Tae trailed after Jin even as his stomach tightened into a ball of nerves, his hand clasped so tightly behind his back that his knuckles ached. Every turn down the corridor felt like walking deeper into a labyrinth, each building looking too clean, too unlike anything Taesu had never been allowed to touch. Would there be someone at their destination to tell him that he’d follow for a joke and then laugh at him? He made a small noise and ducked his head because he hoped not. When they stepped into the open air of the courtyard, his shoulders tightened as the scent of smoke and food drifted toward them, alongside the sounds of people speaking.

By the time Jin led him into the kitchen yard, Taesu had dared to peek up, his eyes darting everything. The bustle of it, the clang of metal, the neat rows of jars along the wall…it all made him feel like he should be scrubbing something alongside them. It was what it was used to. The introductions came and went in a blur; he bowed too low, muttered something that might’ve been his name, but he couldn’t be sure of that, before he practically folded himself into the corner Jin had chosen. Tae would have much much rather taken food in his room so he could pick at it.

When Jin spoke again, Tae blinked up at him, uncertain whether he was supposed to respond to the confession. “I used to help in the kitchen and then the gardens.” His voice was small, unsure if the other really cared to learn anything about him; he left off how he didn’t anymore because he became a distraction. Anywhere the matrons could put him where he could work alone, they did. Taesu had grown used to it.

He hesitated when asked about food, unsure if there was a right or wrong answer. Tae slowly shook his head. “Ah, I don’t –” He stopped short. “I’m not picky. I’ll eat anything.” It wasn’t entirely true, but he wasn’t about to sound ungrateful. Plus Taesu had a tendency to just move food around his plate, so it wouldn’t do anyone any good to cater to him.“At the orphanage, we didn’t… get to choose much.”

Eager to change the subject, Tae glanced around before looking back at Seojin. “Who else lives here?” There had been what looked like a few other rooms, and well, Taesu wanted to know how many people he would be actively avoiding, although it seemed like that would be a simple task given that he had his own space.

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