the university last year. It's why I couldn't come."

"It must have been important then."

Taehyung looked over the the elder, blond highlights shining a dusty brown in the low lighting, attention drawn straight to the dark eyes an inch below his own line of sight. They were spinning with childish excitement, a sign of Mark's adventurous personality beyond the maturity.

"Remember when we'd go jump into the ocean at night?" Mark recalled their young fun. "Everyone would be asleep and we would just be screaming in the water without them knowing."

"That was like... five years ago." Taehyung whined. "My parents always hated it, saying it was dangerous."

"That's why it stopped, I remember." His lips pursed and Taehyung flinched at the change in mood. "You're a lot quieter now."

"So?" The artist whispered. "Is that a bad thing?"

"Hmm?" Mark's mind seemed to have wandered elsewhere, whereas Taehyung's attention was pinned to him like a painting on the wall. "Nah, I am glad you managed to convince your parents with the art studies."

"Yeah..." Taehyung chewed at his lips with the blatant lie carving a guilty edge in his chest.

Mark always wanted him to stay carefree and youthful, something that Taehyung had found himself grow away from as the tides of his parents' disapproval and school washed in.

Speaking of tides, the younger gazed out at the darkened waters, the deep color a black as the moon would soon illuminate it.

You're a lot quieter now.

Was that change a bad thing? Taehyung became more compliant and understanding with his rebellious night adventures coming to a hold... he did miss the fun, but he couldn't see Mark doing such with him anymore.

Things had definitely changed between them in the past two years.

"Ah, anyways!" Mark dodged the tension with a hefty flyover. "How does it feel to be back? You guys probably haven't surfed yet, have you?"

"It's amazing, Mark Hyung!" Taehyung smiled brightly, stuffing the awkwardness away at the elder's similar habit. "We are going out first thing tomorrow. Waves are best in the morning and late afternoon."

"I remember teaching you that, dummy." Mark punched his arm playfully and the two turned to head back up the boardwalk towards the diner again. "This place gets busy in the summer. I'm glad since it helps Dad stay occupied. You guys being here helps since I'm usually out, too."

"We are the ones thankful for your and his help." Taehyung looked over at the small shop contents residing in window sills, meant to attract any subconscious attention. "You both have been there for us since the beginning."

"Dad did make a welcome meal and invite the new visitors over that summer," Mark laughed quietly, voice crisp as the sky had dulled to a murky blue state, the last remnants of light clinging to the colors of the sky. "Never would have imagined such great friendships out of it."

"Same here." Taehyung mumbled, his attention now averted when they reached the diner's lot again. "Are those..."

Mark followed his gaze and scowled at the sight.

Three motorcycles lined up next to each other, all of different types and models, but showing similar age and worn down conditions.

"Shit, not those idiots again." Mark grumbled, stalking up the steps. Taehyung grabbed his arm, though, making the elder stop and whip around in confusion. "What?"

"Wait." Taehyung felt his nervousness muddle with the spite for the bikers. "Won't it cause a scene in front of the customers?"

He wasn't even able to take a breath before Mark shook his head and pulled his arm away, reaching for the door again. "The others are still inside— the scene has already been caused."

Taehyung was quick to follow behind Mark into the diner for the second time that evening.

His breath latched to the back of his throat, heart lurching as he saw bikers intermixed with his friends, quite unwillingly.

The bell rang again, announcing their entrance, but it missed everyone's ears except for one.

The single head that turned to acknowledge him and Mark standing in the doorway was one that sat above leather baring shoulders. Taehyung looked with mixed emotions swarming inside as their eyes locked.

Deep, dark eyes that were glazed with mischief and curiosity, the smirk on his thin lips falling, dark long hair flopping with a tilt as his eyebrow quirked just enough to express his interest in the new face.

Mark had already left his side, making his way to the other surfers, but Taehyung felt pinned in the stare with that biker— his broad chest relaxed, shoulders and arms straining the leather on his back. His lean legs were resting on a chair, body situated atop the table.

He exerted every part of a biker that Taehyung had imagined.

When Taehyung's gaze flicked back up to meet those endlessly intense eyes again, they were mocking him, granting him the spark to light the anger in his chest.

And a spark in his chest did he most certainly feel. Every banter of the bikers' troubling actions came to mind as he placed a title on the man.

A typical, insufferable biker.

"Oh, look who joined the party," the smallest of the bikers said to Mark. The mint haired male was sitting on top of the booth seat next to Jimin, who looked ready to hurl him away, grinning at the annoyed expression on the dancer's face. "Our favorite diner owner's son."

"What are you doing here?" Mark turned to the bubblegum haired biker instead, the blank expression on the tall man doing no justice for a response. "Namjoon, get out of here."

"You can't kick customers out without reason." The pale, mint haired one said, shoving Jimin's shoulder and Taehyung took a step forward with clenched fists.

"Fuck this," Mark sent an apologetic gaze to Jin. "I'll be in the back helping Dad."

Jin only nodded and let out a sigh of relief that one less friend of his would have to deal with the bikers.

"We've got a newcomer."

Taehyung shot a glare at the ravenette that had spoken, the man simply smirking and nodding his head for a small 'hello.' The surfer became a magnet as everyone turned to him, surprise knocking on the other bikers' faces.

"Oh, do join us," Namjoon motioned him over with fake politeness and Taehyung saw Jin scoff in mutual sarcasm.

The youngest surfer took slow steps forward, feeling the dark gaze of the first biker consuming him as he walked past him. The artist silently took a seat next to Hoseok— who put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"What's your name, handsome?" Mint haired man toyed. Taehyung gazed back at him, unimpressed. "Humor me. I'm Yoongi."

"I didn't ask." Taehyung rolled his eyes. "And I'm not here for introductions."

The proud look on Jimin's face made him crack a smile, Yoongi's falling at the unwanted response. "How rude. You must be one of these wonderful surfers."

"And you wish you could be one, Yoongi." Hoseok shot back.

"Waves?" Yoongi raised a brow, snickering softly. "Nah, bikes are more fun to ride, sunshine."

"You guys visiting 'cause last years complaints weren't enough for you?" Jin crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back in his seat, glowering at the three bikers one at a time.

"Come on now, that's no way to say hello." Namjoon leaned forward in his seat at the head of the table, tapping ringed fingers on the surface's plastic covering.

"You rather I cuss you out instead?" Jimin grumbled and Taehyung glanced over at the ravenette who had yet to say anything but announce his presence.

He wasn't expecting to meet those eyes again, catching the biker right in his act. But, even more, he definitely didn't expect for the biker to just continue staring, uncaring of Taehyung's disbelief.

The biker was taunting him.

Say something, yell at me, show me what you've got, Surfer.

Like hell Taehyung was going to give the guy what he wanted.

"Didn't see you guys yesterday... arrived today?" Yoongi braced himself on one hand, picking at the booth's lining. "Hit the waves yet?"

"You sure are asking a shit ton of questions." Jimin stretched his upper limbs, purposefully landing his elbow into the leathered arm supporting the biker up, causing him to momentarily stumble before catching himself.

"Fuck you—"

"Fuck off, Min Yoongi." Hoseok cut him off. "Today was going great before you guys showed up."

"What's up with you?" Jin turned to send the raven haired male a bitterly sweet smile. "Haven't said much today, Jeongguk."

Jeongguk.

Taehyung wanted to smack the shit-eating grin off his face so badly.

"You like to hear my voice or something?" The voice slid into his persona like a lock and key. It was motorcycle revs with wispy air brushing in, the rough tone accompanied with mocking words.

Bad. Right, Tae, bad. That mix was bad.

"This guy hasn't said much either, why does it matter?" The bubblegum haired Namjoon smiled at Taehyung, gazing at the people outdoors a moment later. "Hmm, such a pity you have to wait for certain hours to surf. It's so much nicer to just kick up a stand and go when you want."

"Where'd you guys fall in love with biking?" Hoseok snorted. "Those arcade bike games? Hmm, maybe GTA?"

"What are you?" Yoongi laughed dryly, unamused. "A beached whale craving for your precious salt water?"

"At least it's something colorful and not rusty metal." Jimin ran a hand through his hair, meeting Taehyung's attentive gaze. The two best friends simply stared at each other with matching annoyance at the situation, tired of it all after just one meet.

"Oh, so you don't mind if I visit your convertible again?" The eldest biker slid off the booth and stood. "You must not appreciate it much."

"I'll just run you over."

"I'd love to see that, Jin."

"Highly doubt it, but I'll put on a show just for you, Min Yoongi." The eldest's jaw clenched and before they could say anything, Mr.Tuan was slipping through the passage way between the seating and the kitchen.

"Okay, break it up all of you." The elder man called out and Taehyung watched the bikers obediently step away from the surfers, Jeongguk jumping off the table and sending him a subtle wink before sauntering to a booth far from their's.

"First impressions?" Hoseok rhetorically asked Taehyung once the leather was out of earshot.

"They make me want to drive the stupid two wheelers into the ocean to get ruined." The youngest grinned. "Actually not a bad idea."

"If we knew how to drive them," Jimin chuckled. "I'd be all in."

"Hobi loves cars, I'm sure he could figure it out." Jin played along with the hypothetical plan. Mr.Tuan brought them some food, Mark stopping by to fix his crooked mood before tending to some customers; he left the bikers up to his father.

"We would be asking for pain if we did that." Taehyung mumbled, discreetly looking over at the bikers' table to see the youngest twirling his key ring around, keeping it close at hand.

Yeah, they would be dead for doing as much as grabbing the handles.

Taehyung zoned out of the conversation, thoughts muddling his attention as his eyes trailed the leather on Jeongguk's back subconsciously, the surfer lucky the biker was facing away from him.

Yoongi was all bark and no bite, the small figure Taehyung could easily tower over but be belittled by words. Namjoon seemed like a calmer version of the mint-haired biker, Taehyung having noticed the innocent dimples when the man smiled.

Jeongguk. There was something about the way Taehyung felt his eyes on him, the taunting notions that simply bothered him. The youngest biker was fueling his frustrations on purpose and it was unfortunately working.

"—colorful hair for such colorful personalities." He heard Jin joke, the table laughing along knowingly. "They act like they own the place."

"We act like that sometimes." Jimin shrugged.

"Yeah, but that's because we live for surfing." Hoseok frowned. "The hell are bikers doing at a beach?"

"Right?" Jimin fell against the spine of the booth and stared upwards with a huff leaving his lips. "We hate each other, but this place seems to be where all the dumb shit happens."

"We sound like rivals if you ask me." Taehyung mumbled.

Rivals of motorcycles versus surfboards.