Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Moodboard💫

It beats,

It breaks,

It loves,

It aches,

For you,

Only you.

                      ~Perry Poetry

4 Years Ago

"I'm late, I am fucking late," Taehyung mutters to himself as he gets off the bed and picks up his jacket that's resting on his desk chair.

He dials his brother's number from the emergency contact list, knowing that he'd be free from his job by now, but it goes to voicemail. He calls his other brother, praying that he would pick up, only to get the message that his phone is switched off.

"Fuck, where the fuck are Seokjin and Namjoon hyung when you need them?" Taehyung grunts, irritated, grumbling as he puts his shoes on.          

Taehyung had just been back from his extra shift at work, flopping on the mattress as soon as his feet had come in contact with the edge of the bed.

But then his phone had lit up with a text from Jimin, and an unceremonious smile had made its way on his lips.

Which had completely been wiped off when he had seen the time and the date on his phone.
To say that Taehyung had been surprised would be an understatement.
He had felt his heart miss a beat as he had let out a squeak of indignation at his own forgetfulness.

So here he is, 5 minutes later, pocketing his apartments keys in to the denim jacket he had just now put on.

Its not cold outside, per se, but the wind is a bit chilly or it's just that Taehyung is poorly dressed for this sudden weather assualt.

'Probably the latter,' he thinks, stuffing his hands in his jeans.

He takes out his phone after a moment to check the address he bookmarked, and with a start he realises that he's actually very, very late and starts running.

Okay, so maybe Taehyung does not run because the wind has suddenly picked up velocity and there's a groan of frustration that leaves his lips as he chides himself for not putting on a coat.

So, yeah, he brisk walks to the art studio, following the directions that the GPS on his phone shows.

He still can't believe he forgot that it's Jimin's birthday tomorrow.

He blames it on the stress of the recent midterms and on working extra shifts to save money for this day, because there is no way in hell or heaven where Taehyung would forget his soulmate's, the platonic love of his life's birthday.

'3 hours Taehyung, 3hours.' Taehyung chants to remind himself.

He had set a reminder for the 11th of October to go and buy a painting for his best friend, from an art studio that he loved but somehow he had totally ignored the reminder on his phone, and had shifted the topic of Jimins gift to the back of his mind.

(Fucking midterms and extra shifts)

It's already half past 9 and he just hopes that the studio is still open. He'll just quickly buy a painting that he knows will suit Jimin's taste( because of course, they're soulmates after all.)

He's in such a hurry that when he reaches the studio and raises his head to read the name and confirm the address, he just barges in without seeing the 'Closed' sign on the door.

The atmosphere inside is equal parts cold and warm.
He takes a moment to just stand by the door as a blast of warm air hits his body, making him involuntarily shiver at the change in temperature.

Taehyung looks around then, sighting a reception desk and paintings decorating the expanse of the walls around him.

Taehyung is mesmerized as he glances at every frame, his mouth hanging open as a result of the artist's dedication towards each piece of art.

There is a yellow glow that fills the whole room from the over head lights and Taehyung almost swoons when he sees a painting depicting two forbidden lovers, adorned with fairy lights.

Taehyung always had a penchant for art and everything aesthetic. His brothers always told him that he had an artistic eye and that he could use any limited resource that he got to create something beautiful.
'A creator', they sometimes called him, when they endearingly gazed at the paintings that Taehyung rarely made.

And that is why he understood every brush stroke that the artist had laid bare on the canvas. He understood the feelings depicted in the painting as if he were in there, feeling what the characters were feeling. He touched the painting with slightly trembling hands, as if he would ruin it as soon as he would so much as lay a finger on it. But when his index finger traced the path of the bold brush stroke, nothing happened.

Nothing except for Taehyung muttering a small 'wow' that dissolved in the air.
So he continued to trace his finger down, what happened to be the Lady's robe, to the lightest of the brush strokes.

Great, he thought. Now he personally wanted to smother the artist - JK - in hugs and praises. He had heard about the artist alot from Jimin when his best friend had visited the quaint studio, and had decided to follow their account on social media, immediately enamored by their masterpieces.

Now that he thinks about the artist, he spins back around, thinking that he would come face to face with someone who would be there watching him with narrowed eyes. But there was no one there, just the lone and empty rosewood reception desk.

He wonders how the owner has left the door open with no one to attend to the customers. These paintings might not be a thief's first stealing priority but they can always be destroyed.

Something bitter rests on his tongue at the thought of such paintings being stolen or being destroyed.

As he moves forward looking at the other paintings and thinking about what Jimin will like, he thinks about sending some pictures to his boyfreind so he could help him in choosing one of the paintings. He suddenly hears a commotion followed by a muttered curse, which seems to be coming from the back of the studio.
Taehyung retraces his steps and stops in front of the place where he thought the voice came from.

It is then that he notices a door that he didn't see before because it is literally painted in the same shade as the wall and is really hard to notice, unless you focus on the slight line that separates it from the wall that is lined with other different paintings.

If Taehyung didn't know any better he'd say it was deliberately hidden from a person's line of sight.

Curious as he is, Taehyung decides to knock on the door, to get someone out of there so that he could buy what he wanted and be on his merry way back to his apartment and thus to his dear bed.

And so he knocks on the door very lightly.

No one answers.

But then he thinks, fuck it, and knocks once more, pushing it open.

Surprisingly, its not locked or anything and when he opens it another inch and peers inside he sees a small hallway that leads to quite a spacious room from what Taehyung can tell. Raising his eyebrows and wetting his lips nervously, he enters inside with light steps, another 'hello?' slipping from between his lips when he reaches the end of the hallway. The rest of the space is not at all like the one behind him. It has a big bulletin board with papers and pictures stuck to it along with red threads joining one path to another.

Its exactly like what he has seen in crime and mobster movies and Taehyung's mouth hangs open at it.

He turns around when he hears a thump and sees another desk in the corner to his right and a tuft of black hair by the edge of the table.

"Uh..." He starts and the head thumps on the surface above it in the haste of getting up and Taehyung hisses at the loud thump and the groan that follows.

In the back of his mind though he feels as if he has heard that voice somewhere.
But nothing would have ever prepared Taehyung for what, or more like who he saw next.

"Jungkook?" Taehyung asks, surprised and he swears that his voice isn't an octave higher.

His boyfriend seems to blink out of a certain stupor, removing one of the earbuds from his ear, as he responds, "Tae...?" He asks unsurely, until something snaps and Jungkook's features contract and his jaw clenches as if in anger.

"What are you doing here?" He grits out, placing his phone along with the earphones on the table, his eyes flitting all around the room.

And Taehyung wants to slap some sense into his boyfriend for acting this way.
"What am I doing here?" Taehyung repeats in shock, "I should ask you that, don't you think? You told me you had to meet your father for some important meeting and that is why you couldn't come to the café to meet me today." Taehyung lashes out, his face marred with a frown, hurt that Jungkook had lied to him.

With a deep breath, he continues, "And what-, just what are you doing here?"
Jungkook seems to be at a loss of words as he bites his lips, suddenly looking guilty.

"I.. Um had work with dad, yes, but I finished it and came back to my studio." He mutters out, still maintaining eye contact with Taehyung.

Taehyung hadn't realised that he had moved closer to the desk separating them, as he stared Jungkook down.

"So you decided- No, fuck wait did you just say your studio?" Taehyung asks, baffled.
This is not at all how he thought his night would go.

Jungkook looks at him sheepishly, attempting a weak smile. "Yeah, uh, hi welcome to my art studio."
And Taehyung can't control it when he swears in surprise and grabs Jungkook by his collar and pulls him in, an expression of pure horror on his face, "What the actual fuck Jeon Jungkook? You're telling me that this," he gestures to the place with one of his hands, "-this place and all these paintings are yours? That you are JK, the infamous artist?"
Jungkook coughs awkwardly, squeezing his eyes shut as he replies, "Yes." he breathes out.

There's a certain pricking feeling at the back of Taehyung's eyes but he refuses to cry in this situation. He feels hurt and absolutely betrayed.

The artist whose masterpieces Taehyung so dearly appreciates, whom he has been following since some time now, is his own fucking boyfriend. Any other person would be jumping with joy but Taehyung's throat closes up at that as sudden thoughts of what else has been hidden from him in their 1 year together, fill his mind. He lets go of Jungkook's collar, his lower lip trembling as he takes a step back just as Jungkook steps out from behind the desk.

Yep, he's the same person whom Taehyung has been dating since the last year, the same person he had kissed with absolute fervor just this morning as he had dropped Taehyung off at the university.

Jungkook takes a step towards him but halts when Taehyung raises a hand in the air to stop him from coming further.                                          

Taehyung wants all the fucking hidden answers before he lets the guy near him again.                                    

Taehyung knew Jungkook loved art, just like he did. The difference was that Jungkook more often than not, painted while Taehyung was more interested in learning all aspects as well as the history of it. But he also knew that Jungkook was a business major because he was to be the CEO of his father's company and therefore he painted just for fun and the sake of his own pleasure.

Atleast that's what he had been telling Taehyung since the past year.

Taehyung takes in a shaky breath, willing his tears to not fall as he says, "Since how long has this been going on Kook?" His voice cracks and Jungkook is quick to react.

"Hey Tae, baby, please don't cry." He mutters, moving forward again only to be stopped again as Taehyung firmly tells him to maintain distance.

And something inside Jungkook breaks at the thought of even an inch's distance between them. It feels like a mile. But he thinks, he really owes Taehyung an explanation now.
He knew this day would come but he never anticipated it to be like this.

"Tae, love, let's go home. Your apartment or mine? Its not okay to talk here." Jungkook speaks softly, trying to coax his boyfriend to atleast move to a private place.

His response, though, falls on deaf ears as Taehyung shakes his head vigorously, anger flashing through his chocolate eyes.

"Fuck it Jungkook. Just tell me what is going on. Painting, sketching, art, its something you love to do and you never told me about your own studio? Why did you hide it from me? Why the fuck- argh!" Taehyung shouts, clutching his hair and then resting his palms over his neck, gathering his thoughts for a moment.

"Give me a reason why it was necessary to hide it from me." Taehyung dejectedly mutters as he is suddenly reminded of so many things Jungkook had decided to not tell him for "his own well being ". But this was something Jungkook had once cried over and Taehyung's heart had clenched at the sight of his broken lover.

The fact that his life was hard, the fact that his father hadn't let him do what he wanted to and had told him to take over their business as soon as he graduated.

And Taehyung had been there, in the middle of Jungkook's breakdown, wiping his tears away and holding him as Jungkook and all his dreams had broken into pieces with him.

But now, seeing as he had his own fucking art studio - which was famous no doubt - he feels a sickening feeling in his stomach and a bitter feeling unfolding in his heart.

"Baby, please listen," and by now Taehyung's had enough.

"I am listening Jeon. So tell me. Tell me why you hid such an important aspect of your life from me? I've been following you on every social media platform and you fucking knew it, didn't you? I showed you your own paintings and swooned over them in front of you and you never once said a word to me. Never did you-" Taehyung's shouting is cut off when he hears another voice, which is also very very familiar, followed by another deep one. And Taehyung won't lie and say that he doesn't recognise this one too.

When the sources of the voices come face to face with Taehyung, all the blood drains from his face at seeing who it is.

He swears his heart stops for a moment as Seokjin and Namjoon halt dead in their tracks when they see its Taehyung who Jungkook is conversing with.
It feels as if time stops too, when Taehyung fully turns around to look at the shocked faces of his brothers.

Namjoon is the first to break the silence, "Surprise....?" He unsurely says and the feeling of betrayal is so strong that one lone tear finally breaks free and rolls down his warm cheek.

So his brothers knew that his boyfriend had a studio of his own. They knew of this hidden space behind the studio. They knew and no one ever -ever- decided to tell him.

"Taehyung, please let us explain." Seokjin sighs, pursing his lips.

Taehyung blinks his eyes rapidly to clear the haze, "Is there anything even left to explain?" His voice cracks and a hand clutches his wrist to comfort him but for the first time since being with Jungkook for so long, he feels uncomfortable with his touch.

He yanks his wrist out of his clutch and rests it against his chest, looking down. A headache has already made its way to his skull as his head pounds with the all the unprocessed information.

He thinks he's going to pass out.

"Taehyung," someone hoarsely says.

Namjoon.

"We are extremely so-" he begins but is cut off when Taehyung lets out a humorless chuckle.

"Sorry? Yeah I've heard that a million times. Its the same old shit, hyung." And everyone stares at him with wide eyes.

Taehyung doesn't get angry towards his brothers easily but when he does, its because they have committed a grave mistake.

"What?"Taehyung spits out, his voice hostile, "Are you going to say sorry again? Say it. No please, go on, its not like my fucking feelings or the fact that I'm also present in your lives, matters. You guys had to hide something important from me and you did. Now go on and say it was for my "own safety"."

The three of them share a look and Taehyung blanches, "Oh my God. You were about to say exactly that. So fucking unoriginal hyung." He doesn't realise that he's yelled the last sentence, until small black spots dance in his vision because of the intensity of his voice.

And suddenly there's a hand - Jungkook's - covering his mouth, as he looks behind him at Namjoon and Seokjin.

Taehyung struggles, holding Jungkook's hand to get it away from his mouth when Jungkook presses on more firmly and turns his eyes on him.

Taehyung freezes because these are not the same eyes he fell in love with. The intensity is so hostile that another bout of tears breaks free from Taehyung's eyes.

As if Jungkook can't see Taehyung crying anymore -which he can't- he removes his hand and places it near his head, just over the frame of a painting, lining the wall.

He looks at Seokjin and Namjoon with guarded eyes as they too seem more alert.
"Did you lock the front door hyung?" He quietly asks.
Seokjin looks at Namjoon and Taehyung knows that whatever Jungkook wanted was not done.

If anything its confirmed when Jungkook sighs, frustrated, and clenches his jaw.

He looks back up at Seokjin, just as Namjoon slowly makes his way towards the edge of the wall at the end of the small hallway so that he is hidden from the sight of anyone who shall enter the room.

Taehyung strains his ears and calms his breathing down and yes, he too hears small hushed voices and sounds of shoes echoing in the empty space outside of this room.

"Wh-" he starts again only for Jungkook's eyes to lock back onto him with enough warning to shut him up.

"Get him out of the back door." He whispers to Seokjin who moves forward wordlessly, grabbing Taehyung's hand to get him out.

"No!" Taehyung whisper shouts, yanking his wrist out of Seokjin's grasp, stopping in front of the hallway.

"Tae don't argue, just go." Jungkook demands, moving the painting he was clutching, a little to the side.

"Fuck you Jungkook, you don't- "

"I said Go, Taehyung." He yells and that is probably the time all hell breaks lose.

The door of the room slams open, hitting the wall behind it and two men, dressed in all black with masks adorning their faces, make their way forward.
And what the fuck, 'are those guns that they are holding?' Taehyung thinks as his brain shuts down and he stares at the intruders in horror.

"Get down Taehyung." Seokjin shouts from behind him, and Taehyung looks back at his brother dumbfounded, as he sees him getting back up from a kneeling position with two knife blades in each hand.

He looks so focused and determined as he shouts once again at him to get down, just before he throws the 2 blades somewhere behind Taehyung, with what looks like immense practice and experience.

It somehow registers in Taehyung's head and he ducks in time and looks back at one of the men just as the blades embed themselves on two sides of his chest.

Sudden gunshots ring through the room and Taehyung realises that they came from his right, where Namjoon now stands with a shiny black handgun in his hands, its muzzle letting out slight smoke.

A thump sounds as the body of one of the men falls down behind him, the same one whom his eldest brother had impaled with 2 knives, not 20 seconds ago. He feels a sudden tug on his shoulders as Seokjin gets him up and Taehyung watches as Namjoon covers his back and

Jungkook finally swings the painting's frame aside to reveal a small space in the wall where 3 more handguns are kept.

He easily sweeps two out, holding one in his hand while he quickly tucks the other in the waistband of his jeans.

Their eyes meet and for the first time Taehyung doesn't know who he sees.
For the first time Taehyung feels like his whole life has been a lie.

From his brothers to his boyfriend, his sight blurs as he realises the extent of these lies.
Without breaking eye contact, he lets himself get dragged away by Seokjin and the chilly night air does little to calm him down.

"Run, Tae. Please." Seokjin begs, tugging him along but Taehyung just can't move his legs.

Because 1) he feels so betrayed that he wants to throw a tantrum in the middle of the empty street, because his brothers and his boyfriend know how to use fucking weapons and they look so experienced that Taehyung is sure that this has been going on for a long time, and 2) he really fucking feels like he is about to pass out.

As soon as they reach the nearest alley around the corner, however, they are ambushed again by another masked man, probably with the other two in the studio. Seokjin backs away a little and Taehyung yelps when he feels cold metal press to his neck from behind.

Breath caught, he chances a glance back only to go cross eyes at the gun aimed at him by another man.
Seokjin looks anything but scared as he speaks, "Let him go. If I were you, I wouldn't aim a gun at him." Seokjin grits out and he really seems angry now.

"You're one to tell us, Kim. Got your little brother involved in the end didn't you? It'll be fun to watch him writhe and die in this street." A rough voice comments from behind him as the gun digs harshly into his neck.

"You fucker-"

The click of the gun echoes through the alley as the man in front of them aims his gun at Seokjin.

"Mind your tongue with us, sweetheart." He says and then gives Taehyung a once over, making him feel so disgusted that he shivers violently.

"You both are such a sight, though. Shame that we'd have to waste such beautiful bodies and such pretty faces."

He chuckles manically and looks Seokjin dead in the eye, his face a mask of seriousness as he continues.
"But Boss would be so happy with us, knowing we spilled a Kim's blood. And that too, an innocent one who doesn't know shit about our world."

And Taehyung feels so left out, he feels like he can't breathe as he listens further.

"It will be my pleasure to paint the roads of this street and that pathetic studio of yours, with the youngest Kim's blood." He sneers.

Taehyung is seriously on the verge of slipping into unconsciousness, losing his footing as the sudden urge to purge everything he ate, rises in his throat. But before he or Seokjin can do anything, another voice echoes through the emptiness.

A voice Taehyung would recognise anywhere and everywhere, a voice he so loved as it whispered loving things into his ears, soothing him, a voice which turned him on when certain dirty phrases would grace his ears and his skin.

He thought he knew the owner pretty well.

But now, now he thinks he never knew Jungkook at all. So this time he whimpers at the voice, but not out of desperation, but out of fear.

"You will be dead before you decide to touch what's mine," Jungkook growls and his footsteps echo on the gravel path.

The man in front of Taehyung gazes behind him at Jungkook, keeping his pistol still trained on Seokjin.
A smirk spreads on his face and Taehyung's heart sinks at the prospect of Jungkook getting hurt.
"One step Jeon, and your right hand man and your boy toy are dead." He growls, his face twisting into a sinister expression.

Boy toy he had called him.

Taehyung clenches his jaw and squeezes his eyes shut, refusing to let the tears fall anymore.
Jungkook's steps halt and for a moment everything is silent.

Then suddenly Taehyung's ears start ringing as the man in front of him suddenly slumps forward, his eyes wide and unfocused and Taehyung has a split second to see the hole in the centre of his head before his lifeless body falls to the rough ground, spilling blood all over the grey pavement. A shiny bullet rests in the pool of his blood, and Taehyung's head spins as he looks at Namjoon standing behind the fallen man, his previous gun in his hand.

"A clean shot, good one hyung." And through the ringing, Taehyung understands that Namjoon had shot the man from behind, and the bullet had come out from the front of his head. He briefly remembers looking at the expression on his brother's face which did not look guilty at all, before putting his hands on his ears, trying to make the ringing stop.

He helplessly looks at his brothers with immense effort, only to realise that it was a grave mistake.

"Hyung.." He calls out, quietly or what he feels is quiet enough between the roaring in his ears.

He mutters his hyung's names helplessly only to see his eldest brother brandishing a knife and impaling the already dead man by his feet, again with all his might. He watches, his mouth hanging open as his brother twists the knife and yanks it out, ruby red blood glinting on the silver metal, as Seokjin gets up and looks forward.

Taehyung follows his line of sight, blinking the tears out of his eyes as he sees Jungkook chasing another man, the one who had held the gun to Taehyung.

Taehyung removes his hands from his ears to call out desperately for Jungkook, praying that his boyfriend will listen to him and stop and help him but that's all in vain.

The man Jungkook is chasing, stops dead in his tracks - quite literally - when Jungkook shoots him once, twice, thrice through the back and once through his head.

Taehyung closes his eyes, unable to see it all and wishes so bad that Jimin were here, praying that even he wouldn't be hiding something so sinister. Why hadn't he noticed something like this? Why didn't he find Jungkook here?

"And that was for touching what is not yours. No one messes with my love, and with the Kims." He hears Jungkook shout.                                                    

And any other day Taehyung would be endeared to hear that his boyfriend cares so much for him and his brothers who are his only family left, but that day is not today.

He doesn't have the heart to open his eyes and his throat suddenly feels scratchy.

With a start Taehyung realises that he had been screaming his lungs out all along.

And as arms enevelop him, there's warmth that he feels until he remembers who all are present with him right now.

He doesn't think he'll ever feel warm and safe with his brothers or his boyfriend around. So he thrashes, thrashes with all his might, shouts to set him free, yells and cries that he doesn't know who the three are, because these were not the brothers whom Taehyung used to play with, who gave their candies to little baby Taehyung when he wanted more. This is not the love of his life, carding his hand through his sweaty hair, they are someone Taehyung is strangers with, wearing a mask to fool him.

He struggles some more until he physically can't find the strength and his eyes burn and his vision almost goes black. He opens his eyes at the last moment, only to see the three pairs of eyes gazing down at him with regret and guilt ridden faces as tears run down their cheeks too. That's all he sees before darkness claims him and he falls limp in Namjoon's arms.

"That was not how it was supposed to happen Jungkook." Namjoon sighs, rubbing at his tear stained face.

Seokjin looks up from where he is massaging Taehyung's head as Jungkook strokes Taehyung's cheeks, "We know Joon, but everything happens for a reason." Seokjin mutters, dejectedly, sniffling at the memory of his little brother begging to be away from him, scared of him.

"He had to know one day anyway, hyung." Jungkook breathes out, kissing Taehyung's cheek.

He gets up from the bed where Taehyung is resting and moves towards the floor to ceiling windows in his apartment, looking down at the bustling city below him, "He had to know that he was born into a family of one of the most powerful gangs of South Korea and that he was dating the heir of one."

Chapter Text

I will chase you to the edge of days,

To our last tomorrows.

               ~Atticus

❤

Taehyung dreams of soft lips kissing his neck, of a slight pressure on his skin, teeth tugging at it and of a breath of cool air being blown to ease the slight pain.

He huffs in his dream, smiling as he turns his head away, baring his neck to feel the soft lips once more.
Feeling his cheeks heat up at the lewd sucking sounds, he places his cool hands over his red face.
He hears a chuckle and kisses placed at the back of his hands, urging him to pull them away.

"Tae, baby, wake up," he hears someone whisper.

'Great, I'm sleeping even in my dream' he muses.

He tries to move his limbs, stretching tiredly only to realise that he can barely do it because of something weighing him down.
Taehyung feels a sharp nip on his earlobe and then at his jaw and he wonders if he's having a wet dream.

Hands drag over the side of his waist, caressing the tender skin and- okay, Taehyung thinks, this feels too real.
He groggily opens his eyes, blinking rapidly and he then realises that its not something weighing him down, its a certain someone.

Someone who didn't come back home until late at night.

The same someone Taehyung was waiting for, until he fell asleep.

"Mhmm," Taehyung hums, lifting his hand from under Jungkook's arm and dragging it through his hair, "I could get used to this." He says, his voice a little rough.

Jungkook laughs, an amused melody to Taehyung's ears, "Aren't you already used to it babe?" He asks, still nosing against Taehyung's neck and collarbones.

"Well I could get more used to it." He cheekily replies, tapping Jungkook's head which makes him look up and into Taehyung's eyes.

He's smiling toothily and Taehyung many a times forgets that this man hovering over him, gazing into Taehyung's eyes, his husband, is a Mafia leader.

But then he remembers and he smiles because no matter how harsh his Jungkook was with the outside world, he was totally different with Taehyung.

Outside he is Mob Boss Jungkook, intimidating and cold, but in their bubble, with Taehyung beside him, cooped up in their sweet, safe haven, he is just Jungkook, sweet and caring, someone who loves Taehyung more than anything and anyone.

Taehyung doesn't realise he's been staring at Jungkook, index finger tracing the path of the tattoo of his name on Jungkook's naked chest, just over his heart, with a lovesick smile, until Jungkook closes the distance between them and places a sweet small kiss on his nose.

Light and gentle like the rays of sun filtering in their room through the small space in between the curtains.

Feathery and smooth like the touch of love.

"You're staring sweetheart." Jungkook playfully points out as he pulls back and places a kiss on the apple of his cheeks.

"That's because I can." Taehyung replies, voice a little strained as he turns his head to the side, the feeling of Jungkook's lips mouthing at his jaw, making him shiver.

Not being able to handle it anymore, he tilts his head back, bumping with Jungkook's as he slides his fingers through his raven locks and pulls him away from the crook of his neck, only to bring him back to kiss him full on the mouth.

Taehyung bites lightly on Jungkook's lower lip and swallows down his surprised huff of laughter.
Sometimes Taehyung feels like he can never get enough of Jungkook, always needing him like a person needs a breath of fresh air.

So he pulls apart for a second before pulling him back in and dragging his hands over Jungkook's back, feeling all ridges and the remnants of some angry scratches that he had left some nights before.
He plants his feet firmly on the soft, soft mattress, his knees resting by Jungkook's boxer clad hips as he feels Jungkook kneel properly between his legs, giving him the advantage of kissing Taehyung with much more fervour.

They finally part when they can't get in any oxygen anymore, breaths coming out in gasps and Jungkook still keeps his calloused hand by Taehyung's cheek, his touch benign.

"Good morning," Jungkook breathes out, placing one last peck on Taehyung's lips.

"Good morning babe." Taehyung replies, and he looks and feels awake finally, aside from the haze in his eyes and the neediness in his body, telling him to do something more right now.

But the world doesn't agree with that because Taehyung has work to go to and so does Jungkook.
Whatever he does in that office of his, that Taehyung doesn't in any way wants to know.
(And thankfully Jungkook doesn't want him to know either.)

So before he can bite into the apple of temptation- Jungkook's plush lips- and ravish it with all his might, he twists from under Jungkook, just as his husband's hand unties the knot holding the robe that Taehyung is wearing.

"Yaahh!" Jungkook whines as his head hits the soft pillow, previously where Taehyung had been lying.

"Come back to me Tae." He demands, making grabby hands at Taehyung who is standing in front of the window in their room and pulling the curtains apart.

"Uhuh no, I'd rather not. You and I both know that if we start, we won't stop. And," Taehyung says, looking down and tying the knot of his dusty pink robe back,

"I have students to teach and you have papers to fill and sign." He completes looking back up and coming forward and pinching Jungkook's chin between his fingers.
His features contort and eyebrows pinch together as he thinks of something before continuing, "or like whatever you do in that big ass building of yours." He shrugs.

Jungkook snorts, pulling at Taehyung's hand and tugging him forward as the latter squeaks and falls on to the bed with his upper body resting on Jungkook's chest.

"Cuddle me, we have time." Jungkook says, voice pleading as he laces their fingers together.
And Taehyung would love to do just that, for the whole day, every minute, every second, he would love to be wrapped up in his lover's strong arms sharing kisses and stories about the past that are long forgotten.

But then he sighs and kisses Jungkook's hand once before getting up from the bed and smiling at Jungkook's pitiful whine that follows.

"Such a big baby," Taehyung playfully reprimands but wishes that Jungkook would get some more sleep because he knows that he came back home late last night. Jungkook exhales heavily as he tosses around on the bed.

"I'll make breakfast while you shower yeah?" Jungkook suggests as Taehyung makes his way to the closet and disappears inside, deciding what to wear.

"Nope. You should rest a little bit while I shower and then I can make the breakfast."
Taehyung says, giving words to his thoughts.

Jungkook pushes the sheets away from his body and makes his way towards the walk-in closet, his feet padding onto the carpet inside, as he engulfs Taehyung in a back hug.

He hums contentedly as Taehyung inspects two pullovers.

Jungkook nuzzles Taehyung's neck, pulling him tighter against him, "Wear the grey turtleneck with the black coat over it. I like that look." He mumbles as he feels Taehyung turn his head and deposit a sweet kiss on his forehead.

"You like everything grey and black." He says and Jungkook huffs, biting at Taehyung's neck playfully

"I like you in every color." He replies and Taehyung coos.

"Grey it is then." Taehyung finalises.

He then takes Jungkook's hand and drags him forward towards the shelf lit with a warm yellow glow, where all their pairs of shoes are placed.
He takes out his oxfords for work and wrinkles his nose, putting them back and picking up his navy blue combat boots instead.

"Done." He says and then takes out Jungkook's Tom Ford's for his work and places them on the floor.

"Got your clothes out too." Taehyung murmurs, turning around to face Jungkook and booping his scrunched nose.

"Thanks babe." Jungkook replies, giving Taehyung an eskimo kiss as the latter curls his arms around Jungkook's neck.

Taehyung gazes into Jungkook's eyes as he knocks their foreheads together and Jungkook clasps his hands behind Taehyung's back, interlocking them.

He tries to enjoy every small moment, every second with Jungkook because no matter how much Jungkook tries to shift his schedules to spend time with Taehyung, there are many times where they don't see each other for a whole day.

Taehyung wants to complain but he knows and understands that this happens in Jungkook's line of work. He reminds himself that he chose this life when Jungkook offered it and that he vowed to stay with him forever.

He closes his eyes for a moment, just breathing Jungkook in before he speaks, "Now that you're awake," he starts, smoothing his hands down Jungkook's chest and following the movement with his eyes, "take a shower with me?" He suggests quietly and looks back up.

Jungkook grins with a mischievous glint in his eyes and Taehyung slaps him across his chest, "no funny business in there Mister. I mean it."
The drop of Jungkook's smile is so fast that Taehyung can't help but laugh.

"But-" Jungkook starts as Taehyung wiggles his index finger in front of his face, "No means no, Kook." 

Jungkook sighs and looks dejected but follows Taehyung nonetheless as they make their way to the en suite, to shower and freshen up.

True to his word, Taehyung smacks Jungkook's hand away if he so much as feels that Jungkook's thoughts and actions are reeling the dirty way.
Although he does indulge him a few sweet kisses.

Taehyung gets ready much faster as Jungkook dries his hair, moving aside to let Taehyung choose his daily assortment of light accessories for work. He proceeds to take the dryer from Jungkook to dry his own hair as Jungkook starts getting dressed.

Picking up his coat after lacing his boots, Taehyung leaves the room telling Jungkook to hurry as he goes to make some breakfast.

As he makes his way downstairs, walking to the kitchen while humming, he almost trips over something and shrieks at the sharp bark that echoes through the living room.

Taehyung bends down, breathing relieved, as he picks the ball of fluff in his hands and bring him to his eye level.

"Yah, Tan-ah, how many times have I told you not roam between my legs when I'm walking? I could step on you, little baby bun." Taehyung says the last sentence scrunching his face cutely and nuzzling Yeontan's fur.

Yeontan gives a bark of acknowledgement and a lick to Taehyung's nose when Taehyung giggles. But the smile soon morphs into a frown when he realises something, "Hey bud, you're up early today. You generally wake up by 10." Taehyung points out, shifting Yeontan onto his lap and getting back up.

The dog whines as Taehyung scratches at his soft fur continuing to baby talk to him as he walks towards the dining room.

"No baby, I can't take you out for a walk. I'm sorry I gotta make breakfast and then go to work." Taehyung sadly says, draping his coat over the back of a dining chair and turning Yeontan in his arms to look at him.

Taehyung refuses  to melt at the big shiny eyes looking back at him because he knows that if he agrees to walk him, Taehyung will be stuck in the gardens for another hour or two, playing with him.

Yeontan gives out a soft, needy bark.

"Tan-ah please don't do this." Taehyung pleads.
Before he can melt into a pile of goo with those needy eyes gazing at him, he tucks Yeontan in his arms and speed walks towards the main door.

He unlocks it by quickly punching in the code and as expected he sees Woojin and Jiyong standing by the steps near the entrance, dressed to the nines.

How they manage to look so sharp and crisp at ass o' clock in the morning is beyond Taehyung. So smiling automatically, he crosses the entryway from the door and calls out to Woojin.

"Woojin-ssi," he starts, carefully maneuvering Yeontan in his arms and making him face the said man, "Could you pretty please look over Tan while he takes a stroll out in the gardens?" He politely asks.
And he knows all too well that he doesn't need to ask. He can demand whatever he wants and it'll be laid in front of him or will be done in mere seconds.

But Taehyung never has and never can get used to being treated like a King in his own home.
He knows that Woojin can't say no to him but Taehyung still always gives him a choice and openly tells him that he can say no if he doesn't want to do something that Taehyung wants.

"Of course, Mr. Kim Jeon," Woojin says, holding his hands out to hold Yeontan.

"You know that you can always call me by my name, hyung." Taehyung grins.

Woojin looks up at Taehyung, a wide eyed expression on his face that he always gets when Taehyung addresses him as hyung.

"Of course, Taehyung-ssi," He replies and bows lightly moving towards the spacious greenery, after talking to Jiyong for a moment, to let Yeontan loose.

It was a decision both Taehyung and Jungkook had made when Taehyung had shared with his fiancé that he wanted to keep his family name after marriage. Jungkook had happily embraced the thought but the biggest surprise had come to him when Jungkook had suggested that they both keep their family names and also add each other's family names after marriage.

Thus Kim Taehyung and Jeon Jungkook had become Kim Jeon Taehyung and Kim Jeon Jungkook, respectively after marriage.
Taehyung and Jungkook both had been really happy about it.

Taehyung smiles at the memory as moves backwards, smiling unceremoniously.

"Goodmorning Jiyong, hyung," Taehyung suddenly remembers to greet as he moves back towards the door.

Jiyong immediately turns towards Taehyung and smiles lightly, greeting him back and Taehyung takes one look at his wrist watch and hurries back inside.
He notices that Jungkook still hasn't come down so he makes sure to yell his husband's name before he heads towards the kitchen but he's sure that his voice barely reaches him in the volumnious space.

He thinks he hears something like an affirmation but by then he's too busy putting bread slices in the toaster and a new coffee filter in the coffee machine.

He continues to make some scrambled eggs for Jungkook and heats the pre boiled rice, making a salad for himself. He then gets out some juice for himself before setting the eggs and rice on the table for Jungkook along with his daily cup of coffee. He notices Jungkook making his way downstairs, closing the cuffs of his suit jacket and quickly passes him a sweet smile which is dearly returned.

He throws in a 'dig in' over his shoulder as he brings the toasts and the salad and then his juice, sitting next to Jungkook on the dining table.
Taehyung tuts at Jungkook for using his phone and forgetting his breakfast, snatching it from his hands and placing it next to the iPad near the fruit basket.

"Food first, Kookie." Taehyung reprimands and Jungkook rolls his eyes and puffs his cheeks like a child but proceeds to eat the food in front of him.
Taehyung makes sure to put some salad on Jungkook's plate as he takes a bite of rice from the latter's plate.

When they're done, Jungkook takes his and Taehyung's plates back to the kitchen, placing them in the dishwasher. He heats his slightly cold coffee once in the microwave and watches as Taehyung gets busy with talking to one of his colleagues from the university.

With his coffee in hand, he goes back and retrieves his phone and picks up the iPad, bringing it back to where he was seated. He opens up the day's schedule that Seokjin has sent him, observing the times for different meetings and 'confrontations', just as Taehyung comes back placing his phone on the table beside Jungkook's and plops down on his lap.

Jungkook doesn't even bat an eyelash and wraps his right arm over Taehyung's waist, pulling his back further against his chest, as he still continues to go through the schedule, resting his cheek by Taehyung's arm.
Taehyung puts his hand over Jungkook's as he scrolls through the page on the iPad, observing the timings of certain meetings.

"Oh Kook, you can't meet me today." Taehyung points out, tapping his index finger on the time where Jungkook has a meeting scheduled with one of his Father's associates.

It also happens to be the same time at which Jungkook regularly picks Taehyung up from their art studio.

Apart from being an Art History teacher, Taehyung also gives art lessons.

After the incident where Jungkook's studio had been more or less destroyed and Taehyung had come to terms with and accepted what his brother and boyfriend were into, Taehyung had suggested that they could open a new studio where Jungkook's paintings would be displayed and where Taehyung could take some classes.

It was a 5 to 6 minutes of walk from the university where Taehyung taught and also across the cafe that Taehyung and Jungkook frequented alot in the past, making some sweet memories.

Thankfully Jungkook's painting's -much to Taehyung's delight- had not been touched or very brutally ruined, so it had been easy to put them up and Jungkook -who still went by the anonymous identity of JK- had been on cloud nine.

"I'll see if I can shift something," Jungkook answers, brows pinched as he picks up his phone  to call Seokjin.
He gets one moment in the whole day (before going home), to relax and spend time with the love of his life, and he hates to give it up.

"Uh uh uh uh," Taehyung exclaims, turning a little to look at Jungkook, "its okay Kook. I'm pretty sure you can live one day without picking me up and dropping me back home." He taps Jungkook's cheek, getting up from his lap to go deposit his empty glass of juice in the dishwasher.

Jungkook follows him, phone in hand, and looks ready to argue.
Before he can, Taehyung holds his hand up, "You know Seokjin hyung hates to rearrange your schedules babe. Don't do this to him." He smiles and kisses Jungkook chastely on the lips, moving on to put his coat.

"No,  that's not happening. That's not fair." Jungkook murmurs, frowning, as he helps Taehyung slide his arm into the sleeve of the coat.

Taehyung turns around, pocketing his phone and grinning, "Stop pouting, baby. Honestly I don't know how you're this big mafia boss when you whine like this sometimes. " Taehyung chastises, pinching Jungkook's cheeks as the latter's hand come to rest on his hips.

"Besides," Taehyung continues, "we are meeting for dinner, so you'll see me at home early ."

"Wait," Jungkook sounds surprised, "we're going out for dinner?"

Taehyung gasps, shocked, and hits Jungkook on the chest, "Yah! We have dinner planned with Jimin and Yoongi hyung today. You reserved our table Kookie! How can you forget?"

Realisation dawns upon Jungkook and he sighs. "Yes yes, I remember. That is why my schedule is clear after 8."

Taehyung hums, and turns around checking the time and picking up his laptop bag.

He meets Jungkook half way for a gentle kiss and Taehyung gives one last peck to Jungkook's cheek when they part, "Take care and make sure you don't forget about the dinner again." Taehyung reminds him and Jungkook nods.

"I'll send a car for you." Jungkook smiles and says.

"Cool. See you later Kookie." Taehyung says as he makes his way towards the door.

He turns around at rhe last moment, remembering something, "Feed Yeontan and then leave," Taehyung tells Jungkook.

"He's up?" Jungkook asks, knowing the sleep cycle of their dog.

"Yeah I don't know, he woke up early today. He's in the gardens right now." Taehyung points out everything, walking backwards as Jungkook walks forward towards him, "Woojin hyung is with him."

Taehyung then looks at Jungkook sternly, "I swear Kookie, feed my little baby and then leave the house or I'll drag you back and give you a piece of my mind."

He threatens and Jungkook just smirks, raising his hands by his head, "I will, I will. Now go, or else you'll be late. Take care, love you."

Taehyung winks and throws a 'love you too' over his shoulder, dashing outside and into the waiting car.

Woojin comes back in the meantime, with Yeontan in his hands, who looks a tad bit sleepy, and hands him to Jungkook with a polite greeting.
"Morning hyung. How are you?"

"I'm fine Jungkook," He smiles.

Jungkook hums absentmindedly, nuzzling Yeontan's fur and Woojin bites back a smile at how uncharacteristically soft Jungkook is for the people who are close to him in his life.

Jungkook then steps back inside, requesting Woojin to get his car ready, as he greets Jiyong.

Jungkook puts down Yeontan in his pen near the patio doors across the kitchen and proceeds to give him his morning feed.

He scratches Yeontan's fur and says in a cute voice,"Let's get some food in that small tummy,huh? And then let's get you to sleep with your favorite toys. You look sleepy." Yeontan barks in acknowledgement.

Jungkook grins.

Kookie baby 💖
So...

Love💕
....what?

Kookie baby💖
I sent something for you.

Love💕
Romance isn't dead
Wow
What did you send by the way?

Kookie baby💖
You'll know babe.

Love💕
I'm at the studio. Just packing up
Stop putting periods at the end of your sentences Kookie.

(⁎˃ᆺ˂)

Kookie baby💕                                                                       ヾ(＾-＾)ノ                               

Love💕

Good.

Love💕

I'm just coming out. Hope you sent a car or should I get an uber?

Taehyung picks up his bag, after wearing his coat, switching of the lights before locking the studio. He looks to the side to see if Jungkook has sent a car like he said, checking his phone for any new messages from him.

He's about to call Jungkook, seeing no new texts, when he hears his name being called.

"Taehyung-seosangnim," Taehyung looks to his left and sees one of his students, Daejung, running towards him at full speed, clutching something in his little hand.

Taehyung crouches down just as Daejung reaches him, spreading out his hands to brace the child. He puts his hands on Daejung's shoulders as soon as he reaches him, balancing the kid.

"Hello again Daejung, you didn't go back home?" Taehyung asks, looking behind him to see for any hints Daejung's mother.

Daejung shakes his head and then nods, breathing deeply before replying, "Eomma wanted to get some groceries. She's waiting in the car, " he says brightly, pointing somehwere behind him from where he ran. Taehyung nods at him, "okay then - "

"I just wanted to give you this." Daejung says, handing Taehyung what he had been clutching in his hand.

Its a piece of paper, a sticky note, in the shape of a heart. Taehyung tilts his head and then looks back at Daejung.

"Who gave you this?" He asks and Daejung zips his lips, folding his hands behind his back, trying very subtly to look to his side.

Taehyung follows his gaze when suddenly he feels small hands grab his cheeks and he finds himself face to face with Daejung.

"I'm going now, bye. Read it. I'll see you tomorrow seosangnim. Take care." Daejung says, walking backwards.

"I'll leave you till there," Taehyung extends his hand for Daejung to take but the child just shakes his head, breaking into a sprint and within 30 seconds he reaches the car he mentioned, sitting inside.

It's only when Taehyung sees the car drive away, does he take a look at what's written in the note.
He has a feeling who it is from and sudden memories and nostalgia hit him as he reads what's written in a beautiful cursive,

To my Tae,

Do I even need to mention it nowadays that you look beautiful? Its a given, isn't it? You always look beautiful.
I hope your day went well baby.
Tell me about it?

Come on, fast, or I'll finish your piece of cake.
Your tea is getting cold, get your pretty ass down here.

Taehyung laughs at the last sentence and folds the note, slipping it carefully in his bag so it doesn't get damaged.
He quickly crosses the road, reaching the café across.

The bell rings as he enters, biting his lip. He smiles at the manager behind the counter, waving at him before he quickly walks to the last booth at the end.
Jungkook sits there, busy on his phone, his suit jacket nowhere to be seen, and shirt sleeves rolled up to the elbow.

Taehyung immediately eyes the black ink covering the lower part of his left forearm and he remembers his own month old tattoo on the lower part of his left leg.
Taehyung smiles brightly, placing his bag on the opposite seat as he removes his coat.

Jungkook looks up at him and grins, scrunching his nose, "Hey," Jungkook murmurs softly and Taehyung slips into the booth beside Jungkook, turning his body to face his, "Hello Jungkookie." Taehyung replies, cupping Jungkook's face and kissing him.

He feels Jungkook's arm wrap around his waist while the other hand caresses his hip. They kiss gently, savoring each touch and holding on to each breath.
They part with a small pop and Jungkook looks into Taehyung's half lidded gaze.

"You weren't supposed to be here." Taehyung whispers, his breath ghosting over Jungkook's lips.

"Seems like I got some rescheduling done after all." Jungkook quietly mumbles, his lips touching Taehyung's.

They finally put some distance between them (but not too much) after kissing one more time, as Taehyung gets up to place an order for two cupcakes and a refill of Jungkook's coffee and his tea.
He goes to sit back down, curling into Jungkook's side as he asks him about his day.                                                                      

"Nothing much really, same old meetings, the father son talk." Jungkook says and happily omits the information where he had threatened a potential enemy of theirs at gunpoint. (He didn't think that Seokjin twirling sharp blades in his hands had made the person any less scared.)

Taehyung straightens up, still sitting very close to his husband, as he passes the blueberry cupcake to Jungkook, telling him all about his day at the university.

He feeds Jungkook a piece of cake as he stretches his hand a little to get a packet of powdered sugar to pour it in his coffee and Taehyung can't help but absentmindedly clamp his hand down on Jungkook's.

He smooths his hand over the tattoo and his lips quirk up in a smile when his fingers rest over the hand drawn on Jungkook's skin, emerging from in between leaves.

"You're still mesmerized by it." Jungkook states, letting Taehyung play with his fingers as he traces the black ink.

"I always will be. I never thought this idea would pop up in my head and you'd actually get it tattooed on your forearm." Taehyung quips, remembering the day when he had sketched this design and told Jungkook giddily about how good it would look on his foream.

To say Taehyung had been shocked when Jungkook had come home the next day with the fresh black ink on his skin, would be a massive understatement.

"Well it was and still remains the most beautiful design to me," Jungkook replies, grasping Taehyung's hand and sliding forward to kiss his cheek.

The blush that Taehyung supports is one thing - out of so many - that make Jungkook smile so dearly.

"How's your ink doing?" Jungkook asks, resting his chin on Taehyung's shoulder.

"Skin's still tender kookie. You know it, you asked about it just this morning."

"Well, no harm in asking it again then." Jungkook shrugs, taking a sip of his coffee.

When Taehyung had suggested the idea of getting a tattoo, supposedly on his lower leg, Jungkook had been reluctant because he knew how much that would have pained. The fact that it would have been Taehyung's first tattoo hadn't helped.

But with excessive pouting, whining (and 2 blow jobs) later, Jungkook had agreed and had sketched out a bold yet beautiful design for his partner.

He had almost regretted his decision when Taehyung had clutched his hand tightly and cried as the needles had assaulted his skin.

Emphasis on almost.

Because the way the Dragon had curled around Taehyung's leg with the assortment of flowers wrapped around it and coming out of its mouth, in pretty watercolor shades, had Jungkook swooning.

(If Jungkook had kissed the tightly wrapped skin multiple times, delicately, to hear Taehyung's soft laughter, no one had to know)

Taehyung hums, finishing off the last bite of his cupcake, just as Jungkook informs him that he wouldn't be able to take Taehyung to dinner and that he would have to reach on his own.

"What? Kook, but you said you'd be there."

"I know. But rescheduling had some consequences." Jungkook sheepishly smiles.

"Besides I will be there. Its just that I won't go back home. I'll reach there straightaway from the office." Jungkook continues, when he sees Taehyung start to protest.

Taehyung sighs, and understands, "You better change."

"Namjoon hyung brought me a change of clothes." He smiles

"Thank God."

"No, thank your hyung."

"Ha ha ha. Real funny Jungkook." Taehyung mocks.
Jungkook hums at the statement, finishing his coffee, and getting up, just as Taehyung finishes his tea.

Taehyung gets up too, gathering his things as Jungkook makes the payment. They walk out of the cafe, hand in hand, stopping in front of Jungkook's car.

He leans against it as Taehyung settles between his legs, his hands on Jungkook's shoulders.

"Seokjin hyung is picking you up, babe. Don't wait for me and reach on time." Jungkook reminds Taehyung.

"Where are you going now?" Taehyung asks, playing with the collar of Jungkook's shirt, as they wait for Seokjin to arrive.

"To the office." Jungkook replies, clipped and short.
A car parks itself in front of Jungkook's and they don't need to look at the person to know that it's Seokjin.

"See you. Be safe" Taehyung whispers, kissing Jungkook's jaw.

"You too. Send me a photo of yourself when you get ready." Jungkook whispers back against Taehyung's cheek and he gets to listen to music of Taehyung's giggles.

"Sure, love."

Jungkook pats Taehyung's ass and whispers back a "see you" just as Seokjin honks for them to hurry up.
Taehyung separates from Jungkook with a wink and he sees Jungkook open the drivers door and sit inside just as he reaches Seokjin's car and sits in the passenger seat.

"You guys are awfully domestic and sweet. Makes me want to puke rainbows." Seokjin grumbles, starting the car.

"Last checked, we're married, hyung. We ought to do that couple stuff."

"Whatever." Seokjin shrugs as Taehyung connects the bluetooth on Seokjin's stereo with his phone.

There's a moment of silence between them, excluding the songs, which is broken by Taehyung.

"Why aren't you coming for dinner with us again?"

"Hmmm I'm going out with Hoseok."
Taehyung smiles at that, wiggling his eyebrows,

"Hyung's got a date.." he sing songs.

"I.. Don't know if it's a date or not." Seokjin reluctantly says and sighs, clutching the steering with much more force than necessary.

"Aww but you've gone out once before."

"We've done more than just go out, baby brother." Seokjin replies with a smirk.

Taehyung splutters at that and looks at seokjin with raised eyebrows, "fuck, when?"

"Its how it all started apparently."

When Seokjin takes in a long breath after briefly telling Taehyung everything, his brother looks at him with wide eyes.

"Hyung, you've got to ask him then. I know you like Hoseok hyung. Ask him, ask him." Taehyung repeats.
Seokjin look at Taehyung for a moment before focusing back on the road, "Its not that easy Tae."

"It is. You're deciding to make it difficult." Taehyung pouts.

"I am n- huh never mind. What are you wearing for dinner tonight?" Seokjin changes the topic and he's never been so grateful for Taehyung getting distracted easily.

"Don't know really, will probably throw on a bomber or something over a crop top."

"Kim Taehyung!" Seokjin shrieks, "here I thought you'd be confused about which color of suit you would wear."

"Hyung, we're having dinner with Yoongi hyung and Jimin. Not Jungkook's parents."

"But-" Seokjin starts, hurriedly, frowning at Taehyung.

"I can bet you 1 million won that Yoongi hyung would show up in sweatpants if it weren't for his precious Jiminie who loves seeing him in suits." Taehyung waves off and smirks.

Seokjin snorts at that, looking at Taehyung for a brief second as he replies, "you've got a point there. "
Taehyung shrugs, proud.

Soon enough, Seokjin is driving up the road that leads to the Kim Jeon residence . The gate opens as he is granted access to it, and Seokjin thoroughly refuses the offer of coming in and playing Mario Kart as he drives up the stone driveway.

Just as Taehyung is about to open the door after threatening him to ask Hoseok out, Seokjin speaks up, "You ever think that this house is a little too big for you both?" He asks, gazing up at the enormous mansion.

Taehyung, to his surprise, laughs whole heartedly, "A little bit? Hyung, its fucking ginormous and Jungkook and I can't even do something about it because his parents purchased it apparently for our new life."

A wistful look then crosses Taehyung's face as he purses his lips, "It... It does get lonely sometimes," a pause and a sigh, "a lot of times actually." Taehyung admits softly and Seokjin squeezes his shoulders.

"I assume that you're going to say some corny shit like, 'but its fine, Jungkook is my home.' " Seokjin comments, trying to lighten the mood.
Taehyung narrows his eyes at him, scoffing, "I actually was."

And Seokjin gags.

They then say their goodbyes and Seokjin drives away with a promise of meeting up with him during the upcoming weekend.

Taehyung goes inside after that, texting Jungkook that he has reached home (and that he misses him and loves him), and proceeds to the kitchen to pour himself a glass of water after dumping all his stuff on the couch. He goes to check on Yeontan after that and sees the pup wrestling and growling at one of the toys.

Taehyung carefully picks him up, letting his pet lick over his chin and neck as he kisses his fur, trying to playfully bite his nose off.

"Let's go outside to play for sometime," Taehyung says to Yeontan, nuzzling him, "what say buddy?" He comments already carrying the 1 year old pup to the gardens outside through the patio doors.

Freshly showered, clean and smelling highly of Jungkook's body wash, Taehyung makes his way towards the closet after moisturizing his skin, towel wrapped loosely over his waist as he picks up the outfit he got out for the dinner night.

He carries it back to the bed, shedding the towel in favour of sliding up the lacy black fishnets with some patches of crocheted work done over the thighs and especially over his crotch area, that he'd gotten on a lingerie haul with Jimin. He sits down on the bed, contemplating whether or not he should send Jungkook a photo right now, before deciding against it and letting it be a pleasant surprise. He puts on some songs instead, pulling the fishnets over and above his hips, letting them rest over his abdomen.

Getting up, he puts on his jeans with rips on the thighs that show the crocheted work of the fishnets underneath, along with the crop top he had selected.

Taehyung checks the time, quickly drying his hair and styling it before he sits down to apply the lightest amount of make up.

Eye shadow in place, he applies the cherry lip gloss, smacking his lips and thinking about wearing a necklace when he sees the platinum chain that his parents and hyungs had gifted him and decides that, that alone completes the look. So he just puts on the white gold and diamond earrings that Jungkook had got him once, tilting his head to each side, observing his reflection.

Smiling to himself, he puts on his black combat boots, and rests his bomber jacket over his shoulders.

He then sends Jungkook a photo of himself, messing up his hair at last, because he feels they suit him better that way.

He texts Jungkook, telling him to reach the hotel on time, clambering downstairs with some time to spare.

He makes sure to feed Yeontan before putting his baby to sleep and then he leaves the house, calling Jimin as Jiyong starts the car.

Jungkook looks at the picture Taehyung has sent him as he changes his clothes in his office room. Its really just a change of his shirt and donning a new blazer.

All done and ready to leave, he bumps into Namjoon just as he's making his way out while texting Taehyung back.

"Seriously Jungkook?" Namjoon says, frowning and looking Jungkook up and down.

"Hyung! You brought me these clothes."

"I did. But you're going for a friendly dinner with your husband, not with some stuck up corporates." Namjoon says in distate, sighing.

"Uh-" Jungkook starts only for Namjoon to cut him, tutting at him. He brings his hands to Jungkook's shirt and unbuttons the first 2 buttons, exposing his chest.

"Loosen up." Namjoon shrugs and smirks.

45 minutes later, Jungkook is stumbling out of his car, knowing that he's 15 minutes late.

And Jungkook doesn't do late.

Well sometimes but- they are exceptions.

He hands his keys to the valet and goes inside, nodding at the receptionist who recognises him as a regular. He roams his eyes over the expanse of people spread out in the restaurant until he sees the mop of honey blonde hair that he'd recognise anywhere.

As if sensing eyes on him, Taehyung looks up to see Jungkook approaching the table, raking his eyes down Jungkook's form.
Before he can actually appreciate Taehyung and what he's wearing, a force barrels into him, giggling and whooshing the air out of him.

Arms embrace him and Jungkook realises that its Jimin as he sees Yoongi bite back a smile.
Jungkook gets a proper look at Jimin, all red cheeks and his sweet smile and Jungkook smiles back.
"Hi hyu-"
"Kookieeeeee," Jimin drags, squishing his cheeks and Jungkook can't hide his mortification as he stumbles back, quickly taking a seat beside a grinning Taehyung.

"Hi," he immediately whispers, leaning in to place a kiss on his lush lips.
"Ughhh not now!" Jimin groans and Taehyung looks at him sharply.

"You're one to talk, you were practically salivating over Yoongi hyung's dapper clothing before the wine arrived."
"Hush I wasn't." Jimin rolls his eyes.

"Babe- "

"Min Yoongi. You'll take my side no matter what." Jimin threateningly whispers. Yoongi kisses his nose,

"Always, sunshine."

"Ugh not now!" Jungkook whines, in an attempt to copy Jimin.
They all burst into laughter at that, waiting for the food to arrive.

Meeting after a considerable amount of time, the talks are filled with tales of Jimin and Taehyung's respective jobs and business stuff between Yoongi and Jungkook that their partners neither understand, and nor do they try.

Somehwere in the middle of it all, Jungkook's hand that had been resting casually on Taehyung's thigh, starts moving upwards, pressing into the skin.

Taehyung tries to stop Jungkook's endeavors by placing his hand on Jungkook's, but to no avail.
Taehyung knows he's getting restless by the time dessert is almost done and he's one second away from kneeling in front of Jungkook and blowing him right there and then, when Jungkook suggests that they leave.

Taehyung jumps to his feet, picking up his bomber that was resting on the chair. And he might look a little worked up but he has the alcohol to blame.

But when he sees Yoongi look at Jimin and agreeing that they have to get back too, Taehyung resists snorting as he looks at Jimin who looks ready to jump Yoongi anytime now.

Well someone is not reaching home tonight, he thinks.

Paying and proceeding out as Jungkook pulls at Taehyung's hand, and he moves forward, folding himself over Jungkook's side.

"You had to unbutton that shirt, didn't you?" Taehyung asks breathily as they wait for the valet to round up their car.

Jungkook smirks in triumph, leaning in to whisper by Taehyung's ear, "Just loosening up baby." he bites Taehyung's ear.

Getting in the car and leaving the restaurant driveway is easy, but then comes the hard part where Taehyung can't keep his hands to himself.

Jungkook has to stop the car, seeing the empty road, as he pulls Taehyung into a searing kiss, his hands tugging at Taehyung's soft locks.

The console digs into Taehyung's ribs but he finds that he doesn't care as he feels Jungkook's hot lips over his.

Even then, he resists as he pulls back a little, thumbing at Jungkook's cheek as he looks at his husband's spit slick lips.

"Home, Kookie, get us home." He says, his voice hoarse.
Jungkook pecks him once, nodding as he drives them back.
(Forgoing all the red lights.)

All too soon the warm lights of the pathway greet them as Jungkook drives around the fountain and stops the car just in front of the entryway steps.

His hand rests on Taehyung's thigh and he turns to look at him, his gaze betraying him, as it slips down to Taehyung's kiss bitten lips. Taehyung stares back at him just as brazenly and Jungkook can't hold back anymore.
He tells Taehyung to exit the car, just as he opens his side, before he ends up doing something to Taehyung in front of the guards spanning the entryway path.

He wouldn't like that, and neither would Taehyung.
So Taehyung is quick to get out, meeting Jungkook as he rounds the car and tangling their hands together as Taehyung walks fast, going in front of Jungkook and dragging him along.

He kisses up Jungkook's neck, as he attempts to punch in the code, only to get distracted by Taehyung.

"Jesus," he grits out, finally punching it right and pulling Taehyung inside as soon as the doors open.
Taehyung makes quick work of his boots -which he had unzipped earlier in the car-, slipping out of them as Jungkook presses the button for the doors to close.

Taehyung slams him into the wall beside the massive doors, as Jungkook grunts, hands instinctively going to rest on Taehyung's hips as said man immediately takes his bottom lip into his mouth, suckling on it.

Jungkook groans when Taehyung lets go of his lip in favour of biting his own and Jungkook can't hold back anymore as he pulls Taehyung impossibly closer, licking into his mouth. Jungkook slips his right hand over Taehyung's ass, kissing him with urgency, as Taehyung shifts back a little with the force of Jungkook's kiss.

He swallows down all the voices that Taehyung makes and bites roughly on his lips when he feels Taehyung slipping his hand between the unbuttoned part of his shirt, resting over his warm skin.

Jungkook all but tears the bomber that Taehyung is wearing, away from his shoulders, while mouthing at his jaw.

Taehyung's fingers rest in his hair as he tilts his head back to give Jungkook more access, smoothing his hands down Jungkook's suit jacket and quickly tugging it off.

Jungkook places his hand on Taehyung's bare skin underneath the crop top, clutching the material of the fishnets tightly in his fist.

"You just have to look so sinful, all the time, don't you?" Jungkook rasps out, emphasising his point by biting at Taehyung's neck and sucking harshly.

Taehyung groans, throwing his head back as he lets Jungkook ravish his neck and collarbones. In a moment of stability, he tugs at Jungkook's hair hard enough to make him look in his tantalizing eyes.

Taehyung just looks at him and swallows, moving back, his hands intertwining with Jungkook as he pulls the latter with him back towards the stairs that lead them to their room.

Reaching the bottom of the staircase, Taehyung smirks as he turns around and dashes up leaving Jungkook standing shocked for a moment before he climbs up the stairs 2 at a time.

Adrenaline pumping, he puts his hand on Taehyung's waist, catching him, just as he enters the room.
He swerves Taehyung around, as he closes the door, pining his husband against the wood, and latching his lips onto Taehyung's nape.

"Wouldn't you love to mark me Jungkookie? Roving your lips all over my skin, painting it red and blue?" Taehyung questions seductively, his teeth digging into his bottom lip as he pushes his ass back onto Jungkook's crotch.

The pull in his hair is a welcome pain as his neck arches, "Oh baby, I'd love to." Jungkook whispers, tugging at Taehyung's earring with his teeth.

Taehyung pants as Jungkook releases his hair, pushing him back against the door, his hands roaming under Taehyung's crop top, as he pulls it over Taehyung's head, leaving his torso bare except for ths fishnets that cover his abdomen.

All too soon, Jungkook is wrenching Taehyung's jeans open, eager to get his hands all over Taehyung, and they hear a button clattering to the floor.

Taehyung whines in distress, "they were my favorites, Kook." He pants and Jungkook, bites at his shoulder once, moving to nose behind his ear.

"You know I'll buy you so many others." Jungkook nonchalantly replies, leaving kisses over Taehyung's back as he moves his mouth down. When the angle gets uncomfortable, he drags the boy's jeans down, patting the back of his thighs to signal him to step out of the jeans.
Impatient and eager, Jungkook bends and puts his arm under Taehyung's knees and the other one behind his back as he carries Taehyung to the bed, laying him down.

Jungkook moans at the sight that greets him.
Black fishnets that trap Taehyung's honey skin, highly laced and crocheted over Taehyung's crotch area. He clearly sees Taehyung's cock restraining against the material and Jungkook all but throws himself over Taehyung, kissing him roughly as he licks into his mouth.

He grips his waist tightly, sure about leaving marks, as Taehyung busies his hands in Jungkook's raven locks, moving them down over Jungkook's shirt and unbuttoning the remaining buttons.

He pushes the shirt over Jungkook's shoulders, as Jungkook removes it quickly, letting Taehyung roam his hands over the ridges and drag his nails lightly over his spine.
"So... So fucking pretty." Jungkook says, sliding his hands down Taehyung's lithe body and soft skin, as he pulls back and looks at Taehyung under him.

"You look like you're ready to be wrecked." He continues and Taehyung places his hands over his head, one wrist locked over the other, "that's because I want to be wrecked." He states and Jungkook has to fist the bedsheets, to restrain himself a little.

He bends down to place a kiss over Taehyung's abdomen, intentionally avoiding his cock, holding down Taehyung by pressing his hands over his thighs when he thrashes a little in disappointment.
He laves over the skin, sucking harshly and leaving marks all over Taehyung's torso as he moves up.

Taehyung sniffs a little, dragging his feet up, wrapping his legs around Jungkook's waist when Jungkook puts his lips around Taehyung's nipple, making it wet and shiny with spit.

He archs his neck when Jungkook places a feather light kiss in the hollow of Taehyung's neck before sucking a mark there too. Taehyung grabs his shoulders, already feeling a bit gone and its just been Jungkook sucking hickeys on to his skin. Jungkook takes his hands from his shoulders twining them together, kissing Taehyung's jaw and finally molding their lips together.

"Jungkook, ... Kookie please," and Taehyung doesn't know what he is pleading for but he feels the material of the fishnets digging into his cock and he can't help but buck up, trying to rut against Jungkook's cock.

Jungkook immediately moves one of his hands down to restrain Taehyung's hips while he stretches the other hand over him, reaching the nightstand to open the first drawer and take out the bottle of lube.
When he doesn't find it, he sits up a little and looks at Taehyung, quirking an eyebrow.

Taehyung smiles coyly at Jungkook's realisation, smoothing his foot over the side of Jungkook's thigh.
"What? I had quite some time when I reached home." He says, winking and Jungkook has the biggest urge to destroy him.

So he gets up, walking towards their en suite to get a new bottle of lube. He absentmindedly grabs the first bottle he sees, hurrying back inside only to see Taehyung plaming his cock from over the black material.
"Enjoying the show Kookie?" Taehyung huskily asks without opening his eyes and fuck-Jungkook just wants to tie him and fuck him into the matress all helpless and needy.

Feeding the idea he backtracks and moves towards their closet, towards the shelf at the end, opening it and getting out the 2 most used objects.

Leaving the shelf open and hurrying back, he finds Taehyung's dark eyes on him, smirking when he sees what Jungkook is holding.

"You've been using your hands alot without permission, thought I'd teach you that doing that is wrong." Jungkook says, kneeling on the bed as

Taehyung willingly presents his wrists and Jungkook grabs them and tugs him up into a sitting position such that Taehyung's face is just in front of Jungkook's crotch.

Taehyung pretty much salivates at the sight, trying to stretch forward and just put his mouth over the material of the pants that Jungkook wears.
Jungkook, although, notices it and takes Taehyung's hands and fold them behind his back, now bending down to Taehyung's eyes level as he locks the handcuffs in place.

"You're drooling, pretty."

Taehyung sucks in a shaky breath, his eyes half lidded as he attempts to lean in to capture Jungkook's lips only for Jungkook to move back.

"I'd rather have them somewhere else." Jungkook says and sits back on his haunches, sliding his thumb over Taehyung's plush lips.

He changes direction, sitting at the edge of the bed with his feet planted firmly on the floor. He leans back on his hands, looking at Taehyung, "Help yourself, love." He smirks, gesturing to his clothed cock, with a jerk of his head.

Taehyung smiles, satisfied as he drags his body with effort to reach the edge of the bed and get up, only to turn around and face Jungkook, kneeling between his spread legs. Jungkook only helps by opening the pant button as Taehyung shimmies forward, eager, and tries to open the zip with his teeth.

After 3 failed attempts he carefully drags the zipper down, looking up at Jungkook through his lashes.
The problem arises when he sees that Jungkook's cock would have to be taken out his boxers.

So without further ado, he kisses and mouths over the arousal, letting Jungkook slide his hand thorough his hair.
He then rests his head on Jungkook's thigh, looking up at him pleadingly, "Kook, please help me."

And Jungkook's chest heaves with how  pleasing Taehyung looks, kneeling between his legs and looking up at him with those dark pearls that plead for help.
Without another question or remark, Jungkook frees his erection, hissing a little with the stimulation his hand provides.

But nothing will ever be as perfect as Taehyung's hot mouth, Jungkook thinks, as Taehyung surges forward and licks a broad stripe on the underside of his cock, and Jungkook wants to lie back down.

But he opts to rest his hand in Taehyung's hair, gripping it tight as Taehyung makes attempts to give his hard cock small kittenish licks.

One harsh tug and Taehyung understands that he needs to do better. Doubling his efforts, he rises a little on his knees, effectively getting Jungkook's cock in his mouth. He goes slow at first, opening up his throat in woes of deepthroating Jungkook, and several seconds later he is bobbing his head up and down, trying to taste Jungkook like he won't be able to do it after this time.

"Fuck f-fuck ..Tae.." Jungkook mutters above him, his eyes closed as he thoroughly enjoys Taehyung blowing him.
Taehyung looks up at him as he relaxes his throat, taking Jungkook in as his nose touches the neatly trimmed hair of his pelvis.

He pulls off, his eyes wet as he coughs a little, resting his cheek on Jungkook's thigh. He revels in the arousing sighs leaving Jungkook's lips and then feels his chin being tilted up. He blinks a little to clear the haze and is aware of Jungkook's index and middle finger resting against his bottom lip.

Not one to waste a presented opportunity, Taehyung closes his lush lips over his fingers, curling his tongue around them, sucking, and getting them incredibly wet.

When Jungkook pulls them out, looking Taehyung in the eyes, he drags them down his chin, neck and down to his chest, rubbing and rolling his nipples with his spit slick fingers.
Cool air brushes against them and Taehyung sighs when he feels Jungkook stand up, pulling his hair in an indication of following him.

When Taehyung does stand up, only then does he realise the pain in his knees from kneeling on the hard floor. He sags a little, his knees threatening to buckle but then he's being supported by Jungkook who kisses his cheek sweetly only to push him on the bed. He ends up on his stomach and chooses to just lie there, thoroughly trusting Jungkook to do whatever he likes.

His wrists and arms ache a little but Taehyung is not complaining because he likes it.
He feels Jungkook come behind him as the bed dips a little and Taehyung turns his head to look back at him.
"Come on Kookie, what are you waiting for?" Taehyung asks, shaking his arms a little as he wiggles his hips.

"Just appreciating the beauty." Jungkook replies and Taehyung hears the smirk in his statement as he feels Jungkook's hands groping him and kneading his ass cheeks.

Taehyung ruts his hips on the mattress, searching for some much needed relief to his arousal which is straining against the material of the fishnets.
He then hears a tentative rip and gasps, looking back at Jungkook with shock marring his features.

Cold air hits his bared entrance and Taehyung shivers.

"Stop ripping my clothes apart!" Taehyung indignantly says only for Jungkook to tear the fishnets, resting over his ass, even further.

And as much as Taehyung wants to complain about his ruined clothing he knows that Jungkook knows that he finds this somewhat hot.

So it's not a surprise when Jungkook lays his body down on Taehyung, mounting him, as he rests his forearms by Taehyung's head.
He nibbles at Taehyung's ear, tugging at the piercings as he says, "Don't lie baby, you love it. You love how I tear it apart. You love the fact that you'll get to buy new things." Jungkook whispers in his ear, "You love the fact that you'll get to show me the new stuff."

Jungkook leaves open mouthed kisses down Taehyung's neck while he takes a hold of  the collar that had been resting on the bed and moves back to comfortably slip it around Taehyung's neck, attaching the leash. He traces the leather lined with faux fur and the cursive 'Baby' written in solid gold.

He takes a hold of the leash in one hand as he smooths the other down Taehyung's naked back. He feels goosebumps rise on Taehyung's skin just as he murmurs a small "Kookie" and Jungkook bends down, mouthing at his spine, sucking and biting and ultimately leaving marks anywhere on the skin as he shifts down.

Jungkook sits back on his haunches and looks down at a panting Taehyung, admiring the tan skin of his back that was now covered in love bites.
He is painfully hard right now, having been tucked himself back in his boxers and forgoing his pants and he knows Taehyung is just as worked up. So he pulls at the leash and sees Taehyung's back arch beautifully along with his neck.

He tugs harder the next time, and Taehyung's chest hovers over the mattress.
Taehyung makes some straining sounds just as Jungkook tightens his hold on the leash, wrapping it around his wrist two times before pulling it back and seeing Taehyung's body respond to him.

Taehyung's back comes to place a few centimeters in front of Jungkook's chest and Jungkook then kneels on the bed to get a certain height advantage.

He tugs the leash towards the side, effectively turning Taehyung's head in that direction and nuzzles Taehyung's exposed side of the neck.

"Wouldn't you just love to put on a show for me baby?" Jungkook asks ,raising his head a little to look at Taehyung.

And Jungkook thinks Taehyung looks beautiful this way, worked up to the core just by being bound and by blowing him. Tears streak down Taehyung's cheeks, his eyes shut, and Jungkook shifts his knees forward to squeeze Taehyung's bound wrists between his thigh and Taehyung's back. Jungkook knows Taehyung absolutely loves a little pain if Taehyung's bashful moan is anything to go by.

"Y-yes, Jungkookie. Yes, will show y-you everything," Taehyung gasps out, his face mixture of arousal, pain and pleasure.

"Please Kook," Taehyung begs, opening his eyes and turning his head to look at Jungkook. Jungkook can't help it when he surges forward to capture Taehyung's lips and kiss him senseless before moving back and pushing Taehyung forward to lie on his stomach on the bed.

He grabs the lube lying on his side as he wraps his arm around Taehyung's middle, tugging him up such that his ass rests in the air.

Without another word, Jungkook opens the lube and pours it over his fingers before an idea strikes his mind.

"Tell me Tae," Jungkook starts, finger tracing around Taehyung's rim as he hears his lover chanting a mantra of 'please' and 'please' over again, "Would you like if I fingered you open with lube coating my fingers," his index finger breaches the tight rim and Taehyung groans, "or should I fill your ass with this new lube and fuck it out of you?"

Jungkook sees the shiver that runs down Taehyung's body at the second thought and he doesn't need an answer but Taehyung babbles out a 'yes' and 'please Kookie' anyway.

Jungkook scissors Taehyung open with two fingers, stopping as a punishment whenever Taehyung complains, before picking the lube bottle up and flipping the cap open, dripping the substance straight onto Taehyung's twitching hole.

"K-kookie-" Taehyung starts but is cut of when Jungkook puts the nozzle of the lube bottle against Taehyung's hole and squeezes to get a large amount of it out and straight into Taehyung's awaiting warmth.

He watches, transfixed, as Taehyung hisses and then his mouth falls open, staying that way in a silent moan.

A few seconds later, Jungkook smirks and puts the bottle away, drooling at the sight of the lube dripping out of Taehyung's hole as it clenches to try and keep it all in. It drips over his inner thighs and Jungkook snaps out of the stupor when Taehyung whines, high and needy.

Jungkook would love to put something in Taehyung's mouth right now and just eat him out, or make him ride his face, but that's an idea for some other day, Jungkook decides.

Right now he just wants to fuck Taehyung, all wet and messy.
So he gets to work, plunging in his two fingers inside Taehyung, thrusting them in and out and feeling the extreme wetness, scissoring him open.

When he inserts a third, clear lubricant running down Taehyung's perineum and Jungkook's wrists, Taehyung's feature contort in slight pain which is diminshed when he moans Jungkook's name aloud.

Jungkook knows he's found Taehyung's prostate as he presses repeatedly against the bundle of nerves, hearing Taehyung's moans and screams; a beautiful melody to his ears.

Taehyung tries to fuck himself on Jungkook's fingers, moving his ass back, and receives a sharp slap on his ass cheek for his efforts.

It is when Jungkook fits in a fourth finger and continues to abuse Taehyung's prostate, does he feel Taehyung clench and become incredibly tight around his digits.
"Tae, baby, did you just come?" Jungkook tentatively asks and is answered with a meek 'yes' and sniffling noises.

Jungkook breathes out a "fuck", looking down at Taehyung's face pressed against the sheets, drool escaping his lips as he shuts his wet eyes.

He frees his fingers, watching the lube escape and run out of his fluttering hole as Taehyung's hips hit the bed. He sees as Taehyung bites his lips and gasps when his spent cock, still trapped inside the fishnets, comes in contact with the sheets.

Jungkook doesn't want to delay it anymore, wants Taehyung's heat to envelope his arousal and so he quickly opens and gets rid of Taehyung's handcuffs, rubbing at the skin and kissing it as he massages his arms.

He flips Taehyung over, carefully, taking a hold of the fishnets and gently drags them down Taehyung's legs, throwning them somehwere by the foot of their bed. He moves back up to kiss Taehyung breathless, before kissing him sweet and soft again. He feels Taehyung wrap his arms around his back as he encourages it.

"Need you Kook. C'mon, you still gotta fuck me." Taehyung rasps out, just as Jungkook moves his hand down to take a hold of Taehyung's soft cock.

He feels Taehyung tighten his hold on his back, nails digging into his skin as Taehyung arches his neck a little, the black collar still dazzling around it.

Jungkook keeps his eyes open as Taehyung shuts his, watching Taehyung frown in pain which gets overcome by the pleasure.

Jungkook has been incredibly hard and he doesn't know how much longer he will be able to hold on just as he works Taehyung up to semi hardness whispering sinful words in his ears.

"You are so so needy baby," He whispers, biting Taehyung's cheek, "I've got myself a needy cockslut."

And when Taehyung arches perfectly, pulling at Jungkook's strands, he moves back on his haunches, stroking his cock once before lining it up with Taehyung's entrance.

He slides it over Taehyung's hole , collecting a little lube, that has flowed out and made a small puddle on their sheets.

He doesn't know why he's teasing when he's the one who can barely hold on, but he doesn't care.

He loves seeing Taehyung getting all worked up, moaning his name while he begs.
Taehyung feels dizzy. He feels dizzy with lust and can't help but whine pitifully when Jungkook decides to tease intead of just getting inside him.

"J-jungkook," Taehyung says, his expression dazed, "just fucking get in me, you-"

Jungkook breaches Taehyung's rim with little to no resistance and Taehyung takes in a sharp breath, his torso lifting from the mattress as Jungkook lets out a breathy moan.

"Ah! Oh fuck y-yes," Taehyung sighs, his eyes rolling to the back of his head as he ruts his hips forward, hiccuping at the still present stimulation.

Jungkook squeezes his eyes shut, gathering his thoughts for a moment and willing himself to not come right then and there before rolling his hips and giving an experimental thrust.

Taehyung clenches around him and Jungkook hisses, his abdomen contracting to keep himself grounded.

"Oh baby, fuck," Jungkook says, surging forward, burying himself even deeper, as he bites Taehyung's bottom lip, sucking it before he releases it and rests his head down on Taehyung's shoulder.

He feels Taehyung wrap his legs around his waist, curling his arms around his back, waiting patiently and giving Jungkook a moment to adjust.

Jungkook moves back, making Taehyung unlock his feet from around his waist and holds Taehyung's thighs, spreading them. He presses his hands down on Taehyung's inner thighs, hearing him gasp, as he rolls his hips forward, uncaring of the lewd squelch, thrusting in and out of Taehyung.

He watches, enraptured, as Taehyung's hole greedily swallows his cock, expanding and dripping lube when he pulls out and contracting when he pushes his cock and the lube back in.

Taehyung is crying by now, the strain in his thighs a beautiful pain, as everything narrows down to one person.
His mind is filled with Jungkook, Jungkook and Jungkook and how he makes him feel good.

Jungkook drags his blunt nails over the soft skin of Taehyung's thighs, watching red lines presenting themself; another mark of his that Taehyung would happily carry.

Jungkook grinds into Taehyung before sharply thrusting in along with putting his hands on the back of Taehyung's thighs and pushing them up.

Taehyung's knees rest by his torso and he feels everything better and deeper as he cries out for Jungkook to fuck him harder.

Jungkook takes Taehyung's legs and puts them over his shoulders, still bending his lover in half as he fucks him with short and sharp thrusts.
Colors blast behind Taehyung's eyes as he thrashes, hiccuping and crying when Jungkook hits his sweet spot.

He screams when Jungkook just smirks changing his rhythm and fucking into Taehyung with an animalistic pace.

"Fu-fuck look at you, crying over my cock wrecking you. Tell me you love it," Jungkook pants above him, his hair sticking to his forehead, as he chases his relief while making sure he provides Taehyung with one.

"Y-yes, nghh ah! Yes yes yes I love it." Taehyung states, his voice strained as he arches his neck making the collar press against it.
Jungkook moves his hand between their wet bodies, taking a hold of Taehyung's cock that leaks precome and starts stroking it.

Taehyung screams at the double stimulation, grabbing Jungkook's biceps, his nails digging into Jungkook's skin.
Jungkook knows Taehyung is close and Jungkook is even closer as the familiar fire of his relief sits ready in his stomach just one step away from releasing its wrath.

So he pushes Taehyung's thighs even further, making his hips and lower back hover above the mattress as Taehyung's heels dig into his back.

He fucks into Taehyung with all his might, grunting as Taehyung mewls at every thrust, babbling about how Jungkook fucks him so good.
All too soon Jungkook is coming, painting Taehyung's walls white with his seed as he sighs and grinds his hips to milk out his orgasm.

Making sure to thrust straight against Taehyung's prostate, he feels victorious when Taehyung moans his name, sighing as he relases between them, all over his stomach.

Jungkook lets Taehyung's limp legs fall back down on the bed as he sags over Taehyung, breathing harshly into his neck.

"Tae.." Jungkook doesn't get a reply but he feels Taehyung entwine their hands as he breathes in large puffs of air.

With immense strength, Jungkook gets up and slides his soft cock out of Taehyung's puffy hole, pecking him once when he hisses and wobbles to the washroom to wet some towels.

He comes back after cleaning himself of all lube and getting one of Taehyung's butt plugs, and situates himself between Taehyung's legs, gently cleaning all the lube from around Taehyung's hole before inserting the plug.

Taehyung grunts with his eyes closed, whining a little as Jungkook cleans his abdomen and carefully flips him over to open the collar and unclip the leash. He massages the back of Taehyung's neck while relishing the whimpers Taehyung lets out when Jungkook presses into one of the many bruises on his back. He turns him around as he very tenderly cleans Taehyung's face with another wet cloth. Too tired to do anything else, he falls into Taehyung's awaiting arms, shifting them towards the clean side of the bed.

Taehyung turns in his hold, his back to Jungkook's chest as he rests his head on Jungkook's arm, placing the other over Jungkook's, where it lies curled around Taehyung's stomach.

"We're having a nice long bath, first thing in the morning," Taehyung says, kissing Jungkook's bicep as Jungkook gathers him closer, nuzzling his neck and humming, "Yeah sure."

"Good , I love you."

Jungkook feels Taehyung's lips stretch into a smile, over his arm and his own quirk up as he breathes in Taehyung, kissing his nape.

"Hmm I love you too baby. Now sleep, my love."
Taehyung sighs and nods a little and Jungkook matches his breath with Taehyung's and soon enough, he is slipping into a state of deep slumber with his loved one in his arms.

❤    

Chapter Text

Twice I would die,

For a little more once

With you.

            ~Atticus

October 29,

7:05PM

It wasn't supposed to happen like this, Taehyung thinks as he runs like his life depends on it.

'It does' a voice in his mind reminds him and Taehyung gathers all the remaining energy he has left and pumps his legs to run faster.

The gravel crunches beneath his feet and his lungs burn with the strain.

He looks at the silver ring on his index finger, Jungkook's name resonating in his mind.

He just prays that Jungkook has his phone near him and his locations are turned on.

The strong gusts of wind hit him straight in his face and he feels his senses going numb. The sky illuminates with a blast of lightning after a loud clap of thunder.

The voices of another two pair of feet get closer and Taehyung can't help but let the fear sink in.

"Please, please please," Taehyung steps on a pebble and almost twists his ankle, slowing down.

He feels the dank breaths of the two men following him.

They are very very close, Taehyung realises.

As if to confirm his thoughts, he suddenly feels the collar of his shirt being pulled from behind, making him choke as the front of the shirt gathers around his neck.

He scrunches his face, determined to run faster and save himself, when he feels his body being pushed forward.

He stumbles, bends and loses his footing.

His hands scrape on the rough path but Taehyung sucks in a sharp, ragged breath, starting to run again.

He belatedly realises that he doesn't know where he is right now.

Its some street that he doesn't recognise.

A heavy weight makes his face turn to the side, and he eventually slows down.

Collar pulled and held up tight, the two men sidle up to him, shoving him sideways into the wall.
He braces his hands on the wall, barely avoiding his head from being smashed against it.

Although it is of no use as a hand yanks his hair back and then pushes the side of his face into the red stone.

Cheek pressed against the cool stone, Taehyung groans, a tear running down his cheek.
He feels something warm slide down to his lips and he realises that he's probably broken his nose.

"You have quite the stamina for a lanky, skinny boy," someone pants beside him and Taehyung flails, the man's breath stinking of cheap alcohol and cigarettes.

"Get off me asshole."

"You keep your fucking mouth shut, you fag." The other man spits out, pulling at Taehyung's hair so that his face is now pulled away from the wall.
Taehyung feels a surge of anger, partly because of the insult and partly because of being handled like this, "Aarghh! You bloody sick bas-"

His head suddenly hits the brick wall and all air rushes out his lungs as his vision swims and slowly turns white.

He feels like he's floating and suddenly all the pressure against his body loosens as he slacks.
He stumbles back, shaking his head a little and touching his temple.

His fingers come off red.

He feels like he is falling as his arms rise in front of him to grip something, but till then his sight becomes too hazy to differentiate anything and black dots appear dance in front of his eyes.

He falls on to floor with a thud, his face lolling to the side, Jungkook's name leaving his lips as unconsciousness claims him.

October 29, 

6:15 PM

Taehyung is focusing on blending some acrylic paints together when his phone rings.

He startles for a moment, tucking the brush in his other hand, behind his ear as he gets up to take it out from his bag.

Jungkook's name flashes on his screen and a smile pulls at his lips as he answers.

"What's up Mr. Kim Jeon?"
Jungkook's chuckle cuts through the line along with some shuffling noises.

"Hey baby."

Taehyung frowns.                                            

Jungkook sounds tired.

"What happened? Are you okay?" All things forgotten, he lets the worry bleed into his voice. He can't help it when even the smallest change, urges him to know if Jungkook is alright or not.

"I'm fine, love. Just been attending to certain matters all day."

And Taehyung knows what Jungkook means, he doesn't need to elaborate for Taehyung to understand.

All the matters, all the problems, Jungkook might not use the correct term but Taehyung knows that his husband has probably been chasing someone down for certain answers or has dipped his fingers in someone's blood.

Taehyung shudders at the thought and the long sigh that Jungkook heaves is enough for Taehyung to know that he understands it too.
He just doesn't want to acknowledge it.

"You're okay right?" Taehyung asks, uncertainly.

Call him selfish, call him anything, but he will always worry and fear for the lives of the people he dearly cares, first and foremost.

"I'm fine, Tae. I just called to let you know that I won't be able to pick you up. Sorry." Jungkook's voice sounds rough and Taehyung wants to ask him about when he will be back home.

But he doesn't, because somewhere he thinks that it will just put a thought in Jungkook's mind.
A thought of an expectation from Taehyung, for him to be home on time.

And Taehyung knows that if he won't be able to make it, he'll just stress himself out thinking that he disappointed Taehyung. He'll strain his mind finishing all the work, just to provide Taehyung with the satisfaction of being back home.

So even when his heart aches and his mind tells him to convey that thought to Jungkook, he crumples that thought and throws it away.
"Its okay Kookie. I'll get an uber back home."

The answer as Taehyung expected, is the same.
It is always the same, "No." A sharp, short, clipped order that Taehyung knows he should follow for his own safety.

"I'll send a car for you." Jungkook says and Taehyung hears the ruffling of papers.

"Kook, love, listen. I'll be okay. I'll reach home in no time."

"Taehyung, please don't start this again with me. We had discussed this long ago, we do it everytime. Its not safe baby," Jungkook sucks in a breath, "please." He adds.

Taehyung doesn't know why but his eyes sting and there is lump in his throat.

For how long will he live like a prisoner? For how long does he have to do this?
'As long as you're with Jungkook' his mind supplies and Taehyung blinks back the tears.
He can't go everywhere with guards following him.

What about his own personal space? His peace of mind?
He understands that Jungkook is looking out for him but this can't always happen.

Taehyung needs to clear his head of some things too.

"I'll call Seokjin or Namjoon hyung." Taehyung answers back smoothly as Jungkook hums.

"Call Joon hyung, he's free right now. Or should I call him if you're busy?"

Without meaning to, words slip out of Taehyung's mouth, but he doesn't see himself regretting them.

"Uh yeah actually, I'll be spending some more time in the studio today. I'm completing a painting and there's this another kid that has an art project to turn in by tomorrow so I'm helping him and really I'll call Joon hyung and tell him the time but I'm not going back ri-"

"Tae, take a breath," Jungkook chides and Taehyung abruptly stops rambling to suck in a breath.

"Sorry."

Jungkook huffs out a laugh when Taehyung hears Seokjin's voice over the line,

"Jungkook, you gotta see this. The pattern looks so similar. Kook, really, the stab-"
Taehyung's stomach drops and his breath hitches.

"Hyung," Taehyung hears Jungkook say. Its the tone he uses to shut someone up immediately.
Taehyung imagines him clenching his jaw.
"I am talking to Taehyung."

Its one simple sentence, but it is enough to not hear Seokjin's voice over the line again.

"Jungkook is-"

"Call Namjoon hyung and tell him to come pick you up when you want. Text me the time you'll be leaving at. Keep the doors locked. Don't stay for too long. Take care of yourself and thank hyung for me."
The line shuts off as Jungkook hangs up and Taehyung is back to looking at the lockscreen of both of them with Yeontan in the middle.

All the things Jungkook just said float in his mind as Taehyung turns around to go back and sit in front of the canvas and continue blending paints.

He sees the acrylic paint already starting to dry which means it won't blend in nicely anymore.
He tears the page away from the easel, letting it fall to the floor.

There are too many rules, too many orders that Taehyung has to follow and he sees himself starting to panic.

He has to call Namjoon, tell him to pick him up, give him a time, take care of himself, lock the doors, not take too much time-

Taehyung grabs his hair, breathing harshly.
He can't do all of this, he thinks, as he evens his breathing out and gets up to drink some water.

He contemplates calling Namjoon to ask him to pick him up in an hour or so. He unlocks his phone, finger hovering over his contact and then he shuts it off.
Fuck it, he thinks.

He's never been good at following rules anyway.

Taehyung does end up calling Namjoon after a 5 minute battle with himself.

He does end up asking him to pick him up in an hour, by 7:30 PM to be precise.

He also does end up locking the studio way before Namjoon reaches.

He plans on going to the café across and get something and then walk for sometime to clear off his mind.
He thinks of stopping by the park that he shall pass.

The bell rings as he enters the café. He orders a smoothie with a slice of carrot cake.
The packed up order slides on the counter for him, his name being called. He picks it up, smiles at the person behind the counter and exits the café.

He sees two men leaning by the wall on the side, busy on their phones as one shows something to the other.
His eyes meet the person's who is holding the phone and Taehyung quickly averts them; a sinister feeling sinking deep into his bones.

He continues strolling around, casually kicking a pebble, slurping on his smoothie as he thinks about the trouble he'll get into when Namjoon gets to know that he ditched him.

Yes, he'll get a lecture from his hyung and from Jungkook, but he knows that Namjoon won't fight with him over it. Whereas his husband, he's sure, will.

But Taehyung is nothing if not stubborn. He'll keep his points forth and he knows Jungkook will respect his choice even though he'll be bitter about it for some time.

Taehyung sighs, feeling tired. He dumps the empty smoothie cup in trash, taking out the piece of cake and munching on it as he continues to walk.

Its too silent.

First, he feels eyes on him.

He turns around to look but there's no one there. The street is almost too empty, a couple or some people walking by occasionally.
He turns back around, shrugging, but he makes sure to take his phone out to call Jimin, to stump down the sick feeling growing in his stomach

Jimin's phone goes straight to voicemail.
In the mean time, Taehyung has reached the park and he looks around but there are not many people in there too.

'Maybe its because of the weather' Taehyung looks up at the darkening sky.
Something in his mind tells him to forgo the visit to the park and just head home in an uber or call Namjoon there.

The street lights come on.

Second, he sees the shadows. He sees them when he is slowly walking with his phone in hand, contemplating whether to call Namjoon or not. He stops for a moment, holding his breath.

The shadows stop too.

He dares himself to not turn back.

He can't wait here for any cab or for Namjoon, Taehyung decides.

He needs to keep moving.
Gulping down in trepidation, Taehyung starts walking again, faster, pocketing his phone.

Unfortunately or fortunately, this has happened to him in the past. There have been a lot of instances where he has been followed.

Dating a Mob boss has its consequences. 

Therefore, Taehyung knows the difference between a person casually walking behind him, or a person walking behind him with a purpose.

Taehyung quickens his steps but makes sure to act nonchalant as he stuffs his left hand in the pocket of his jacket.

He clenches the hand into a fist, making sure to put pressure on the inside of the silver ring on his index finger. He feels a small push against the skin of his finger, under the ring and he knows that the emergency signal has been transmitted to Jungkook and his hyungs.

Third, he hears their echoing footsteps.
That is the time, Taehyung realises, that they've come too close for safety.

Light sounds of thunder rumbling in the sky startle him a little.

Taehyung runs.

October 29,

6:55 PM

Jungkook is busy planning a strategy with Seokjin when Namjoon bursts through the door, panting and holding his phone in hand.

"Tae..." Namjoon gulps down air and Seokjin's stomach falls at the address of his brother's name.

"What? What happened? Hyung, tell me." Jungkook has stood up and is making his way towards Namjoon quickly, Seokjin hot on his heels.

"He's in trouble. Got... Got an emergency signal from the tracker in his ring." Namjoon informs, waving his phone in front of Jungkook and Seokjin where the locations are turned on and Jungkook can see a red dot moving quickly towards a street.

Belatedly, Jungkook realises that that is not a safe part of the city and that Taehyung didnt know about it, until now.

Blinking out of his stupor, he runs back to his desk grabbing his phone and turning the locations on.
Sure enough, he's gotten a signal too.

Anger boils through him, anger over everyone who couldn't take care of Taehyung.
But mostly he feels the most annoyed and angered over Taehyung.

But now's not the time to think about this as clenches his fists to focus on Seokjin shaking him and calling his name.

"Jungkook, not right now, Taehyung's in danger, come on, Namjoon has the cars ready."
The haze clears and only one thing rests in his mind for time being;

To destroy the people who laid a hand on his husband and ruin the ones who gave the order.
Jungkook tries to keep his head a bit clear, for Taehyung, as he walks to the door, but it doesn't work as a hundred different scenarios go through his mind.

One look at the location is enough to tell him that Taehyung shouldn't be where he is.
Jungkook dashes down the headquarters after stopping in the weapons room for a moment.

All he sees is red.

October 29,

7:45 PM

Taehyung's head throbs when he tries to open his eyes, his vision blurs when he blinks them open and all he sees is a grey area.

He groans in pain when he shakes his head a little and he feels little pin pricks of pain dancing down from his head to his spine.
His hands and feet feel numb and something rough scratches at his wrists.

He tugs at them, roaring in pain but he realises that he is tied to a chair and he really can't move.
Giving up, panting, he looks in front of him to see two blurred figures.

His head tilts to the side and he hisses, squinting his eyes and then opening them again.

Slowly his vision clears and he sees two men standing a few feet away from him, one smoking a cigarette while the other nurses a beer.

Taehyung looks around, slowly, grey and soggy walls greeting him. A yellow lamp dangles above him and He wants to shout. He feels more pain on the left side of his face as he scrunches his nose, his lips pursed as his skin cracks.
He knows its because of the dried blood.

"Where am I?" Taehyung shakily asks even though he won't get an answer.

"The fucker can still talk." One of the men huffs out, blowing over the lip of the beer bottle.

Taehyung wants to cry, he wants to reverse time and listen to Jungkook and wait for Namjoon. He doesn't know where Jungkook is or if he even got his signal.
He just wants to be free and go back home and fall into his lover's arms.

He wants to desperately cling to his hyungs and tell them that he's sorry.
He wants Jimin to coddle him and tickle him and tell him about what sickeningly sweet things he and Yoongi did the other night.

But Taehyung understands that its not going to be that easy.

No one probably knows where he is. He is scared, fear beats through his bones but he's not going down without a fight, he decides.

He sniffles once, realising that tears have streaked down his cheek and the chuckles of the men in front of him just rile him up even more.
He closes his eyes to gather all the strength to shout or do something when he hears a voice, cold and deep.

"Hello Kim Taehyung."
He's heard it before.

"Oh! Or should I say, Kim Jeon Taehyung?"

He doesn't know where, but he's heard it. Its similar and he can't put a face to the voice.

He desperately searches for the source of the voice, hidden in the darkness, trying to decipher who it is and where he is.

"He's on the phone, you moron," one of the men slurs, and its then that Taehyung discerns that the person is talking to him through a phone call.

"Perhaps, you're not conscious enough to answer." The voice decides and Taehyung grunts.

"I.. I k-know you." Taehyung grits out, clenching his fists.

"The silent toy speaks after all." The voice chuckles.

Taehyung is tired honestly, he's tired of people thinking that he's Jungkook's toy, something to fuck around with. He did not marry Jungkook for nothing.

He wants to shout that at him, tell him, drill it into his mind that Jungkook loves him as much as Taehyung does.

'Then why hasn't he reached you till now?' His mind throws and really, its not the time.

"Shut up." Taehyung groans as another bout of pain pounds in his head, making his eyes roll back.

"The little Kim is in pain," the voice tuts as Taehyung rolls his face forward to face the men holding the phone.

He shakes his head, trying to clear the painful haze as he tries to focus on the voice. He desperately wants to know who it is.

"I love it." The voice of the person roars with laughter, and Taehyung feels sick.

"Finally, fucking finally, we have our hands on you. My partner is going to be so so happy."

"Who.. Who are you?"
Another roar of laughter, this time joined by the two men.

"How stupid Taehyung, how naïve," he hears the voice tsk, "but then again, we have your own idiocity to thank, don't we? Roaming free without any protection, thinking no one will harm you, that you're safe just because you're married to Jeon fucking Jungkook." He bitterly spits and Taehyung can only swallow down all the ego and realise his mistakes.

"News flash, poor toy, he's powerful, but he's not invincible. He too has a weakness. And that is You."                         

 Taehyung sobs. His whole being is paining with the hurtful words inflicted at him and Taehyung doesn't know how to stop it. He can't do anything except for listening to the vile things being fed to his ears.

"And isn't it ironic," the person starts, mirth dancing in his tone, "how you feel you'll always be safe, when you're the one who's always in danger. No freedom to walk alone, be alone for sometime, always surrounded by guards or by your pathetic brothers. Until now."

And those accusations hit home.

"Jungkook won't leave you alive. Don't.. Do- don't do this." Taehyung tries to warn even though be just wants to curl up and cry because no one has come to save him by now. He knows they will come, he just wishes it won't be too late.

"Aww, look at you, threatening me and my men," the man behind the call coos before his voice turns serious and Taehyung just wants to puke, "let me tell you Taehyung, you'll be dead long before one of your brothers or that wretched husband of yours even step into this place. They don't know where you are. They don't even know that you're tied up here. And by the time they figure out that something is wrong, by the time they come to search for you, all they'll get is a dead rotten corpse."

Shivers run down Taehyung's body and goosebumps rise on his skin.

"Because when this call cuts off, another thing will cut off with it; your fucking ridiculous lifeline."

All fight leaves Taehyung as he lets out a whimper. All the plan to not go down without a fight, evacuates his mind as fear takes its place and dread settles in his body; the dread of the person hanging up.

"No, stop it." Taehyung cries, "Stop."
His voice chokes up and a similar lump in his throat doesn't let him breathe.
His breath hitches as he tries hard to cling onto what's going on around him.

"20 seconds Kim. In 20 seconds I hang up and you're dead."

"What do you want from me?" Taehyung shouts and all the blood rushes to his head, feeling like it will explode, but Taehyung can't find it in himself to regret it.

"Oh nothing darling boy, your life will be enough. Its been years and I think that I'll sleep peacefully after you drop dead."
Taehyung sobs brokenly, not knowing why this is happening.

"10 seconds."

"Please, no. Why, why do you want to do this to me?"

The voice sighs, amused, "Old rivalries Kim, old rivalries. 7 seconds."

Taehyung sees one of the men fill his pistol with bullets, pulling the safety off.
Taehyung screams when the voice counts down, and Taehyung has forebodings about the pain of the bullets that will kill him.

He suddenly remembers all the times he spent with Jungkook, all the happy memories and the sad ones, all the years packed together, from the start.

Meeting him in the café, Jungkook passing him sweet notes, Jungkook helping him with his art and photography project, their first kiss, their first time, the laughs, the giggles, the fights, the making up, Jungkook hugging him to curb his insecurities, to help him breathe.

He remembers how he proposed, their time with Yeontan, and then he remembers Jimin.                        

 All the times they played together since childhood, rolled in sand, cried over broken toys, shared ice creams and all their pains and fears.

He remembers protecting Jimin and Jimin protecting him, all the evenings spent by the Haeundae beach in Busan, all the times the Parks fussed over him and his brothers. The flashes of his brothers' hugs and kisses roam his mind and Taehyung still hasn't stopped screaming, the memories of his brothers holding him when he cried over his parents' death.                                          

Young Taehyung, devastated and quiet after their parents left them. A scared Taehyung standing over the mic, wanting to say some last words for his late parents, but collapsing on stage when nothing came out except sobs and tears.

He recalls all the times his brothers were brave for him, all the times Taehyung held them when they broke down into pieces, the instances when they chased him around the big house just because he ate the last piece of cake.

He thinks of Yoongi, his hyung who didn't warm up to him at first. But didn't take long to do it either. The life advises he gave, treating Taehyung like his own younger brother, ruffling his hair when he did something good, thanking him when he made him some nice coffee, smiling at him with that cute gummy smile.

He wails when he remembers Hoseok, his ability to love the whole world but also kill the world if they so much as took a step against the people he loved. His lively smile, his hearty laugh, him cheering Taehyung up.

Taehyung's vision dulls, pain shooting through his arm, tears running free, the dam broken.
He sees the faces of the six people he loves and cares about the most and he just craves to tell that to them once.
Even if it is for the last time.

"I love you." Taehyung whispers into the air, his whole form shivering.

Gunshots ring, bullets go off, and then everything turns black.

Chapter Text

Please don't ask any questions,

But do keep pouring forever,

I'm not lonely when you're pouring.

Please stay by my side,

Wanna live in this ashy world,

I know that there is no Forever.

~ RM (Forever Rain)

Kim Seokjin doesn't cry.

Well there are exceptions, very rare exceptions, when he does, but lately he hasn't and right now he doesn't want to.
Although as he splashes water from a bottle, on Taehyung's face, to wake him up, he really can't control himself.

Never had he thought that things would stretch to such an extent that Taehyung would be so brutally harmed.

It had never happened before, thanks to Jungkook's quickness and him providing utmost protection for his husband.
But now as Seokjin looks down at Taehyung, all tied up and bloody, he desperately wishes for his brother to be fine.

Bullets leave their muzzles and lodge themselves in someone's body but Seokjin doesn't care. He doesn't hear anyone, doesn't see anyone except his little brother; lip split, bleeding nose, dried blood on the left side of his forehead and a sick gash on his arm from which blood oozes out.

"Wake up, Tae please." Seokjin pleads, splashing some more water and cleaning the blood on the side of his face with gentle fingers.
And really Seokjin can't stop the tears streaking down his cheeks and ending up on his lips when he sees his hands covered in Taehyung's blood; a mellow, deep red.

A hiss of pain followed by groan has Seokjin reeling, dropping the bottle he was holding and cupping Taehyung's cheeks with all the love and tenderness.
"Taehyung, hey, open your eyes slowly, " Seokjin whispers, stabilising Taehyung's head so he doesn't move it much.

"H..hyung," Taehyung's voice comes out rough and muffled and Seokjin just can't get the image of him screaming at the top of his lungs out of his head.
'I love you' he had whispered, Seokjin thinks, and can't stop the sob that makes its way out at the fact that his brother really thought that he was taking his last breath.

And Seokjin hates himself for that, hates everyone and hates the situations that had put him and Namjoon in this line of work.
He resents the fact that his brother thought that he'd die and no one would save him.
Seokjin hates it that he couldn't save him from all the trauma and the upcoming nightmares.

He hates himself.

"Tae, look at me, tell me, can you see clearly?" Seokjin prods, quickly wiping the tears from his face.

"Hyung," Taehyung croaks out, trying to raise his hands that Seokjin had untied, but letting them drop back by his sides, "save m-me."

And if any part of Seokjin's heart hadn't broken at seeing his brother bloody and beaten like this, it now has.

Seokjin sobs, instantly nodding and apologising, "Sorry, Tae. Hyung's here. Nothing will happen to you."
Through it all Seokjin doubts what he says, because hyung had been there before too, but hyung had still not saved him.

"Seokjin? Is he awake? Take him to the car and bandage him up." Namjoon's voice cuts behind him and Seokjin instantly sees Taehyung's eyes flit behind him.
"Yeah. I'll get him home." Seokjin informs, not looking back at the scene.

When they had arrived, Taehyung to everyone's horror, had been screeching and screaming something at the top of his lungs.
The two men holding guns aimed at Taehyung, hadn't known that they had been creeping up on them.

A second later Seokjin had realised that Taehyung had been shouting his, Jungkook's, Namjoon's, Yoongi's, Hoseok's and Jimin's name.

Angered, he had taken out his two sharpest knives and ran towards the two men, the blades raised.
It had been too late when they had taken notice of Seokjin. Because he had already stabbed one of them with both his knives, letting the body fall to the floor.

Then he had heard Taehyung tell the air around him a little secret,
"I love you," Taehyung had said and a gunshot going off had alerted Seokjin to the other man.
He had his gun pointed towards Taehyung, the muzzle letting out the faintest of smoke and Seokjin had looked towards Taehyung in alarm.

The bullet had only grazed his arm, but it had caused enough pain to knock him out.

Kneeing the man in the tail bone, Seokjin had took out his gun and shot him between the shoulders as the man's arched body had fell face first into the dirt.
Sudden gunshots fired around him and Seokjin didn't need to look to know that more men had surrounded them.

Jungkook had come running towards him, looking down at the man Seokjin had stabbed and Seokjin had realised that he was standing in a pool of the man's blood.
Seokjin could see five bullet wounds through his back, the man's shirt red.

Jungkook's doing.

"Fucking bastard." Jungkook had spit, kicking the dead body once in the ribs.
Seokjin had heard a groan to his side and without looking and without batting an eyelash, he had shot the other man two times, feeling the recoil of the gun in his hand.

Jungkook was looking at Taehyung, biting the inside of his cheeks and blinking rapidly but Seokjin knew he wouldn't take a step towards him.
If Seokjin hated himself for not being there for Taehyung, Jungkook despised, and blamed himself for putting Taehyung in that position.

Biting his lips, voice cracking, Jungkook had said, "Get him home hyung. Please take care of him."  

Because Seokjin knew that Jungkook had always thought he won't ever be able to take care of Taehyung well enough.

He would always doubt himself, feel insecure, break down over the fact that the person he loved the most would never be safe with him.
But at that time Taehyung had done his part and lovingly snatched all the doubts from Jungkook's mind and had told him that he would be the safest with him.

Looking at Taehyung now, all the doubts had resurfaced and Seokjin was aware of the fact that Jungkook loathed himself as he dejectedly walked towards Namjoon to help him with the people outside the warehouse.

Now as he carefully puts his arms around Taehyung to support him so that he could walk towards the car, Seokjin tries to keep his tears in check when Taehyung trembles like a leaf, shaken and disturbed.
Taehyung doesn't wipe his tears away as they make their way out, letting them flow down his cheek and end on his chin.

He makes a distressed sound when Seokjin averts his face so that he doesn't see the carnage, the blood and the bodies littering the floor.
He doesn't know how many bodies will he find outside this warehouse and how many of them will be their men.

Its dark and it has just stopped raining, so the sand beneath their feet is wet as it clings to their shoes.

Its silent,
The fight is over.

Seokjin doesn't want Taehyung to look at the bloodshed so he makes sure to hurry Taehyung up towards his car while taking care to not lose his footing on the wet sand.

Its all for nothing, when Taehyung suddenly gasps and stops, making Seokjin pause too.
Seokjin looks up at him questioningly to see that he is looking somewhere over his shoulder.
Seokjin turns to look and understands the sudden small noises that Taehyung is making.

Namjoon stands some distance away, restraining an indignant Jungkook as he continues to push against Namjoon's hold, a crazy look in his eyes and his hands painted red.

Taehyung's scared.

Namjoon then whispers something in Jungkook's ear and Jungkook visibly stops, all fight leaving him as he looks over at where Seokjin and Taehyung are standing.
He pulls free out of Namjoon's hold, making his way towards them, Namjoon hot on his heels

Up close Seokjin sees Namjoon's pinched expression and wavering eyes.
He's trying to control his urges to break down in front of Taehyung.

As Jungkook approaches them, Seokjin notices the blood running down his cheek from a cut. His face hardens, jaw clenched tight; a mask that he wears when he doesn't want anyone to crack his shell open and expose his vulnerable self.

He looks at Taehyung, his eyes softening a little as he swallows but then they're back to being cold, onyx pearls. A look of betrayal passes his face when he tilts his head to the side as if silently asking Taehyung about why this had to be done.
Taehyung hangs his head low and shakes in Seokjin's hold.

Everyone watches with rapt attention as Jungkook takes in a sharp, ragged breath and speaks, "Tend to his wounds, please hyung, and put him to sleep. Stay with him for some time if you can." Jungkook's voice wavers before it turns serious, "And give me one of your blades before I forget to carve a message for the person who got all this done."

Seokjin nods in acknowledgment, meeting gazes with Namjoon over Jungkook's shoulder as he hands Jungkook his last blade.

Jungkook steps to the side without uttering another word and moves to go back inside as Seokjin starts moving with Taehyung, back to the car.
It's then that Taehyung stops in his tracks and turns around carefully, announcing steadily, "I'm not leaving without Jungkook." He says it slowly, quietly, but it resonates loudly in all of their ears.

Jungkook, his back turned towards them stops too, "Go back home and rest." Its not an option, its a demand, and everyone gets it but Taehyung still doesn't move.

"I..- no I'll go back with you." Taehyung's voice cracks and everyone is bristling all around them. Namjoon, Seokjin and all the other men, ready to escort them back, have their heads turned or bowed as if to give them some privacy.

But when Jungkook finally snaps and turns around, Taehyung flinches back into Seokjin's arms.

"I said, " Jungkook hisses, just one step short of yelling, "go back home and rest." He is making visbile effort, Seokjin notices. His fists are clenched tight around the hilt of the knife, the vein in his arm and neck is popping and Seokjin doesn't know how much longer will he hold back for.

"B-but--"

"Kim Jeon Taehyung, you do not have the right to say otherwise when you lied and went beyond all orders. I pleaded for you to go back home with Namjoon hyung and your stubbornness almost cost you your fucking life!" Jungkook shouts and Taehyung whimpers.

Seokjin bristles, "Jungkook-"

"So I give you two choices," Jungkook continues, taking a calming breath and gritting his teeth, "either you go back willingly with Seokjin hyung or I'll have him drag you back to the house. Regardless, you are not staying here."

Its too quiet and if Seokjin concentrates and strains his ears he can hear his own heartbeat as well as Taehyung's wild, fearful one.

Without a word, Taehyung turns back, grasping Seokjin's arm; a silent plead for some support to walk back.

Jungkook, too , turns back and goes inside and Namjoon sees as he wipes at his eyes discreetly.
He looks over at Seokjin and they both nod at each other in a silent agreement; to take care of Jungkook and Taehyung while both of them can't.

❇

Taehyung makes no sound, when in the car with Seokjin.
He stares at one spot in the front as Seokjin dabs antiseptic onto his wounds.

Seokjin frowns when he touches the wound on Taehyung's arm looking up to see if he is in pain, only to get the same stoic expression.

Taehyung doesn't even flinch.

After bandaging his arm up, Seokjin gently tilts Taehyung's face towards him.

Taehyung doesn't meet his eyes, staring at the window behind Seokjin. He carefully cleans the dried blood on Taehyung's lip and nose, covering his forehead in white bandage gauze, looking at him to see any sign of discomfort .

But he sees none.

"Tae, you know, he's just really scared. We all were and still are." Seokjin whispers into the air between them, "He is practically beating himself over it right now."

Now when he looks up, he has Taehyung's full attention and his lip trembles. He senses an oncoming argument but Taehyung's shoulders sag as he apologises.

"I...I didn't mean to hyung. I felt so, so-" Taehyung clutches his hair to emphasize his dilemma.
Seokjin puts his hand over Taehyung's, making him unclench his hair, sliding it down to pat his cheek.

"I get it. You wanted your space." Seokjin concludes, applying cream over Taehyung's split lip.

"But you know the consequences of going out alone. You have known them Taehyung. It has happened to you before and at that time Jungkook would always lose his shit. Think about now; when things got so out of hand that you were about to be killed. Imagine what's going on in Jungkook's head right now," Seokjin sighs and looks Taehyung in the eye, his own eyes shining, "Imagine what's going on in mine and Namjoon's."

Taehyung falls forward onto Seokjin's shoulder as he tries to wrap his arms around his brother, the throbbing pain stopping him. He cries and Seokjin knows that it will strain his head but sometimes emotions just need to spill out.

"I know you never wanted all of this Tae. I'm sorry you have to deal with it." Seokjin bites the inside of his cheek as his brother whimpers and sobs into his shirt all the way back home.

When they reach back home, Seokjin escorts Taehyung inside, making him lie down on the couch as he gets him a glass of water.

He watches as Yeontan comes running when he senses someone's presence and barks excitedly when he realises its Taehyung.

His barks, although, turn in to small mewls when Taehyung doesn't look at him or picks him up.

"Not now Tan," Seokjin whispers, ruffling his fur.
He helps Taehyung sit up then, to drink some water and relax.

Taehyung's shoulders sag and Seokjin realises that Taehyung is battling with himself right now. Seokjin knows what thoughts run through his brother's mind, he's seen that wistful look before.
Taehyung appears to become smaller and smaller as he pulls his knees against his chest, resting his cheek on them.

"Taehyung, stop, please."                              

Taehyung sniffles.

"Talk to me," Seokjin urges as he takes a seat beside him, wrapping him in his arms.
To think that if they had been a second late, and he couldn't have ever held his brother again.

The thought makes him shiver.

Seokjin puts that thought aside when Taehyung speaks,

"I.. just, hyung, people died. Because of me. If, " Taehyung breathes in shakily, curling towards Seokjin, "if I had listened to Jungkook and waited for hyung, I.. This would have never happened. But-"

"You couldn't have known Taehyung."

"But you need to understand, why I did it. Hyung, I needed some space. It.. It just gets so-" Taehyung gestures wildly and yes, Seokjin understands.

Its not the company that Taehyung doesn't crave, its the loneliness that takes it's place.
Times when no one is there with Taehyung and he lies alone in bed, his mind wanders to places it shouldn't traverse, thoughts its shouldn't think of.

An empty mind is a devil's den, they say.

These thoughts are not present when he is with Jungkook or his brothers or Jimin.

These thoughts come and go but whenever they do so, they make sure to leave a big dark imprint on Taehyung's mind. An imprint that has Taehyung squirming, something that will make him go insane lest he not get those thoughts out.

And to do that he needs to breathe.
He needs to inhale and exhale.
He needs to find his peace of mind.

That's a different kind of alone, Taehyung always says.

When he is between rustling leaves, strong gusts of wind playing with his hair, and not between the high walls of a whole darn mansion that is too big for two people.

Where everything is calm and serene and quiet, but a happy quiet, and not the lonely sorrowful quiet that greets him everytime he is home alone.

"You need your alone time, we all get it baby brother, we do. But," Seokjin sighs, "but you chose to give that up when you permanently cast a step into this world."

Taehyung clutches at Seokjin's shirt, tighter and tighter, knowing what Seokjin says is true, realising that yes, he had willingly given it all up, in the name of love.

And it might feel like he should regret his decision now, but Taehyung, no matter how hard he tries, just cannot bring himself to regret it.

Cannot think for a moment that what he chose was wrong, because if someone asked him to choose between a heavenly angel and a chaotic Jungkook, without any hesitation or doubt, Taehyung would point towards Jungkook.
Because it is always him.
Because it has always been him.

Heaving an unstable breath, Taehyung moves back, resting against the couch's arm.
Just as he's about to ask Seokjin to take him to his room, the main door clicks open and Jungkook walks in.

Taehyung's head snaps towards him and his face immediately falls at Jungkook's aloof behaviour. There is still dried blood on his cheek and his hands are bleeding.

His face remains expressionless as he makes his way towards Taehyung, his gaze faraway.
"Where's the first aid box?" He asks him, voice hoarse.

Taehyung can only open his mouth and close it, not being able to move on from the fact that Jungkook didn't even embrace him or tell him that he was worried or ask if he was okay.

Jungkook tilts his head, waiting for an answer.

"Kitchen." Taehyung squeaks out.

Seokjin stops Jungkook as he starts to walk towards the kitchen, telling him to sit down for a moment.
He gets up instead and brings the first aid kit with him, taking out the antiseptic and gauze.

Jungkook sits a bit away from Taehyung, staring down at the glass coffee table.

Taehyung just looks at him in disbelief and hurt, but then Seokjin places a hand on his shoulder, pursing his lips and it is then that Taehyung slips himself into Jungkook's shoes.

He tries to feel the waves of emotions that sway around the fact that his husband could've lost someone today and how much it could have affected him.

Affects him.

He tries to understand the trauma Jungkook is going through, the waves of anger, fear and longing, crashing at the shore of his mind.

Taehyung moves closer to him.

Jungkook doesn't shift.

He stays still as Seokjin wraps his hands carefully in gauze and then proceeds to clean the blood on his cheek.

Taehyung's hands tremble when he takes Jungkook's bandaged ones in his own.

"K-kookie," Taehyung breathes out, a tear running down his cheek.

Jungkook's eyes snap towards him and even though he doesn't speak, a million questions and a million feelings flash through his eyes, urging him to give answers.

Answers which are not in the form of a simple apology.

He knows Jungkook wants the reason and he knows that Jungkook knows that it's going to be the same, like before.

Shivering, even though his body feels warm, Taehyung lets his tears flow, holding onto Jungkook's hand, because that's the only thing he can do at that moment.

He feels Jungkook squeeze his hand, a gentle tightness that is gone as soon as it came, and Taehyung cries harder.

He's taking his time and Jungkook gives it to him.

Like always.

"I..Kook you- you know why." Taehyung sniffles, "its- "

"Its always the same." Jungkook's voice cuts out, steely and sharp.

"Jungkook you know I..can't so-sometimes."

"Its everytime." Jungkook's replies are short. He doesn't feel the need to elaborate.
Taehyung's hand slacks in his hold.

"Jungkook, you out of everyone," Taehyung shrugs and wipes his tears, "- out of everyone, know how I n-need  space sometimes.
You've lived in this environment your whole life. But I can't always do as you say." Taehyung shakes his head to stop Jungkook's retort, continuing, "I know.... I know its for my safety but... I couldn't have known this would happen."

Jungkook stands up, staring Taehyung down and it feels like Jungkook can't hold back anymore. He's feeling so fucking tired of it all.

"I don't think you understand what happened today Taehyung. You almost fucking died. Did you know how angered and scared I was when Namjoon hyung came into the room with that emergency signal? How many times has this happened and yet," Jungkook sighs, gesturing wildly, "yet you cease to understand the complications of going out alone and unprotected."

"Kook-" Taehyung starts moving towards him but stops when Jungkook takes a step back.

He hears his heart shatter.

"You want your space, I get it. I fucking try alright? Everytime, Tae, every damn time, I do. Why do you think that half of the times I ask your brothers to pick you up or drop you? Why do you think I come pick you up from the studio every evening. I miss you, I love you and I'm trying here okay? Try to fucking see it. Everything can't happen the way you want it to."

Jungkook is crying by now as he sniffs and wipes his tears on his sleeve, "I make sure that if I can't provide you with the exact thing you want, Tae, I try so hard to give you the second best one."

Taehyung stands there, no words leaving his mouth because he doesn't really know what to say as his stomach drops at how broken Jungkook feels.
"You... You fucking chose this okay? I gave you a clear choice. I was ready to l-let you go. I was.."Jungkook breathes shakily, "ready."

Jungkook looks down for a moment gathering his thoughts before he looks back up, his lashes wet, but his gaze hardening.

"You, Kim Taehyung, chose me.
You knew it would have consequences and you promised me you'd embrace them. These," Jungkook tells a shell shocked Taehyung, gesturing to their injuries, "are the consequences."

Taehyung somehow, through the lump in his throat and the roaring in his ears, finds his voice, "I'm sorry, Jungkook, what is it that you want me to do?" Taehyung asks and somehow even before he gets an answer, he dreads it.

"Just stop, okay? Stop it. Stop going out alone like this. Stop putting your life in danger."

"Stop ordering me around." Taehyung's voice, surprisingly, comes out firm and a little loud as he looks into Jungkook's wide eyes.

Jungkook opens his mouth to speak something but shuts it, pinching the bridge of his nose and gritting his teeth, "I don't order you around Taehyung, I look out for you. And if you thi-"

Taehyung is aware of the noises filling his ears, as he cuts Jungkook's sentence, "It looks to me as if you order me around. Stop treating me like someone you can control." He doesn't know what prompted him to say those words but the hitch in Jungkook's breath makes Taehyung believe that they were a little harsh.

The shock and disbelief is clear on Jungkook's face as he shivers, standing there and swallowing down before he speaks, "I don't know made you think that way Taehyung. But I'm pretty sure I don't control you. I try to keep you safe even though I know that you're the one who is in constant danger, you're the constant target. And yet, you say that." Jungkook purses his lips, sighing as he roves his hand through his hair. His voice gets a notch louder, as he speaks through clenched teeth, "I just want to keep you safe. Really how fucking hard is it to keep that in your stupid dumb mind?" Jungkook yells the last sentence, bristling.

The roaring in Taehyung's ears gets louder. He doesn't hear anything, doesn't see past the blurriness in his eyes as memories play in front of them, on the hazy screen of his eyelids. He feels the anxiety, the panic set in as he travels back to the old times, the tips of his nimble fingers turning numb, his palms clammy.

'You're dumb.'
'Such a stupid thick head.'
'Hey, did you even understand it? Or was it too hard for a person like you?'
'You're useless, you know.'
'Why do you keep on crying?'
'You're weird. You know that?'

'Stupid, stupid Taehyung!'

Jungkook seems to realise his mistake a minute too late, when he sees a faraway look in Taehyung's wide eyes. He sees Taehyung take in shallow breaths as if he can't breathe properly and immediately reprimands himself for his loose speech.

There's a reason why Jungkook has always looked out for Taehyung.
Ever since they met at the university cafe, Jungkook has gotten to know Taehyung alot.
And that includes all the good and the bad times that Taehyung went through and was going through at that point.

One of which was bullying.

At that time Jungkook also got to know that Taehyung had been bullied not only at his university but also in college as a result of which he had low self confidence and self esteem issues.
People called him names because they thought he was weird, when passionate about something.

They said he couldn't understand things when he was the one who used to be the most interested in them.   Had muttered words like incompetent and useless under their breaths. 

And when Taehyung had let it all out to Jungkook one night, as they had sat together with a long forgotten movie playing in the background, Jungkook had assured him with so many loving caresses and kisses that whatever the people had said, was not at all true.

Jungkook had made Taehyung see the good side of everything he had doubted himself in because of certain people.

He had shown Taehyung what being unique meant, assured him that there was nothing wrong in what he did, just because some people had the nerve to say so.
To his surprise, Taehyung had never told about this to anyone. Not his brothers and not even Jimin.
Although his best friend had known about it to some extent, Taehyung had never explicitly explained it to him.

Whatever Jungkook had said, would have taken some time for Taehyung to implement. And Jungkook had supported him through it all.
But fights and battles left scars not only on your body, but most importantly, on your mind, altering your thoughts.

And Taehyung's battle with the indifferent people had left some gruesome scars on his mind.

That is why Jungkook had always been careful of what he spoke when he was not in his right headspace.

Well, until now.

When Seokjin comes back into the room, after putting Yeontan back in his pen, to see Taehyung stumbling back as Jungkook calls out his name he immediately knows that somehwere something went incredibly wrong.

"Taehyung," Jungkook breathes out as said man's eyes shine when he looks up.

Instead of saying anything, he puts his hands over his ears, frowning, as tears fall down his eyes, again.
He says something but it isn't audible and both Seokjin and Jungkook dash forward to listen.

Taehyung's mouth moves, his lips trembling, as he falls down to his knees on the floor, his hands pressed to his ears.
Jungkook hears it first, and for the first time in so long, he wants to erase himself from Taehyung's life because he hurt him.

For the first time in so long, he thinks letting Taehyung go would have been so much better if it meant not breaking him like this.

"M-make it.. Stop." Taehyung chants, hiccupping as he cries.

"He can't breathe like this," Seokjin tells Jungkook as he gathers his brother in his arms rocking him back and forth. Only then does Jungkook realise that Taehyung is actually not taking in breaths as he cries and cries, still whispering.

To confirm it, Taehyung frees one of his hands and wraps it around his neck, pressing and then scratching as if that would help him.
Jungkook immediately embraces him from behind, whispering in his ear, "Sh shh Tae, love, you're with me and Seokjin hyung. Breathe, come on, breathe with me." Jungkook tells him as he attaches his chest to Taehyung's back, inhaling and exhaling so that Taehyung follows his movements.

"Yes, good, in and out. Calmly."

He removes Taehyung's hand from his neck, tangling them and kissing Taehyung's cheek as he keeps on shushing him, whisperimg apologies and telling him to calm down.

When Taehyung does start breathing properly, still hiccuping and sniffling a little, he stays attached to Seokjin, clutching him tightly. Jungkook on the other hand, detaches himself, sitting back as he lets everything sinks in.

"W-water." Taehyung croaks out and Seokjin gently parts from Taehyung to go to the kitchen. Taehyung stays seated on the floor, sniffling occasionally as he stares ahead into nothingness, pain and hurt stitching itself onto his whole body.

"Tae," Jungkook calls out quietly after a moment, to which he gets no answer and no acknowledgment.
Taehyung stands up, against both Jungkook and Seokjin's protests, as Seokjin comes back into the room with a glass of water.

After Taehyung gulps it down, shrinking a little into himself because of the eyes on him, he places it on the coffee table before muttering, "Take me.. t-to your place, h-hyung. Please." It's a quiet request, but its too loud in the enormous house.

It rings in Jungkook's ears as he processes what Taehyung said and Seokjin looks at him with wide eyes as if he can't believe the words that left his brother's lips.

Everything is silent and too loud at the same time as Taehyung starts walking away from the both of them and towards the door.

He stumbles a little but rights himself as he waits for Seokjin by the door.

His hands shake when he punches in the code from the inside, for the door to open, calling out for Seokjin lightly.
Seokjin looks at Jungkook, prompting him to say something as he walks towards Taehyung.

"Tae, please listen, I'm so-"

"I'm not-" Taehyung starts, cutting Jungkook off, as he takes in a shaky breath, leveling his voice, "I'm your h-husband, Jungkook, not so-someone under y-you. So don't treat me that way." With that he moves out into the cold air, Seokjin following him, after taking a last look at a shell shocked Jungkook.

And Jungkook stands in the middle of the living room, frozen, as everything that Taehyung said, sinks into his mind. He knows he fucked up by saying everything Taehyung never thought he, out of all people, would say.

He doesn't follow Taehyung, doesn't try to stop him as he distantly sees Taehyung sitting in the passenger side of one of the cars as Seokjin drives.

Somewhere, he knows he's pestered Taehyung enough, when all he wanted was a little space from the suffocating whirlwind of the world.
Which does not mean that his heart does not break at the last comment Taehyung made.

Thoughts run around his mind as he thinks about all the times he's told Taehyung to do something.
He thought he was looking out for him, keeping him safe.
'I was' he resolutely thinks, blinking rapidly.

'Were you?' His heart questions as cold air enters the already too cold and too empty house.

He slides to the floor, sitting with his back against the couch and his chin resting on his knees.

Surprisingly his mind remains blank; void of anything except the sight of Taehyung having a panic attack because of the cruel words that he spoke.

Its void of everything except the haunting sounds of Taehyung's screams and shouts and his little whispers, pleading him to make it stop.
His lip trembles as his lashes get wet and his sight blurs, his heart stuttering as he cries.

Outside the thunder rumbles.

It rains again.

❇

Taehyung stares out of the window at the passing trees and resolutely ignores whatever his brother says.

"You know he didn't mean it Tae."

Taehyung gives no answer.

"Taehyung, look at me. You know he didn't mean to."
Somehow the fact that his brother supports his husband more than he supports him, makes tears brim in his eyes as he purses his lips.

"Hey-"

"I don't want to talk about it." Taehyung dryly replies, resting his chin on his palm.

Rain patters against the window and Taehyung finds himself engrossed in seeing raindrops slide down the thick glass.

During all this, his mind wanders to the fact that Jungkook had not come after him to stop him from leaving with Seokjin.
Somewhere, somehow, in some small deep part of his heart and mind, Taehyung finds himself being grateful for that.

God knows, not only him, but Jungkook too, needed some time to go over some things.
They both needed it desperately, to sit and think about their actions.

Besides, Taehyung doesn't know what he would've done or said if Jungkook would have decided to follow him.
He sighs, thinking if whatever he said to Jungkook was uncalled for or not.

"I'm going to Namjoon's apartment, so its all yours."
Seokjin explains, dropping him off in the parking lot in the basement as Taehyung absentmindedly hums, getting out of the car.

"Tell hyung I'm sorry." Taehyung mutters and leaves before Seokjin can say anything.
He knows Seokjin is still waiting, the engine of the car still humming as Taehyung takes the elevator to Seokjin's apartment floor.
He appreciates the silence as he enters the apartment, going straight to the guest suite across from Seokjin's room, that he has reserved for Taehyung.

He sits down on the bed with a thump, hands gripping and crumpling the sheets as he fists them.                      

He grits his teeth to stop the rising lump in his throat from growing any further.
He refuses to cry anymore.

That resolve, although, shatters as soon as his back hits the bed and he looks up at the ceiling, a sob bubbling in his chest and breaking free.
Above him, in the darkness, stars twinkle and wink at him.

Stars that Jungkook had put up with immense effort when Taehyung had said that the ceiling looked too bare.

It was back when Taehyung had started staying with Seokjin for sometime. He still remembers, crystal clear, lying down with Jungkook in the bed, snuggling up to him and whining when Jungkook had titlted his head up.
He remembers how he'd immediately stopped complaining, looking at the twinkling stars that shone, his mouth hanging open as Jungkook had snorted playfully at his amazement.

"Dork," he had called Taehyung.

"My dork." He had corrected.

Now as he looks up and remembers the times spent with Jungkook in this apartment when Seokjin was away, in the bed, looking up at the stars when he laughed, cried, whimpered, or felt pleasure,Taehyung feels a sharp twist of pain in the place where his heart is.

He feels the kiss of home sickness, bittersweet.
He feels the need to have Jungkook beside him again as he lies on the too cold sheets, too large bed and curls himself into a ball, sobbing.
He doesn't think he can forgive Jungkook for what he said just some minutes ago.

But he'll try.

And in the end, he knows he'll end up forgiving him, for he is aware that no matter how much he ignored Seokjin, whatever his elder brother had said just moments ago, was true.

Taehyung knows Jungkook didn't mean for something that rude to slip out, but Taehyung can't help but excuse the bout of hurt that was brought with it.

Lying there in the foetal position, crying into the soft pillow on the lone bed, Taehyung thinks of warmth.
His head pounds when he feels the absence of it.
His mind tries to make him believe that he'll be warm and better too, if he calms down and tries to rest.

But his heart knows the reality when it repeats Jungkook's name.

Again and again,

And again.

 ❇

Jungkook lies in their bed, on his back with Yeontan sleeping peacefully beside him.

His mind remains awfully filled with accusations and regrets and guilt.

He asks himself why he hadn't gone after Taehyung and tried to stop him?

He still remembers the day when Taehyung had got to know about him, his real self and his line of work.
He remembers the days that had followed; they were particularly bitter and hard.

Unsaid things had floated not only between Jungkook and Taehyung but between Taehyung and his brothers too.

Feelings had been sidelined, ignored, when all they should've done was talk, talk and talk it all out.

That had happened, after all, but a little bit too late.
Jungkook still recalls Taehyung saying that they should have hashed out their feelings earlier, so they wouldn't have had to play pretend around each other.

He remembers agreeing to the fact that from that day on, they would talk about anything and everything; communicate

Whether it be good or bad, things couldn't be left unsaid, they had to be talked about.

But the opposite had happened today, Jungkook thinks.

Today, Taehyung hadn't stressed upon the fact that they should communicate.
Today, he hadn't cared about any talks, any hashed out details.
But Jungkook knows and understands where he comes from.

Jungkook hadn't been particularly good to him either.
Now that he thinks about it, he was rude to him on more occasions than one, just because he was caught up in his own turmoil of not being able to keep his husband safe.

And it doesn't count as an excuse that Taehyung hadn't listened to him, Jungkook still had no right to say something like that to him.
He should've embraced him, kissed him and told him that he's safe now, that everything will be okay.

Jungkook hadn't.

He'd let his insecurities get the best of him, taking it all out on Taehyung.

He gets up suddenly, feeling something bitter and sinister coil in his gut.

Jungkook can't let his relationship with Taehyung get jeopardized like this.

No matter what happens, they need to talk, they need to sort their feelings out.

Yeontan gets up too with the commotion and Jungkook picks him up, getting his phone out and texting Seokjin.

He hurriedly makes his way downstairs, putting Yeontan in his pen, under the warm blankets and sees his eyes droop immediately.

Sighing, satisfied, he looks back at his phone to find a reply from his hyung.

A small smile pulls at the corner of his lips.
He's going to communicate, just like Taehyung taught him to.

He's going to make it alright.

 ❇

Its still raining and the light from outside illuminates the living area just enough.

Taehyung sits on the couch, knees hugging his chest as there is a loud clap of thunder.

He couldn't really sleep because 1) his head is aching really bad and he can't find it in himself to endure it. He doesn't know where Seokjin keeps his medicines and nor is he keen on calling him to ask.

He knows some salts aren't going to cure the pounding in his head, memories throbbing inside his skull.

And 2) the room reminded him too much of Jungkook.

Taehyung doesn't do too well out on the couch either. He still wonders what Jungkook would be up to, if he drank some water or some beer to cope. If he put Yeontan to sleep or not. If he slept or not.

It all roams his mind when he unsteadily gets up to get himself some of the energy drink from the refrigerator. Just as he's pouring it in a glass, he hears the front door beep open.

For a moment, he just stands there, frozen, thinking about who it could be.

But then he realises that he knows who it is.

Seokjin had said that he would be staying at his other younger brother's house and only one other person can know the pass code.

He walks out of the kitchen, not even surprised to see Jungkook trying to walk around the dark hallway.

Jungkook comes to a stop when he sees Taehyung's silhouette near the couch.

The lightning outside illuminates Taehyung's form and Jungkook watches as he takes a seat on one end of the couch, drinking something.

Jungkook just stands there, waiting for something, some acknowledgement or some sign that makes him believe that he's really not unwanted right now.

The sign, although, comes some moments later as Taehyung sighs tiredly, "Take a seat, Jungkook. I didn't forbid you from sitting down." He says, looking sideways, out of the floor to ceiling windows.

Jungkook reluctantly takes a seat on the other end of the couch, painfully aware of the distance between them. The white of Taehyung's gauze stands out on his skin and Jungkook again feels his self hatred rising, but he curbs it down.
Other matters need more attention.

Like, "Uh um, so what are you.. drinking?"

Wow, great work Jungkook, he sarcastically thinks.

"Something." Taehyung's reply is vague and short which clearly tells Jungkook that he isn't really interested in beating around the bush right now.

Jungkook knows what they have to talk about, Taehyung knows what Jungkook is there to talk about.

They both know about the elephant in the room, they're just wary of talking about it.
But its been enough, Jungkook tells himself. Its been a very long day with an unexpected turn of events and really, Jungkook just wants to sort it out, take Taehyung back home so that they can sleep together comfortably; limbs tangled and faces hidden in each other's necks.

"Taehyung, baby, please look at me," Jungkook pleads as Taehyung still continues to look outside, his face lit up by a cerulean light.

"Tae, I really didn't mean it. It came out in the heat of the moment." Jungkook reasons, scooting a little closer.

"So I've been told." Finally, Taehyung straightens to put the glass on the coffee table, in the middle, and then turns towards Jungkook.

And Jungkook doesn't know if its better or worse, now that Taehyung is looking at him and Jungkook sees the gauze covering his forehead clearly; the left corner of the white bandage colored red.

"Your dressing needs a change. Um should I....?" Jungkook doesn't understand since when his sentences trailed off into uncertainty with Taehyung, but he's determined to not let it stay that way for long.

Taehyung sighs heavily, swallowing, "You're not here to change my dressing Kook. What is it that you want?"

And the nick name sounds like music to Jungkook's ears. After hearing his full name from Taehyung's lips so many times in one day, had Jungkook pulling at his hairs.

But this, this sounded so good, so homey that Jungkook couldn't have stopped himself anymore.

"Please, let's talk about it. You always tell me to communicate. So here I am in front of you. Let's talk about how you and I both feel right now."

And really Jungkook expected every reaction where Taehyung would sigh and decline, or would maybe yell or would tell Jungkook to get the fuck out.

What Jungkook doesn't expect is for Taehyung to shift forward and literally situate himself in his lap.

Jungkook looks at him, all wide eyes, hands clutched by his sides, but then Taehyung brings his hands up to trace the band aid over Jungkook's cheek and Jungkook sees the shine in Taehyung's eyes, his chapped lips trembling as if he wants to say something.

Jungkook then finally, rests his hands on Taehyung's waist, urging him to talk and really, little happy bombs blow inside Jungkook's mind at the sensation and feel of Taehyung's warm skin under his fingers.
It feels like months since he last touched Taehyung but really its not even been a whole day.

Taehyung bends down, bringing his lips near Jungkook's ear as he whispers, "You want to talk Jungkook? Fine," he pulls his lips away and looks Jungkook in the eyes, their breaths mingling, "Tell me how you feel, tell me from the start. Communicate." Taehyung dryly throws and Jungkook doesn't care if Taehyung mocked him, he wants to tell Taehyung about how he felt, how he feels, so that his husband knows that it wasn't only him who almost lost his life.

Jungkook almost lost it too.

Jungkook maintains eye contact and with a deep breath he begins, "The first thing I felt was anger. Pure white hot anger, on Namjoon hyung, on the people who kidnapped you, on you and most of all, on myself. The area you were in, wasn't safe. Not at all. You didn't know anything about it. You wouldn't know where to run away to if you escaped. It was far away from our headquarters and really, I don't know how you ran that far.

Then I felt scared. I didn't show it-"

"Breathe." Taehyung commands and Jungkook stops immediately, taking in another breath and exhaling, basking in the calming feel of Taehyung's long fingers playing with the hair on the nape of his neck.

"I.. I didn't show it, but inside I was fighting the urge to cry then and there and throw a fucking fit about why there are so many problems in my life and why you have to be involved with them. I felt longing, when I didn't have you to cry in front of, didn't have you to tell me sweet words and snatch every bad feeling away." Jungkook curls his hands over the small of Taehyung's back, squeezing him closer.

"And when we reached the bloody fucking warehouse, I felt dread, fear for your life, and then when we saw you screaming, your face flushed and red, all I felt was abhorrence and hatred. Towards myself and no one else. Detestation at the fact that I wasn't there for you, that despite everything, you were in that situation." Jungkook doesn't know when he had started crying, but he only realised it when Taehyung gently wiped the tears away, clenching his jaw.

"A- and then... Then you still wanted to stay there and I.. I was so annoyed with myself that I took it out on you and told you to go home. " Jungkook recalls everything, every little detail because that's how communicating with Taehyung is. You keep every hidden, curbed feeling on the table in order to share, talk and feel fine again.

"And wh-when I got back, I didn't know what to do so I stayed quiet. I didn't think I would say something nice to anyone who would talk to me and sadly that included you.
So when you tried to tell me why you did what you did, I was so desperately in the need for you to understand that whatever you did was wrong that I didn't even take notice about when I blurted those words out." Jungkook shuts his eyes close, "I didn't realise until you stopped talking altogether."

He takes an exasperated breath, choking on his tears, bowing his head to hide his ashamed face, "I'm sorry."

Taehyung waits patiently for Jungkook to let all the emotions out, quietly offering comfort since he wasn't in the best headspace either.

He pauses until Jungkook tells him to let it all out too.

Jungkook can see how hard Taehyung is trying to stop his tears from falling and Jungkook really wants to assure him that crying right now won't be that bad of a decision. But seeing as how much he's already cried, Jungkook is sure that Taehyung is having a severe headache and he hasn't taken any medicine.
Before he can say anything though, Taehyung starts, putting a little distance between their faces.

"You already know why I decided to walk back alone. You know there always comes a time when I need to get my head in the right place. And ... And I agree it wasn't the right thing to do, all things and past experiences considered. But you also know that if I want to do something I'll be hell lot of stubborn about it." Jungkook hums, rubbing little circles on Taehyung's skin, nodding and urging him to continue.

"I didn't know things would escalate to something like this, where my life would be on line." His voice is dry and rough and if Jungkook had any suspicions about how much his husband might've cried and wailed, well they were not suspicions anymore.

"I knew you'd save me. You were late but you still saved me." Taehyung says, looking down at his fingers.

"But Jungkook," he looks back up and Jungkook really just wants him to call him 'Kook', 'Kookie' or anything except his full name, but he knows that its not the right time to point it out, "all I wanted was to stay there with you. Even if it meant waiting in the car for you to come back and just hold me and hug me and tell me that you still love me."

"Taehy-"

"Stop. I'm still speaking."

Jungkook immediately closes his mouth, breath hitching, "Yes, sorry okay. Please continue." He says, prodding Taehyung to continue further.

"Ever since I reached back, I felt guilty and regretted not listening to you. But all I could think about was how you yelled at me and ordered me to get back home, as if I didn't have any say in it. And probably I didn't be-...because I know I always say that I am not interested in knowing what goes on between you and your suspects or whoever those people are, but I didn't want to stay there for them. I wanted to stay there for you and, only you." Taehyung breathes out, poking Jungkook's chest with his index finger to emphasise his last sentence.

"And then you come home, don't talk and then you shout at me, again." He squeezes his eyes shut and Jungkook sees the wetness cling to his lashes as his voice gets softer, "I understand that you were having a raging battle with your own self but what you did and said today, made me feel like I was some underling of yours that you could order around or control. You totally threw away the fact that I'm your husband and not someone you have authority over."
Now that Taehyung mentions it, Jungkook realises how he fucked up in more ways than one.

Yes, its true he hadn't ever talked to Taehyung like he had done today. Even when something like this had happened before, or Taehyung had been followed, Jungkook had made sure to never use cruel, soul crushing words against him. Because it was never Taehyung's fault that he got followed and never had Jungkook made him believe that it was.

Taehyung brings his face near Jungkook's again; his chapped, cut ones over his pink, dry ones, and Jungkook doesn't close his eyes as Taehyung whispers again, "Why did you have to scratch open the same wounds you helped heal?"

Jungkook sees the first tear fall down and it lands on his lips, Taehyung's eyes following it as he wipes it off from Jungkook's parted lips.

Somewhere in that moment, Taehyung places his head on Jungkook's shoulder, his body wracking with sobs and Jungkook can't help the stab of pain all over his body and his bleeding soul.

He places his hand in Taehyung's hair, careful of the bandage and tries to calm him down.

"I'm so so sorry Tae. Baby, I never realised that I went to such an extent. I didn't- fuck, really I'm extremely sorry." Jungkook says, hugging Taehyung close and rocking them back and forth lightly.

Since how long had Taehyung had had all of that in himself?

Jungkook can't believe he really said those things and made Taehyung think that he's trying to control and preside over him.

Fuck, since when had he become this way with his Taehyung?

"Tell me, what is it that you want me to do, Tae please. What should I do for you to be okay ? I'll do anything you say baby."

Because Jungkook at that point just wants one thing; for Taehyung to be fine. He can watch out for himself later. All he sees and wants is Taehyung's well being right now.

After what feels like hours but are just mere minutes, he feels Taehyung's cries reduced to sniffles as he removes his head from his shoulder.
He gets up suddenly and Jungkook immediately misses the warmth and he just-

"You want it all to be back to normal right? For us to be fine? For me to be okay?" Taehyung sniffles, still retreating till his back hits the window.
Jungkook stays quiet, knowing Taehyung understood his affirmation as he waits for his verdict.

Taehyung, against every feeling, turns his head to the side, away from Jungkook and says, "Leave me alone. Go home now." He inhales a shaky, ragged breath as if he can't believe what he is saying.                                      

 "Leave me be for some time."

Waves of sorrow, hurt and brokenness crash relentlessly against the shore of Jungkook's heart and really, Jungkook doesn't know what to do or say.

He did promise Taehyung and himself that he'd do anything.

And Jeon Kim Jungkook is nothing if not a man of his words.

As he gets up from the couch, curbing his needs to just hold Taehyung in his arms, he turns to say something but stops himself, looking at Taehyung, blue light flooding him from the outside.

Jungkook smiles just a little, rueful and brokenhearted, because he thinks that Taehyung still looks so ethereal just standing like that, his head turned away in defiance.

He decides to stay true to his promise and starts walking away, towards the door, his only fear hanging like a sword over his head; if Taehyung has stopped loving him altogether.

He knows that that may not be possible but old habits die hard and Jungkook's habit of letting insecurities grow inside him had never really stopped.

He pauses by the door, finally deciding to say something, "Please come back to me." He mutters and the plead in his voice is evident.
The plead of coming back, because everyone knows that Jeon Kim Jungkook is nothing without his Kim Jeon Taehyung.

He gets no answer.

So he walks away after that, holding on to the last shred of hope that whispers, 'its all going to be okay'.

The door shuts behind him, silence reigning the empty hallway.

But its too loud for him.

Its deafening.

❇

Chapter Text

There were miracles in your kisses,

They were medicine to my veins.

                 ~~~ Perry Poetry

❤

Its so easy, Jungkook thinks.

So easy for them to come back to each other after long and cold nights without one another. 

Almost a week without Taehyung, asking everyone for updates on him, thinking if he is okay, wondering about him, day in and day out. And there he is in front of Jungkook, waiting for him.

Jungkook isn't mad.

Not at all.

He's relieved.

Relieved that finally he can see his Taehyung and stop asking their friends about how he is doing, stop pestering them and reminding them to tell him to eat properly and keep himself hydrated.

He sighs leaning against the doorway of their room, as he sees Taehyung lounging on his stomach on their bed, Yeontan resting on his back.

He's swinging his legs back and forth and humming Jungkook's favorite song and-

Taehyung looks like a picture of ease.

So easy.

Jungkook would have slid down the door and cried if it weren't for the insatiable hunger consuming his soul.

The hunger to be close to Taehyung, to embrace him lovingly and touch him.
To let his hands wander on the smooth honeyed skin, laughing and kissing the small mole on the tip of his nose.

So endearing.

He makes his way towards Taehyung and he knows.

He knows that Taehyung has heard him by now, but he still doesn't acknowledge him.

No 'baby' or 'Jungkookie' said so lovingly in the air around him and Jungkook feels lost.
For a moment he does not know what to do, standing by the side of their bed where Taehyung lays, his head turned to the other side as Yeontan naps on his back peacefully.

And then there's his name being called, all love and happiness poured into that word and warmth blooms in Jungkook's chest, filling up a gaping hole he didn't know was present.

Its then that Jungkook snaps out of his stupor and reacts, picking Yeontan up carefully and depositing him in the small little bed that Taehyung had made for him from a gift basket.

He looks so inviting, now facing Jungkook and smiling up at him, the smile Jungkook has come to love and cherish, and then he opens his arms and Jungkook can't help but just fall into them, tucking his face in the crook of Taehyung's neck and just breathing in.

Breathing in all of Taehyung's scent that he has missed; the strawberry body wash that he uses, tampered down with the fragrance of the lilac lotion that he loves.

And if some tears escape Jungkook's eyes, because it is now that he realises just how much he had missed this warmth and the feeling of Taehyung beside him, he doesn't care enough to deny it or wipe them off.

Taehyung just tucks him in tighter and tighter, wrapping himself around Jungkook as if he needs his touch to breathe.
And he probably does.

Because not even Jungkook knows how dearly Taehyung felt his absence.

How he would wake up after doing a lot of thinking and anticipate Jungkook's kisses, only to realize that his husband was simply not there beside him.

Now, feeling Jungkook in his arms, unlatches something inside him, something guilty, something apologetic and something so much like home.

"Baby I'm so sorry. So so sorry." Jungkook is the one to break the ice because he's been apologetic way longer than Taehyung has, in the middle of the night, staring at the ceiling or taking a lone walk in the garden.

Jungkook knows how much he's been repeating the same words over and over again in his mouth, so much so that they feel like second nature now.

Because he is sorry.

For what happened to Taehyung, for how he behaved, but mostly because he let Taehyung step into this mess.

Jungkook knows he's going to drown in the waters of self depreciation, thinking that everything is his fault by replaying every scenario over and over again in his head.

Apparently Taehyung knows it too.

"Stop thinking that." Taehyung chastises, pressing a kiss to Jungkook's temple. "Just stop. Its not your fault, stop taking all the blame."

Jungkook, certainly, begs to differ. He burrows his face even further in Taehyung's neck and shakes his head.

"But-"

"No kookie," Taehyung immediately says, pulling himself back and looking at Jungkook, "it takes two to tango, you know. But this time if anyone was wrong, it was me."

A disagreeing whine follows and Taehyung puts his hand over Jungkook's mouth, tutting and shaking his head. He turns them over so that now he is the one straddling Jungkook.

"If someone was wrong this time, it was me. I did a lot of thinking you know? And I realised that even after knowing who you were and what you did, I couldn't stop myself from staying away from you. That's because I love you Jungkook. I always will." He smiles ruefully, taking Jungkook's hands and intertwining their fingers.

Jungkook looks up at him with tears lining his lashes. Then his eyes find the bandaid on the grazed bullet wound and another one on his forehead accompanied by fading scratches on his face and Jungkook is ready to deny everything Taehyung says, but he stays quiet, still wanting to hear Taehyung out.

"I've been told that being stubborn is my fatal flaw. And that might sometimes be good, but a lot of times it just does me bad. Like this time," Taehyung sighs and Jungkook squeezes his hands, "Had I listened to you, I wouldn't have gotten anyone in this mess. I basically presented myself on a silver platter; the exact thing you always warn me against." He chuckles darkly, remembering the recent events.

"I'm sorry. " he finishes, ducking his head and Jungkook feels his tears drop on his collarbone. 

His heart absolutely aches, seeing his husband like this, so he does the best thing he can think of as a sob rips from Taehyung's chest.

He pulls him down and kisses him, soft and savoring, full of love and emotion.
His eyes start to tear up on his own volition and he starts crying too.

Tears mix together as they kiss in between sobs, letting each other known how the days went, when they were without their better halves.

Something, though, still remains unsaid inside Jungkook's heart and its bubbling up and- "I shouldn't have pushed you, you know. Its your freedom Tae and I can't restrict you from doing everything. I'm sorry."

"It would've still happened, you know it. Coming back home was the best option. But like I said, stubborness," Taehyung clicks his tongue, wiping away Jungkook 's tears as the latter wipes away his, "Not good."

Jungkook cards his fingers through Taehyung's hair, humming, "Then don't be stubborn again please. I can't have that happening to you again." He whispers and his voice cracks.

Taehyung places a small sweet peck on his nose before smiling ruefully, "I won't."

The promise sounds rather empty.

It happens when they're taking a relaxing bath, a flute of champagne in their hands, and discussing some safety measures that Taehyung needs to take.

"Teach me how to shoot."

And Jungkook, absolutely unprepared, chokes on his drink almost dropping the glass in the strawberry scented water filled with bubbles.

"W-what?" Jungkook coughs and Taehyung takes both of their glasses placing them on the wide platform beside their bathtub

He wades forward in the water, resting in between Jungkook's legs and places his hands on his chest.

"I said, teach me how to shoot."

Jungkook takes in a deep breath, brushing Taehyung's bangs away from his forehead, a frown marring his face, "Why?"

To his surprise Taehyung just snorts and shrugs as if its something obvious and Jungkook just wants to know why.

He knows somewhere deep inside that Taehyung is forcing himself to demand this, that he would never want to learn how to shoot because-

"Tae, you.... you don't actually want that. You know what happened-"

"When I tried to shoot you?"

As soon as the words leave Taehyung's mouth, both of them wince at the memory and maybe Jungkook holds Taehyung just a bit closer as soon as Taehyung starts to move back.

"I.. Yes. Tae it wasn't exactly a good experience for you."

"Neither was it for you."

Jungkook inhales sharply and lets Taehyung loop his arms around his neck and just as he's about to apologize, Jungkook stops him, "Don't. Please don't Tae. It wasn't in your hands. And I don't care about what happens to me when you are at stake. Neither did I care at that time. What mattered the most was you. You had a traumatic experience baby. Not only because of me but because of what happened to Jimin too."

Taehyung's fingers dig into Jungkook shoulders as he shudders.
"Can we n-not talk about that please?"

"See? You can't live with remembering it. How do you think you'd be able to learn using the thing that relates to the memory the most?"
Taehyung's skin suddenly feels a little cold to the touch, compared to the still warm water.

He rests his head on Jungkook's chest and without speaking it out loud, the latter knows what Taehyung is thinking about.

Determined to take his mind off the memory, he coaxes Taehyung out of the bathtub and towels him down, before pulling him back to their room and making him sit on the bed.

"Kook.. What? We need to-"

"Lie back Tae," Jungkook says softly, standing in between Taehyung's legs, as he squeezes Taehyung's shoulders lightly.

"Jungkook but-"

"Please?" He cups Taehyung's face and looks him in the eyes, smiling softly, gently climbing on the bed just as Taehyung scoots back, never once breaking eye contact.

And when Taehyung's back hits the soft mattress underneath, his hair spreading out like a halo around his head, Jungkook tells himself for the nth time about how lucky he is.

Kissing Taehyung has always been Jungkook's favorite thing. His lips, honey sweet and pillowy soft, put him in a sort of trance.

A trance that he willingly and thoroughly enjoys being in.

So it doesn't take long for Taehyung's breathing to quicken as Jungkook moves away after kissing him breathless, a thin string of spit joining their lips. Jungkook clenches his teeth, watching Taehyung's eyes darken as a pure carnal need to be closer to Taehyung, takes over him.

A need to be one, a want.

He discards the towel wrapped around Taehyung's waist, revealing soft golden skin as he rubs his hands up and down the smoothness, leaving open mouthed kisses on Taehyung's neck that have his breath hitching.

Taehyung's hands that had been resting above his head, move of their own accord and tangle in Jungkook's locks.

The tug on his hair seems to unlock something inside of Jungkook and he suddenly holds Taehyung a little tighter, enough to leave light marks.

Taehyung doesn't complain, won't complain, because it feels heavenly to have Jungkook's hands all over him, holding him close because that's what he needed, that's what he always needs.

The bite to his collarbone has him gasping and arching his neck, Jungkook's name stuttering out of his lips as his fingers fist the sheets.

Jungkook moves down slowly, leaving tender kisses anywhere Taehyung has endured scratches that are still present as small scars; a bitter memory.

When he reaches Taehyung's semi hard arousal, he takes it in his hand and gives an experimental pump, looking up at Taehyung for a response.

Taehyung just bites his lips and places his arm over his eyes, entirely flustered.

"Taehyung, look at me baby," it comes out quiet and slow, because Jungkook can't endure Taehyung not looking at him, anymore. He wants his husband to keep his eyes on him, to drink him in slowly and steadily.

Jungkook maintains eye contact as he bends down and places a kiss on the tip of Taehyung's cock, suckling on it.

The loud moan that Taehyung lets out, provides an eternal satisfaction to Jungkook as he smirks and engulfs his length using his hand to pump simultaneously.

Taehyung's hands find purchase in Jungkook's hair and his shoulders as he presses Jungkook down on his cock.

Jungkook feels Taehyung's thighs tense on either side of him, feels when Taehyung props his feet on mattress as his knees bend and he thrusts up into the warm heat of Jungkook's mouth.

Jungkook plays with the head, licking and sucking, before engulfing his cock further and reveling in the way Taehyung moans brokenly.

He resurfaces some seconds later, breathing heavy as spit dribbles down his chin and onto Taehyung's shaft as he jerks him off at a fast pace.

"Fuck Tae, missed you so much baby. Missed this." Jungkook mumbles going down on Taehyung again. He presses his other hand over his own hard cock, rutting along the rhythm of bobbing his head up and down Taehyung's shaft, lapping at the precum.

Taehyung hums and the content sound cuts into a gasp as Jungkook digs his thumb into his slit and looks up at him through his lashes.
The fire of his release licks at his abdomen as he feels himself getting closer and closer. 

The next time Jungkook ducks his head to take Taehyung's length back in his mouth, his gut coils with a hot intensity as Taehyung bucks up, working with Jungkook's rhythm.

"Ko-kook, I am... I-," Taehyung starts to warn but Jungkook hums around his cock and the vibrations send Taehyung into a frenzy as his eyes roll to the back of his head.

"Nngh ah! Jungkook!" Taehyung screeches, his nails digging into Jungkook's shoulder blades and toes curling as he lets go and comes.

Jungkook swallows it all, panting as he parts from Taehyung's cock and milks him of his orgasm. 

Taehyung whines of oversensitivity and that is enough of an intimation for Jungkook to move back up and kiss his honey lips. Taehyung makes sure to jerk him off as he moves up and apparently not much stimulation is needed as Jungkook is coming all over Taehyung's hand and abdomen just after two flicks of his wrist and certain words of praise.

He tastes himself on Jungkook when they kiss senselessly and without any finesse, hands flying out to grip each other  and smoothing down every inch of skin they can touch.

"I love you so much," Jungkook whispers, resting his forehead against Taehyung's as he breathes harshly. Taehyung has seemed to lose his ability to form words as feelings overwhelm him and he kisses Jungkook before he can catch him crying.  

But no matter how heartily he kisses Jungkook, his lover will always know when he sheds a tear and will do anything to stop it.

So the hand cupping his cheek and the thumb wiping his tear away does not come as a surprise and Taehyung smiles into the kiss.

He doesn't need to tell Jungkook about how much he loves him, doesn't need to proclaim it loudly. He knows Jungkook knows it well and understands it even through Taehyung's quietness.

And as they lay there for some moments, slinking back into reality as Taehyung is hit with all the events that led down to this, Jungkook just silently holds his lover as he cries. The adrenaline rushes out, leaving the harsh reality and painful memories behind, that hurl themselves at Taehyung like a storm, making him shake and cry.

Amidst it all, he clings to the only feeling grounding him, clings to the arms caging him tightly and holding him as endless bouts of tears escape, and thanks everything good for giving him a man who loves him wholeheartedly no matter what.

He, who makes Taehyung's life beautiful and bearable.

Whose arms are the only home Taehyung ever wants to come back to.

So he cries and lets it all out because when he's done and feeling light again, Jungkook will always, consistently, be there.

He truly loves Jungkook.

More than he can express.

❤

Chapter Text

A lie is a lie.

A white lie is a lie.

A half truth is a lie.

A hidden truth is a lie.

A lie by omission is a lie.

A lie is a lie.

                  ~~Unknown

  💔

 4 Years Ago

The moonlight, Taehyung thinks, as it creeps up on him from under the blinds, looks beautiful.
Its a shame that he can't appreciate it through his aching and blurry eyes.

The moon apparently also reminds him of his solitude. 

Cold and alone.

The sheets rustle as Taehyung adjusts himself on the bed, folding his legs at the knee and curling in to a ball.
But no matter how small he makes himself, he can't forgo the pain or the shock that his mind has sustained. He wants to sleep it off, wake up the next day and just wait for someone to tell him that it was just a dream.

He's been wishing for that to happen since the past 4 days.

But no one comes, he doesn't wake up, because he doesn't sleep in the first place. Taehyung finds himself stuck; reliving the images and scenes of that one night that changed everything for him. 

His life, his memories, his happiness, his feelings, him.

Everyone he believed to be the closest to, everyone he trusted with his whole being; his brothers, his lover, his own fucking best friend, everyone, lied to him like he wasn't worth anything in their life .

"Did you know about this Jimin?"

"Tae I- fuck let me just-"

"Did you know about this Jimin?" Taehyung hadn't shouted, his voice had been calm, smooth and if anyone noticed closely, laced with a hint of fear and betrayal.

"...yes."

Taehyung had gotten up then, leaving the room because he couldn't look at all the faces watching him with pity, with sorrow and whatnot.

He'd cried as he had run back to his own room and locked it behind him.

Lies.
Lies.

All fucking lies.

Was his life his own too?

Or was it too a lie?

                                          🥀

"Eomma," Taehyung whispers in the dead of the night, new tears following the same path as the previous ones, "Eomma I miss you. I- I n-need you." He has stopped wiping his eyes, is letting his tears fall, just like his life fell apart in a matter of seconds.

The slight creak of the door, alerts him and he turns around facing it, his eyes wide and heart beating at a fast rate.

"Tae, I got you something to eat baby brother. You haven't eaten-"

"Stay away." Taehyung backs up on the bed even though he's stuck himself to the headboard. He just wishes that the wall behind him will swallow him. He doesn't, no, can't see anyone right now.

He just can't.

Namjoon stops immediately by the door, his mouth open as he assesses what his brother just said.

Namjoon knew Seokjin had said that Taehyung hadn't wanted to see him, but Namjoon hadn't understood his hyung's wavering voice and cold eyes.

Until now.

Taehyung is scared of him.

And that was beyond any pain he had ever felt.

"Hey Tae-"

"I SAID STAY THE FUCK AWAY!" Taehyung screams, his hands scrambling to hold onto something but clutching the sheets near him when he doesn't find anything.
His breaths come out in pants and through the little light that filters through the windows and the open door, Namjoon sees how frantic Taehyung looks.

His eyes waver, his hands shake, and as if he's been suddenly hit on his head, he clutches it roughly and pulls at his hair, screaming at the top of his lungs.

Its a mix of a bellow of pain and a plead for Namjoon to get out and just be away for sometime.

Namjoon hears footsteps approach as he backs out of the room, running out to the living room.
He almost collides into Jungkook and Jimin and they look concerned at the tears lining Namjoon's cheeks.

Namjoon shakes his head lightly and Jungkook surpasses him and runs to Taehyung's room, followed by Jimin.

He just stands there for a moment until the shouts hit his ears again and he visibly shakes. Hoseok then comes and takes the tray of food out of his hands and just proceeds to hug him, tucking Namjoon's face in the crook of his neck.

The shouts continue until everything drops silent. There's no voice, no sound and Namjoon's stomach suddenly drops and he runs back to Taehyung' s room ignoring Hoseok's disapproval.

He slows down just outside and slumps down by the doorway at the sight present in front of him.

Taehyung lies motionless in Jungkook's arms, as Jimin cards his fingers through his hair, sniffling lightly.

Repeated apologies to an unconscious Taehyung don't help because when he wakes up, it'll be the same cycle of shouts, tears and fears again.

And again

And again.

🍃

"Do you think I should've told him?" Jimin asks Yoongi as he lies wrapped around the latter on the bed.
Yoongi tucks Jimin's strands away from his face and looks into the bloodshot eyes of his boyfriend, "Told him what sunshine?"
Jimin sighs and slumps his head onto Yoongi's chest hearing the steady beat of his heart.

"About you or like who you really are and what you really do. About Seokjin and Namjoon hyung, Jungkook and Hoseok hyung?" He quietly answers or well asks, his head swimming with images of Taehyung looking at him with the look of betrayal on his face.

It was an unexpected expression, Jimin never thought he'd see on his best friend, especially directed towards him.

"Jiminie I left it up to you to tell Taehyung about my real identity when we started dating. It was your decision baby."

Jimin hums, remembering the memory and then,  "But-"

"-However," Yoongi begins, curling an arm around Jimin's waist, "Taehyung is like my younger brother and I let you decide whether or not you want to tell him about me, but I really think that telling him about Jungkook or both his brothers was never upto you." Yoongi says honestly and rubs his exhausted eyes, shaking his head a little to rid himself of the images of Taehyung thrashing and screaming.

He only knows how many times he's closed his eyes only for the same image to continue repeating itself like some broken record in the blackness.

Somewhere deep down he knows he shouldn't worry this much, because Taehyung will emerge out of this shitty hellhole of shock, victoriously like the fighter he is, but that doesn't lessen the burn, the guilt and the absolute hatred over himself and his work.

"Do you think I could have saved Taehyung from breaking if I would have told him?" Jimin suddenly asks, voice cracking because both of them, hell all six of them,  know it.

They know that they somehow broke Taehyung.

Shattered his beliefs in what a truth and a lie is, wounded his soul and left it to bleed.
Somehow broke his entire existence in the span of an hour.

"I don't know." Yoongi answers simply and sincerely because yes, he doesn't fucking know anything anymore.

Its quiet after that, silence hanging thick in the air, broken phrases and ghosts of shouts and the stench of fear decorating every nook and cranny of Jungkook's guest bedroom and his whole apartment.

After what feels like an eternity of staring at the ceiling, unblinking, comes a small whisper, shaky words laced with worry and regret,

"I don't know either." Jimin says and the room goes back to the original silent abode that it was.

                                              🍂

Taehyung, unbeknownst to anyone else, has been waking up everyday at 4 AM for the past week.

He doesn't want to, but his eyes involuntarily snap open at 4 in the morning and he always finds himself getting out of bed to take a seat by the big window in the room.

The hours before dawn make him see the dark sky, filled with white shiny specks that twinkle back at him and Taehyung's lips twitch just a little.

Sometimes though, he wakes up before the designated hour.

He dreams of his brothers and Jungkook, fighting, colored red and Taehyung desperately prays that the color doesn't depict blood.

Unfortunately he knows and his heart knows that it can't be anything but.

They tread towards Taehyung in his dreams, a crazy look in their eyes, one that Taehyung doesn't relate to and before anything can escalate any further, he wakes up panting, drenched in cold sweat.

Everytime he just finds himself sitting by the window.

Somedays, he talks to the stars, imagining that he's talking to his parents.

He tells them about his memories, reasons why he isn't letting anyone near him, tells them about how much he needs them and misses them and also about how everyone is.

Rare smiles stretch his lips when he talks about Jungkook, only to be wiped away when he remembers the night outside the art studio.

His throat closes, he chokes and tears fall. Because then he doesn't know what to tell them anymore.

His door remains locked from the inside, he tells everyone to go away because he can't see them, can't face them without the sour and bitter taste of lies resting on his tongue.

Fear, Taehyung realises, as it twists its sharp jagged claws in his gut and makes him weep an endless supply of tears and pleads.

Suppressed fear residing in his body, leeching off of him as he melts away into the darkness, refusing to meet or see anyone. The same fear snaps its fingers filled with dirty magic and makes his mind conjure nightmares that make him scream and pass out after a panic attack.

Taehyung steadily ignores the banging on his door and the soft knocks, doesn't hear the pleads and apologies of his brothers, his boyfriend or his friends.

He stays alone in the room, occasionally eating the food and drinking the water left for him in a tray outside his room.

He feels like a prisoner in his own body, his mind and soul, not his own. Taehyung tries, he really does, to go out, talk to anyone and everyone of them.

But everytime he takes one step forward, he takes ten back and goes to sit by the window, crying and hugging himself as he complains about it all to his eomma and appa.

He tells them about how lonely he feels, how alone, and not safe enough anymore, even amongst his own kin.

Unknowingly, all of the others - Jungkook, Namjoon, Seokjin, Hoseok, Jimin and Yoongi, take turns and sit outside the ever closed door, listening to the dear boy cry his heart out.

Their own tears escape but they don't wipe them off, yearning just to look at Taehyung and coddle him and take care of him.
No one asks them to sit, but it becomes a routine.

No one speaks it out loud but it hangs in the air as obvious as ever.

They'd give Taehyung anything he wanted.

They'd let him go if it meant he'd no longer live a fearful life.

They'd do anything

But at what cost?

                                               🍂

Exactly 9 days pass when Taehyung finally makes the decision to face everyone.

Exactly 9 days after the brain numbing, horrifying incident, Taehyung finally grows the guts to hear about everything from the start.

He feels as ready as he can be to learn everything about who he is, who their family is and was.

And if he can't take it at any point, he'll just speak out and make it stop.

Or come back to his room.

Yes that's what he'll do.

Taehyung tells himself this again and again, revises what he'll say, but realises, that there is nothing to say. He stands in front of the mirror, the droplets of water from his wet hair falling on his face.

He stares at himself, at what he's become in just a span of 9 days. There are bags underneath his red puffy eyes and he's certainly lost some weight.

He looks pale.

Not that he cares.

What he does care about is the impending Talk he'll have with his family and friends.

So he dries his hair, puts fresh clothes on and continues taking deep breaths.

And when there's a soft knock on the door, signalling someone who has brought food for him, he calmly walks towards the door.
He can't eat anything right now, wouldn't be able to, so he just opens it and suddenly the floor looks so much more interesting.

"T-tae," his name is called, softly but the person's voice breaks.

Taehyung recognises Jimin's barely contained sob and looks up.
Jimin is looking at him with a mixture of shock, worry, happiness and relief and Taehyung can't look away.
"Taehyung hey-" Jimin takes one step forward, just wanting to embrace his best friend but Taehyung is really not ready for that.

Not now.

So he takes a step back and pretends he doesn't see the hurt flashing on Jimin's face.

He pointedly pushes it to the back of his mind, focusing on something else entirely and looks back into the male's eyes. His eyes glisten in the low overhead light and Taehyung wants to tell Jimin that everything will be okay, that they'll be okay too.

But he can't.

Not when he doesn't know if it will be true or not.

Taehyung steels himself and stands his ground, fists clenching by his sides, "I..I want to talk," a deep breath, a clench of jaws, "Can- can you ask everyone to gather in the living room?" A sigh of relief, another inhale, waiting for an answer.
"Is ev-veryone here?"

Honestly , Taehyung doesn't even know what he's so scared of.
He doesn't understand why he's being jittery. Its just Jimin, it'll just be his brothers, his closest friends, and Jungkook.

Except inside, he knows it will not be easy to look them in the eye.

It will not be easy to tell them that he still needs time to get his head into place.

Still needs some time for everything to sink in.

He's hoping, expecting them to understand.           

And that is why he feels so nervous.

Nothing good comes when disappointment strikes after expectations.

Jimin is nodding frantically, primarily happy by the fact that Taehyung finally is opening his godforsaken door and coming out.

"Yes umm...yeah I'll just, yeah." Jimin fumbles.

Words fail him because he feels giddy, never mind the point where Taehyung flinched back from his touch.
"Uh Yoongi hyung though, he went back home just today morning. I'll call h-"
"That's fine Jimin." Taehyung's demand is short, clipped and contains no emotion, but it resonates loudly enough in Jimin's mind and he stops stuttering over his words and just mutters a small affirmation, running back out of the hallway.

Taehyung breathes in heavily, supporting himself on the doorframe.
He has to do this. This needs to finish. He needs to know everything so that his heart can feel at ease.

Small steps.

He takes small steps out of his room and promptly stops in front of the living room, watching as everyone moves around frantically. 

He clears his throat and immediately there's pin drop silence in the room.

Seokjin looks at Taehyung, willing for him to lift his head up and jusf look at them once-

He does.

Seokjin dies a little more.

He sees the absence of light in Taehyung's eyes.

Being his hyung, he has always looked at Taehyung with fondness, has always appreciated the wonder in the younger's eyes, the curiosity regarding everything and anything.

And now-

Now its devoid of it all.

Every sparkle, every emotion.

Just, gone.

Taehyung takes measured steps towards them and stands in front of a couch before Jungkook breaks the silence by muttering a small 'Hey.'

Seokjin's heart aches for the boy.

He's a year younger than Taehyung but has the weight of a thousand expectations and dreams on his shoulders. The one person who helped him relieve the weight, stands in front of him and does not acknowledge his presence.

Seokjin knows how hard these 9 days 10 hours 56 minutes have been for them, especially for Jungkook.

Seokjin knows that Jungkook heavily places the blame onto himself, despises himself.

He has heard the muffled cries when Taehyung had screamed because of some nightmare in the middle of the night.

He's seen the light disappearing from not only his brother's but Jungkook's eyes too.

And now when Taehyung does not respond back to him or to anyone for that matter, the ache in his heart spreads and the tears in his eyes appear.

But he keeps them caged in.

This is neither the time nor the place for them.

"What did you want to talk about Taehyung?" Namjoon softly asks, treading over thin ice and when he doesn't answer right away, Hoseok begins, "Tae you know you-"

"I can't," Taehyung starts cutting Hoseok off, "I can't for... forgive you all." Breath hitching and body shaking, Taehyung says it and everyone in the room freezes.

"N-not now atleast. I'm sorry. " A tear runs lose, and Taehyung quickly wipes it off.

"But I want.. want to hear it from the start. Everything." Its a simple demand really.

Its not even a demand, Seokjin thinks, it's a disguised request.

Seokjin doesn't want to go all out and open the box of old memories, one that he buried deep down after the death of their parents, but he supposes, that this day would have come and its happening now.

So- "Fine then. If that's what you want. Take a seat Taehyung. I think this might get long."

                                              🍂

Seokjin starts from the beginning and tells Taehyung everything;
About their parents, about their family, friends, allies; everything.

"Daegu," Seokjin says, biting his lips and looking over Taehyung's shoulders as if remembering everything, "a historical city where the kings died but their rule never did. First it was ruled by emperors, and then the Mafia." A faint smile graces his lips and he looks at Taehyung, "The Kim and Min clans held most of Daegu under their clutches. Now you'd think that both of the clans would be ruthless and blood thirsty, am I right Taehyung?" he ducks his head to look into his brother's lowered eyes but he doesn't need an affirmation as to what Taehyung is thinking.

A lopsided grin and then, "Well there were clans other than The Kims and The Mins who were even more ruthless, who killed people everyday for fun, for entertainment. Ours were nothing like that. Ours killed when absolutely needed and when the person deserved it."

A scoff is heard from Taehyung and everyone snaps their eyes to him, shocked , "You don't get to decide who deserved what, hyung."

The absolute bitterness in Taehyung's words makes Seokjin close his eyes for a moment, reeling himself in, "When the person stands behind us with a knife to our throat, or shoots a loved one at point blank between their eyes, in front of you, I think we do get a say in whether that person deserves it or not."

And Seokjin speaks with such sorrow, that Jimin shakes and Namjoon places a hand on his hyung's shoulder, squeezing it for comfort.

Seokjin shakes his head and claps his hands once and continues, "Anyway, where was I? Yes, most of Daegu was practically ruled by The Kims and The Mins. I wouldn't be able to tell you what happened before I was born, obviously, but I know that when I was born our Halabeoji used to be in leadership of the Kim clan.

Now I don't know what you are expecting but I had a normal childhood, deviod of any danger or any arson. I was coddled, loved, and well looked after. I was best friends with your one and only," Seokjin laughs a little and looks at Jimin, "Min Yoongi. Which also later led me to know that we were strong allies with The Min clan because apparently Yoongi's appa and our abeoji were also really close friends."

Jimin is listening with rapt attention about his boyfriend's childhood and so is everybody. Even Taehyung has the spark of curiosity dancing in his eyes now.

"Yoongi and I used to be attached at the hip, had the same school, same classes and loved playing with younger Namjoon." Seokjin gestures to his younger brother sitting next to him and the latter smiles with a fond expression.

"The truth is that abeoji never wanted his sons to be involved in his world because he knew about the dangers of it and he always tried to keep all of us away from them. Namjoon and I were basically clueless about it all, happy and content to spend all our time playing with you and making you smile that toothless smile. But abeoji had better plans. I think Joon and I can undoubtedly say that he loved you more than the both of us." Everyone laughs a little at that, and Jungkook recognises the way Taehyung holds back his grin, his ears a little red.

"There's a reason you didn't see much of abeoji, Namjoon or me during your early childhood days. There's a reason we didn't stay with you at that time. Apparently, abeoji sent you and eomma to Busan when you were 3 years old and I remember crying really hard about it. Namjoon didn't eat anything for 4 days." Seokjin chuckles.

"Yeah that was bad." Namjoon shakes his head and Seokjin smiles ruefully.

"But it was for the best." Namjoon adds, the sadness evident in his voice.

"So yes, everything was pretty normal for me, until I turned 10." Seokjin takes in a shaky breath as if the memory in itself is very rattling.

"On my tenth birthday, I saw a gun for the first time. Halabeoji handed me one and I still remember taking it with shaky hands. I also remember sobbing in my room all alone as abeoji fought with halabeoji. But since that day it was like, something changed. And I started to actually see what our family was into. Namjoon was still clueless and we intended to keep it that way.

Abeoji and eomma made me promise that I won't tell about this to anyone, not Namjoon, not you, no one. I myself didn't want to touch that wretched thing ever again but life has a way of turning out unexpectedly, surprising you and leaving you speechless." It feels like Seokjin is implying something and Taehyung cowers underneath his hyung's intense gaze.

"It happened when I was 13. Thankfully, you were still in Busan, Namjoon was at summer camp and apparently The Min clan had decided to spread its branches to Seoul. So abeoji handled everything in Daegu. It was a sudden attack at one of the grand parties that we attended. We were amongst the last families remaining when gunshots echoed through the room. Abeoji tried to push me away, to help me hide but the attackers were there to kill halabeoji. They-" Seokjin breaks off, blinking his eyes and taking in a sharp breath, "they held a gun to abeoji's head and when halabeoji intervened, they shot him. Just one pull of the trigger and all the light was gone from his eyes, his  life snatched. I...I don't know what came over me. I still sometimes think that it wasn't me functioning, but the shock that led me to do it. I saw a knife and a gun and ran at the person standing over halabeoji's body. I shot him Taehyung, and then I stabbed him. After that, everything was a blur. I don't know who killed who or what happened, because I was just sitting there, motionless, in a pool of blood. Abeoji didn't get hurt but he cried a lot that day because he lost his father and his son too. That day I had concreted my place in the mob world, the one thing he never wanted. Surprisingly I hadn't shed a single tear.

But then you called that day and you were crying so much, you couldn't speak. Jimin spoke for you and said that you've been crying since the past hour because somehow your heart aches. That led me to cry too."

And as Seokjin says that, he remembers it all. He shudders and wipes his tears and looks Taehyung in the eye. 

"That is how I entered the game." Seokjin finishes and gets up to fetch a glass of water. "Its all a game." He mutters.

"Do you want me to continue or .." Seokjin asks as he fills six other glasses of water.

Its mumbled and garbled but Seokjin does hear an affirmation, so he complies and sits back down on the couch, facing Taehyung.

"So....um yeah. Once I killed someone," Seokjin coughs, "Everyone knew about me and I was an obvious target. So abeoji taught me some stuff. Hand on hand combat, how to use a gun, but he realised that I was better with blades, so he trained me with them. It was all fine, we would train discreetly and then 2 years later Namjoon got to know." Seokjin looks at Namjoon silently, urging him to speak his part.

Namjoon clears his throat and scratches the back of his neck, "It wasn't much of a surpirse to be honest. Jin hyung had decided to treat me to an ice cream and we sneaked out at night. Which wasn't very wise ...ha!" Namjoon chuckles and immediately sobers when he realises it isn't something funny.

" I, uh, yeah so we were just walking back home when someone decided it was a good time to attack us."

"Hyung, it was." Jungkook comments quietly and Namjoon makes a disgruntled noise, urging him to stop talking.

"There were around 5 people and when the first bullet went off, I graciously wasn't shot. One second hyung had an ice cream cup in his hands and the next second he had two knives. I actually saw him fighting those people and when he dragged me away and we ran, he apologized.
Later he realised that I wasn't the least bit phased because somewhere I had the suspicions of something weird going on in the house. Like, come on,  there's no way that our house was surrounded by buffed up guys just because abeoji was a CEO." 

"Yeah Namjoon, took you long enough to figure out." Hoseok comments, slapping him on the back.

The atmosphere in the room remains somber, a little light and everyone notices even Taehyung's posture relaxing a bit.

Although Seokjin doesn't know how much longer that'll remain for.

"Anyway, after that abeoji decided that it was enough and that he'd no longer put his children in danger. He decided to leave it all behind for a safer future for his family. So he started making arrangements. But now even Namjoon was under the radar which prompted abeoji to train him too. And apparently for a man who trips over air, he was pretty handy with guns." Seokjin says, and Jungkook snorts at that and Jimin laughs too.

"Yoongi's appa helped abeoji alot and because of him we met The Jeons. They were new in the field and abeoji met them in Busan when he was buying some new property from them. In exchange for it, he gave Jungkook's appa some new recruits from our ranks; people who were still ready to work under a leader. We shifted to Busan, to our new home with eomma and you, leaving our old life behind. You met Jungkook at our new house for the first time. His family was in the middle of relocating out of Busan and you immediately took him under your wing. He used to follow you and Jimin around like a lost puppy and-"

"Yaah hyung!" Jungkook looks affronted.

"Please Jungkook you used to look at Taehyung and Jimin with literal hearts in your eyes. " And suddenly a small chuckle echoes through the room taking up everyone's attention.

Taehyung sits oblivious to everyone's eyes on him as he smiles to himself.
Not wanting to embarass him, Seokjin continues, sipping on his glass of water.

"Anyway, The Jeons moved away and abeoji got a job based on his medical degree. All was good. We all played, had eomma and abeoji coddle us every waking moment. We thought...... we thought that we finally abandoned the dangerous life, finally left the dark world. Except it just, it just never leaves you."

"-It just never leaves you."

Seokjin and Jungkook admit in unison.

No one needs to look at them to know that their faces have gone pale and they look like they're taking a literal walk down the dank memory lane.

Seokjin huffs out a breath looking straight at Taehyung because he knows too, that this is the part that the latter has been eager to hear.

"July 2012." Seokjin declares and Taehyung's breath catches in his throat. He knows because-

"Eomma and abeoji died in a car crash."

Seokjin watches Taehyung, tries to deduce his expression, to see if he might read the emotions in his brother's eyes, if he understands the underlying truth.
After what feels like a silence stretched on for eternity, Taehyung looks up, his lips trembling as he twiddles his thumbs actively,

"They, eomma and appa, did-didn't .. d-didnt die in that acc-accident, did they?" He fumbles out, a held back sob escaping his lips.

Taehyung squeezes his eyes shut to listen to what his hyung will say next, his heart beating thunderously in his ears. 

He clenches his teeth to alleviate the pain in his head, focuses on Seokjin talking, the thunder gradually rising.

"They did." Seokjin simply answers and its commendable how he looks so put together, holding in everything for the shadows that will be his companions at night.

"But it was an organised crime, Taehyung." Seokjin sighs, leaning back and rubbing his face with his hands.

Namjoon knew it was getting harder and harder for Seokjin to keep going. He had been the one to be impacted the most with the deaths of their parents.

Every responsibility had fallen on him, he had to keep his feelings aside to look after his younger brothers and continue with his studies too. It had taken quite a toll on his mental health some years ago.

Fortunately their youngest brother was not around to witness the nervous breakdown of his eldest brother, or the way he fell apart.
Being strong in the most toughest of situations was not an easy feat but Namjoon knew that Seokjin had taken every ounce of pain so his younger brothers could always be okay.

So it was only fair that Namjoon did his part now too.

Gauging Taehyung's fearful and shocked reaction, Namjoon takes the reigns and continues, "They were basically lured out of the house, just so they could be... killed." He finishes straightforwardly, his expression hardening.

"W-what?" Taehyung's voice cracks and he stumbles over his words, thinking what in the world his parents would believe enough to have them meet their demises.
Namjoon sighs wistfully, eyes dark, "The person Seokjin hyung killed when he was 13, was the leader of a rival clan. His closest people extracted revenge on our parents." The information dangles heavily in the darkened atmosphere of the room, everyone too engrossed as their mouths fall open when they realise the real threat.

Killing the leader of a clan was not just a small murder.

It was a grave sin in the eyes of the clan people.

An eye for an eye and blood for blood, is what they say and teach in all clans.

If a clan spills the blood of the most respected person of their rival clan, then revenge is taken on the clan and blood is spilt.

Blood of the closest and the most respected member.

And in Seokjin's case, it was the leader.

The most important.

The most respected.

The most powerful.

(A grave sin)

The need to ask the reason, the 'how' is emblazoned brightly on Taehyung's face and Namjoon gears up for more.

"You, apparently, made sudden plans to go to Jimin's house straight after school. Your phone was off and everyone tried to call you. Even Jimin didn't pick up his phone. Jin hyung and I were in the middle of our classes when eomma and appa informed us about a call that said that you were kidnapped and that you were in danger. They didn't need anymore words. They both dashed off to a given address, all armed. Seokjin hyung and I were worried and....and then we got the call about... ab-about t-the accident. We.... we still regret not being there and going with them."

'But then you would have left me too' Taehyung internally thinks as he stares with wide, wet eyes at his brothers. Suddenly all the fear, the pain that he had tried to suppress over these days, resurfaces and he finds himself folding his knees up on the couch and resting his chin on them, still staring ahead.

His eyes seem glazed and Taehyung doesn't know when he starts rocking back and forth mumbling four small words that tear everyone's hearts apart when they catch a hold of them.

"It was my fault."

Back and forth.

"It was my fault."

Back and forth.

"It was my-"

He doesn't seem to feel the arms embracing him and his head being shifted in the crook of someone's neck.
He doesn't feel the hands trying to dry his tears.

He doesn't-

Feel.

Somewhere inside his mind, Taehyung knows he's utterly lost. He wanders down the path, trying to find a way back, trying to find the light at the end of the tunnel but every turn he takes, it shows utter and complete darkness.

He hears a faint voice

He feels a great pressure.

Its his name being called.

He's being shaked.

Its like waking up from ten nightmares combined.

Its like an out of body experience as Taehyung gasps back to reality, blinking rapidly to see the looming faces over him.

He does what he does best.

He pushes past everyone and runs back to the confines of his wretched room.
A hand at his wrist tries to stop him and he doesn't know who it is, he just-

He just wants to hide.

"Taehyung, listen please its not-"

Anger grips him, fear strikes down, and guilt drips down his the back of his neck like sweat and then he explodes.

"ITS ALL MY FUCKING FAULT. I KILLED THEM. I KILLED EOMMA AND APPA. I, KIM TAEHYUNG, KILLED KIM JIHOO AND KIM DAESUL. IT WAS ME. ALL ME!!"

With that yelled at the top of his lungs, his throat burning, he runs back to his room, bolts it and stumbles to the window covered by curtains.

The sun is still out and he can't see the stars and he feels like he can't see his parents and somehow- that feels like a big blow to him.

He killed his parents didn't he?

Why the fuck would he be able to see them now?

Nonetheless he sticks to the window, shakes miserably even though its a little hot, and waits for his parents to call for him.

He just wants to say a final goodbye.

He was the reason they were up there and not here with them right now. He should have charged his phone, not played too many games on it, informed them that he'd be heading to Jimin's.

But he did nothing like that.

He just did nothing.

Who would want to see the person who killed them?

Who would want a son who lead his parents to their own deaths?

No one.
His heart repeats.

None, his mind says.

Someone who loves their son alot,
His soul replies.

(A grave, grave sin).

                                             🍂

It takes another week, but Taehyung comes to.

He finally accepts Hoseok consistently knocking on his door to let him in, figuring its time he let someone talk some sense into him.

Deep down, though, he knows he just wants someone to tell him if he'll be alright, or if he's been permanently scarred and can never recover.

"How about you try getting out of these four walls, first and foremost? It'll help you, trust me. Get out, get some fresh air." Hoseok suggests, walking around the room and shrugging his shoulders.

"And have everyone trail after me because they think I'm not in the state to even take a trip to the grocery store alone?" Taehyung comments back haughtily, falling on his back on the bed with a soft thump.

The ceiling stays blank and devoid of any answers.
Just like his mind.

"Taehyung-ah, if anyone will want to accompany you, its because you matter and they're worried because they care." Taehyung hears Hoseok rounding the bed and then there's another soft thump as Hoseok lies beside him.

"I am not a kid who's scared of taking a walk out on the road."

"And yet you locked yourself in your room for almost 2 weeks, drowning in your fear." Hoseok tilts his head to look at Taehyung and sees the glazed eyes and sighs, turning on his side.

"Its nothing bad. We get it. You needed time and space to accept it all and-"

"Who says I accepted it?" Taehyung cuts Hoseok off mid sentence, now looking at him, his eyebrow raised.

Hoseok wrinkles his nose and smirks, which soon melts away as his eyes swim with seriousness, "I'm just saying, Tae. This is the life we live. This is who we are. I get it if you're scared of us, we were scared of others once, too. I get it if you hate us, you're not alone bud. But this is us. Accept it or not, that's your decision."

Hoseok springs back onto his feet, turning around and smiling down at Taehyung, "I can't really demand your forgiveness for all these years we've lied to you. No one can. But, before you even think of forgiving us, try and forgive yourself a little, yeah? You're not responsible for everything." There's a sudden emotion in Hoseok's eyes that makes Taehyung nod his head once and give him a small smile, a slight upturn of lips as Hoseok moves towards the door, opening it.

He makes finger guns at Taehyung and exits, laughing.

A moment passes before his foor opens again and hoseok's head pops in , " and ..um by the way, I know its not my place to say this but, Taehyung, please know that your parents didn't die because of you. They died for you. So, yeah, don't be so hard on yourself and make 'em proud."

And then he's gone, leaving Taehyung all alone with his thoughts.

This time though, surprisingly, tears don't immediately fall down his cheeks at the mention of his parents' death. He feels as if he really has been too hard on himself and that its time he learn how to forgive.

Forgive the people around him.

And forgive himself.

A small healing gift.

One step at a time.

Taehyung smiles.

He leaves his room for dinner.

When he enters the dining place, he sees Seokjin and Namjoon setting the table.
Taehyung stands in the shadows for some moments, watching his brothers quietly.
Jimin finds him that way after some minutes, a plate of food in his hands and belatedly Taehyung realises that Jimin was going to bring him food in his room.

Everything still remains silent as Jimin stares at him with wide eyes, his mouth opening and closing, biting down  on his words

Taehyung shakes his head lightly, pursing his lips as his eyes flit over to his brothers who are now looking at him.

So Taehyung gathers all the strength and makes his way to the table, pulling out a chair and sitting down.

Suddenly a chair drags out in front of him and Namjoon sits down, smiling with his dimples on display.

And just like that all the awkwardness and all the silence dissipates from the room.

They make small talk while eating and Taehyung finds himself smiling too. Hoseok, Yoongi and Jungkook remain absent for dinner and Taehyung quells the sadness in his heart as he misses Jungkook.
Belatedly he thinks that the mandu he is having tastes alot like the one Jungkook used to make for him.

"That's because he did make it Tae." Seokjin says and it is then that he realises that he actually said that out loud.
The owlish expression he displays makes everyone chuckle as his cheeks warm up and suddenly his food looks so much more interesting.

After dinner, Taehyung checks the time and surprisingly doesn't want to retire to his room, so he decides to take Hoseok's advice and gift his body some fresh air.

"You... um...won't follow me right? If I go out for a short stroll??" Taehyung warily asks everyone in the room, tapping his fingers nervously on the table.

"No Tae, we won't." Namjoon replies and Taehyung looks at the other two expectantly.

They give no answer, an uncertain expression set on their faces.

Namjoon simply looks baffled.

"You guys are going to say no." Namjoon announces and Taehyung chuckles.

"Don't tell me what to do. I'm your hyung." Seokjin looks at Namjoon as if he has highly disrespected him and Namjoon just gives him a blank look, turning away to look at Taehyung.

"There's a new bookstore that opened down the street. You can check it out if you want. They're open till 11 pm."

Taehyung sucks in his upper lip, thinking if he really wants to go out or just retire back to his room.

Because it's really not easy to go out at night after you've gotten to know the secrets of the world you thought was perfect.

But, desperate times call for desperate measures and the option of some fresh air to refresh himself weighs over his messy, sad room.

So he smiles at Namjoon and pockets his phone, nodding at his brother.

"I'll be back in.. in some time." Taehyung looks around to gauge everyone's reaction and finds Namjoon smiling fondly and Seokjin mildly fearful.

Jimin-

Jimin just looks passive and a sudden thought, or more like a realization hits Taehyung and he bites back a smile, moving across the room to shrug on his lighter jacket, finally - finally!- getting out.

"I know you are following me." Taehyung declares, continuing to walk forward, his hands hidden in his jean pockets.
A flurry of footsteps follow, as if someone is running, and Taehyung is no longer walking alone.

"You know, wearing a dark colored jacket won't blend you into the shadows Jimin."

Jimin just shrugs and gives Taehyung a 'guilty as charged but not regretful' look.

"I couldn't not follow you." Jimin replies as he kicks a stray pebble.
"Why? Because you think I couldn't handle being alone?" The hint of bitterness in Taehyung's tone remains traceable and Jimin's throat dries just a bit.

"...yes and no." Taehyung halts suddenly just outside the cafe beside the aforementioned bookstore.
He squeezes his eyes shut and breathes in deeply.
He's sick of it-

"Tae, hear me out atleast." Jimin pleads and Taehyung wants to feel guilty but really, he is actually sick of it.
He pushes the door to the cafe open and walks up to the almost empty counter.
Jimin follows him.

He needs time alone.
Is that too much to ask for?


"Okay! Listen to me, you've been alone for more than 2 weeks now alright? Cooped up in your room. You don't need to be alone all the time. You know you want some company. Hell, you need some company." Jimin aggressively whispers as they sit opposite to one another with their orders, in one of the secluded booths.
"Besides I've missed you." A small whisper, a sweet confession. Taehyung looks at Jimin, tracing the rim of the cup with his finger.

Taehyung leans back and purses his lips, "Your'e right. I do need some company."

It comes back to life like that.

Their friendship.

Jimin and Taehyung sit there, concealed from the world and talk about random things and when they are done, they visit the bookstore.

Taehyung isn't that much of an avid book reader as compared to Namjoon. If he does find pleasure in reading, it is in the books about histories of art.
This time though, Taehyung gets lost between the rows of shelves, touching the spines of books as he moves forward.

The ambience of the bookstore is warm with vintage picture frames decorating the walls.

As he wanders down the section of poetry, his hands stop over a certain book and he takes it out carefully, looking over the cover and flicking its pages to stop at a random one.

'How To Forgive and Heal Yourself' it says.

The book mostly contains thoughts and quotes that Taehyung rarely divulges in, but something about this book has him walking to the counter and buying it.
He meets Jimin there, holding a stack of books as compared to him.
Jimin just shrugs and says that they are for Yoongi when Taehyung gives him a questioning look.

The walk back to the apartment is spent quietly, the sound of the gravel crunching beneath their feet, echoing in their ears.

It's comfortable.

When they finally enter the apartment, they find a frantic Seokjin pacing the hallway and Namjoon on his laptop, all quiet and easy.

"You'll wear a hole in the floor hyung. Its alright I am back and I'm fine." Taehyung says, holding his store purchase close to his chest.

"Oh thank God! So how was it?" Seokjin asks and Taehyung gives him the 'are you kidding me' look.

"What?" Seokjin says at the apparent silence in the room.
"Hyung he just went to the bookstore." Namjoon replies, eyes glued to his laptop.

"And besides Jimin was with me." Taehyung says and something eases inside Seokjin at seeing his brother safe and sound.

"I'm going to just go to my room. Good night." Taehyung nods once at everybody but he is stopped by Jimin calling his name.

He saunters up to Taehyung and whispers, "Talk to Jungkook?" It comes out more like a question.

"He's been going crazy with the lack of talking." Jimin chuckles lowly and Taehyung huffs out a laugh, his gut coiling just a little.

"I... I will."

"Hey, no pressure okay?" Jimin smiles at him all warm and sweet and how can Taehyung say no? He's always been weak to his best friend's charms.

So he hums and goes back to his room, setting the book down on his bed to read later.

He desires to call Jungkook but doesn't because he feels that somehow talking on phone won't do him or his boyfriend any justice. If they need to talk, it needs to be done face to face.

Taehyung wills himself to feel okay about all of it, but he doesn't know what the future holds and all he can do is wait.

Wait to talk things out with Jungkook, wait to see how everything turns out.

Just wait

And hold on.


                                             

🍂

Taehyung sees Jungkook earlier than he expects as he walks into the hall only to be greeted with a sight of his boyfriend mixing the pancake batter.

Taehyung can't help it if he suddenly stops in his tracks, listening to the sounds of his own breaths and that of utensils clanking.

Something unfolds deep inside him and no matter how much he had longed to talk to Jungkook, he knew this was not the same feeling he had been thinking about.

His gut coils, stomach drops, sweat pools on the back of his neck and suddenly he feels cold.

Different feelings swirl in his mind, making him gulp.

Confrontation

Talking

Touching

And maybe, a little bit of Fear.

"Taehyung?" Jungkook's voice cuts Taehyung's heightened senses and he startles.

Fuck, where is everyone else?

"Hey? Are you okay Tae?" Taehyung watches Jungkook walking closer and closer and as soon as he was in touching distance, Taehyung side steps and enters the kitchen instead. 

"Yeah, ha, I'm fine." Taehyung's heart is beating abnormally fast,  "Why wouldn't I be?"

He knows that somehow his awkward laugh will give it away so he stands with his back to Jungkook.

Truth is, he is a coward.

He so, so desperately wants to talk it all out and he knows Jungkook will do anything that he wants but then the fact is that he is scared.

Scared of something he doesn't even know is valid.
Its making him go crazy.

So he stays that way, drumming his fingers on the counter as he waits for the coffee to be done, even though he hates coffee.

Consequently, that is why he doesn't see the wounded look on Jungkook's face, doesn't see him clenching his eyes so that no tears escape.

Jungkook knows.

He clearly sees Taehyung avoiding him, watches Taehyung's nervous tics come to life and make his thoughts go haywire.

Nonetheless, he composes himself, clears his throat and goes to stand besides Taehyung, mixing the pancake batter nicely.

He ignores the stab of pain when Taehyung moves one step away from him.

But that is nothing compared to the much sinister thing that happens next.

Jungkook raises his hand to take out a measuring cup from one of the shelves above and Taehyung flinches away from him.

He flinched away, his mind supplies and Jungkook's hand stops mid air.

Taehyung thought that-

That Jungkook would do something.. he thought he was raising his hand at him.

An undeniable pain clenches at his heart and Jungkook actually feels it twisting its clutches, making him feel nauseous.

He feels dizzy.

His eyes blur and a tear escapes as he lowers his now shaking hand.

Goosebumps rise on his skin and he stumbles back.
He knows who he is, what he does, is aware of his position, his status but is he so despicable that the person he loves, thinks that he would do such a thing to him?

Is he-

"Tae, did you.... did you really think I was g-going to hit you?" Jungkook's voice cracks and his breath hitches as the whole reality crashes down upon him.

He has never, ever, made Taehyung feel like he was someone undeserving or unworthy of love, never raised a finger at him, has always held him with so much care.

So what went wrong?

Was it the fact that Taehyung now knew that he is the heir to one of the most influential clans in South Korea?

Or was it something else that he might have said or done?

Taehyung seems to come to his senses a little late, when his eyes widen and he realizes what just happened.

He wants to say something to Jungkook; tell him that yes, maybe he's a little intimidated, not of Jungkook, but by the work he does.

Feeling choked up is not a comfortable feeling, especially now when he sees Jungkook tremble and wipe at his eyes.

Slowly, with so much courage, Taehyung extends his hand forward but Jungkook doesn't notice, busy gathering himself up as he walks past Taehyung, careful not to initiate any contact.

A sob escapes Jungkook's lips but his back still remains turned to Taehyung as he puts on his jacket.

He mumbles something that Taehyung doesn't understand and while he is figuring what Jungkook just uttered, the apartment door closes shut and Taehyung is left alone with absolute silence and rays of sunshine fitering through the blinds, that do nothing to brighten his day.

Through blurry eyes, Taehyung stares at the door that shut with a slam not moments ago and two words suddenly echo and make sense in his brain,

'I'm sorry.'



    

                                                🍂

⚜  'Forgiveness is taking the knife out of your own             back and not using it to hurt anyone else, no                   matter how they hurt you.'

Taehyung reads it once, twice and then turns the page.

He understands that he had been lied to, knows that he was kept away from the truth because it would've hurt him.

But knowing about it years after and that also with such a mind numbing experience, didn't make it hurt less.

If anything, he was totally unprepared for the storm that was abruptly hurled at him.

⚜ 'Make peace with your broken pieces.'

Another one reads, and Taehyung sighs.

What happened with Jungkook today, wasn't good.

Given the fact that yes, his boyfriend withheld such life altering information from him was not justified, but Taehyung was a fool to even think that Jungkook would hurt him or harm him in any way.

He would kill himself before choosing to do something to Taehyung.

And the truth remains, that even after all the information that has been revealed to him, Taehyung knows everyone will understand if he wants to stay away from them for a while.

Infact, he knows they'll let him go, if that's what he desires.

Jungkook will throw away his happiness and comfort, just to get away from Taehyung, if he said the word.

His brothers won't come near him if he wanted them to maintain distance.

Jimin wouldn't probably agree much but he'd respect Taehyung's wishes.

As would Yoongi and Hoseok.

The verdict lies upon him.

But the fact hovering in the air is that he doesn't want any of that to happen.

No matter what or who they are or what they do, they're ultimately his family, and Jungkook is the person who treasures and loves him more than anyone.

Taehyung doesn't know what to say or do but he is completely sure of one thing- that he was, still is, and undoubtedly will still remain in love with Jungkook.

When Jungkook comes back to his apartment later that night, all calm and composed with endless amounts of aimless walks, he doesn't expect to see Taehyung sitting on the couch and waiting for him.

So he stands there like a dumb statue trying to decipher if his mind is playing tricks in him.

But apparently that isn't true as Taehyung is suddenly standing too close to him and taking his hand in his own.

"This is not real." Jungkook says to himself but then he hears Taehyung lightly chuckle and pull him along to lead him to his own room.

"Of course it's real Jungkookie."

Jungkook really doesn't want to pinch himself, lest he wake up from this beautiful dream, but he does, and when he opens his eyes, Taehyung is still there, leading him forward.

When they enter Jungkook's room Taehyung lets go of his hand and Jungkook immediately misses it.

Taehyung walks off to Jungkook's closet and gets back to him in a moment with Jungkook's nightwear clutched in his hands.

"What are you doing Tae?" The question comes out eventually and Jungkook wants to slap his mouth shut.

Being in Taehyung's presence is enough for him, even if silence precedes.

"Change." Taehyung commands and Jungkook's hands move on their own accord to grab the clothes from Taehyung's hands as the latter goes and lies down on the bed, his eyes closed.

Jungkook changes into much more comfortable clothing and just stands in the middle of his own room awkwardly, thinking about what to do.
Its then that Taehyung's voice breaks his reverie, "Lie down with me." Taehyung says it softly, patting the empty space beside him and for a second Jungkook is thrown off the loop.

But then Taehyung calls out his name, calls him Kook, so sweetly like honey dripping from his lips, and there's nothing Jungkook can do except to move and lie down beside Taehyung, wary of his actions.

"Come closer Kookie, I'm not going to bite." Taehyung chuckles and Jungkook finds himself unable to respond, shifting closer nonetheless.

The instant Taehyung's hand brushes Jungkook's, he finds himself closing his eyes and just feeling that fleeting touch.

Before he can ingrain it into his mind and soul, he feels Taehyung clutch his hand gently and interlace their fingers.
Their hands rest between them and Jungkook doesn't open his eyes because he is terrified that the moment he does, everything will vanish from his sight.

"I'm sorry." The apology comes as a shock to Jungkook and his eyes flit open as he involuntarily squeezes Taehyung's hand, frowning.

Before he can ask anything, Taehyung sighs and shifts closer to Jungkook, now cupping his face.

"What.....what happened earlier, I don't know why I acted that way Kook. I don't know what came over me. You'd never hurt me, I know." Taehyung confesses and the weight of a thousand guilts and regrets eases off his shoulders.

"Its n-not easy Kookie," Taehyung continues looking at Jungkook's hand wrapped around his wrist,  "and I don't think it will ever be. I've had so many days to myself, I've talked to myself, tried to understand about why my heart still longs for you."

Jungkook takes in a shaky breath, readying himself to say anything and do anything that'll make Taehyung breathe easy, make him happy, "And?"

"And Kook, truth is, I still fucking love you so much. I can't let go of you, I just ...can't. Its not just you. I tried, I stayed away from you, from my brothers because I was angry at all of you. I thought about how it would feel to break things off with you, but I failed Jungkook. I can't do that. I might be stupid but I can't do that to myself or you. I still love you Kookie." Taehyung murmurs, "I still want you."

And as much as Jungkook's heart wants to flutter, something weighs it down.

How does he deserve all of this? How can Taehyung still love him? He does not-

"I know what you'll be thinking. I know you'll be thinking about how stupid I am to still love you, or maybe that you don't deserve it."

Another shift to get closer and Taehyung's breath fans over Jungkook's lips. "But you need to know, that I am forgiving you and I need you here, in my life,  Jeon Jungkook. I need you."

The whispers of love bind them together as Jungkook gets lost in Taehyung's eyes, his mind occupied by the three words
'I love you'

Taehyung somehow finds enough space to rake his hands through Jungkook's hair, scratching and easing the pressure.

"We will need to talk though, Jungkookie. We'll always need to talk. What we are, who we are, it'll only be better if we communicate and tell each other everything, yeah?" Jungkook nods , saving everything in his memory because he can't miss even one word, one suggestion, one demand that Taehyung gives.

"We need to promise to not run away and always talk our feelings out. We'll not ignore each other and we'll trust each other to tell the absolute truths. Because that is needed in our relationship, it always will be. "
Jungkook as much as he agrees, cannot let the murky thoughts get away.

If communication needs to happen, he might as well start now.

"Taehyung, being with me can be dangerous. You need to know that," Jungkook reveals, draping his arm over Taehyung's waist and telling him the truth about his life.

"We survive out there, we kill. You've seen it happen. You... you were at gunpoint Tae, just because some fuckers wanted me dead. This world is targeting me every second, and hence its targeting the people I hold close. Seokjin and Namjoon hyung know about this, have experienced it. They've seen me at my absolute darkest, stayed with me during all of it. Taehyung and-"

"And they still want to work with you, they still want to stay with you." Taehyung finishes, his thumb grazing Jungkook's cheekbone.

"They still want to do that because they care about you, they hold you close too, Kook. You're not just some heir of a big gang for them or me for the matter. They see the youthfulness in you and as far as I know my brothers, they take it as their own responsibility to keep you safe because you're like family to them. You are loved and you matter Jungkook. You matter." Taehyung knocks their foreheads together and lets Jungkook pull them impossibly closer.

There are light sniffling noises that fill up the room and Taehyung does his best to help quieten them down. He wipes Jungkook's cheeks and his fingers come off wet.
"Kookie, talk to me."

"Tae, I -hic- I can't let you get hurt. I can't. You don't know but......but you've been targeted before baby. Thank- thankfully, we have always reached you on time. This just proves how difficult my life is Tae. So I'll let you go if you don't want this. I'll let you go if that... if that will m-make you h-happy and keep you safe." Jungkook's eyes are still puffy when Taehyung looks into them, willing himself to not cry.

He didn't know about.... that. But knowing the history of his family as well as Jungkook's, he understands that it would've been impossible for him to always stay out of sight of the people ready to kill him.

And then he looks at Jungkook and sees the guy whom he loves, who's kept him safe all this time; safe from the outside world and also his own raging demons.

He sees a mature man, who's been through so much at such a tender age, who's life has been nothing but a rollercoaster of emotions, surprises and expectations, ever since he was born.

He sees the man who has been tested by many but has stood his ground and fought for the people he loves and cares for.

Taehyung sees Jungkook for who he is.

He sees the suffering and realizes that he's not been the only one.

"I don't want this life Kook." Taehyung resolutely says, and a sob breaks free out of Jungkook's mouth.

Jungkook didn't know it would hurt so bad.

He didn't know-

"But I do want you Jeon Jungkook. I always will."

A small sentence, a hidden promise, and Jungkook's tears are uncontrollable.

He also didn't know how euphoric it could've felt to hear those words.

The commitment in Taehyung's voice brings a small smile onto his lips and Taehyung can't resist himself anymore as he presses his lips onto Jungkook's.

It's a fleeting touch but it's enough to make Jungkook breathe easy as well as lose his breath all in the same moment, his face flushed.

Taehyung chuckles at this and wipes more tears away from Jungkook's cheeks, smiling widely.
Talking out your feelings is good and Taehyung feels great.

"Can I hug you?" Jungkook softly asks, his eyes downcast and there's something very cute and endearing about the moment that Taehyung laughs wetly through his suppressed tears and turns onto his back, pulling Jungkook above him and wrapping his arms around his waist.

His heart soars after so long and it seems as though he has laughed for the very first time.

He feels Jungkook sigh comfortably as he rests his head in the crook of Taehyung's neck and for a little while Taehyung feels that everything will work out and that they will be okay.

They will have to be.

"I forgive you." The announcment rocks everyone out of their stupor and makes them sigh.

Taehyung clutches Jungkook's hand and looks at everyone once, ready to clear somethings.

"I understand why you all lied to me or more like hid the truth. But that doesn't excuse you, you know. Hiding something this important and life altering is equivalent to lying." Taehyung blatantly states, watching as guilt flashes through everyone's eyes, and its a small victory, because everyone ought to know that what they did was not appreciated.

"But I also understand that you aren't perfect. Neither am I. I never expected or will expect anyone of you to act like you are perfecf, either. We all have our flaws and I  knew that at some point or the other, I'd be disappointed or upset because of something you did, or vice versa. So I forgive you."

There is a moment's pause as Taehyung plucks something from the back of his mind and- "Although, please don't do it again. I don't think I'll be able to handle it."

When Taehyung looks at them, there's admiration in Yoongi's eyes as he looks up at Taehyung from where he is sitting, thanking him for being so understanding.
There is an apology in Jungkook's hand squeeze, in Seokjin's rueful smile, in Namjoon's fond eyes and a promise in Jimin's wet ones.
There is pride reflecting on Hoseok's face as he tells him how brave he is.

During all of this, Taehyung almost forgets another important thing he has to say, but once he remembers it, he doesn't let the thought go away. 

"I won't be a part of it in anyway." Another declaration, another array of emotions on everyone's faces and Taehyung knows he'll have to explain it better.
"I don't care what big crime family I belong to or any of you belong to, for that matter, I won't be involved in any of that stuff. Keep me out of it. I still want to live my old normal life." Something registers on everyone's faces and in Taehyung's mind too, "As normal as it can be."

Everyone agrees.

  🍂

Taehyung's 'not being a part of any of it' statement holds true for a week before he has to grit his teeth and listen to a man hidden in shadows, telling him to choose between his lover and his best friend.

The grip on his wrist tightens and twists and Taehyung winces, listening to the sounds of children playing in the park just across the road.

Taehyung doesn't cry the whole time sinister words are whispered into his ears, along with warnings and deadly consequences.

When done, he stumbles out of the dank alley, his whole body numb.

Taehyung walks and walks aimlessly, not knowing where he is going, but finds himself at another spot devoid of people.

Immediately he feels his body shaking, wracking with sobs because why can't everything go back to the way it was?

Why does everything become so infinitely complicated for him?

He loves Jungkook but Jimin has been his companion, his soulmate, his best friend and everything since the beginning.

But Jungkook has heard his deepest darkest secrets, the ones Taehyung didn't have the guts to tell Jimin too.

Wiping his eyes and walking back home with battles raging inside of him, he makes a decision no matter how greatly it breaks his heart.

He remembers the warning, remembers the deadline whispered in the cold, emotionless voice.

"A week dearie, I give you a week. Choose. Kill The Jeon heir and save your best friend, or save the Jeon heir and I'll destroy your best friend."

Taehyung feels sick.

  🍂

 Another week later, Taehyung finds himself getting out of Jungkook's hold and stumbling in the darkness of the room towards the bookshelf where Jungkook keeps his handguns hidden from plain sight 

The dim moonlight lights his way as his hand brushes over the rough barrel of the gun and Taehyung shivers in disgust.

Silencing his mind and soft cries, he pulls it out and holds it in shaking hands.

He's clueless about the working of the item, seeing it work only in his bad dreams and movies. So he holds it as he feels is right, letting his index finger rest on the trigger.

What happens, happens.

Perhaps, if something goes wrong, it'll be better if he gets shot.

So without any knowledge about how to use the gun, he brings it in front of him and holds it up, shaking from head to toe with what he's about to do.

He sees Jungkook's head from above the tip of the gun and a sob rips from his mouth.

3 hours left for the warning to end.

Its Jimin or Jungkook.

Taehyung supports his right hand, resting on the barrel, with his left hand over it and lifts it up, walking forward and pointing it at Jungkook's back.

His soul stands uncomfortable, scared, fearful, betrayed.

His mind screams and blood rushes to his head, his heart beat resonating in his ears.

'Such a coward' comes a treacherous whisper.

Taehyung doesn't know how to use the gun, what to do, but that's the least of his worries at the moment.

Tears flow down his face continuously.

2 hours 50 minutes.

Jimin or Jungkook.

Jungkook or Jimin.

Taehyung's head throbs, another step forward and he already hates himself.

His breathing quickens, his body shakes.

Jimin or Jungkook.

'Jungkook loves you Taehyung, what are you doing?'

'Jimin is like your brother Taehyung, fight for your brother.'

Jungkook or Jimin.

'Choose.'

'A week dearie.'

'Choose! you coward.'

Jimin or Jungkook.

Jungkook or Jimi-

Jimin or Jungk-

Jung-

Jim-

Taehyung's eyes glaze over, a cry leaves his lips, Jungkook turns around looking up blearily and Taehyung's mind overrides.

"I can't do it. I can't do it. T-take tt-take it fr-from m-me I can't do -"

Breath stuck in his throat, Taehyung collapses on the cool floor and throws the handgun away from himself.

He registers someone calling his name, he registers numb touches on his face, arms around his waist.

Taehyung shakes, he can't breathe, he feels stuck.

He can't see properly with blurry eyes so he squeezes them shut. He processes a pain in his throat, a scratchy feel that he doesn't want.

"Taehyung, Tae, look at me. Its okay. You're okay. Breathe Tae, breathe."

He feels something hard pressed to his lips and they open of their own accord.
Something liquid cascades down his throat but it doesn't soothe the ache.

His shoulders are being shook but he can't see, he feels harshly numb.

A little warmth envelops him and is he floating?

It feels like drowning in a murky pond, in the middle of a swamp, trapped with demons that feed off his pain and haunt his life, that run after his soul.

His chest heaves painfully, trying to stay above the water but he inhales the it, choking.

It comes above his nose and Taehyung helplessly flails and then finally, lets go.

It passes over his eyes and the ache in his throat, somehow lessens.

His name is still being called, but doesn't the person understand that he's underwater?

He wants to be saved but he can't speak, the numbness takes over.

Taehyung feels dead.

🍂

When Taehyung comes to consciousness after 2 hours of no responses, and continuous screaming, the first thing he does with dry eyes and an even dryer mouth, is tell Jungkook everything.

In the end, Jungkook doesn't fail to mention the previous memory where Taehyung made everyone agree on not hiding things anymore.

"How ironic." Jungkook states.

Its bitter.

A minute later, Jungkook apologises for being petty, still worries over him and tells him with sweet hugs that nothing will go wrong and everything will be alright.
He cries with Taehyung for sometime because he can't believe that Taehyung actually aimed a gun at him.

He tries to understand that the choice was between him and Jimin but that doesn't lessen the heart wrenching pain.

Taehyung knows Jungkook is hurt, he knows that he is the sole reason and he still worries for Jimin.

They sit on the bed, side to side, as Jungkook describes the horrible experience of seeing Taehyung claw his throat out because of his panic attack.

Taehyung winces when he touches the scratches his blunt nails left there and Jungkook retracts his hands and holds them in his own.
He clearly sees the damage he caused Jungkook, its clear in his eyes and in his voice, but the latter still holds him, still cards his fingers through his hair and tells him that everything will be fine.

It feels like Jungkook is convincing himself.

Broken they lie, broken they feel, but somehow they find peace; a middle ground where love prevails and understanding remains despite the harm that was caused.

The wounds have been made, the blood has been shed, and now both Taehyung and Jungkook try to restore what has been left of their sabotaged hearts.

It pains, but together they walk through the battle ruins, because they are not ready to give up on each other just yet.

Hours later, when the clock is about to strike 12 and declare noon over the world, Taehyung gets a call.

He has a suspicion of who the caller is and this time he positively tells Jungkook.

Taehyung picks it up and puts it on speaker.

A single tap and Jungkook starts tracing the call.

"You chose your lover and left your best friend to rot? Tsk tsk. Taehyung, Taehyung, Taehyung. You should've said goodbye to your best friend nicely the last time you met him. No worries pretty, say it now."

Taehyung remains eerily calm, looking at Jungkook and Jungkook looks back at him, telling him that the call is getting traced.

It'll take a few more seconds. 

"Ngdfhm, Taehyunf," a muffled voice cries and Taehyung cries with him.

He chose his lover and now his best friend is tied down somewhere, gagged, with his life on line.

"Swfe me."

Save me.

"Who are you?" A question that Taehyung doesn't want to ask but it comes out anyway, because he feels pure, unfiltered rage towards this person who told him to choose and when Taehyung couldn't, he made the decision on his own.

There is a muffled scream and Taehyung's heart stops. Then, there is booming laughter.

"So weak. Didn't know I could knock you out in one blow." There's that laughter again and he feels Jungkook squeezing his hand, getting out of bed.

Taehyung watches him, his mouth agape when he no longer hears Jimin's voice.

Jungkook counts down silently on his fingers, for the call to trace the exact location, and for a moment relief floods Taehyung but then-

"You don't need to know who I am or where I am, for that matter. You made your choice Kim Taehyung and now your precious Jimin will die." 

Taehyung should've known it was too early to let the relief take over.

He's in the middle of screaming, pleading that he'll do anything for Jimin to be free but then the monotone sound of a call hanging up rings through the room and everything subsides.

Its silent for too long but then Jungkook's phone rings loudly, cutting through the misery and without seeing he knows who it is by the look Jungkook gives.

Yoongi knows.

"Yoongi hyung, we have the nearest location to where they're keeping Jimin. Stay where you are. I'll meet you at your headquarters."

Jungkook hangs up the call.

                                                🍂

Jimin can't figure out for how long he has been unconscious, but when he comes back to his senses, his head throbs so badly, he feels the thrum all the way to his bones.

He winces as he scrunches his eyebrows and something itches and cracks on his skin.

That, he definitely figures, is dried blood.

He doesn't know how he ended up here in this abondoned place, but wherever his eyes roam, he sees nothing but darkness.

As if sensing his thoughts, a yellow light flickers to life above his head and when Jimin makes direct eye contact with it, he groans brokenly.

He tries to cover his eyes, only to realise that he is tied up to a chair and-

'Why is this everything like it happens in movies?', is the thought he has.

"Well well, look who woke up." A gravelly voice speaks from the shadows and Jimin squeezes his eyes in an attempt to gauge the person's face.

Slowly, the memories start to trickle in his mind and he understands how he sended p here.

He had talked to Taehyung too, or tried to atleast, with his mouth gagged.

Clenching his teeth, Jimin also realizes that his mouth isn't restricted anymore, so he speaks, "Who are you?" His voice comes out undeniably cracked and Jimin is alerted to his dehydrated throat.

"What-  what do you want?" his fumbling results in a tutting sound from his captor and Jimin can feel his irritability.

"Why the fuck does everyone want to know who I am? Its none of your goddamn business!" The person spits and suddenly his voice is much closer than Jimin had anticipated before.

"What is your business, however, is to think that why your best friend, Taheyung, chose his boyfriend over you, huh? I mean how worthless are you that he simply gave you up in favor of saving his dear boyfriend."

Jimin splutters as his breath hitches at the implication and the throbbing in his veins grows stronger.
He's been to this point in life before, doubting himself, blaming himself and what not.

He won't let it happen again.

Not again, no.

"Taehyung can never choose between Jungkook and I. He didn't g-give me up. He'll be the one to save me along with..... along with my Yoongi. I know that....that they're coming. You can't do anything-"

"Park Jimin," his name is announced with booming evil laughter that makes hair stand up on the back of his neck, "I killed a man when I was merely 10 years old, you know." No Jimin doesn't know and nor does he want to.

Isn't there a way to shut his ears somehow ???

He thinks he distantly hears the sound of a gun cocking but then it is gone and the same sinister voice sounds around him, sometimes to his left, sometimes right.

"I had a hunger to kill and prove myself to my father. So when the opportunity came, I knocked the guy out by hitting him with a stone and then I strangled him to death with my shoelace. Can you believe? A shoelace. Ah! My father was so delighted that day."

Jimin fights back the urge to vomit as his breathing quickens. This guy is sick.

And something tells him, that he is not quite done yet.

"-and then when I was 15," Jimin grits his teeth and squeezes his eyes shut, trying to get his mind to think of something, anything, so that he distracts himself and doesn't have to hear about the person's vile acts, "I cut a man's dick off and shoved it up his pathetically slit throat. Really hyung could have cut that throat better. But there was so much blood, oh dear, I loved it." An excited hum passes the beast's mouth as further describes ghastly things he has done, and Jimin can't hold it back anymore as he jolts his head to the side and retches on an empty stomach.

The aftertaste of bile lingers in his mouth and Jimin can't stop the sob that escapes along with a call of Yoongi's name.

"So my point is, you worthless piece of shit, don't ever tell me that I can't do jackshit to you. Believe me, I'll harm you in ways even your precious boyfriend or his minions have never seen."

Jimin's jaw is clasped tightly between two fingers and in the back of his mind sirens go off because if he wants to know and see who this man is, he can now. But before Jimin can fully blink his eyes and make sense of it all, a blindfold is placed on his eyes, the owner tying it behind his head in a tight knot.

"Now, I know that Jeon Jungkook tracked me through my call, before I hung up and hence it is not to the exact location. But accompanied by Min Yoongi, he'll be here in around 30 minutes. That is if I underestimate his capabilities."

Jimin hears the scrape of a chair being dragged and stop in front of him, making him shrink back as much as he can into the seat.

It's not much.

"Now," a clap and the man rubs his hands together like a bastard plotting a plan, "I initially thought of getting rid of you by a single shot to the head but something made me change my mind, want to know what, sweetness?"

Jimin sniffles, praying for Jungkook and Yoongi to turn up faster because this all is taking its toll and Jimin can't bear to think what this person is going to do.

"Hmmm," a calloused hand touches his chin and there are knuckles being dragged down his cheek and Jimin feels disgusted, unclean; impure.

So he flinches away from the touch, the only problem being that he can't shift very far.

"You're so pretty you know?" A dark chuckle follows the statement and a new tears follow the path of the old ones.

"And with prettiness comes immense amount of insecurities, anxiety, and so much more. Looking at you, just makes me want to destroy you Jimin. What better than to press all the right buttons and rip the bandaids off the old wounds, making you remember how fucking irrelevant you are. I want to destroy you mentally. This is going to be so much fun."

And through all of this, Jimin finds his shaky voice to deny everything because no, he is not going down that road again. It was bad once, and revisiting old ruins will just end up being worse.

"N-no, I...I am n-not in-insecure - hic - about...about anyth-thing. I don-

"We have 20 minutes and my work will be done in 15. My guards are out there anyway." Throughly ignored,  Jimin shakes his head vigorously as if that will help him. He imagines the man smiling evilly and disagrees with even more vigor.

"I wonder what Yoongi sees in you. Are you such a good fuck that he has kept you around for so long? Do you ser-"

"No." Jimin firmly says, even though he is shaken to the core, "Yoongi..my Yoongi loves me. He...he loves everything about me. He-"

"Naive little slut. Do you really think that Min Yoongi, one of the highest in the crime family hierarchy, would love you? Ugh! it gives me the shivers. No surprise even Taehyung chose Jungkook over you."

Jimin hears the person scoff and he whimpers.

How can someone be so cruel?

Who is this person and why is he doing this to him?

Jimin keeps on reminding himself that Taehyung didn't choose Jungkook over him.

He believes that he could never choose, but when the man in the shadows continues to spit stuff about how utterly useless he is, he feels the opposite.

The thoughts roam in Jimin's head, making him dizzy and he's so sure that his head is going to explode as he weakly defends his friends; his family.

"TaeTae ca - hic - can't choose be-between Kook a-and m..me. He can't." Jimin's sobs turn somber and he breathes in and out to make sure he isn't losing consciousness.

Are twenty minutes supposed to go this slow?

He'd rather die than listen to all these things about him.

His self respect and resolve are breaking in the darkness that surrounds his eyes and it pains Jimin so bad that he actually screams in denial.

"Screaming won't get you anywhere kitten."

A gunshot rings somewhere near, its sound muffled.

Some more follow.

"Oops looks like someone's here." Jimin can't register anything that is happening, he is slipping away from his strong persona. Its too much and he's starting to give up.

A point comes where he stops caring anymore. There are sounds and pleads in his head, all of them shouting at him to hold on for just some more seconds and frankly, Jimin tries.

He tries so hard.

Not for his own sake, but for the people who love him, who actually do care for him.

He tries to shield his conscience from the misguided phrases, tries to save himself, but then something pulls at his heart and his stomach drops.

Jimin's shield weakens and his mind starts opening itself to all the vile things that are being said about him, starts accepting them; slowly but surely.

"Ple-lease," its a half assed attempt, but Jimin can't say anything anymore.

His head feels too heavy, even his heart does, his whole demeanor is sagging and Jimin knows he's just standing at edge of the cliff and if he falls down, he doesn't know if he'll be able to heal, yet again.

"If Yoongi gets shot out there, whose fault will it be huh? Pathetic bitch like you can't even fend for himself, has to drag everyone down with him. Tell me!" The voice booms and Jimin's foot slips on the edge of the cliff and he chokes on his breath.

How can anyone care for him, when he's the one who puts the same people in danger?

He's falling, floating in the air as words and sounds storm his ears and-

"Answer me you useless person, whose fault will it be?!!" The voice is extremely loud and Jimin meets the ground with a sickening thump.

"Mine."

Everything bleeds into oblivion.



                                           

 🍂

As soon as Taehyung hears Yoongi's car rev outside, he bolts towards the door, in search of Jimin.

A relieved smile breaks out on his face at seeing Jimin safe back home, despite the bandage and gauze on his forehead and his wrists.

His steps although, falter, when he sees Jimin's shaky form walking towards the door with his hand in Yoongi's.

The problem, Taehyung notices is that, Jimin's hand in Yoongi's, is limp, not actually clutching or squeezing it.

And as Jimin nears, Taehyung sees the lost glaze in his eyes as he surpasses him without so much a word and proceeds to his room, leaving even Yoongi behind.

Yoongi watches Jimin walk sullenly, as if on motor memory and the sniffing sounds that Taehyung doesn't expect from his hyung, make their way to his ears.

Yoongi is crying.

"Hyung.... Yoongi h-hyung what's wrong? What happened?" Taehyung clutches Yoongi's bicep and watches as the latter winces and takes off his blazer. Its then that Taehyung notices the dressed up wound on his arm, the gauze now red.

"Did.. are you- hyung what?" Taehyung can't help but fumble.

Worry eats away at his mind as his best friend had a blank expression on his face and here Yoongi stands, tears lining his lashes as he clutches his arm.

He doesn't know what to do for a moment, feels fickle minded, until Jungkook calls his name, walking in through the door, and tells him to go to Jimin.

Taehyung's mind starts working again and he nods dumbly, making his way towards Jimin and Yoongi's bedroom.

He knocks, waiting with baited breath, but no one answers. So Taehyung opens the door after calling out Jimin's name once, but even then he's met with silence.

The room is empty.

Then Taehyung hears the voice of running water and he makes a beeline for the en suite, his heart thumping rapidly.

He feels sweat bead on his hairline and cupid's bow and when he opens the door to the en suite, he comes to face Jimin's back submerged in the bathtub upto his chin, the water overflowing over the lip of the tub.

Taehyung dashes towards him, because God knows, he's seen this image once before and he doesn't want to again.

He doesn't want history to repeat itself.

"Jimin!" the shout of his name does nothing to deter said man and Taehyung closes off the tap, noticing the light red hue of the water.

No.

No, this can't happen.

No-

"I'm not going to do anything Taehyung." Jimin's voice is dry, and his eyes still stare at something over Taehyung's shoulder blankly, but all Taehyung feels is, relief.

He looks at Jimin properly then and sees the blood dripping down his jaw from the wound on his forehead and some from the split lip.

Hence the red.

And although it shouldn't make Taehyung feel fine, it does. Because he can dress that wound and make it alright.

If something else would have happened, well Taehyung doesn't even want to wonder.

"Your head-" Taehyung mentions  stupidly and Jimin cuts him off.

"I know." its the shortest phrase Jimin had used with him and Taehyung feels a pressure behind his eyes.

He knows Jimin suffered because of him.

He can't even imagine how hard it would have been.

So Taehyung does what he feels is correct and what Jimin would have done, if he was in his place.

He quietly washes the blood away, wiping it off very tenderly from the lip and forehead before continuing to wash Jimin's hair with his favorite shampoo, making sure to massage his head a little bit.

When done, Taehyung dresses his wounds as Jimin sits beside him on the bed, putting a band aid on them and apologizing when Jimin winces a little.

"I'm sorry for all of this ChimChim. I didn't... couldn't choose anyone. I'm so sorry." Taehyung is on the verge of losing it because Jimin still looks so heartbreakingly lost and Taehyung has never hated himself so much before.

"It wasn't your fault." Its said in a mumble, a small murmur, but it has Taehyung's head whipping towards Jimin. He can't believe Jimin said that. After all that happened he can't say that.

He should tell Taehyung how bad he feels, how hurt he is because Taehyung chose Jungkook over him.
Given Taehyung wouldn't feel the best but it would be better than the dead mumble.

"I wasn't worth choosing over Jungkook anyway."

Oh.

Oh.

Oh fuck.

So Jimin doesn't blame Taehyung because he blames himself.

And that feels worse. 

Taehyung doesn't want to cry in front of Jimin, doesn't know if he even has any tears left to cry, but when he hears Jimin say this and look at him, he feels one of the strings keeping his heart from tearing apart, come lose.

"Hey," he starts softly, cupping Jimin's cheek carefully and making Jimin look him in the eye, "Its not your fault ChimChim. You are not responsible for whatever happened."

There's a slight wetness in Jimin's eyes and Taehyung wants to hug him so tight and wrap him up in all the love and warmth because he knows his best friend, his brother, deserves that.

Even more than that.

"A bullet grazed Yoongi's arm and he got stabbed while he was fighting to save me." Taehyung's eyes grow wide and his lips fall open, no words escaping as Jimin continues.

"I think its pretty much my fault ."

There goes everything.

The slight emotion Jimin's voice showed, the hope that Taehyung had that everything will be alright.

Jimin stands up and rounds the bed, slipping under the sheets quietly.

Taehyung knows that its his way of politely asking to be left alone.

He tries to say something but nothing comes out, so he struts towards the door in a mechanical fashion, stopping with his hand on the knob.

"It was never your fault. Nothing was. Don't let anything anyone said affect you. You're so brave Jiminie. Please, dont blame yourself."

With that plea fresh on his tongue and guilt weighing heavy on his heart, Taehyung leaves the room, looking at the ceiling as he stands in the hallway and listens to muffled sobs.

How can he hope for everything to be alright, or to be back to normal, when his friend is broken?

His somewhat mended heart seems to be breaking again.

How can he hope for something good when everywhere around him, his world is falling apaprt?

 Band aids don't fix all the wounds after all.

   🍂

Taehyung watches the weeks pass by as well as Jimin getting better.

Not by much, as he still doesn't talk much to anybody except for the small short words spoken here and there.

The incident took a heavy toll on Jimin, of course it would, but if there is one person who can be there to share Jimin's pain, its Yoongi.

He somehow convinces Jimin that whatever injuries he procured weren't his fault and tries to spend as much time with his boyfriend as he can, because even Yoongi feels that if there is one thing that will help Jimin heal, it will be showing him love, affection and alot of care.

Small mercies.

But Taehyung knows that whatever happened in there with Jimin, has affected his mentality really heavily.

Taehyung knows Jimin was emotionally abused and that he has been carrying the burden all alone for the past weeks by not saying anything to anyone about what actually happened.

He didn't know who the person was, except that it was a male with a deep gravelly voice, that Jimin swears haunts him in his nightmares.

Its the same description Taehyung had given Jungkook, when he told him about the threat he was given.

Another person who had been affected by this incident was Jungkook.

Many a times Taehyung walked in on him talking to someone on the phone about the whereabouts and identity of the man who tortured Jimin.

The anger was evident in his actions, words and eyes and Taehyung had always been touched by the way Jungkook cared so much about Jimin.

Some other times he saw Jungkook controlling his tears as he held Yoongi when he cried because nightmares about losing Jimin rendered him weak for a while, somedays.

It has been hard lately, for everyone to be strong and put up a facade of nothing being wrong and continuing their work.

It's been a monotonous cycle but they have each other.

And Taehyung thinks, that amongst everything that had gone wrong, that is the rightest thing that has happened to all of them.

                                           🌱

Carrying a plate of sandwiches with two cans of Jimin's favorite soft drink, Taehyung walks into his room and kicks the door shut with his foot.

Jimin lies on the bed, engrossed in a new book he picked up from the bookstore, because apparently following Taehyung's way of reading to drown your sorrows, and also learn something, helped Jimin alot.

Taehyung sets down the plate and the soft drink cans on the nightstand before lying down on the other side of the bed and staring at the ceiling.

A minute passes in silence.

Then two.

Then three

And then-

"Taehyung, get off me you-" Jimin exclaims as Taehyung attacks him with his full body cuddles.

"You've been so engrossed in the book, you didn't even notice me." Taehyung mumbles from where he has Jimin squished under him.

His best friend huffs and shovels Taehyung off him, sighing, "Of course I noticed you Tae, you're not exactly quiet."

"Oh you want me to be quiet? You want absolute silence? Fine then, I won't speak." A cute pout forms on Taehyung's lips and he puffs up his cheeks in a dramatic way.

"Hmm wow, it feels so peaceful." Jimin says, breathing in deeply and smiling.

"YAH!" Taehyung, highly offended, swats at Jimin, giggling alongside him.

When they're done hitting each other repeatedly,

("you started it, I'll end it. ")

( "Don't you dare hit me again Park!")

actual silence takes over the room and they bask in its comfortable glory.

Something lingers in the air and its something neither of them have felt for a long time,

Ease.

Taehyung's eyes sting a little.

"You know, the.. the guy, whoever he was, he.. umm ..he told me something just before he escaped."

This gets Taehyung's attention because Jimin is opening up about this incident and Taehyung tries to calm his heavily beating heart becayse this will be the first time Jimin talks about it.

So Taehyung hums, turning on his side to face Jimin and rest his chin on his palm, "What did he say to you ChimChim?"

Jimin's eyes are soft and they hold an emotion that tells Taehyung that something is coming and he's not ready for it.

Jimin extends his hand and Taehyung gets the idea, holding it in his larger ones, their fingers intertwining in the sweetest of gestures that shows support.

"H-he.. he told me that...... he s-said," Jimin stumbles over his words and Taehyung just squeezes his hand, waiting patiently.

He'd wait all his life if he has to.

Jimin nods his head as if telling himself that its fine, and breathes in deeply.

"Do you need something to -" Taehyung starts, extending his free hand towards the nightstand to get the drink for Jimin but he is cut off when his best friend spits it out finally.

"He told me to warn you and Seokjin and Namjoon hyung to be aware." Jimin says and Taehyung feels his stomach drop and he swears his heart stops beating for a moment.

"W-what?" He's incredibly confused, he doesn't know what is going on and the fact that the persom told Jimin to warn Taehyung and his brothers to be aware? Of what? Of whom?

"He said ...... he said that he will bide his time and when its the right opportunity, he w-will make full use of i-it." There's fear in Jimin's eyes and Taehyung wonders alongside everything about how Jimin even kept that information inside him for so long and went on with his days.

He truly is brave.

And Taehyung tells him so.

Jimin cries at that.

There is so much burden that he is still carrying and the fact that he relieved some of it, overwhelms him to such an extent that his body wracks with sobs as Taehyung holds him close and whispers his gratitude and pride for him in his ears.

Taehyung knows that he himself is scared, but he curbs it down and keeps it for when he'll meet up with his brothers or Jungkook. He can't burden Jimin anymore than he already is.

So he stays there, until Jimin falls asleep because of the exhaustion and Yoongi comes home to find him in that state, taking Taehyung's place.

Its good to watch how Jimin clings to Yoongi a little tighter and buries his nose in the crook of his hyung's neck.

And as he hugs Jungkook that night when he reaches his apartment, the tiniest flame of hope and happiness, burns a tad bit brighter.

🌿

When Jimin actually ends up telling Taehyung about what happened with him, they are sitting in front of the floor to ceiling windows in the guest room of Jungkook's apartment, the one that Taehyung occupied when he was going through a rough patch.

They sit with their backs touching, both of them gazing out of the opposite ends of the window.

Its extremely quiet, as Jimin starts speaking and Taehyung has to strain his ears even though they're sitting so close.

But somehow Jimin understands and repeats his sentence a little louder.

Taehyung feels Jimin lean back, their backs touching and Taehyung does the same, another show of support; telling Jimin silently that he is there for him and he is all ears.

So Jimin tells Taehyung everything.

Everything from the time he got kidnapped, when he was gagged and made to talk to him, to the time his head was messed with.

Taehyung lets Jimin's tears flow out, letting him cry it all away.

The thing, as Taehyung understands, is that he can't magically help his bestfriend of even himself if they feel  broken, if they have these days.

He wishes he could,  but he can't.

All he can do is make Jimin acknowledge what he feels; accept it.

Because denial won't help. 

It never does.

Nor would empty words and promises of 'It will be fine, It will be okay.'

If there has been an impact on Jimin's mind because of something, then no, it won't be okay.

Atleast not immediately.

It takes time, it always does, it always will.

And for Jimin to heal, he'll have to understand what happened, accept that it was true and not a dream and fight his way peacefully out of this labyrinth of pain and heartaches.

So when the tears flow down both their faces, they let them, letting go of the bitter memories those little droplets hold.

They show the pain he feels for Jimin, and the pain Jimin feels for himself.

Its a lot less compared to what Jimin feels, but its there.

And when Taehyung starts to apologise for Jimin getting kidnapped because Taehyung couldn't just take Jungkook's life, Jimin shushes him.

He doesn't tell him that it was his fault, no.

He tells Taehyung that it was impossible for him to choose.

He doesn't tell Taehyung that he is disappointed or hurt because he still suffered in the end.

He tells Taehyung that he was stupid to even keep Jungkook at gunpoint.

Alot of tears are shed that day, and a lot of pain is shared but when Taehyung comes out of that room, after singing Jimin to sleep, he sees everyone sitting somberly in the living room and he smiles.

His eyes are red and puffy and there's a question on everyones tongue that no one asks and Taehyung answers it for them anyway.

"He's healing." He states and watches as Yoongi's shoulders sag in relief, Hoseok's hand squeezing Yoongi's shoulder for comfort.

"Until he's ready, let him be. Give him all the time. Our Jiminie will be fine. Eventually. He's a fighter and a survivor."

Everyone's eyes brim with pride and happiness and that day, Jimin sleeps peacefully, without a single nightmare clouding his slumber.

The flame flickers brighter.

⚘

Chapter Text

MOODBOARD 1 💓

MOODBOARD 2 💓 

Please

                  give away the end.

        Tell me it's us.

~ Perry Poetry

 ⚘

"Kim Jeon Taehyung, you've got one hell of a lover."

Kihyun, Taehyung's colleague, comments, as he sees Taehyung walking towards the Teachers Lounge after one of his classes. 

Taehyung chuckles, confused as to why Kihyun would say something like that, "What?" He asks, tilting his head to the side and adjusting the stack of assignments in his hands.

Kihyun just gives him a lopsided grin and points towards the door of the Teachers Lounge, "See for yourself."

Taehyung hurries towards the Lounge, his lip caught between his teeth. When he enters the room, he is aware of every person's gaze on him but Taehyung keeps his eyes focused on his table.

Nearing his space he finds two handpainted vases stacked with Jonquils and Peach Blossoms, decorated along with Baby's Breath. His mouth falls open at the sight and he surges forward to read the card that is stuck over one of the vases.

 Dear Tae,
Sending you your favorite flowers to make your day infinitely better.
I hope you're feeling well and I hope you stay happy for the rest of your day until I am there to put another smile on your face.

Love,
Kook.

Taehyung smiles to himself and hugs the card to his chest, looking out of the window.

His husband is such a dork.

But he's the sweetest and best dork ever.

"Is this even allowed?" Comes a voice to his right  and Taehyung turns to look at Jihye, another one of his  colleagues, looking at him with a sweet grin perched on her lips.

"I don't  know," Taehyung shrugs, "not that my husband cares about any rules."

Jihye chuckles, amused and comes to stand beside Taehyung, hooking their arms together.
"Ugh, you both are so cute." She comments, scrunching up her nose and sighing.

"Thank you. " Taehyung politely replies, retracting his arm as he starts positioning the vases around his table and near the windows, the light but sweet smell of the flowers making him smile.

"Ah, young love." Taehyung snorts at that, waving his hand nonchalantly in Jihye's direction, "You're not an old woman with 70 cats Jihye."

"I really think that I'm close to that stage."

"Sure." Taehyung chuckles.

Jihye leaves him with his thoughts after that.
He sits quietly, touching the petals with his fingers delicately and thinks about how lucky he is to be surrounded by people who adore him and love him.

After the unfortunate incident wherein he was kidnapped and had incurred some injuries, he'd taken a week worth of work leave.

When he came back, he was welcomed warmly by both his collegues as well as his students. It had warmed his heart so much to be back and away from the treacherous criminal world that he had almost cried there and then.

Remembering it now, Taehyung just sighs shooting a quick text to Jungkook before gathering his supplies for his next class.

And if he smiles all day long, paints a picture filled with pastels in the studio, no one can blame him.

⚘

"Kook," Taehyung huffs out, smiling, as he bares his neck and lets Jungkook ravish it all he wants.

"Baby," Jungkook breathes out against the hollow of Taehyung's neck, his hands travelling down to clutch Taehyung's thighs and pull him flush against himself.

Taehyung gasps, wrapping his legs around Jungkook's waist and holding his hair a little more tightly.

He drags Taehyung's (or more like his own) shirt up and lets his hands wander the hot and smooth skin of his torso.

A consistent beep from the oven alerts them to their surroundings and Taehyung giggles, bringing Jungkook's face back up in front of him, cupping his cheeks.

They rest their foreheads together, their harsh breaths mingling. Jungkook smiles, closing his eyes and lets himself catch his breath before moving out from between Taehyung's legs and going to open the oven, pulling out the cupcakes that they baked.

He leaves them on the counter to cool down and  comes back to stand in front of Taehyung, hands resting on the counter beside his hips, caging him in.

The air around them buzzes with electricity, love and lust and they can't find it in themselves to complain because its been so long since both of them have been intimate.

Taehyung leans forward, hand resting on Jungkook's shoulders, the honey skin hot and flushed. He silently traces the ridges of his back and the muscles of his stomach, letting himself drink in the sight of his half naked husband, standing in front of him in the kitchen.

When Jungkook runs out of patience and kisses him feverishly again, hands roaming the expanse of all the exposed skin, Taehyung leans back a little, overwhelmed from all the love and attention.

"Don't you have a filling to make?" Taehyung asks breathlessly, looking at the blown pupils of his beloved and the sudden upturn of his lips.

"The only thing I can think of-"

"-Jungkook don't"

"-filling is you."

"-finish that thought." Taehyung murmurs, defeated, as he casts his gaze down, biting back a smile at Jungkook's corny and goofy behaviour.

He feels a tug on his shirt, hands fisting in the collar to pull him closer as Jungkook peers down at him, his eyes ablaze.

"I really want to fuck you right here, in the kitchen."

Taehyung is silent for a moment after that, his senses numbed at the absolute arousal that shoots through him at Jungkook's demand. Its not been that long since their previous round and Taehyung can already feel his cock give a twitch at the demand.

Finding his voice is a little harder than he thinks it'd be, and when he does, he clears his throat, looking to the side, so clearly flustered.

"We've already christened it once, I don't think it needs to be done again." He murmurs, shy, and the exact opposite of what his husband thinks.

Jungkook whispers next to Taehyung's ear this time, biting and suckling at the lobe.

"If it were up to me, I'd defile you again and again on every available surface of this large house."

"Jungkook," Taehyung pants, his hands tightening on said man's forearms. The words and the intention behind them send a heady rush of hotness and arousal flowing through his whole body, making his veins thrum in excitement.

Taehyung doesn't know why he feels so bashful, acting coy in front of the man who has been with him for almost a year now. They've done this so many times, Taehyung shouldn't even feel anything akin to shyness.

And yet, Taehyung does feel shy, does blush when Jungkook talks to him like that and whispers sweet nothings into his ears and holds him close like a lifeline.

So Taehyung lets Jungkook drag his hips flush against his own, holding him captive in his kiss as well as his body.

He lets Jungkook ignite the fire within him as he thrusts deeper and deeper, the cold granite counter under his back making him hiss which immeditely prompts Jungkook to rest his hand on the small of Taehyung's back; tender and soft.

It goes on like that for several minutes as Taehyung rocks back and forth with the force of Jungkook's thrusts, not once caring about the time and place.

He gets lost in the moment, one of his hands clutching Jungkook's shoulder tight enough to leave  cresenct shape marks and the other hand wrapped around the edge of the counter as he lets out a loud moan at the pleasure that runs through his body.

He tries to move his hips along Jungkook's thrusts but fails when Jungkook holds them down in a firm grip, his gaze fixed on Taehyung's, a dark intensity looming in his eyes.

It doesn't take long after that, Jungkook taking Taehyung's length in his hand and pumping it once, twice, before flicking his wrist at a pleasurable angle.

It has Taehyung coming all over Jungkook's hand, shaking with the intensity of the orgasm.

"Ah ah ah!" Taehyung exclaims, hands scrambling to hold onto something tightly.
He pushes a little on Jungkook's shoulder when the thrusts become a little painful and Jungkook understands.

He moves back, Taehyung's walls clenching around emptiness as Jungkook positions his cock over Taehyung's abdomen and jerks himself off.

Taehyung whines and wraps his fingers around Jungkook's and immediately the latter's hand falls from his cock and onto Taehyung's thigh, squeezing.

Taehyung continues to jerk him off as Jungkook hangs his head between his shoulders and Taehyung increases his speed. His thumb digs into the slit once and that has Jungkook releasing all over Taehyung's hand, their harsh breaths being the only sounds that exist in the kitchen as Jungkook pulls Taehyung forward.

Its silent after that as Taehyung sluggishly takes his shirt off and cleans both their hands, snorting when Jungkook makes a face, his tongue sticking out.

They get dressed to the best of their abilities, Jungkook pulling up his sweatpants over his hips and helping Taehyung pull up his lace panties that look gorgeous against his skin.

The golden thread of silence is broken by Jungkook's phone ringing loudly in the quiet place, making Taehyung giggle and stretch his arm around Jungkook to reach it.

He hands  it to him without reading the caller ID, tightening his hold around Jungkook's waist as soon as his hands are free.
Taehyung revels in the warmth that radiates through  Jungkook's heated and sweaty chest as he places his cheek against his skin and hums lowly.

He feels wetness pooling around his hole but he can't seem to bother, too lost in the post orgasmic heat buzzing through his body.

"..-and you are telling me that now? Hyung that's not fair."

A hand slides into Taehyung's hair and he turns his head and kisses Jungkook's chest, just over his heart.

"Yeah, okay. Just give us some time though. An hour atleast."

At that Taehyung looks up at Jungkook, his chin propped up on his chest and Jungkook winks at him, leaning down and kissing him chastely before humming an affirmation into the phone.

"Yes, okay hyung. See you soon."

He hangs up.

"Who was that?" Taehyung asks as Jungkook continues to card his fingers through Taehyung's hair.
"Seunghoon hyung." Jungkook simply answers as Taehyung narrows his eyes , looking to the side and trying to remember the person.

"Rings a bell, but I'm not completely sure. Does he work for your father?" He asks tentatively and Jungkook smiles and nods, pecking Taehyung's lips once more.

They are irresistible, really.

Taehyung is irresistible.

And as much as Jungkook would love to leave everything and just hold Taehyung close and touch him in every way possible, there's an important matter that really needs both of theirs attention.

"So.... you remember how its mom and dad's 15th anniversary the day after tomorrow?" Jungkook asks.
Taehyung shuts his eyes and slumps against Jungkook, nodding his head.

"And do you remember me telling you that we'd go visit them for a day?" Taehyung keeps on humming, lost a little in a sleepy haze.

Jungkook suddenly clears his throat and something about it makes Taehyung look at him immediately, like something's wrong.

"Well," Jungkook contemplates and now Taehyung knows there's something wrong.

"Seunghoon hyung just called and mom and dad are on their way here."

For a moment, nothing registers in Taehyung's head as he keeps on looking at Jungkook with his eyes half shut, thinking about why it might be a big deal.

And then it clicks.

The speed with which Taehyung pushes Jungkook away and leaps off the kitchen counter is surprising.
Even Jungkook bites back an amused smile.

"What!?" Taehyung nearly shrieks, making a face when he feels a wet trail moving down his thighs.

Don't get him wrong, Taehyung loves Jungkook's parents.

They've been absolutely accepting and supporting of their relationship, have loved Taehyung like their own son.
But the real reason why Taehyung's stomach does a whole 360 is because if Jungkook's parents are arriving, his mother his arriving and Jeon Yunha is not a woman to be taken lightly.

And that is exactly why Taehyung is fumbling, shuffling half naked through their kitchen, glaring daggers at Jungkook when he dares to chuckle.

"Its just mom and dad babe. Its okay."

"Yeah well, look at us Jungkook. We clearly look all fucked out because yes, we just had sex in our kitchen and I have your cum dripping down my thighs. Now exactly how do you think that's okay?" Taehyung asks, bewildered.

Jungkook has the audacity to look amused.

That brat.

"Calm down. I asked Seunghoon hyung to take the longer way. We've got an hour max."

There's another gasp and then- "An hour!?" Taehyung shrieks again and Jungkook bites the insides of his cheeks to stop himself from saying something stupid.

"Okay," Taehyung takes a deep breath, exhaling calmly, "Okay we've got this. An hour yeah? Okay. Its an hour. We have just enough time." Taehyung nods his head, convincing himself and looking sharply at Jungkook when he attempts to say something.

"You!" He says threateningly, "Clean the fucking kitchen quickly and come up to take a shower. You are not going near eomma or appa reeking of sex and bodily fluids."
Jungkook stands shocked as Taehyung mumbles something to himself and runs up the stairs to shower and clean.

"Huh," Jungkook flops his hands against his thighs and picks up a washcloth, "The things I do for love."

An hour later finds Jungkook and Taehyung lounging  on the couch, waiting for Jungkook's parents to arrive. 

"I was thinking that maybe we could throw them a party?" Taehyung unsurely suggests, watching as Jungkook plays with his fingers.

"I don't think that's a good idea babe." He murmurs, not looking up.

"Jungkook, its their 15th anniversary, I really think that its a good idea." Taehyung counters.

Before Jungkook can answer though, Taehyung's phone lights up and he chuckles nervously, turning the screen towards Jungkook.

"Babe, why is your mother calling me?"
Jungkook grins at him, twisting the ring on Taehyung's finger, the mischievousness ever present in his eyes,

"She's your mother too, you know? She can call you anytime she wants."
Taehyung seems to nod robotically before he picks up his phone with a deep breath.

"Hello eomma."

The voice that greets him is high pitched yet gentle and soft and Taehyung sighs, having missed it so much.

"Taehyung, Hi sweetie, we've arrived."

That's all it takes for Taehyung to hum and hang up before he scrambless off the couch, wringing his hands nervously.

"They're here. Get up, you lazy ass." Taehyung whisper shouts and Jungkook smiles, always entertained by the way Taehyung fidgets around his mother, intimidated by her at a level that Jungkook doesn't understand.

She's not scary, per se (Taehyung would agree to disagree) but she lights up a need in Taehyung to do everything according to her taste and just make her approve of everything he does.

Taehyung wants to be liked by her and everytime he tells Jungkook that, the latter laughs and pulls him close telling him -
"You don't even realise how much she loves you. Even more than me."

That seems to ease his nerves a little.

And when they stand on the porch to welcome them after so many months, Jungkook slides from beside Taehyung and goes to stand behind him, engulfing him in a back hug, making him squawk.

He hooks his chin over Taehyung's shoulder watching his mother get out of the car, followed by his father and he can actually feel Taehyung shaking a little, knows he's getting weak in the knees.

So Jungkook shushes him quietly and kisses the nape of his neck once and tells him thats its going to be fine because they are together in this.

With that said, Taehyung stands a little straighter, smiles a little brighter and Jungkook figures its time to let him stand for himself as he backtracks and steps aside to meet his father.

He sees Taehyung hugging his mother, his cheeks being squeezed and finally Jungkook smiles when he knows that all the confidence that had drained out, is back in Taehyung's being.

That provides him with his own confidence too, as he bows at a full 90 degrees in front of his father and waits for the hand on his back to straighten up and finally embrace him.

He smiles just in time to hear Taehyung welcome them inside,

"Eomma, appa, we're glad to have you here."

⚘

 "Jungkook," Taehyung whines into the speaker, "Save me, please."

There's an amused chuckle on the other side as Taehyung burrows closer to the corner of the trial room.

"What's wrong? " Jungkook asks, and with voice of pages being turned in the background, Taehyung figures, he's  doing some paperwork.

"Dammit, I'm tired okay? I understand that eomma loves shopping, really I do too. But this is too much. I'm tired of walking around oh my God. Please Kook do something."

Jungkook actually laughs this time, making an annoyed Taehyung swear at him.

"Okay so what do I get if I come be your knight in shining armour."

"Nothing!" Taehyung whisper shouts into the phone speaker. "You ought to be my knight in shining armour without  asking for anything in return."

"Don't know anything about that, my love." Jungkook comments. He loves playing this gane.

"Okay, what do you want?" Taehyung asks quickly, clearly short on time.

"Hmm, lots of kisses?" Jungkook poses it as a question as if he doesn't get a dozen everyday already.

"I kiss you everyday." Taehyung tells him.

"Yeah well, you haven't been giving me time ever since mom and dad came home yesterday. I need some love too." Jungkook's tone takes a whiny note and Taehyung knows he's pouting.

"Fine. Sorry. You can have me all you want. Now get me out." Taehyung tells him just as Jungkook's  mother's voice reaches his ears from outside of the trial room door.

"Taehyungie, does the shirt not look good? Or perhaps I should send another size?"

Jungkook snorts.

"Uhh eomma, I'll be out in a second."

"Be quick, you fucker!" Taehyung threateningly whispers before hanging up.

Jungkook just laughs.

Seems like its time to put on his armour.

2 more hours and some shopping for himself later, Jungkook finds himself slumping down onto the seat of his car alongside Taehyung and his mother.

Taehyung rests his head on Jungkook's shoulder, heaving a tired sigh as Jungkook tells the driver to stop at a restaurant so that they can eat something.

Its just been one day since his mother came home and he's already tired. 

Truthfully, he loves his mother, but what he doesn't love is the amount of overly excessive shopping she takes anyone of them out for.

And its not easy once you enter the store, no.

The article of clothing needs to fit properly, look good on you and should be Jeon Yunha approved for you to actually spend money on it.

Its tiresome honestly, and Jungkook doesn't understand how his mother does it , but he doesn't complain much and neither does Taehyung.

Somehow,  they also understand that the only way their mother gets some actual enjoyment is when she's out with them, telling them all about her days and all her favorite classes and everything she bought.

Taehyung and Jungkook might whine about it, might wish for all of it to stop, but deep down they won't say a word if she asks them to stop at another store because, "Look at this pretty shade. It'll look gorgeous on you. "

Because when they agree, they get to see the most genuine and loving smile that adorns her face and that is all they both need to fuel themselves a little more.

⚘

"Ah!" Taehyung gasps, his hand slipping over the steamed glass wall as his other hand finds purchase over Jungkook's hand that holds his waist tightly.

Taehyung can't help but whimper. 

"Slow d-down Kook oh nghah!" A harsh snap forward of Jungkook's hips has Taehyung's words cutting off as he moans in pleasure.

"Shhh shh Tae baby," Jungkook hotly whispers in his ear, curling against his back and placing his hand on Taehyung's jaw, "Don't want to be too loud, now do we?" He grinds his hips, pulling Taehyung back against him only for Taehyung to arch his back as Jungkook buries in deeper.

"Jungkook-ah..." Taehyung breathes out, nestling further into Jungkook's hold. Jungkook noses against his jaw, his movements causing small purrs to release from Taehyung's lips as water continues to cascade down their already wet bodies.

One second Jungkook is ravishing Taehyung's neck, rolling his hips, and the next he is pulling out and silencing Taehyung's needy whine by turning him around and pinning his back to the wall.

He picks Taehyung up effortlessly, wrapping his hands under Taehyung's thighs and lets him curl his arms around his neck before leaning forward to kiss him.
Jungkook can't help the surge of pride that unfolds in his chest everytime Taehyung roams his hands over his biceps and shoulders, murmuring about how strong he is. It just riles him up even more when Taehyung's voice turns raspy and he looks so wrecked already.

When they break apart from the kiss, harsh breaths hitting each other's lips, Taehyung gently cups his cheeks before whispering, "Bed. Take us to the bed Kookie, c'mon."

After that, Jungkook does everything in a rush.

He lets Taehyung down carefully and closes off the shower, guiding him out before wrapping him straightway in the most fluffy bathrobe.

They've done this enough times by now for Jungkook to know that Taehyung doesn't really appreciate absolutely wet bodies sticking to the bed sheets. It makes him itch and makes him uncomfortable.

So the fluffy bathrobe absorbs almost all the water as Jungkook drags Taehyung back into their room, a towel wrapped around his own waist.

As soon as the bed comes in sight, Taehyung is quick to untie the knot of his bathrobe as he goes to sit on the edge of the bed and stops Jungkook just in front of him.
Both of them are still incredibly hard and Taehyung can't stop himself when he slides his hands down Jungkook's torso, his eyes fixed onto his as he unwinds the towel from around his waist and lets it fall down to the floor.

"Taehyung," Jungkook breathes out, his hand finding purchase in his soft hair.
Said man looks up at Jungkook, all wide eyes depicting innocence but then he takes hold of Jungkook's length and tugs at it, his lips twisiting into a smirk as he bends down to give the tip small kittenish licks.

He wraps his lips around the red, swollen head and sucks, lapping up all the precome that leaks out. He hums around it and the hold on his hair tightens,
"Don't tease baby." Jungkook's voice is commanding and it has something animlaistic unleashing inside of Taehyung.

So he looks up at Jungkook through his lashes and lets his lips stay wrapped around the head, doing absolutely nothing for a moment.
Its then that he winks at him and lets his lips go a little more lax. Jungkook feels the head of his cock getting absolutely wet as Taehyung's spit pools over it.

Taehyung lets the spit bubble and coat Jungkook's cock head until it is dribbling down his length and onto his balls. Jungkook groans at the sight and Taehyung moves back with a slurp that sounds so dirty that Jungkook can't keep his eyes off the drool that now runs down Taehyung's swollen lips.

He has the audacity to lock gazes with him, expression debauched, and raise his index finger upto his lips in a silencing motion.

Jungkook swallows down what he was about to say and watches as Taehyung surges forward again, repeating the previous process and letting the mixture of spit and precome run down Jungkook's cock and his chin.

Jungkook feels hot from head to toe, his body burning up when Taehyung licks at the vein on underside of his cock.
It feels as if the temperature in the room rises up tenfold and Jungkook's whole being seems to be on fire.

Finally Taehyung sinks down on his cock properly, taking in small amounts everytime he pulls off.
Taehyung knows how to wreck his man with his mouth and he makes sure to do his best as he flattens his tongue, licks and slurps, pumping Jungkook's shaft the way he knows makes him weak.

Taehyung sees as Jungkook tries to keep his voice low and he hates it. He loves hearing Jungkook's moans when he pleasures him.
But he knows and understands that they can't be too loud. 
Jungkook's parents room is just across theirs and apparently  no room in this whole house is sound proofed.

And accroding to Jungkook, his father has a habit of taking a stroll in the whole house before he tires himself out and goes to sleep.
They can't  risk him hearing their lewd sounds and make things awkward, such that they won't be able to look them in the eyes.

So Taehyung understands but that doesn't mean it stops him from bobbing his head on Jungkook's length with vigor, moaning at the taste and making Jungkook's hold in his hair tighten to a point it hurts so beautifully that he can't help but pull off just to whimper and moan Jungkook's name.

It makes Jungkook remove his hand from his hair and clamp it over his mouth, shaking his head as he pants.

Taehyung doesn't do anything, just stays still, continuing to jerk Jungkook off and twisting his hand at the right angle to make Jungkook throw his head back in a silent groan.

As soon as Jungkook removes his hand from his mouth, Taehyung leans forward to take Jungkook in his mouth with renewed vigor and does not stop until he hears Jungkook whispering a warning of him being extremely close.

That just spurs Taehyung on more as he fondles Jungkook's balls along with hollowing his cheeks as he sucks him off.
Just as Jungkook is about to cum, Taehyung moves his mouth back, and tugs at the flesh with his hand, "Come on baby. Let go." Taehyung says in a throaty voice, letting his tongue roll out.

He closes his eyes when Jungkook's hand replaces Taehyung's on his cock and the other one tightens in his hair, making him arch his neck even further.

The first string of cum hits his cheek and he can feel it coat his eyelash too. But after that he feels it on his lips and in his mouth as it covers his tongue and  drips down to his chin. His lips curve into a shameless grin and he hears Jungkook snort playfully.

He doesn't swallow yet, keeping his eyes closed and head leaned back, trusting Jungkook for everything. As predicted, just a second later he feels Jungkook's gentle thumbs wiping the cum from his eyelashes, and wrapping his hand at the back of his neck,  supporting it.

Its then that he opens his eyes, looking straight into Jungkook's brown ones that look much more darker than they usually are.
Two fingers enter his open mouth, pressing down on his tongue and consequently gathering the cum present there as Jungkook drags his fingers down Taehyung's lips and his chin, stopping at his neck.

Jungkook nods slightly in permission and Taehyung closes his lips and finally swallows.

Immediately warm lips fold over his as Jungkook bends down to kiss him senseless, his hand curled over the back of his neck squeezing the skin slightly.
The kiss makes Taehyung's mind even fuzzier as Jungkook bites his lower lip and suckles on it, making Taehyung forget everything and moan loudly.

When he pulls back, Taehyung chases after his lips, sniffing and mewling when Jungkook doesn't comply.

The ghost of Jungkook's lips still lingers, the bite on his lower lip making it ache and throb, but it feels so good, that he can't help but want more and more and more.

He can't resist it.

So he extends his hands forward trying to grab Jungkook only for his husband to push him back on mattress and adjusting him so that he's lying under him comfortably.
He can feel his whole body buzzing as Jungkook takes a hold of Taehyung's swollen red cock, digging his thumb into the slit and sliding the precome over the whole length.

When Taehyung moans as Jungkook jerks him off or kisses his flushed skin, he sees the mischievousness in his eyes.
Its as if he is purposefully ignoring Jungkook's command of staying silent, eager to defy him.
Its confirmed when Jungkook mouths over Taehyung's Adam's apple and sucks on the hollow of his throat.

The groan that leaves his lips is unnecessarily loud, and Jungkook knows this because Taehyung is never this loud when Jungkook sucks marks on his skin.

The sound, although loud, is still hot and it rekindles the fire in his body, making it burn. He can feel his helpless cock twitch with interest when Taehyung lets out a shriek just as he wraps his lips around his dusty pink nipple.

Taehyung's legs tighten  around Jungkook's and he feels his body arch into the the warmth of the touch. Jungkook moves back up and silences the noises Taehyung makes with chaste kisses that carry no finesse. 

"You're being loud baby. We can't afford that. Mom and dad are just across our room." Jungkook whispers between the kisses, his lips brushing over Taehyung's as he speaks. Taehyung places his palms over Jungkook's chest, inching closer; the little space between them making him feel unsettled.

"Then won't you make me go quiet Jungkookie? Won't you teach me how to keep my pretty mouth shut?" He replies, his voice dropping low as he wraps his legs around Jungkook's waist to pull him down, pressing their chests flush against each other.

He can feel Jungkook's semi hard arousal against his own and he takes advantage of the moment, gyrating his hips up, causing their cocks to rub together.

A groan leaves Jungkook's lips at that and he purses his lips shut, clenching his jaw and looking down at Taehyung with dilated pupils. He swoops down to claim Taehyung's lips in a messy kiss, his hands caging Taehyung's head.

Jungkook's teeth scrape over his jaw, as he rolls his hips down in a slow pace, ducking down to mouth over some fading bruises on his chest.

A moan gets trapped in Taehyung's throat that he can't hold back, his hands coming to clasp around Jungkook's biceps as his neck arches when Jungkook bites harshly before sucking a bruise onto his tender skin.

"Seems like I will definitely have to." Jungkook declares and suddenly everything stops as Jungkook gets up, walking towards their spacious closet.

"Jungkook!" Taehyung exclaims before it turns into a whine when said man turns around and fixes him with a hard stare.

Jungkook stands there, his eyebrow quirked, until Taehyung's voice quietens before he commands Taehyung to lie straight on his back with his hands resting above his head; vulnerable.

When he enters their closet space, he takes a few moments to choose the desired objects of use and makes his way back to a very quiet Taehyung.

Although, he can see how his body buzzes with anticipation as he rubs his thighs together to dispel the empitness he feels.
When Taehyung knows that Jungkook is close enough, he opens his eyes and lets them roam over his beloved's whole being.

Black ink splattered over pale skin gives a beautiful contrast and that alone almost has Taehyung drooling.

"You were right baby. Its important to teach you a lesson so that you know when to stay silent." Jungkook grits out, his gaze passive.

His hands however, when they grip Taehyung's wrist, remain absolutley gentle, the touch feather light as he starts to tie them together with a red rope, the knots forming a beautiful design.

Jungkook hovers over him, his thighs bracketing Taehyung's waist as he works his way down towards his forearms.
He makes sure that the knots are neither loose, nor tight, reaching a middle ground, just the way he knows Taehyung appreciates.

And as the strings and knots settle onto Taehyung's flushed skin, his raging soul starts settling too.

There's something absolutely therapeutic about the way Jungkook works his hands over his arms, urging him to submit all control to him.

And Taehyung gives it away willingly, his thoughts blurring and mixing together as he relaxes under Jungkook's body.

His arousal however, doesn't settle.

Infact, the more Jungkook touches him, the more sensitive he feels and he's sure he's leaked a considerable amount of precome onto his abdomen.

The taste of Jungkook's cock is still fresh on his tongue and he opens his eyes to look at the man above him, his mouth falling open as he wets his lips before speaking.

"Jungkook ah," Taehyung rasps out, his throat parched, "I need you."

To his delight, Jungkook grins down at him and his hand travels down his own body, grabbing his length and giving it two pumps before he guides it towards Taehyung's twitching entrance.

He tries to move his hands but then stops, remembering that they are now bound together.

So instead he closes his eyes and tries to feel every inch of Jungkook's skin that makes contact with his.
He's been ready and prepared ever since their shower together and Taehyung gulps when he feels Jungkook's hands pressing his thighs to the bed, pulling them apart.

As soon as the head of Jungkook's cock breaches his rim, he lets out a gasp, his feet thrashing of their own accord as pleasure blooms through him, even though Jungkook's not even halfway in.

"Keep your eyes on me." Is what Jungkook tells him, stopping from pushing in any further until Taehyung looks at him properly.

When he does gaze at him, his lips trembling, Jungkook gives him a lopsided grin, sliding his hands over Taehyung's supple thighs before he pulls out all the way and stands up again.

Taehyung's mouth is left hanging open, his forehead marred with a frown, disbelieving of what just happened.

There's a prickling feeling at the back of his eyes.

Jungkook is quick to notice.

"Don't be upset, pretty. You don't think that tying your wrists together would actually teach you how to stay quiet, right?"

Through all the haze he knows that Jungkook asked him a question and he's waiting for an answer, something without which he won't continue.

So he shakes his head, biting his lips and sighs when Jungkook tilts his head to the side, his eyebrow raised.

"No Kook. It- it won't. "

"Hmm correct choice." Jungkook smiles down at  him, bending down to drop a kiss on his lips.

Taehyung doesn't know how Jungkook holds himself together when they get intense on nights like these because Taehyung is sure that he can't hold himself together.

He feels himself unravelling slowly and they haven't even done much yet and he closes his eyes, waiting patiently for what Jungkook has to present next.

The soft drag of furs that tickle his torso comes as quite a surprise though.

Taehyung's eyes fly open because they don't use a flogger that much, rarely taking it out when the fire in their bodies need to be settled down.

So when he feels the falls landing on his stomach again, stinging just a little, Taehyung gasps, his lips uttering Jungkook's name as if they are meant to do just that.

The tails of the flogger tickle his side as Jungkook walks by the bed, dragging the object over Taehyung's skin and making him shiver delightfully.

Another hit lands on his nipples, this time a little harsher but gentle all the same and Taehyung can't help but arch into it, as well as away from it.

It provides a sumptuous sensation to his body, heightening his senses and making him squeeze his fists even tighter, restraining against the red ropes.

Taehyung feels the flogger move down his body, making his mind go fuzzy. He doesn't know what to think, doesn't know what to say, except to open his mouth to let out some choked up sounds.

"Now now, pretty baby, what did I say about staying quiet?"
Jungkook murmurs, the tails of the flogger too close to his aching cock, making him squirm so that he can feel that small touch, just a little, just-

"I see what you're trying to do. Stop squirmimg like that or I might have to bind your lower body too." Jungkook says in a calm, steely voice, making Taehyung look at him with pleading eyes.

"You'll get everything. Patience Taehyung. And silence." Jungkook's order has Taehyung pursing his lips and nodding, staying as still as he can.

"Good. Now," Jungkook begins to slide the flogger over Taehyung's legs, moving it up and down and then stopping it over his thighs.

He raises the flogger and brings it down, his practiced hands knowing just the right amount of pressure to put to make it sting such that Taehyung feels the slightest bit of pain.

He hears a concealed whimper, turning his head to look at Taehyung and seeing the way he has his lips snapped shut and jaw gritted tightly.

It makes him smirk with satisfaction.

Ultimately, he hovers the maroon falls over Taehyung's erection and inches them down very slowly.

He knows Taehyung feels the tips touch his cock when his breath chokes on a gasp. Taehyung is getting extremely sensitive and it just butters up to Jungkook's contentment.

"I know you're about to cum." Jungkook says, his voice hoarse, as he rests the flogger on Taehyung's cock, moving it just a little here and there so that Taehyung can feel the sensation at every inch.

Taehyung grunts, trying to keep his legs still on the bed, but he can't help but thrash a little when he feels Jungkook teasing him like that. Its tantalizingly slow and Taehyung realises too, that he is about to cum, he just needs one last-

The flogger comes down onto his aching cock with much more pressure than before and it takes everything inside of him to not scream Jungkook's name as he releases all over his stomach and chest.

He arches off the mattress, mewling, when Jungkook takes his cock in his hand and milks him of his orgasm. Tears escape into his hairline as he lies back down, quiet whimpers leaving his lips.

He hears his heart thumping loudly, and for a second that's the only sound in his ears as the intense pleasure reaches his mind and makes it go a little numb. He doesn't  open his mouth to speak anything because he can't bring himself to.

He wants to be good for Jungkook.

He wants to listen to him.

So he stays like that until he feels his tears being wiped away tenderly and small kisses being placed in his hair. He also feels a wet towel on his face as Jungkook cleans off all the evidence of their previous ministrations.

He thinks he hears Jungkook saying something to him but he is drowning in the haze of the absolute delectation he feels and he doesn't  want to resurface until he experiences utter satisfaction.

So he attempts at a weak smile and sees through a blurry eyesight as Jungkook smiles back.

He is aware of what is going on around him though, as he is flipped very gently onto his stomach, his bound arms carefully stretched in front of him by Jungkook.

Taehyung hangs his head between his shoulders, breathing quickening as he feels Jungkook's lips leaving kisses and bruises on his back. It makes him weak in the knees when Jungkook bites particularly hard on the dip of his spine and licks to soothe the pain.

"You're doing very good baby," Jungkook comes up to whisper hotly in his ear, making him gulp, "Staying quiet just the way I told you to."

Jungkook works him up like that, teasing him, touching him and saying things that affect his cock straightway.

He's not fully hard yet, but he doesn't care about that, the need to have Jungkook's cock inside of him, overcoming every other thought.

Taehyung can't guess what Jungkook is going to do next and he wants to speak, ask what is happening but he doesn't, obediently keeping the noises to himself.

It's then that he feels something between his feet.

Nothing happens after that and Taehyung is left to question about what is going on, but then there is a pressure on his shoulders, urging him to lower his upper body down.

Jungkook's hand stays between his shoulders for a moment, his fingers massaging the tension out of them and Taehyung takes a deep breath and relaxes, his chest lowered onto the mattress and hips presented up.

There's a shuffling sound behind him as Jungkook's hand disappears and then a leather cuff is wrapped around his left ankle.

It makes Taehyung bite his lips from moaning out loud because spreader bars have got to be one of the top things that turn him on the most.

Something about Jungkook seeing him at his most vulnerable and yet taking care of him and loving him, wanting him, makes his insides burn pleasurably.

"You like being spread out for me don't  you?" The other leather cuff wraps around his right ankle, the stretch between his feet negligible but there.

"Answer me Tae baby." Jungkook sweetly says, holding onto the bar.

"Mhmm, y-yes." Taehyung immediately whispers back and then Jungkook holds the bar with his hands and stretches it open.

Taehyung whimpers as his feet are spread apart, cool air hitting his exposed hole, making him clench.

"Of course you do." Jungkook comments and Taehyung feels his cock leaking precome at the reply.

"Pl-please," Taehyung whispers, his mind dizzy with want and body humming to feel Jungkook inside of him.

Jungkook, too, can't keep patient anymore, swallowing down a groan when he fingers Taehyung's already loose entrance once more.

He has been waiting patiently, working Taehyung up, letting the pleaure rock through his whole frame and then working him up again and all this time he hasn't thought of anything but ravishing his lover.

So not wasting another second, because neither of them want to wait anymore, he crawls forward on his knees and brackets Taehyung's hips with his thighs, careful of the spreader bar.

Hands kneading Taehyung's ass, Jungkook holds the base of his cock and guides it towards Taehyung's convulsing hole.

A sigh is what leaves Taehyung's lips as soon as the tip of Jungkook's cock breaches his rim.

"Feel the sensation baby, f-feel good?" Jungkook says and asks at the same time, just as he pushes in further, gritting his teeth to stop from releasing there and then.

Taehyung's mind might as well have melted from the contentedness he feels as Jungkook buries in deeper and deeper, no sound escaping his parted lips.

Jungkook understands Taehyung's emotions and doesn't say anything again. He slides his hands over Taehyung's stomach, holding his knees steady as he feels them shake.

"Such a gorgeous boy." Jungkook whispers bending a little over Taehyung's back, causing a yelp to slip from between Taehyung's sealed lips.

Jungkook stays still for a moment, letting Taehyung adjust before he hears Taehyung's voice, hoarse yet filled with want.

"M-ove ah! Kook, move." He orders and after the consent Jungkook doesn't even think of holding back.

He takes care of the object that immobilizes Taehyung's legs and pulls out until Taehyung's entrance is stretched over the tip of his cock before thrusting back in.

The sound of skin slapping against skin is enough to spur him on, the poorly concealed moaning serving as music to his ears. Somehwere between it all, he pauses for a moment and drapes himself over Taehyung's back, stretching his hands to get a hold of a pillow, and place it alonside another one, next to Taehyung's head.

Taehyung's eyes open, tears lining his lashes as he looks at Jungkook sideways, his lips barely stetching into a smile before Jungkook moves back and starts thrusting again.

Lust as well as love cloud their senses as Jungkook pounds into him, reveling in the small whimpers and mewls that Taehyung releases, aware of the over whelming pleasure that has taken over Taehyung's mind, body and soul.

Jungkook is close and he knows Taehyung is too. He can come untouched but Jungkook knows that that might get too much for Taehyung in a night, too many sensations would make his emotions go haywire even more than they already are.

So he leans forward and wraps his fingers around Taehyung's raging erection and angles his hips up, targeting his prostate and abusing it dead on.

He jerks Taehyung off simultaneously and its beyond Jungkook how his husband keeps the delicious moans to himself.

Taehyung is no longer coherent as he stifles all his voices to the best of his ability on the pillow under his lips.

Drool escapes the corner of his mouth as Jungkook thrusts harder and his restrained body moves with his ministrations, his cheek pressed against the soft pillow cover.

He feels hot and sweaty, flushed all over. Nails digging into his palms, he gives into the feeling of gratification, body shaking with the stimuation he feels inside him as well as over his cock.

Fires of his release go crazy in his abdomen, aching to unleash and for a moment Taehyung wants nothing but more, more and more.

So he whispers the word, not sure if Jungkook hears it, but he does feel the effect taking place when the delightful pleasure increases two fold in his body.

It takes over his whole being, making everything else seem negligible in front of him and before he knows it, he's shuddering, his thighs straining and his hole clenching as he holds the outstretched hand of  satisfaction, pleasure and lets himself get pulled along with them as his orgasm crashes through him and he can't control his voice anymore.

At first Jungkook doesn't  hear anything but then a second passes when he's milking Taehyung of his orgasm and he hears him wail and moan loudly, letting every tucked away noise out.

He's crying, whimpering, but Jungkook holds onto him, massages his hips lovingly, knowing that the tears leaving Taehyung's eyes and the sounds betraying his sealed lips signify nothing  but contentment.

Jungkook follows suit, Taehyung's body clenching around him, making it hard for him to resist. He, himself, groans loudly, throwing his head back as he holds Taehyung's hips in a bruising grip, releasing inside of him.

He drapes himself over Taehyung's back and curls his hands over his tied arms as he pants into the crook of Taehyung's neck.

Taehyung remains quiet, small sniffling sounds filling the room before Jungkook kisses his shoulder and carefully slips his soft cock out of Taehyung, taking a moment to marvel at the cum that leaks of  Taehyung's hole and drips down onto his balls.

Gently, oh so tenderly, he removes the spreader bar and rubs Taehyung's ankles before maneuvering him onto his back and unbinding his wrists.

Arms embrace Taehyung as Jungkook pulls him into his chest, tucking his face between his shoulder and neck, letting Taehyung take deep breaths and feel the love that Jungkook is all but ready to give.

"I.." Taehyung starts slowly, his arms limp by his sides, "I'm  sorry." He rasps,  making Jungkook shake his head immediately and pull him in even closer.

"I.. I- did not s-stay quiet."

"Oh Tae, no love. You did so well." Jungkook reassures, sliding  his hands down Taehyung's arms and intertwining their hands. He brings it up to kiss his knuckles, whispering praises about how well he listened and obeyed.

Taehyung feels like he didn't live up to Jungkook's expectations by letting his emotions get the best of him and not staying silent.

It happens sometimes to Taehyung, when they get into too much of an intense scene. It might be relieving and pleasurable but it also has its downsides when Taehyung feels like he didn't do well because of one small slip up. It's nothing too deep though, nothing Jungkook can't  fix.

So he is quick to admonish any doubts about that by peppering kisses all over Taehyung's face.

He picks him up in his arms, with the last ounce of strength that he has left and carries him to the washroom. He readies a warm bath for them before they sleep and fills it with bubbles as well as Taehyung's favorite bath salt.

He brings all the objects they used and makes sure to clean them too before joining Taehyung in the bathtub.

"Was I-" Taehyung starts again but Jungkook immediately shushes him, splashing water on his face.

"You were perfect," Jungkook counters, pulling Taehyung forward in his lap, "You are perfect." He pushes Taehyung's bangs off his face and cups his cheeks, leaning forward to plant a sweet, chaste kiss to his lips, feeling him smile.

He cleans Taehyung thoroughly, washes his hair and lets Taehyung wash his, wrapping him up in a fluffy blue bath robe before he carries him back to his room. 

Jungkook takes another moment to towel dry Taehyung's hair and scrunches his nose when Taehyung does the same to his.

Before sleeping, he applies some soothing gel to his wrists, ankles as well as his torso before bundling him up in soft blankets after decreasing the temperature in their room and letting the cool atmosphere engulf them.

Taehyung hums delightfully, his eyes crinkling as he smiles and lets Jungkook cuddle up to him.

"What are you smiling at?" Jungkook asks, booping Taehyung's nose and immediately  Taehyung yawns, snuggling his face into Jungkook's neck,

" 'M happy."

Taehyung feels Jungkook's grin against his skin as he drapes an arm around his waist and tangles their legs under the covers, "That makes me happy."

"Good. I love you" Taehyung mumbles, his words slurred as sleep clouds his mind.

"Good night, Tae. Love you too." Jungkook whispers into his skin, pressing his lips to it with utmost devotion, ingraining his words into his soul so that there never remains even a speck of doubt in Taehyung's mind about how important and loved he is.

The light of dawn shines through their room, causing Taehyung to open his eyes and take a look around. He does so, blinking his eyes open and takes a glimpse of the sky doused in a mix of blues and reds.

Something else flashes through his mind and he panics suddenly, trying to get out of Jungkook's arms and off the bed.

Taehyung breathes in relief, getting out of Jungkook's hold, and walks towards all the haphazardly strewn shopping bags in their closet.

He takes out one of Jungkook's shirts from his shelf and puts it on, the cold temperature of the room and the closet making his naked body shiver.

He quietly looks for the small bag that he had hidden among the much bigger ones and smiles when he finds it. He takes out the small quaint box before getting up and stuffing the empty bag under the stack of his shirts in one of the bottom drawers.

Tiptoeing back to room, he carefully closes the door of the closet so as to make the least noise and goes and kneels in front of his nightstand drawer.

He deposits the blue velvet box in the middle drawer, knowing that Jungkook never quite used or opened his or Taehyung's side of nightstand drawers. With a satisfied sigh and a small smile he climbs back under the covers and resumes his position in front of Jungkook. He snuggles back into his chest and just as he predicted, Jungkook subconsciously responds, pulling him closer and burying his face in Taehyung's neck.

He smiles a little wider , trying to control his fond  chuckle as Jungkook mumbles something indecipherable in his sleep.

Taehyung falls asleep with a content heart, warmth and fuzziness running through his veins.

⚘

"Jungkook listen," Taehyung says unsurely, sitting down beside him on the bed as Jungkook types on his laptop.

Jungkook's reading glasses slide  even lower on his nose as he turns his head to face Taehyung, his eyes wide and eyebrows raised.

His lips are turned into a cute pout and Taehyung is having a hard time thinking and believing the fact that his husband who looks like he couldn't hurt a fly, is actually an heir to a whole crime empire.

Out of habit, Taehyung presses his fingers gently over Jungkook's forehead to make him relax and ease out of whatever he had been thinking about.

Jungkook's shoulders sag as Taehyung brings his hand down to cup his cheek and he turns his head to kiss Taehyung's palm, leaning into the touch like a starved man.

"What is it, pretty?" Jungkook asks, smiling as he takes off his glasses and urges Taehyung closer.
Taehyung suddenly finds the ceilings of the room much more interesting.

"I..-" Taehyung clears his throat, "I might have given  eomma an idea." Taehyung says, expecting a surprised reply from his husband only to get an amused chuckle as Jungkook focuses on their hands that are clasped together.

"What Taehyungie?" Jungkook asks, his voice mirthful and Taehyung huffs.

"Since its eomma and appa's 15th anniversary, I might have given her an idea for a celebratory party."

At this Jungkook actually laughs and Taehyung is the one who is surprised at his antics, not expecting this reaction.

"Uhuh. And how did she take it? Did she like your idea?"
Taehyung sighs, looking at Jungkook's fingers tracing patterns over his skin. It tickles a little.

"She said that she loved it and that ....she'll make all the arrangements. Including the guest list and invitations."

"Oh Taehyung," Jungkook laughs, pulling his husband even closer and nuzzling their noses, "I just hope you're comfortable meeting mom's friends. "

Taehyung groans when Jungkook's shoulders shake and he burrows closer, curling his arms around Jungkook's neck.

"So," Jungkook starts nonchalantly, speaking against Taehyung's neck and feeling him shiver a little.

"So..." Taehyung replies back and Jungkook can feel the smile that adorns his beautiful face.

"Our anniversary is near too. I can't believe that it will be one year to our marriage."

"Its still 2 months away, baby." There's softness in Taehyung's voice, something sweet too, as he replies back, sighing when Jungkook kisses his skin and nips at it lovingly, making him chuckle.

He's hopelessly in love with the man wrapped in his arms.

Taehyung's lips stretch into a giddy smile when he starts feeling vibrations along his neck as Jungkook hums their favorite song.

Its their song, yes.

They belong to the song as much as it belongs to them, a sweet memory and an unforgettable day tying them down.

"...Pictures I'm living through for now, trying to remember all the good times, our life was cutting through so loud.....memories are playing in my dull mind...." It was the song that Jungkook had sang the day he proposed to him.

Kneeling down on the green grass, Jungkook had held a red velvet box, looked up at Taehyung, and had sang the exact same song, as Taehyung had stood beneath the showers of flower petals, courtesy of their friends.

It was highly private; the setting.

Only Jungkook and the rest of their 5 friends had been present. And of course the new addition to the couple's life; their dog.

Everything had been so beautiful that Taehyung couldn't have stopped the tears that fell from his eyes, couldn't have stopped the emotions that crashed onto him like a wave as he had embraced Jungkook with a choruses  of yeses.

Taehyung doesn't think that he can fall more in love with Jungkook, but everyday he is proven wrong when he wakes up to see his husband yawn cutely, his hand covering his nose instead  of his mouth in his sleepy state.

His eyes fill with fondness when Jungkook rakes his hand through his already messy hair and smiles at him only  to pout if he can't find a granola bar with his morning bowl of oats.

Tenderness is what fills him when Jungkook kisses his forehead, eyes, nose and lips before leaving.

And as Taehyung hums along to the same song that brought them to where they are right now in their relationship, he feels his whole body fill yet again with one and only emotion; love.

⚘

"I need another drink." Namjoon mutters, breaking away from him and Seokjin to walk in the direction of the bar that has been set up.

Taehyung huffs out a laugh at his brother's antics, watching as another woman saunters upto Seokjin  and starts flirting. His brother doesn't get annoyed at the attention like Namjoon does, instead he thrives in it, always insisting on having some fun.

Namjoon, on seeing Seokjin interacting with another girl, potentially changes his track as he shakes his head at Taehyung and gets lost in the crowd.

Jeon Yunha had taken the job of throwing the party into her own hands and what a party she had thrown.

Its now that Taehyung understands Jungkook's denial of the idea and the amused and mirthful chuckles.

Oh how right he had been.

When the guest list was handed to him, he had almost fainted with  the amount of people listed on it. And when he had asked his mother-in-law if she wanted him to cut some names out, she had laughed out loud and said that the invites had already been sent.

Taehyung had swayed a little bit on his feet at that.

But then again he didn't complain, and still doesn't complain, because its what Jungkook's mother wanted, its what his mother wanted.

Jungkook wasn't wrong when he once told Taehyung that he's eager to please his mother-in-law.

Its something, Taehyung told him, he wouldn't understand.

Because for Taehyung, Jungkook's mother was someone who understood him like his own mother would.

Being devoid of that understanding and love since his teenage life impacted Taehyung and when he did end up being on the receiving end of that love, he made sure he never did anything that would not be in the best interests of the only motherly figure in his life.

He sees his eomma smile and he decides that, fuck it, let the crowd be as loud as it wants, as long as his eomma and appa are happy, as long as Jungkook is happy, he doesn't care much about the people he doesn't know.

Besides parties like these don't happen much. So its a change for him. A noisy, crowded change, but an elegant one nonetheless.

The hums and talks of the crowd fill his ears, but he tunes them out as he breaks away from Seokjin and seeks out his husband.

He finds him standing with their parents, smiling, as they talk to someone. He'd walk through fire to see that precious smile.

Passing a bunch of people is nothing.

So he makes his way forward, aware of the people turning around and looking at him. He doesn't know if its because he's Jeon Jungkook's husband or maybe its because of something he's wearing.

Its fine though, he thinks, as people don't continue staring at him, turning back around after he passes them.

But there lingers something in the back of his mind, making its way to the front of his head, like a feeling that's trying to warn him about something.

Warm tingles burst over his whole body and the hair at the back of his neck rise.

Someone is still staring at him.

He halts in his tracks, so close to his family, and turns around, frowning, only to find everyone busy talking or mingling with other people.

There's a sudden pair of hands on the small of his back that make him jump, whipping around only to find a worried Jungkook looking back at him.

"You okay Tae? You look pale."

Something settles in his body, calming him down as Jungkook drags him closer to himself, cupping his cheeks and ducking down to inspect his wavering eyes.

He's sweating now.

He smiles nonetheless, not ready to ruin anyone's mood or the whole party itself,  "Totally fine. Was looking for you actually. Seokjin hyung is busy flirting even though he has a boyfriend but what's new?" He laughs a little awkwardly.

Jungkook doesn't look convinced as he snatches the last glass of Taehyung's favorite wine from a passing waiter's tray and presses it into his hand.

"Drink this. You look like you're about to pass out." Taehyung doesn't comment on that, gulping down the liquid in one go, making Jungkook even more suspicious.

"Seriously baby, is something or someone bothering you? Do you want to go back to your room and rest? I'll  be with you, come on." Jungkook quickly says, already pulling Taehyung's hand and dragging him in the direction of the staircase.

"No, no no," Taehyung immediately resists, wrapping his hand around Jungkook's on his wrist, pulling him back.

Now that he's had something to drink, he's feeling a bit more fine. He doesn't know what came over him, making his throat go absolutely dry.

It was completely pointless.

He rests his hand on Jungkook's chest, sliding it over the expensive tuxedo and sighing.

Jungkook looks good.

Too good, in Taehyung's opinion.

"I'm fine. Its just, I guess I felt a little dizzy. Haven't had much to eat since the morning. Just a couple granola bars and a can of coke." Taehyung admits, blaming everything on his lack of hydration and food intake.

"You look good today, Mr. Kim Jeon." Taehyung tries to divert the topic.
Jungkook raises his eyrbrows, taking Taehyung's hand in his and kissing his knucles, "Thanks love. But why is it that you didn't have something proper to eat? You know its not good for your health."

"Okay dear husband. I'm sorry. I was busy with some last minute preparations and I had some papers to grade. So it skipped my mind."

"You could've asked me to make you something Tae. I'm serious. You miss out on your diets alot. Its not healthy."

Taehyung swats him on the chest lightly, "I'll be fine. I'm not made of glass, you know."

Before Jungkook can reply, his father joins them along with his slightly buzzed wife.

"Taehyung, thank you for this, dear boy. It certainly is a very memorable day for us." He comments and Taehyung shakes his head and smiles.

Jeon Jaegguk is an intimidating man for the world, but not for his family.

Jungkook is exactly like his father.

"Appa, I did nothing, to be honest. I just gave the idea. Everything was handled by eomma." Jaegguk chuckles, patting him on the head lovingly and if Taehyung leans a little into the touch, he can't help it. He can only gather up all the parental affection he can get, before it vanishes (again).

"You two should enjoy. The cake will be cut in another hour." Its Yunha who speaks this time, smiling at Taehyung, her eyes scrunching up and Taehyung finds himself nodding.

He thinks he hears Jungkook chuckle at him, but he doesn't care. He's got a family, parents who really love him, he can't be bothered by Jungkook's amused remarks.

"Its your day eomma. We will enjoy if you enjoy yourself. " He says, discerning the love that radiates from the two people standing in front of him. He feels Jungkook burrow his face in his neck and kiss the skin and he wants to push him away but he doesn't.

Because no matter how much Jungkook jokes lightheartedly about Taehyung wooing his parents, he knows and undertands the need that Taehyung feels to prove himself.

He understands the want in him for that special kind of love that none of his brothers or even he can provide him with.

That love is something that can be received from parents only,  and Jungkook highly respects the fact that Taehyung makes it his responsibility to look after his parents, talk to them in his absence and even remember everything they say.

Its endearing to say the least.

Yunha leans forward to kiss his cheek and Taehyung absolutely beams, "You're so sweet, my boy." She says before squeezing Jungkook's hand and walking away with her husband to greet some of her other friends.

Jungkook hugs him, pulling him closer and kissing his hair, "I love you Tae. I love you so much."

Taehyung curls into him, smiling, "I love you too Kookie. Thank you, for everything."

And again Jungkook understands that he's most thankful for giving him two parental figures that he had been devoid of before in his life.

Not just for himself, but for his brothers too. Because Jungkook knows best that Seokjin and Namjoon might not show it much, but they long for that parental love too and recieving it from Jungkook's parents might not be the same as receiving it from their actual parents, but its close.

And for them, its more than enough.

"Come on, I think I saw Yoongi hyung and Jimin hyung by the door." Jungkook whispers, pulling him away and pecking him on the nose before taking him in the desired direction.

Taehyung doesn't protest, letting Jungkook pull him towards their friends, too giddy to do anything but agree.

He doesn't acknowledge the feeling that enters and stays in his head as he walks away towards the entrance of their house.

Eyes.

His body shudders slightly.

Taehyung feels eyes on him.

⚘

He turns around as Taehyung rakes his eyes over the crowd, frowning, as if he knows that he is watching him.

He busies himself with a drink, trying to catch glances of Taehyung and watches through his peripheral vision as Jungkook comes up behind him.

"Pathetic." he mumbles, gulping down the drink and slamming his glass down on the table, motioning the bartender to fill his glass again.

He picks up the glass, swirling the neat scotch in its confines and takes a sip of it, moving his eyes over Taehyung's form again.

He sees him smile at Jeon Jaegguk, clutching his husband's hand tightly. He scoffs, shaking his head and patting down any creases in his pants.

"Smile all you want little Kim. Its not going to last very long."

⚘

Taehyung loses sight of Jungkook sometime after the cake is cut.

He turns a full circle on his spot, trying to find his husband only to duck his head and move away when  he catches the eye of the lady who has been talking to him any chance she gets, ever since the party started.

He turns his back and makes himself seem busy, admiring his suddenly interesting and too empty hands.

"Kim Jeon Taehyung," a voice interrupts his turmoil and he turns around, a relieving breath leaving his lips unconsciously.

He doesn't immediately recognize the person in front of him but then he purses his lips and wracks his mind, simultaneously smiling back nervously at the man in front of him.

"First of all, I'd really like to congratulate you on your wedding even though its extremely late." The person says and Taehyung gives him an awkward smile and really, why does his brain stop working when he needs it to.

"I'm sorry I-"

It all suddenly clicks in his head and he remembers, snapping his fingers as he says, "Seunghoon hyung." it comes out a little louder than expected and some people turn around to stare at them.

"Sorry." Taehyung mumbles sheepishly.

"No worries, Mr Kim Jeon. I get it. Its the first time that we're meeting."

"Yes, hello hyung. And just Taehyung would be fine. Sorry I  couldn't attend to you the day you dropped eomma and appa off." He says as Seunghoon waves him off, laughing.

"You're a sweet boy Taehyung. Jaegguk and Yunha talk alot about how lucky Jungkook is to have you. Well they aren't wrong." Seunghoon says, his eyebrows rising as he motions at him, his gaze dragging from his head to toe, as if scrutinizing him.

And really, if anyone ever told him that, Taehyung would jump with happiness but somehow Seunghoon's words just make him shift on his feet, laughing nervously and noticing his gaze snap back to his face.

The air becomes awkward and a little uncomfortable.

Taehyung doesn't know why he feels uneasy.

He shouldn't.

This man has been working for Jaegguk as his right hand man since 8 years now. And Taehyung doesn't know much about how often they change their "staff", but he does know that if a person has worked for the Jeons for 8 years, he is considered pretty loyal.

So he pushes those thoughts to the back of his mind, grouping them with other disturbing ones, blaming it all on the anxiousness he's been feeling.

"So, you said that we are meeting for the first time." Taehyung starts, the previous statement stuck in his brain.

"Yes, dear. That is what I was apologising for earlier. I wasn't able to make it to your marriage. I was a little.. ah.. occupied. Although Jungkook-ah told me all about it."

Taehyung's brows pinch together, the smile ever present on his face.

If he wasn't at the marriage, then why does Seunghoon feel familiar to Taehyung?

There's a nagging feeling that's breaking its bonds and racing to the front of his mind, reaching his mouth and forming words. There's just something that tells him that he knows Seunghoon.

"Are you sure?" Taehyung chuckles and asks confusedly. "I don't know, I feel like I know you. Its.. its like deja vú, you know."

Taehyung doesn't know if he imagines it or Seunghoon's expression actually falters for a second before his confident persona is back on.

"Maybe in some parallel universe then?" He tries to joke, "Because I'm sure that I would've remembered someone like you."

Taehyung gulps, swallowing down the bile that's rising in his throat.

He doesn't understand what's happening.

He feels dizzy again.

Before they met, Taehyung used to just hear about Seunghoon hyung from Jungkook and wonder who this person was, whom the Jeons trusted so much.

He understands that he never knew him, he realises that yes, its true that they've never met before because Taehyung remembers each and every person who came to their wedding.

So what is it that makes Taehyung feel like he's known this man since a long time. There's something that he can't grasp as it continues to escape from his hold, slipping out like water.

"Taehyung," the man says, and anyone looking at him might say that he sounds concerned, but Taehyung isn't so sure.

There's  something about the person, Taehyung  thinks, as he blinks rapidly to clear the sudden bout of dizziness that hits him.

"I.. I've seen, no-"

"Waiter!" Taehyung is cut off when suddenly  Seunghoon calls for a waiter and hands Taehyung a glass of water.

"Drink up, dearie, you seem like you're about to faint."

The glass is guided to his lips and through his hazy eyes and sudden rapid breathing, he takes a hold of the glass and finishes the contents in one go. He feels alright for a moment, but then he feels worse.

Black spots dance in front of his vision and he imagines Seunghoon calling out for Jungkook. Taehyung's whole body shivers, a headache pounding at his skull.

Just before his eyes close, he thinks he sees Seunghoon coming close to touch his face and Taehyung immediately recoils back, colliding with something.

The blurriness becomes extreme, blackness supporting it as his breathing gets even shallower.

He closes his eyes trying to rub it all out, but its that action that makes him lose his consciousness, his eyes rolling to the back of his head, all the senses shutting down as he faints, hearing one last sentence,

"Take care little Kim."

⚘

When Taehyung slowly blinks his eyes open, the first person he sees is Yoongi.

"H-hyun-" he tries to say, his voice raw and throat parched.

But its enough for Yoongi to hear.

"Fuck Tae, you woke up. Oh thank- Jungkook! Come in here." Yoongi shouts making Taehyung squeeze his eyes shut at the increased  volume.

First, there's footsteps and then arms around him as Jungkook  engulfs him in a hug, and Taehyung too, sighs deeply, letting Jungkook's  regular scent drench him and calm him down.

He hears the small snap of a door clicking shut and figures Yoongi left to give them some privacy.

"Jungkook-," Taehyung says, but immediately stops when he feels Jungkook shaking his head and shushing him.

Jungkook pulls away from the embrace and Taehyung wants more but he doesn't find the energy in him to move his arms.

"Shh shh, baby here. Drink some water." Jungkook carefully makes him sit up, propping an unnecessary amount of pillows behind him and supports his head as he guides a glass of water to his lips, holding his hand steady as Taehyung quickly finishes it up.

"How are you feeling now?" Jungkook asks, placing the glass back and sitting down beside Taehyung.

Taehyung tiredly shifts towards him, resting his head on Jungkook's shoulder, sighing and closing his eyes, "How long was I out for?" He asks instead.

There's a slight headache that's already building up and Taehyung, for some reason, feels weak. He wants to go take a shower or even splash his face with chilled water but at the same time he doesn't want to get up.

"2 hours. " Jungkook replies, his face betraying the calmness that his voice shows.

"That long?"

Jungkook hums in affirmation, bending his shoulder a little bit more so that Taehyung can get even more comfortable.

"What happened Kookie? I can't remember anything, it's fuzzy." Taehyung asks, shaking his head as if that would shake off the pain.

Jungkook doesn't want to repeat what he said earlier, doesn't want to be upset about what happened, but he can't help it if the worry in him makes him a little bitter, "You hadn't eaten properly since last night Tae. And you kept on checking all the arrangements, kept working. Of course your body suffered. How many times do I have to tell you to never skip your meals and take care of your diet?" It sounds as if Jungkook is scolding a little child and by the pout on Taehyung's face, he probably thinks the same.

"You fainted while you were talking to Seunghoon hyung."

This makes him a little more alert as he sits up abruptly, making his sight go fuzzy. 

"Seunghoon hyung?" Taehyung asks, massaging his temples.

"Yes he called-"

"KIM JEON TAEHYUNG!" Jimin's voice rings through the room as the door is slammed open, startling Taehyung as he grasps Jungkook's arm tightly, making him cluck his tongue.

Jimin looks - for the lack of a better word - furious,  as he stands there with a plate of food in his hands.

"How dare you," Jimin starts, walking towards the pair aggressively as he thrusts the plate of food in Taehyung's hands, "not take care of yourself and ignore your health like that you absolute -"

"Sorry Minnie, it just happened. Didn't mean to though." Taehyung mumbles, pouting.

Jungkook tries to hold back a grin because God help anyone who is faced with Taehyung when he pouts like that.

He can see the anger melting right out of Jimin's eyes.

"Tae, you're such a hypocrite you know?" Jimin shakes his head, crawling on to the bed and sitting cross legged in front of Taehyung.

"You always remind me to have my food at time and yet here you are, at the peak of hypocrisy."

"Shut up." Taehyung mutters, opening his mouth as Jungkook feeds him some rice.

"No seriously Tae, that wasn't something pleasant to see alright? I understand that you wanted to make everything perfect but neglecting your health in the process isn't  the way."

"I kn-"

"Jimin's right, Taehyung."

Taehyung looks up and towards the door where Yunha stands with her arms crossed across her chest, her lips pursed.

"Eomma.." Taehyung immediately tries to sit up straighter, only to groan at the dizziness still  clouding his head.

"Sit still, brat." Yunha scolds, walking in, followed by Seokjin who holds a glass of juice in his hands.

Taehyung doesn't  feel bad when Yunha scolds him like that, it makes him smile instead.

"I'm happy that you made such beautiful arrangements Taehyung, but if I would have known that you hadn't eaten since last night, I would've stopped you and stuffed your mouth with food.

Taehyung can't help but giggle, making Jimin snort and Jungkook and Seokjin sigh as they shake their heads, not surprised by his behaviour.

"I'm sorry eomma." He says at last, eyes downcast as he accepts the glass of juice from Seokjin and takes small, timid sips.

"Don't apologize. Just take care okay? You have to be fine to look after this big baby that you call your husband. "

There is an affronted sound at that, making everyone laugh as Jungkook grumbles about how that's not true.

"What I'm trying to say is that," Yunha shuffles closer, fumbling with her hands before she cups Taehyung's cheek, bending down to his eye level, "I wish I could be here all the time to remind you to take care of yourself. But I can't be, so you have to do it on your own. You're strong Tae, so very strong and I adore you, you sweet boy. So from now on, I'll keep on calling you everyday to remind you about how important you are and how much you need to care of yourself."

Taehyung doesn't want to cry, really, but with the words  that are said and the feelings that are conveyed, it feels harder for him to keep them in check.

"Okay eomma," He whispers, watching as Yunha's eyes sparkle when she smiles, dropping a kiss to his head as well as Jungkook's.

"I'll leave you children to talk now. Come to the gardens when you feel like it." She tells everyone, patting Jimin's hair as she walks by Seokjin.

"Jin-ah," she says, turning to look at the eldest Kim who watches her with wide eyes and a questioning glance, "You know you can talk to me anytime you want, right?"
She tells him and Taehyung watches his brother being caught completely off guard as he coughs into his fist, nodding.
"Yes, Mrs Jeon, I am aware."

Yunha waves him off, scrunching her nose, a habit that Jungkook inherits.

"How many  times do I have to tell you to call me Yunha or eomeoni?"

Seokjin looks down, embarrassed and Taehyung is trying really hard not to laugh as he burrows his face in Jungkook's neck.

"Uh .. yes Yunha." He corrects, rewarded with a huff of laughter and a playful slap on his back.

"Good." Yunha says before leaving.

The room remains silent for a while until Seokjin turns back and heaves a sigh of relief.

"How is she so fierce?" Seokjin frowns as he points in the direction of the door.

Its then that everyone laughs, making  Seokjin roll his eyes.

Taehyung feels considerably better.

⚘

"Yes baby, I am having my lunch. Eomma called me to remind me of it too." Taehyung mumbles around a mouthful of noodles.

He takes another bite of rice and kimchi, smiling as Jungkook keeps on talking.

Its been a week since Jungkook's parents left and since the incident of Taehyung losing consciousness, both Jungkook and his mother have been constantly reminding him to take a break and eat something.

Its sweet.

"I'll pick you up today?" Taehyung knows that Jungkook wants it to be a statement but it comes out as a question, a really unsure one at that.

"No Kookie, I drove myself to the university today, remember?" Taehyung does not feel bad after denying Jungkook.

Jungkook needs to get used to Taehyung doing things by his own self.

"But," Taehyung starts, the beginnings of a smile reflecting in his voice, "meet me at the café? Save me a seat won't you baby?" Taehyung can feel the way Jungkook suddenly perks up with the enthusiastic "Yeah of course!" thrown into the phone speaker.

They talk for some more time before Taehyung has to go back to work and grade some papers.

"Take care of yourself okay? You have me as your emergency contact right Tae? Anything unusual-"

"-and I immediately call you, yes I know Jungkook-ah. Now calm down. Bye, love you."

Jungkook hums, a small bit of anxiety lodging itself in his throat and travelling down to his stomach, making it drop and twist uncomfortably.

Ignoring it, he still takes a deep breath, willing to trust the fact that Taehyung can take care of himself. He's been learning some self defence moves after all.

But even that doesn't stop him from feeling uneasy, because self defence does not work when the person in front of you has a gun filled with bullets that could pierce through flesh and land on the other side of your body.

Nonetheless-

"I love you too Tae." Jungkook replies, a smile pulling at his lips when he hears Taehyung making kissing noises.

"See you soon bubba."

The call ends, but the uncertainity spreading itself in Jungkook's whole being, doesn't.

⚘

"Hey," Jungkook hears the soft whisper first and feels the gentle press of lips to his cheeks, second.

Taehyung slides into the seat across from him, setting his bag down beside him, smiling when he looks up.

"Sorry I ran late, a student in my class needed some last minute help with his project."

"Its okay Tae-ah." Jungkook says, taking Taehyung's hand and rubbing his thumb over his knuckles.

They sit there for some moments, no words escaping their lips as silence reigns between and around them, the sounds in the cafe falling on deaf ears.

"I ordered you a piece of your favorite cheesecake and your daily chamomile tea."
Jungkook says, but Taehyung still doesn't break the silence, smiling like a dork with his chin propped on the palm of his hand.

"Stop smiling at me like that," Jungkook mumbles, ducking his head down.

Taehyung snorts, amused, "What? Don't go all shy on me now Jeon."

Before Jungkook can reply to it, their order arrives and Taehyung huffs out a laugh at the way Jungkook digs into his slice of cake just to hide his smile.

Taehyung sees the innocence shinihg in those eyes, the sparkles of galaxies that make him stand out from everyone else.

It makes him sad that Jungkook has to cover it all up, hide everything and bury it deep down when he is not with him. Jungkook deserves so much more than just some dark nightmares that settle in his brain and chew on his sanity.

But Taehyung can't change it, even if he wants to, and neither can Jungkook.

Its something he chose and adapted to.

Taehyung is just glad that he can bring out the true vulnerable side of Jungkook, peel the hard exterior off him, even if it is for a small amount of time.

Being with Jungkook gives him that opportunity and Taehyung daresay he absolutely loves it. He holds it close to his heart, holds Jungkook close to his heart. 

He's always been too precious to let go.

⚘

Its absolutely silent until its not.

Jungkook pushes open the door to their room, not caring to close it once him and Taehyung stumble inside, too wrapped up in each other.

Wandering hands pull out his dress shirt from where it is tucked in his black slacs and its not long before Jungkook feels Taehyung's hand caressing his warm skin and making him shiver.

Jungkook's hands tighten around Taehyung, pulling him closer as he groans into his mouth when Taehyung's hands travel up and his thumb brushes his nipple.

Jungkook pulls away for a moment, his breathing ragged, but Taehyung isn't having any of it. He pulls Jungkook back and swallows down the moan threatening to break free as he crashes his lips against Jungkook's again, feeling as though he needs the kiss more than he needs air.

"Off. Fuck, take it off," Taehyung hurriedly comments against Jungkook's lips, biting on the lower one as Jungkook hastily unbuttons his shirt, his neck arching when Taehyung ducks down to kiss along the skin.

Jungkook's hands shake a little, overwhelmed by the sudden onslaught of so many emotions, so Taehyung takes matter into his own hands as he tries to take off Jungkook's shirt.

Needless to say, he hears the clatter of some buttons and as well as he hears Jungkook curse, but nothing registers in his mind as Jungkook's body comes into his view.

Still fully clothed and keeping his eyes fixed on Jungkook, Taehyung drops down to his knees slowly, his gaze burning through Jungkook's.

The first kiss to his stomach comes as a surprise as Jungkook's breath hitches and his hands land on Taehyung's shoulders.

Then he feels the light suction on his abdomen, taehyung's tongue poking out to lick at his toned abs.

He drops a kiss to that area before moving his lips lower and latching onto the skin below his navel, sucking a bruise that makes Jungkook moan out Taehyung's name.

Taehyung feels Jungkook clutch his hair and he gasps when Jungkook pushes at his strands, puts the slightest pressure, making Taehyung's lips travel lower and lower until he is nosing along the prominent erection that strains Jungkook's slacs.

There's a harsh tug to his hair that makes him hiss, his head pulled back by the force of the tug, his eyes focused on Jungkook's dark ones.

"Come up, come up baby," Jungkook whispers, easing his hold on Taehyung's hair and letting him get up.

Taehyung leans forward, his face inches from Jungkook's and his lips barely touching the latter's before he moves back and pulls Jungkook with him towards the bed.

Jungkook is quick to follow as he closes in on Taehyung, picking him up in a flash and depositing him on the bed.

Taehyung's hair fans out around his head and even in the darkness of the room, Jungkook sees him clearly like a beacon shining just for him.

He sees the dilation of his pupils and the need and desperation coursing through his veins.

The only illumination in the room is the slight light of the moon that filters through their barely open curtains.

It falls over Taehyung in hints of cerulean blue and makes him look absolutely ravishing as well as ethereal.

Jungkook sees as Taehyung opens his arms in an inviting gesture and within that moment all Jungkook can think about is Taehyung.

Discarding his slacs on the floor he quickly crawls over Taehyung's body, hovering over him before he pulls him into a sweet kiss.

He savours every touch, every bite to his lips and makes sure to suck on Taehyung's tongue making him grasp on to his shoukder and moan.

He still feels a little overwhelmed as Taehyung throws his head back, his lips parted as harsh breaths escape them.

Jungkook looks at the way Taehyung's neck curves, feels Taehyung squeeze his shoulder as he slips his arm under Taehyung to hold him closer.

For a moment, he doesn't know what to do, until Taehyung looks back at him and cups his cheeks and whispers quietly, nuzzling the side of his face, "I love you. I love you so much."

Those three words have Jungkook snapping back into the moment, bringing him back to reality as he attaches their lips once again, going slow as if they have all the time in the world.

Jungkook's fingers twist insistently into Taehyung's shirt, pulling at it to get it off. He tucks it up to his chest until Taehyung lets out a frustrated groan, moving back so that he can take the shirt off.

Jungkook takes some seconds to just admire his husband's skin, his view filled with dark eyes staring right  back at him, red swollen lips inviting him back to drink up all the voices.

Jungkook is suddenly hit with an urge to show Taehyung his love and just appreciate him in all ways.
He gently pushes Taehyung's body further into the plush mattress, his hands finding Taehyung's wrists as he brings them up above his head, pinning them to the bedspread.
"Keep them there for me. Won't you, baby?" Jungkook demands, putting the slightest bit of pressure that has Taehyung sighing and agreeeing in a second.

Tracing his hands down Taehyung's skin, Jungkook scratches it delicately, only to see with absolute delight, the red lines that he leaves in his wake. He brings his lips down onto them, pressing kisses to the angry red lines, watching as they fade back to a lighter shade.

For a moment, he rests his head on Taehyung's chest, content in just hearing the his heartbeat.

He makes his way down Taehyung's chest, feeling the air buzz with anticipation as he nuzzles Taehyung's soft but firm stomach.

He hears the hitch in Taehyung's breath and smiles against the skin, kissing it before sinking his teeth into the softness and making Taehyung gasp as his shoulders arch away from the bed.

Immediately, Jungkook pushes him back down, his hands finding Taehyung's yet again, intertwining and fitting together like puzzle pieces.

Jungkook feels Taehyung hold onto his hands tightly as he kisses at the sensitive spot behind his ear and then nips at his ear lobe. He settles at last in the crook of Taehyung's neck, nuzzling his nose along the bend of his shoulder and breathing in Taehyung's intoxicating scent.

He feels the man shiver beneath him as he gets up again, pulling his hands free, and hovering over him.

Taehyung opens his eyes, not knowing when he had closed them in the first place, to look at Jungkook with an intensity so avid that it makes something hot pool in the depths of Jungkook's abdomen.

He sits back on his haunches, his hands resting by Taehyung's thighs and Taehyung cants his hips up in the air as an invitation; eager to get as much skin on skin contact as possible.

So much of it and I still have my pants on, Taehyung thinks, making sure to voice it to Jungkook breathily and kicking him in the thigh when he laughs.

Jungkook, in return, holds onto his leg and uses it to pull Taehyung's body down on the bed and closer to him. Taehyung's legs rest around Jungkook's thighs, trembling a little as Jungkook starts to unbuckle his pants, getting them off hastily.

"So pretty," Junglook breathes out, kneeling closer between Taehyung's legs and letting him wrap them around his waist, "All mine."

Taehyung hums sensually as Jungkook drags Taehyung's boxers down, revealing the soft and smooth caramel skin that makes him slightly light-headed.

Jungkook wants to say so much more, douse his lover in compliments but he finds himself unable to, words stuck in his throat when there's a sudden pressure over his straining arousal as Taehyung tries to work his hand beneath Jungkook's boxers, simultaneously palming him through the fabric.

"Tae.." Jungkook moans brokenly, his hand clasping over Taehyung's wrist to make him stop his admonitions lest he release there and then.

"Take them off Kook," Taehyung demands, and who is Jungkook to deny him?

Boxers flung somewhere around the room, Jungkook doesn't hesitate to press the naked bodies flush together, grinding his hips down against Taehyung's  as he blindly stretches his hand towards the lube on their bedside table.

Hands grasp his waist to make him stop but Jungkook continues his ministrations, Taehyung's breath hitting his ears.

"Fuck me Jungkook. Fuck me." Taehyung whispers into his ear, tugging at his ear lobe.

"Yeah, yeah just..." Jungkook fumbles, dropping a kiss to Taehyung's nose and shifting back on the bed.

He takes some lube on his fingers, rubbing them together to warm it up as his other hand caresses Taehyung's length. He presses his thumb under the head, making Taehyung take in shuddering breaths, his hands scrambling to hold onto something and settling on the sheets beneath them.

He feels the heat of Jungkook's mouth over his length as Jungkook licks a stripe up the underside of his cock, just as his middle finger breaches Taehyung's rim.

He suckles over the head, giving it kittenish licks and distracting Taehyung as he opens him up slowly.

Taehyung loves being manhandled by Jungkook, likes it a little rough, but something about today makes him love the way Jungkook treats him so delicately, as if he's made of porcelain.

Two fingers in and Taehyung is panting harshly, his head turned to the side and lips pressed into sheets that have become a little wet with drool that has escaped.

Three fingers in and Taehyung is on the verge of tears, the stretch burning a little but he craves it oh so lovingly that he can't even bring himself to despise the pain.

And when Taehyung tells Jungkook that he might not last long, Jungkook just tilts his head and makes a tight ring around the base of Taehyung's cock, making him squirm.

Jungkook's fingers crook inside of him and massage his prostate with practiced ease, making Taehyung's body shake and mouth open in a silent scream.

"Please K-kook, please," Taehyung's hand lets go of the sheets underneath as he stretches to touch Jungkook, the want clear in his eyes, such that Jungkook can't help but drown in it.

He retracts his fingers and takes another dollop of lube to coat his cock, hissing and falling forward a little at the stimualtion.

Jungkook holds the base of his cock and positions himself between Taehyung's legs properly before guiding his length between Taehyung's spread cheeks.

Taehyung feels as if it has been too long as he strains his body to accommodate Jungkook's girth, already out of breath when he's halfway in.

Jungkook sinks in incessantly, rolling his hips and massaging Taehyung's thighs to alleviate any pain.

Taehyung's hands find Jungkook's, as they interlace them and the former holds on tightly, clenching around Jungkook while he gives him some moments to breathe and adjust.

Jungkook shifts just a little and that is enough of an indication for Taehyung that he wants Jungkook to move.

Still rolling his hips, Jungkook takes some more lube and rubs it around Taehyung's rim. The action makes him moan and clench around Jungkook, thrashing a little on the bed.

Jungkook's thighs strain with the effort of  pulling out of Taehyung's tight heat and plunge back in with a grunt.

Its easy after those few thrusts, both of them falling into a rhythm, a coordination that they have eased into like a fluid dance.

They both know that they won't last long, so they make sure to pour in all the feelings and emotions that they connect with right now.

When Taehyung attempts to pull Jungkook down, Jungkook shifts back instead and brings Taehyung with him.

He pulls Taehyung up, simultaneously sitting back down, Taehyung's legs straddling his hips.

Taehyung groans hotly into his ear as he suddenly feels Jungkook plunge deeper.

"Jungk-kook," he whispers his name like a prayer and Jungkook sighs his name, arms wrapping around his waist and one of his hands supporting the small of his back as he looks up at his husband.

Taehyung's hair is matted to his forehead with sweat and Jungkook isn't any better as Taehyung's hands slip from his shoulders due to the same reason.

Taehyung swallows down a moan and rises on shaky thighs, only to drop back down harshly, the sound of skin slapping against skin filling the room.

Jungkook watches with parted lips as Taehyung fucks himself on his cock, his eyes closed and neck arched in a perfect curve.

It gives Jungkook the perfect chance to kiss it and suck at his collarbones, Taehyung's hands becoming claws, as his nails dig into Jungkook's shoulders.

"Look at me Taehyung-ah," Jungkook mutters hoarsely, kissing Taehyung's jaw and looking up at him, his eyes meeting Taehyung's wet ones.

Something takes over him when Taehyung looks at him like that and Jungkook licks Taehyung's chin, leading up to capture his lips in a wet kiss that has Taehyung knotting his hands in his hair.

"Keep those eyes on me." Jungkook tells him, pulling apart and watching Taehyung as a thin string of saliva connects their lips.

He feels Taehyung's hand leave his shoulder as he breaks that string with his finger, a cocky smirk taking over his lips.

"As you wish Jungkook-ah."

It unleashes something wild inside of Jungkook and he thrusts his hips up making Taehyung choke on his breath at the sudden thrust.

No matter what, he still remembers to be careful and slow, making sure Taehyung feels the drag of his cock everytime he pulls out and then pushes in.

He wants the shape of his cock ingrained in there, wants to mark Taehyung as his in all the ways he can.

Another grunt leaves his lips as he thrusts harder and the hitch in Taehyung's breath and his sudden chant of Jungkook's name, makes him believe that he hit the right spot.

So he continues to thrust just like that, watching, entranced, as Taehyung turns his eyes away from him for a moment to lift his hips and drop them down just as Jungkook thrusts up.

The slight luminosity from outside lines Taehyung's body, making him seem like something otherworldly, something too ethereal to be true.

So Jungkook pushes closer, holds Taehyung a little tightly to calm his erratic heart and remind him that no, Taehyung is real and he is his and only his. The possessiveness unfurls  in his nether region,  mingling along with the fires of arousal as he pushes their bodies back gently, lying Taehyung back down on the bed again.

As soon as his back touches the mattress, Jungkook doesn't stop with his movements, bending Taehyung's leg and wrapping it around his waist to thrust even deeper.

"You're beautiful," Taehyung suddenly speaks, his body rocking along with Jungkook's thrusts as he curls his arms around Jungkook's neck and moans loudly, his eyes still fixed on Jungkook's.

Jungkook knows he's close, so he kisses Taehyung's lips chastely, moving his sweaty bangs away from his face, "Not more than you baby." 

The statement makes Taehyung shiver as he looks at Jungkook, his eyes threatening to fall shut, tears lining his lashes.

"Jungkook -ngh! K-kook.. love you..l-love you baby."
And when Jungkook repeats those words, its those words that make Taehyung fall apart under Jungkook and that in return makes Jungkook unravel at the hands of his lover.

He thrusts a little longer, milking both of their orgasms but stops when Taehyung whines because of oversensitivity.

Jungkook stops and takes a deep breath, lowering himself down upon Taehyung, his head cradled on his chest.

Arms curl around him weakly and fingers rake through his hair as Taehyung mumbles sweet praises sleepily.

Jungkook stays like that for a while, until the sweat starts cooling on his skin.
He gets up then, his soft cock slipping out of Taehyung, who's almost asleep by now, his eyes half closed.

Jungkook quickly makes his way to the washroom, splashing some water onto his face and then cleaning himself with a wet towel. He takes another one for Taehyung and carefully cleans him off, humming a sweet melody to make Taehyung fall asleep.

"Remember the way you made me feel....such a young love, but something in me knew that it was real...."

Jungkook sees Taehyung smile sleepily, mumbling and humming along with him and patting his side to invite him back to bed.

Jungkook smiles back, pecking him on his nose before depositing the towel back in the washroom, in the wash basket. He takes a detour into their closet and takes out a butt plug, stroking Taehyung's body when he reaches him.

He plugs Taehyung up, just like he appreciates and climbs back to bed, pulling the covers over them. He pulls Taehyung closer, sighing when the older nestles into his chest. He keeps on humming their song, not aware of the moment his breathing evens out and he falls asleep; peaceful and content.

⚘

"...Memories are playing in my dull mind .......I hate this part paper hearts ....and I'll hold a piece of yours ...don't think I would just forget about it," The voice sings, the sweet song hummed in his voice sounding so much sinister.

"That's what he loves to sing right? Jeon Jungkook?" He asks, busy washing his hands and watching as the water turns a dark shade of red.

It satisfies him.

"Answer me." The person sweetly demands, knowing that he won't get an answer, yet he humors himself, maybe because he just needs a reason to spill more blood.

He dries his hand and turns around, clucking his tongue at the man struggling against his restraints. The man tries to shout, scream even, but its all in vain as nothing but spit escapes his gagged mouth.

"All this fight and for what? You shouldn't have done what you did, you know? You knew you would've lost before you could've even uttered a single word about me to your pathetic boss." The person says calmly, his voice teasing.

He walks towards the assorment of different weapons spread out on the dining table and picks up a gun and a machete.

He deposits it in front of one of his men, "Lee, shoot him twice in the jugular and carotids. Do it with near surgical precision."

He passes Lee the bullets before moving on to the next man.

"Choi, cut his heart out and leave it by his lifeless body." He orders, his voice devoid of any emotion.

The person moves on from Choi and towards the man restrained on the chair and pulls out the cloth from his mouth.

"Don't do this. When he gets to know and he will eventually know. He will-"

A loud slap echoes through the room.

"He will what?!" Shouts the person, his face inches away from the man.

"He cant do anything. You targeted my younger brother, you followed him. That doesn't happen on my watch, no." The person grits out, holding the man's chin in a bruising grip and slapping him once before straightening up and dusting his pants as if nothing even remotely violent took place.

A sweet smile graces his features suddenly, his eyes sparkling, "Now boys," he claps once moving past them and towards the mini bar in the room, "Come on, get to work, chop chop!"

His voice is rather too chirpy and he turns around just at the last moment calling out for Lee, "Give Jungkook a call after you're done, won't you sweet Lee? I have to indicate him about this," he wave his hand nonchalantly towards the screaming man, "mess."

"Yes sir." Lee replies, turning to complete his given tasks.

Two gunshots ring through the room and immeditely the cries and screams quiet down. The person moves through the halls of his penthouse suite with a bottle of scotch in his hands as he mutes everything by putting his headphones over his ears and sighing at the Lofi music that blasts through them.

Everything goes quiet and he never hears the sick sound of the machete sinking into the man's skin, tearing open the left side of his chest. He sways to sound of the music, not hearing the arteries popping and the heart of the man breaking free.

Its all quiet for him, just like he prefers.

⚘

"....Kookie?" Taehyung grumbles, twisting his body to squint at the figure standing at the edge of the bed with his phone in hand.

"-fuck did that happen?!" Taehyung hears Jungkook snarl into the speaker, shaking his head as he sits up groggily.

"Seokjin hyung, we.. I- okay. I'm reaching."
Jungkook is so absorbed in his converstaion that he doesn't notice Taehyung reaching out for him until his name spills from the elder's lips.

"Hey hey baby," Jungkook counters immediately, reaching for Taehyung and lying him back down tenderly,  "Go back to sleep, love."

"No.. what's wrong? Where are you going?" Taehyung croaks out, his voice still heavy with sleep.

Jungkook doesn't want to lie to him and tell him that  everything's fine, that its nothing and that he should go back to sleep.

But he also can't tell him that one of his men was brutally butchered and they have no clue as to who did it or what actually happened. 

The uncertainity and anxiousness that he had curbed down since he had talked to Taehyung earlier, in the late hours of noon, is begining to return and Jungkook can't tell Taehyung that either.

He knows Taehyung will be up all night thinking and worrying himself about what has gone wrong,  even though he'd never want to know the whole story.

So Jungkook sticks to the sweet lie, lets it drip down his lips like honey and makes sure that Taehyung experineces the taste.

"Nothing baby, nothing is wrong. Just some misplacement of some drugs that had to reach the  hospital's premises. So Seokjin hyung and I are going to the office to look into the matter." Jungkook tells Taehyung, caressing his hair and watching him fall asleep.

When he deems Taehyung deep in the woes of a peaceful slumber, he gets up to change into his appropriate attire.

But as soon as he is near their bedroom door, ready to retract some bullets from his study, he hears a small voice urging him back into the arms of his lover.

"Don't go Jungkook," Taehyung says his voice vulnerable, his arms outstretched, "Stay." He says again.

The uneasiness reverberates through his whole body and for the first time Jungkook feels a tad bit scared.
Not for himself, but for Taehyung.

For the first time, he doesn't know what lies ahead and actually fears it.

Something odd is brewing and Jungkook can't even begin to think of what Taehyung will go through if something happens to him or vice versa.

So he turns around in a second and rushes towards Taehyung's sleepy form, pulling him into his chest and just staying and inhaling Taehyung's scent .

He pulls back after some seconds and doesn't leave until Taehyung is asleep again, little puffs of air leaving his parted lips.

"I'll be back before you know it baby. " Jungkook whispers, not sure if Taehyung can hear him, "I'll be back for you."

With one last kiss secured on his forehead, Jungkook exits the room, his whole body buzzing with anticipation and mind clouded with anxiety.

His fists clench tightly, his fingers itching to hold something, to do something.

He takes out his phone and calls Seokjin, just as he gets inside his car.

Seokjin picks up on the first ring.

"Make sure you have extra guns, and bring all the possible ammunition you can. Carry some extra knife blades too."

"I already kept it all.. reach fast you won't be happy with what intel I have."

"I'm on my way." Jungkook mutters, stepping on the accelerator and roving through the empty roads at 2 am.

"Also, send some extra security at our house as well as Yoongi hyung's house. Instruct them and make sure that Taehyung and Jimin don't leave the house at any cost. No matter what, we keep them safe."

"Namjoon and Hoseok are on it." Seokjin reveals and there's some  shuffling on the other side, "Taehyung's going to be fine Jungkook. He'll be safe and you will go back to him."

Jungkook sighs at that, his grip tightening on the steering wheel, "For Taehyung's sake and  mine, lets hope that what you said holds true."

⚘

Chapter Text

I'd love it,

If we made it.

🌊

Taehyung wakes up breathless, his ears making out voices outside his door. They are hushed but not quiet enough that they stop him from waking up.

He feels a little queasy.

If Taehyung strains his ears and really concentrates, he thinks he can hear the voices arguing and it sounds like one of them is his brother.

He ignores them.

But then he pats the other side of the bed, only to be met with silence, cold and empty sheets pooling around his torso and that is what makes Taehyung actually wake up as he sits up groggily, rubbing his eyes and calling out for Jungkook

The voices outside his bedroom door stop murmuring.

With the silence comes the absolute and utter panic when Jungkook doesn't answer back to him or doesn't  call back questioningly.

It's fairly early, Taehyung notices, as he turns to the bedside table to tap on his phone and check the time.

5 AM.

Just as he predicted, it's too early, especially for a saturday morning. He wonders what Jungkook is doing up and about at this morning hour.

Its then that it all come rushing back to his head.

He suddenly remembers waking up in the middle of the night to Jungkook's angry voice speaking into the phone.

He remember Jungkook telling him to sleep, remembers pleading Jungkook to stay and his husband quietly telling him that he'd be back soon.

It wasn't just a statement, no.

Taehyung vividly remembers it sounding like a promise.

And Jeon Kim Jungkook doesn't break his promises.

So he calls out to him again, figuring that this time Jungkook might come back to the bed and cuddle him to sleep. But if anything, somehow the silence grows stronger, so much so that he can hear his own heartbeat loud and clear in his own ears.

Taehyung tries to brush it off; the unease settling into his bones. He tries to calm his suddenly erratic  heartbeat as his mind conjures up scenarios that are just a part of his nightmares.

He tries to convince himself, makes up basic excuses about why Jungkook isn't beside him and it calms him down just enough to make him get out of the bed. He can't go back to sleep anyway.

(He's with Seokjin, just sitting outside, calm down, Taehyung tells himself as he brushes his teeth.)

(They might be downstairs for tea, that is why no one heard you, he tells himself again as he splashes tepid water on his face.)

Taehyung's body shudders a little when he touches the cold side of their bed, as he makes the bed quietly, folding the sheets and fluffing the pillows. He stops suddenly, shaking his head and messing up the sheets again, frowning.

Why am I setting the bed when Jungkook will come back and sleep in it with me? Taehyung thinks, trying to chuckle and lighten his own heart.

It doesn't so much so lighten, as much as it weighs down.

So he ignores it all again.

He doesn't think about anything and figures he'll ask Jungkook himself. With renewed vigor and a small smile on his face, he skips to the door and opens it.

Granted, he figured that it was his brother who was arguing with someone (Hoseok) outside his bedroom, but it still comes as surprise that makes him stumble back inside his room when he comes face to face with his elder brother and his boyfriend.

Hand on his heart, Taehyung looks at Seokjin with wide eyes as if he didn't already know that his brother was standing outside this very door.

He wants to reprimand Seokjin for it because its fucking 5 AM, what is wrong with him, but he stops, his breathing evening out as he looks at the bags under his brother's eyes.

Not to mention how red and puffy his eyes are.

Almost as if,

As if he's been crying.

The realisation crashes onto him like a violent wave, leaving him to gape at the receding water in front of him as he tries to make sense of what happened that made his brother cry his eyes out.

"Hyung," Taehyung's starts, moving forward and taking Seokjin's hands in his, "hyung you cried." He states it as if it isn't already a fact that's been made clear between the three of them.

He immediately turns to Hoseok.

"Why did hyung cry?" He asks, his eyes full questions, all his previous thoughts burying themselves for the moment.

But then no one answers him and the furrow between his brows deepens and he looks over his brother's shoulder, towards the hallways that leads to the staircase, in hopes of seeing a sleepy Jungkook stumbling back to his room.

He doesn't see anyone.

It's eerily quiet until it's not anymore.

A loud scream filters through the empty walls, tampered and toned down, yet it shakes Taehyung right down to his core.

He looks at his hyungs, suddenly breathless, wanting answers, but the expression on their faces betrays the calmness they'd tried to exude.

Another shout echoes through the halls before it quiets down again and Taehyung doesn't waste even a second to run in the direction of the guest room on the same floor.

He doesn't even care about his hyungs' words and the tug on his hand to stop him, as he continues forward.

"Taehyung! Stop." Hoseok shouts and then there are arms around his waist, restraining him and holding him back from opening the mahogany doors and watch what is happening behind them.

His hand is just inches away from the doorknob when another groan sounds through the walls of the room, reaching him less intensity, but tears are already forming in Taehyung's eyes as he shrugs off Seokjin's arms around him and turns to look at him.

He's sure that his eyes are blazing with an angry fire but he doesn't care at the moment.

That voice behind the doors belongs to Jungkook and Taehyung has every right to know what the fuck happened during the time he was sleeping that Jungkook came back home shouting in pain.

"What is all of this? You guys went to the office, then why is Jungkook shouting like he's in pain?" Taehyung clenches his fists and locks his jaw, the threatening tone making Seokjin and Hoseok take a step back.

"Jungkook told me –"

“Mr. Kim,” a voice interrupts Taehyung and he immediately looks back to find a man exiting the room and closing the door behind him.

With the white coat that he is wearing, Taehyung is pretty sure that he's the doctor.

"Yes Xi,” Seokjin  wipes his tears and steps forward, surpassing Taehyung and standing in front of the doctor.

“What-“

“Taehyung.” Seokjin  puts up his hand to stop him from uttering another word and like a creature of habit, he seals his lips and tempers the fire inside him. No outsider needs to know what is going on in the family.

“I've taken out the bullet-“ there's a sharp inhale, “-and I've given Mr Jeon the lowest dose of morphine to help cope with the pain. It's not going to curb it but it is enough. I've written the time and the dosages needed on a piece of paper and kept it on the bedside table. Please check it and make sure you give it to him on time. The small wounds and scratches have been dressed. Rest assured, everything else is fine.”

Seokjin  nods and exhales shakily, bowing to Xi before speaking, “When can we meet him?”

“As of right now, he's unconscious, but he will, most probably, be up and about in, “ Xi checks his wrist watch, smacking his lips together, “an hour or so.”

“Thank you so much Xi. Really.” Seokjin says, holding Xi’s hands in gratitude and Taehyung knows that if his brother is grateful to him, he must have been, and still is, one of the most loyal men of theirs.

Hoseok shows Xi out and before Taehyung can engage in any other argument, he side steps Seokjin  and enters the room.

“Taehyung, don’t do this to yourself.” Seokjin takes his wrist in a soft grip, holding it lightly, hinting that whatever he decides, it will be respected. He can either look at Jungkook in a battered state and break his heart over and over again or he can wait for Jungkook to wake up and at least have his husband talk to him.

But it's been long enough for Taehyung without his husband and his heart has been beating loudly in his ears ever since he woke up, and he doesn't think he can stall anymore.

So he takes one look at his hyung's red eyes and takes his hand out of his grasp, his glossy eyes holding all answers for Seokjin . He turns back around and lets his eyes grace his husband's features.

There he lies on the cream sheets, eyes closed, looking peaceful albeit breathing raggedly. His arm is in a cast and he has a busted lip along with scratches and slashes on the exposed skin of his other arm.

Small droplets of blood lead Taehyung to the side of the bed and he sees the sharp bullet resting in a bloody cup on the bedside table. The whole room stinks of blood and antiseptic and Taehyung feels sick. Bile rises to his throat when realization finally hits that all this blood, and so much that would’ve been cleaned, was Jungkook's blood. Taehyung isn’t stupid, he knows this isn’t the first time Jungkook has bled or has had a bullet taken out of him.

But it’s the first time Taehyung is seeing him immediately after he is treated, leaving all the scars to be too fresh for Taehyung to see.

Quietly, muffling his sounds against the palm of his hand and blinking the tears out of his eyes, Taehyung sits down beside Jungkook, careful to not jostle him.

“Jungkook,” Taehyung rests his hand on his husband's injured one and whispers, sniffling, “You promised that you'd be back before I woke up. You said you were going to your office. Then how did you get shot baby? How?” Taehyung shakes with choked sobs as he imagines different situations in his head. 

He imagines the moment he told Jungkook to not go last night, and wishes he'd somehow been more adamant and made Jungkook stay.

“You asshole,” Taehyung frowns, laying his head down on Jungkook's stomach but not putting much pressure, “I told you to stay. But you never listen to me. You should listen to me.”

Taehyung knows he won't get an answer, won't feel Jungkook's fingers in his hair but he still hopes, still wants Jungkook to wake up, right fucking now, because no matter what, Taehyung needs the reassurance that his husband is still with him.

And when there is no movement, Taehyung sighs, his breath catching on a hiccup as he turns to Seokjin and Hoseok standing by the door.

“Who is Xi?”

Seokjin  wraps his arms around his stomach; vulnerable with all his guard down.

"Xi has been our doctor since years now. We can't just take our men to a nearby hospital without questions and eyes being raised."

"What happened at the office?" Deep down, Taehyung doesn't want answers, knows they will haunt him at night with pictures that his mind would conjure. But his husband was involved in the incident and he's lying unconscious in front of him. Taehyung can't just sit without information.

“Can't tell you the whole story. That’s for Jungkook to tell. In short, we didn’t actually head for the office. It was someone's house. There was an ambush and Jungkook got a bullet to his arm. He ducked at the correct time, honestly. Otherwise I don't know what would've happened." Seokjin truthfully admits.

Taehyung finds himself crying quietly to himself, turning his face away from his brother and watching Jungkook's chest move as he breathes.

He's breathing, he's alive, is what Taehyung rejoices about.

Jungkook has had so many encounters and Taehyung has always wondered how he copes with them because he sure as hell cannot. His husband is so brave to put himself before everyone else. And even though they've promised each other that they won't ever lie in the relationship, Taehyung can't be mad at Jungkook for hiding the truth of where he was actually heading. Jungkook knew that he wouldn't have let him go otherwise, he knew that if Taehyung would have told him to stay one more time, he would've.

But Taehyung is at the stage where he understands why Jungkook has to do the stuff he does. Which doesn't necessarily mean that he's fine with it everytime.

"Can we talk to you Taehyung?" It's Hoseok who speaks now but Taehyung doesn't turn to look at him, content in watching his lover breathe fine, reassured that Jungkook is still with him, right here, right by his side.

Taehyung hums nonetheless, giving his consent,  because of course they can talk to him. He'll still be listening.

"Alone." Hoseok mentions and no, that's not what Taehyung wants. He's left Jungkook alone for too long, long enough for him to get injured and come back home. Now, he's not leaving him at all.

"Talk here."

"Tae, please. Let's take this outside and let Jungkook rest. You can come back in after we're done. It's important. Please." Hoseok is not deterring from what he wants but neither is Taehyung. He isn't-

"It's about Namjoon and you. So if you'll please come out with us.." That shuts him up and makes him look around the room as if he's going to find someone he thought was already there.

In the haze of the thoughts running through his head, Taehyung never even realised that Namjoon is not around. He should be, is what Taehyung thinks, because if Jungkook is hurt, Seokjin and Namjoon are the first ones to flit around him and take care of him.

So he looks at Seokjin questioningly but his brother doesn't seem to meet his eyes, shuffling on his feet and scratching his palm with his nails until Hoseok takes his hands and stops the uncomfortable movement.

"Where is Joon hyung?" Taehyung asks, gulping down the rising bile in his throat as he gets up, pecking Jungkook's forehead and promising him that he'll be back in just a moment.

He follows Hoseok and Seokjin  out of the room and finds them already halfway down the staircase. Taking one look behind him at the closed door, he starts forward, hoping to see Namjoon and anticipating what Hoseok has to share.

Hope, Taehyung thinks, is not as great as he makes it out to be.

Upon not finding Namjoon, he doesn't let himself start jumping to conclusions, nothing good comes out that anyway. Which does not in any way mean, that he won't start an onslaught of questions for his other two hyungs who are waiting for him to settle.

But he can't really settle now, can he? With his husband severely wounded and unconscious, his mind roaming through uncharted territories that do nothing but scare him, he doesn't really think that settling down calmly is an option right now. So instead he walks into the kitchen and pours himself a glass of water before walking back out and readying himself for what is to come.

Because Taehyung is no fool.

He agrees that he doesn't quite want to be acquainted with what they do but he does know when an impending bad news is about to be spewed out.

Something good could have been discussed without coming far from the guest room too.

"What do you want to talk about?" His voice remains monotone, not in the mood to showcase much emotion, since his whole being is occupied by different scenarios that leave him with goosebumps all over his skin.

His emotional supply is depleting already and he doesn't have it in him to wait for too long. He needs to be near Jungkook again. He is already feeling the invisible pull, a voice inside his mind telling him to run back to Jungkook.

Hoseok and Seokjin  still haven't said anything and Taehyung sighs loudly, pleading with his eyes; his patience is running thin.

"If you don't have anything to say, I'm sorry I've got to get back to Jungkook." Taehyung stands up, drinking up the water and going to place the glass in the kitchen.

"We-" Seokjin starts, his tone desperate, "we found something that is worrying me."

Taehyung immediately stops in his tracks and turns around, his brows furrowing. At this point he won't be surprised if they want to tell him that someone tried to kill him again but he was saved in the nick of time.

"What?" Taehyung asks warily, his grip on the glass tightening to the point it whitens his knuckles as he stands behind the couch, his gaze fixed on Seokjin .

Seokjin opens his mouth to speak but apparently chokes, no words coming out and Hoseok being the much braver one during these kinds of conversations, takes charge.

"All of the things that took place in the past, they are somehow connected. Something big is happening Taehyung," Hoseok tells him resolutely, his jaw clenching as Taehyung's eyes widen and his mouth parts in shock, "and we really think your life is in danger."

At first it doesn't register in his mind, what Hoseok just said.

It feels like distorted pieces until after a moment they come together from the abstract notion and make sense

His life is in danger.

It's nothing new to be honest, but with the way Hoseok said it, it sounded pretty threatening.

It's enough to raise his shackles and muddle his brain, making him nod absentmindedly and rub his face.

His life has always been in danger, hasn't it?

There's no rest for him or for the people he loves.

Yeah, it's just a race, and it never stops.

It happens so fast that neither Hoseok, Seokjin or even Taehyung are ready for it.

The mirror on the  wall behind Taehyung shatters to pieces, raining down upon the beautiful oak shelf that holds picture frames of their loved ones, as Taehyung flings the empty glass of water towards it in absolute anger.

His chest heaves as he watches his cracked reflection in the pieces of mirror that are still stuck to the frame.

"Taehyung!" Seokjin shouts, appearing beside him in a second and inspecting his hands.

He's not hurt anywhere, thankfully, but the way he keeps his eyes fixed on the broken shards makes both Hoseok and Seokjin understand that his inner self is not at peace.

Taehyung breathes heavily through his mouth, his feelings going haywire. He knew something like this could happen someday, has had so many close calls but that has never readied him to hear such a big threat against him so unexpectedly.

Taehyung doesn't know what to say, what to feel because that is Namjoon's department.

He needs his Joon hyung.

He-

"Where is Namjoon hyung? Why isn't he here?" Taehyung asks, finally calming his breathing a little bit and looking between Hoseok and Seokjin. He's getting no response and suddenly everything about him being in danger is vanishing from his thought process. 

His question has been avoided for long enough for him to figure out that something is going on and that something isn't good.

"I asked where is Namjoon hyung?"

Honestly, he's just one second away from running out of the house and searching for his brother.

A sharp inhale of breath startles him and he looks to his side to see Seokjin covering his mouth to stop himself from crying.

"Hyung? What's going on? Joon hyung.. where is he? Why aren't you saying something why are you crying?" Questions and questions are what come out of Taehyung's mouth because there is nothing else that takes up his whole mindspace.

This shouldn't be happening.

His eldest brother rarely cries in front of him, thinks that he has to be strong for his dongsaengs. But this- this just unleashes a bout of sick worry all over Taehyung's heart as he watches Seokjin  transition from muffled cries to full sobs, sliding down onto the floor and the shards of broken glass.

"Seokjin, no baby," Hoseok whispers, kneeling beside him and holding his shoulders in a firm grip to make him stand up. Hoseok tends to his disturbed partner, sitting him down on the couch and murmuring words in his ear that Taehyung cant hear but knows that they are something intimate, something that is their own.

They remind Taehyung of his and Jungkook's early days.

Jungkook.

Taehyung's eyes widen as he suddenly backs away from the couple and runs towards the staircase, ignoring his brother's calls of his name.

"I'll call Namjoon hyung. I'm sorry I gotta check up on Kookie." Taehyung says hurriedly, standing in the middle of the staircase, his eyes frantic as he turns back around to make it to the guest room.

"He doesn't remember you."

One sentence, 4 words, 19 letters, that stop Taehyung's whole world and tilt it off its axis.

Confusion binds his whole body as retracts his step and instead walks down slowly.

"Who won't remember me? What are you talking about?"

This time when Hoseok looks up at him, his eyes are glazed over and that is one hint as to who he is talking about. He doesn't need another hint when Hoseok gives him the whole answer that breaks him just like fragile glass.

"Namjoon. He doesn't remember you or who you are to him. During the ambush, he," Hoseok swallows down the fear, steeling his voice, "he was hit on the back of his head. The doctor treated him and thankfully there isn't any major damage but his major memory parts were injured. Retrograde amnesia, Taehyung. Your brother has been diagnosed with retrograde amnesia."

A small whimper escapes his lips as he hears everything.

So not only was his husband shot, his brother suffered an injury to the head and doesn't even remember that he has a younger as well as an older brother.

Taehyung feels as if his whole life has become a game that always ends with him losing and his family suffering.

He shouldn't blame himself, he wasn't even there but that's the problem, Taehyung thinks, as he sinks down on the stairs and holds his knees to his chest and cries openly.

He's never there.

Ultimately he's always the coward who everyone dies protecting.

He's the person everyone keeps safe at the cost of their own lives.

If his life is in danger then why is everyone around him giving theirs to save his. This is his battle but he isn't even fighting, letting other take a stand for him when he can't take one for himself.

And now that's resulted in his brother suffering from retrograde amnesia, something that Taehyung isn't even sure he knows all about. He just know that it's a condition wherein there is a loss of memory-access to events that occurred, or information that was learned, before an injury. Which means he probably doesn't even remember who he works for or who he actually is.

The realisation of it all hits him so hard that Taehyung actually shouts in pain until his voice gets hoarse and his sobs match the ones that his elder brother is letting out.

Taehyung doesn't realise that there is a hand squeezing his shoulder until he feels someone sit down next to him on the stairs.

It's only when he feels the person pulling him close and resting his face over their chest, that Taehyung understands that the person sitting beside him is Jungkook.

The effects of the analgesic would have worn off and the disturbance in the main hall would've been enough for Jungkook to get him out of the room. Taehyung doesn't even complain about Jungkook exerting himself, soaking up the support and warmth  when his whole body racks with cries and his breath gets stuck in throat.

Jungkook is patting his head and whispering things into his ear to make him calm down but that seems like a far away feat to Taehyung. Nonetheless, having Jungkook beside him, still does him a lot of good as he can finally clear his mind a little and wipe his blotched face and tell Jungkook that he should be resting.

"You shouldn't be out. Come on I'll take you back." Taehyung murmurs through small hiccups and blurry eyes, ready to stand, but he feels Jungkook holding him tighter and pressing his lips against his forehead.

"Shh…. Just let it go for the moment. Let everything go." Jungkook whispers, resting his cheek by Taehyung's hair and telling him that everything will work out.

Taehyung lets himself sag against Jungkook's hold, his eyes fixed on the couple in front of him as Hoseok still holds a shaking Seokjin in his arms.

"I want to meet him." Taehyung demands, burrowing closer and turning his head away fitting it in the crook of Jungkook's neck.

He feels Jungkook nod lightly, "Okay. But not now. Go after some time please. I.. I need you here."

The mere sentence makes Taehyung aware to Jungkook's vulnerable state and he pulls away to look at him, cradling his face.

"Yes ofcourse. I'm here for you. Let me take you to our room okay? I'll be there when you fall asleep and I'll be there when you wake up."

Taehyung forgets sometimes how big of an impact Jungkook suffers with everything that happens to him and to everyone around him.

He forgets that Jungkook, too, blames himself everytime any one of his men sheds blood. People who know what Jungkook does and what the Jeon name entails, look at him as a stone cold person with no heart and no emotions.

But no one knows how much Jungkook feels.

If Taehyung feels pain, Jungkook feels it tenfold.

He's just a man who has the responsibility of so many people over him and all he demands is love and affection.

And Taehyung would be damned if he can't give him that .

So promising himself that after putting Jungkook to sleep, he'll go meet Namjoon, no matter what the situation, he stands up, helping Jungkook to the room carefully.

He sings him to sleep, just like Jungkook loves, and holds his hand until Jungkook's goes limp in his.

"I love you." Taehyung whispers, kissing his knuckles and resting his forehead on his hand, gathering all the strength that he can.

He will need a lot of it after all.

🌊

 Its the same smell like in their guest room where Jungkook is resting.

The too clean sanitizing smell that irritates Taehyung to no end as he enters the empty basement of the hospital.

Seokjin follows behind him but he doesn't care to stop for his hyung, too hung up on the absolute anger coursing through him and the anticipation and fear he feels at seeing his brother lying on the hospital bed.

To top it all, he won't even remember Taehyung being his younger brother, won't remember meeting him or loving him for that matter.

As of now, Kim Namjoon thinks of himself as not a mafia member and Jungkook's right hand man, but a university student who's on his way to become a psychologist.

None of them knew that Namjoon had, maybe, thought about going into that particular field and making a career out of it.

Instead he had repressed his emotions and buried them so deep in his mind that they didn't resurface up until now, when all his memory was gone and wouldn't return for no one knows how long.

Taehyung had read about retrograde amnesia in his early college classes but never had he ever delved deep into knowing what it was or what it did.

And as he stands in front of the godforsaken door that has his hyung lying on a bed behind it, he almost backs down, taking a step back before he hears voices inside and after that he can't control himself when he pushes the door open with more force than is required.

Jimin sits there beside Namjoon, talking to him casually as if they've been old friends for so long. Namjoon's gaze snaps to Taehyung's, his eyes widening at the apparent stranger in his room and Taehyung sees the way he puts up his guard, scooting back on the hospital bed and looking at Jimin with a frantic gaze.

Since when did his hyung put his guard up in front of him. Since when did he start getting scared of him, thinking of him as a stranger that he doesn't know. These questions roam in his mind, wounding his heart at the very aspect of every answer that he'd get because his Namjoon hyung doesn't even remember him anymore.

"Its okay Joon. He's one of the new students in class." Jimin tells Namjoon, his gaze fixated on Taehyung's as he motions with his eyes to play along.

He sees the pain in his friend's eyes at the prospect of getting something as brutal as this done from him.

But he's doing it for his Namjoon hyung who has done countless of things for him, sacrificed so much of his life for him.

"Hello, my name is Kim Jeon Taehyung." As soon as its out, he bites his tongue but keeps the smile on his face. It's become his habit to introduce himself with Jungkook's family name too. And as expected that tends to confuse Namjoon.

"..Hi.. Kim Jeon..?" He asks unsurely, observing every one of Taehyung's movements from taking steps forward to sitting down on a chair next to his bed.

"Uh,-"

"He's married." Jimin supplies and Taehyung's head immediately snaps towards him because what is he trying to do? Namjoon doesn't remember anything, he doesn't-

Jimin tries to symbol something to him with his eyes, shrugging his shoulders, oh.

Oh.

If Namjoon is made to remember some old instances or relationships, there might be a chance of his memory returning back to normal soon.

"Yeah, I'm married." Taehyung flashes the diamond ring in front of Namjoon, making him narrow his eyes at him.

"You're so young…" he murmurs before immediately shaking his head and apologizing, "I'm sorry. Its your life. I shouldn't probe." He bows his head a little, immediately making Taehyung gesture with his hands so that he doesn't have to see his brother bowing like that to him.

"It's fine, young love and all that, you know." Taehyung laughs, or tries to, as his voice gets stuck and it comes out choked.

Not that Namjoon notices, too embarrassed as his cheeks tint pink.

That's a new look, Taehyung thinks, enjoying the rare appearance of a blush on Namjoon's cheeks.

"So, how are you feeling. Are you fine?" Taehyung starts again, his worries making him ask all the questions necessary.

He just saw his husband unconscious and now his hyung who doesn't even remember him, he can't help but know about how his brother feels

"Forgive me.. I really don't know.you. How did you know that I got into an accident?" Taehyung doesn't have an answer to that.

Taehyung doesn't know what story Jimin made up to tell Namjoon once he woke up with no memories.

For him, Namjoon is his brother who doesn't remember him, he doesn't know what he should say.

Fuck-

"Namjoon I've told you about Taehyung so many times." Jimin laughs, hitting his shoulder lightly and Taehyung thanks every God above for blessing him with a friend so great.

"He's my childhood best friend who will now be studying with us, at our university. Don't you remember?"

Ouch.

Taehyung winces as Namjoon chuckles dryly, because no that last part wasn't needed Jimin.

"Jimin, I didn't even remember you being my best friend in class. I still don't remember it. I'm just choosing to believe that you're telling the truth. I'm sorry if that sounds rude but there is no other memory in my mind except for the fact that I'm a student at Yonsei and study psychology."

Jimin seems shocked for a moment, thrown out of loop before he smiles and takes Namjoon's hand.

"Its okay. Good choice though." That makes Namjoon sigh and click his tongue, sharing a laugh with Jimin.

It warms Taehyung's heart that his friend is trying so hard to bring Namjoon's memories back and also support him when he doesn't remember anything.

Taehyung can't even begin to decipher how devastating it must be for someone to lose every memory they had of people who might or might not be close to them.

Their friends, family, acquaintances or even people they didn't talk to and just see on a daily basis in passing. It's like losing sight of yourself and depending on others to steer you.

You can't always believe in them, but you have to. Otherwise you won't be able to move forward. And that's exactly the case with Namjoon.

Just as his eyes start brimming with tears again, Taehyung quickly wipes them off and tries to distract himself, "Jimin tells me that you're the best in class. You gotta help me catch up."

"Jimin tells you about me?" Namjoon asks instead and Taehyung has to hold onto the every ounce of his willpower to not throw a fit and just tell Namjoon the truth, make him recollect.

But that'd be cruel. And Taehyung isn't going to put his brother through another trauma.

So he nods vigorously, "Yes. Whenever we talk, he tells me about how hard you work. I'd love to learn a thing or two from you."

"Of Course I tell him about you Joon. You're my best friend." Jimin pipes up and Namjoon nods at him once before turning to Taehyung and with all the wide eyed innocence that he has, he agrees. "Okay I'll help you."

So sweet, so unaware of who he is and what he does.

Taehyung can't stand this anymore, watching his hyung forget his own identity and take up someone else's, someone who he had wished to be but couldn't ever become.

He needs to get out, he needs a way out of this. He'll break down in front the two otherwise.

"Guys I'm starving. I'll go buy something, do you want anything?" Taehyung asks, fisting the white bedsheets to maintain his resolve.

Just a few more seconds Tae. Hold on.

"Yes please," Namjoon whines, "please get me some chicken, the hospital food sucks."  He makes a face, rolling his tongue out and fuck- Taehyung is already laughing wetly, his emotions getting the best of him.

"When is it not?" He replies back in a thick voice, getting up and making his way out after telling them that he'll see them soon.

Once outside, he finds Seokjin sitting on one of the chairs and biting his nails, his expression pinched.

As soon as he sees Taehyung standing in front of him, he rises, ready to ask questions but before he can, Taehyung takes his hand roughly and pulls him away from Namjoon's door and towards the end of the hallway.

He lets Seokjin's hand go before pushing him harshly on the chest and taking a startling step forward.

"How dare you?" He asks in a low voice, breathing ragged and tears spilling down his cheeks as Namjoon's image flashes behind his  eyes.

"How dare you let something this bad happen to your own brother? He could've died you know. But this is not much better. He doesn't remember who we are, if he has a family or friends."

"Taehyung I tried okay? Stop blaming me. I told him to stay out of it since he wasn't really ready. I tried-"

"Don't give the "Taehyung I tried" excuse, because obviously you didn't try hard enough." Taehyung yells, feeling the roughness in his throat from the brunt of his volume.

"You could've-"

"You could have what?!" Seokjin shouts back, a fire burning in his eyes as he levels himself with Taehyung. He is an inch taller than his hyung, but right this second, he just feels small.

"You weren't  there okay? You've never been there to see how brutal it gets. I would have jumped in between and saved him, would have taken the hit. I tried to do that too but I didn't reach in time. Does that make you happy?" Seokjin yells again, taking another step closer and pushing Taehyung back. Taehyung quietly listens to his what his hyung says, not having the guts to counter back.

"I have always tried hard enough Kim Jeon Taehyung. I have a scar running down my  back that makes me feel insecure about myself but it's nothing compared to you being alive because I  got injured in a fight where your life was on line." The information leaves Taehyung dumbfounded but before he can react Seokjin is pushing at his chest again.

"I have a bullet wound on my stomach from the time I took one for Jimin." Seokjin mentions, the volume of his voice rising and rising.

"I have scratches all over my chest from the recent fight but I still made sure that everyone was okay before tending to myself. So don't you dare tell me that I don't try hard enough Taehyung, because you don't know how much I do." All the years of pain that Seokjin has kept hidden from Taehyung are reflecting in his eyes and when Seokjin goes to push him once again, Taehyung catches his wrists and just pulls him against his chest.

He feels so ungrateful at the moment, always blaming his elder brother when he's been nothing but helping; sacrificing himself so many times so that his loved ones don't get hurt

He's stupid to even think that Seokjin didn't try to save their  brother. Of course he did, but some things are just not in his hands.

"How can you say I don't do it? I'm sorry I tried and I-"

"I'm so sorry hyung. So sorry. You do everything for us and I just accuse you of not doing enough. I'm sorry. I'm the worst brother one could have. Sorry."

Seokjin immediately pulls back and cradles his face, "No no Taehyung, never say that. I'm blessed to have you and Joon as my brothers."

"Thank you Jin hyung. Thank you for everything." Taehyung whispers, cupping his hands over Seokjin's.

"Namjoon hyung needs us and we'll be there for him okay? We'll be strong for him."

"Yes. Yes we will be. I just hope everything comes back to him soon enough. We need him back."

"He will be fine soon. We just have to drop hints. It'll be fine. And.. if anytime you want to talk, hyung you know I'm there for you right? Please I'm  not a baby, I can understand your pains, your hurt and dilemmas. Please let me help you when you can't help yourself."

Seokjin is nodding before Taehyung finishes, "Yes okay. I love you Tae. So fucking much."

"I love you too. We're the Kim brothers, hyung. We're brave." Taehyung chuckles, making Seokjin smile as he wipes his tears.

"So brave." He agrees.

🌊

 "Go to sleep Tae. I'm not going anywhere." Jungkook mumbles, pressing a kiss to Taehyung's hair and rubbing his back.

"And what if you do?" Taehyung asks from where he is resting his head on Jungkook's chest, listening to his heart beat in the normal rhythm that calms him down.

It's the only reassurance he has these days.

Listening to Jungkook's heartbeat to make sure that everything around him is real and Jungkook is there by his side, living and breathing.

"I won't." Jungkook simply replies again, his words holding a definite promise that he wants Taehyung to hear.

"You said that a week ago too. But you didn't come  back before I woke up." Taehyung counters, his mind still not in the right place to take Jungkook up on his words.

"So is that it? Do you not believe me anymore?"

Jungkook  keeps his tone light, tries to brighten their dark moods, but the way it comes out, immediately tells him that it wasn't what he intended.

"Jungkook no. Maybe, yes. But not-"

"Its okay. I get it."

"No you don't  okay? You never will. I'm sorry but that's the truth. You won't ever understand how I feel when you come back home injured and wounded with a .. a fucking bullet in your body, relying on morphine to not feel the pain. You won't undertand how.. useless I feel when everyone is out there fighting for me and I'm sitting back and hiding."

It all comes bursting out, the hidden feelings, the suppressed emotions as he looks into Jungkook's eyes with his own red ones.

No, Jungkook doesn't get it. Fuck, no one gets it because all of them are out there, doing something, but Taehyung is in here painting, teaching and trying to live his life with the guilt that the people close to him are putting their lives in danger for him.

Even Jimin helps Yoongi in some type of research.

And it's ridiculous, Taehyung thinks, he shouldn't say all that or have thoughts like these because he was the one who told everyone that he didn't want to be a part of any of this.

Nothing.

He wanted nothing about this life and yet, it keeps on dragging him back into its clutches.

"Taehyung, you're not useless. Baby where is this coming from? Talk to me."  Jungkook pleads, trying to sit up, wincing when he puts pressure on his injured arm. Taehyung pushes him back down on the bed, "Don't get up. We can just talk like this."

"Okay. As long as you tell me what's troubling you."

"I.. Jungkook I don't have anything to say. You've been through the fear of losing me, you've felt it but.. but you've  always reached in the nick of time to save me. I.. don't even know when you're heading to your office or you're heading off somehwere else. I can't even help you and  then you come home like  this and it just... kills me Kookie."

Jungkook, for the better part, thinks that what Taehyung is saying is quite true. Taehyung is the only one amongst their family who has never done anything  related  to what they do. So, yes, Jungkook might not relate to what Taehyung feels when he's  clueless about what is happeneing out there, but that doesn't make him useless or incompetent.

"All I'm saying is that you won't know how many times I die from the inside whenever something happens to you. You won't know it until you feel it for yourself. Until you are the one sitting beside me and I don't answer you because I can't. I hear your shouts in my nightmares, I hear your screams. And everytime I wish that I could just step into those dreams and save you. Every fucking time."

"So, you're implying that you want me to go through that? That you want to invite harm your way so I get to feel what you go through?" Jungkook looks at him, absolutely bewildered at what his husband is implying.

"I don't wish for that to happen ever. Not to you, not to me. I'm just saying Kook. You won't understand until it does end up happening. "

Jungkook suddenly pulls him closer, not caring about the pain that shoots through his arm when Taehyung accidently touches it, "Don't say that okay? Don't challenge fate. I don't want anything to happen to you. Not now, not ever. I've tried to keep you away from all of this as much as I could, and I don't wish to fail you now. If something happens to you I-Taehyung I don't know how I'll live without hating myself." Jungkook  buries his nose in Taehyung's hair, inhaling the soft scent that he's so acquainted with.

"Nothing will happen to me Kook-ah. Not until you're by my side."

"Then I'll always be by your side."

"You better." Taehyung smiles into crook of Jungkook's neck, kissing the skin before falling asleep to the rhythmic beating of Jungkook's heart.

🌊

'Old rivalries, little Kim.'

'Choose.'

'The silent toy speaks after all.'

'The little Kim is in pain.' 

'How stupid Taehyung, how naive.'

'He too has a weakness.'

'You.'

'It took-'

The realisation comes to Taehyung suddenly, shaking him to the core when he finally connects the dots, tying to make sense of everything.

This time when he hears the loud voice screaming in his dreams, it's not Jungkook's.

Its his.

He wakes up gasping for air, his hair stuck to his forehead with sweat. He tries to regain control over himself, extends his hand to twine with Jungkook's  so that he can feel the calm settling over him, but the sheets beside him are empty, making him snap his head in their direction.

"Jungkook!" Taehyung immediately shouts, because no, no, this isn't happening again.

Jungkook can't leave him alone in the middle of the night again and come back harmed.

"Jungkook!" He yells again, twisting and turning, roaming his eyes all around the spacious room but Jungkook is nowhere to be seen.

He can already feel a headache building behind his eyes and he knows it's going to hurt so bad. The images and voices and are roaming in his mind, banging against his skull and demanding to be let out.

"Baby? Why are you up?" Jungkooks voice interrupts his rapidly running thoughts, as he inhales sharply and gets the sheets off him, ready to burrow into Jungkook's warmth.

But before he can do that Jungkook is already standing by the bed, his features twisted into one of worry as he sits down beside his husband, immediately inspecting his face.

"Tae, did you cry? What's wrong? You seem like you've seen  a ghost."

"I- Kook, where were you? I thought that I-you-"

"Hey, not leaving again remember?" Jungkook murmurs, ducking down to look him in the eyes, "Just went to get some water." He stretches back with his good arm switching on the bedside lamp and very carefully balancing the jug to pour Taehyung a glass of water, "Here." He holds the glass in front of Taehyung's lips, the latter's hands coming up to wrap around his as he tilts his head to gulp the water in one go.

"Are you okay? Do you have a fever?" Jungkook presses the back of his hand to Taehyung's forehead before resting it on his back, rubbing it to provide a sense of comfort

"Taehyung, what is wrong baby?"

Taehyung takes a deep breath to settle his breaths, raking his fingers through his sweat slicked hair.

"Can you call everyone and tell them to meet us? Right now?"

Jungkook isn't caught off guard by the question, per se, but he does have a questioning frown on his face.

"Tae, you're worrying me baby. Its 4 am. Why do you want to meet everyone right now?"

Tehyung shakes his head, taking Jungkook's hand in his and squeezing it in a complacent manner, "Please just do it. This is important Kookie, very important. Please. Please I-"

"Okay, okay, calm down Tae. I'll call everyone right now."

"Yeah, I'm going to just go and wash my face." Taehyung comments, chuckling dryly as he thinks about how he will explain everything to everybody.

The information might not be vital, or it could be too vital, he doesn't know for sure but he's not taking a chance, especially after Hoseok's warning.

Splashing water on his face helps him in clearing off some haze and think about what he should actually do. When he goes back outside, Jungkook is dozing off, his phone open to Hoseok's contact.

A quick look at his recent calls tells him that he has informed everybody and that only Hoseok is left which is good since he had to ask a favor of him anyway. Carefully prying the phone out of Jungkook's hands, he calls Hoseok, making his way outside the room and to the warmly lit hallway.

"Hoseok hyung-," Taehyung starts, clutching the doorframe tightly, "Yeah I'm sorry but I need your help and it's an emergency."

Taehyung  moves a little further down the hallway, biting his nails, "Okay, I need you to search someone up. Get every piece of information you have, and I  mean everything. "

🌊

"I think I found a major connection to the events happening."

Taehyung sits beside Jungkook, his head in his hands as Seokjin, Jimin and Yoongi look at him with confused expressions.

"What?" Yoongi breaks the silence that follows, sitting up straighter.

"Okay, this might not sound convincing but it's true alright? So please hear me out before saying anything."

His mind is still not clear of so many assumptions and conclusions, jumbled up with thoughts that only feed to strengthen his realization.

"Whenever something happened to me, I was kidnapped or threatened, I never did see the face of my captor. Everytime he was hiding in the shadows or I would have a blindfold on my eyes. All I could do was hear his voice."  Taehyung starts, his breathing already ragged as everything starts crashing down on him. Every memory, every fear, every bitter feeling that he has tried to bury since so long, comes digging out of the sand that he had put on them.

"For such a long time, all I've done is heard his voice. For such a long time I've tried to decipher who it was, told Jungkook how he sounded, the way he would talk, in hopes that everything would go away and I wouldn't have to worry about it anymore. We couldn't ever find out." Taehyung closes his eyes before opening them looking at everyone seated in front of him, "Until now."

"Taehyung, are you saying that you know who it was?" Jimin asked, his voice cracking and Taehyung is so sure he knows what Jimin is thinking.

"Jimin, I can't say that I certainly know who it is. But I think I  do. It could be wrong shot for all we know. I understand that I had this realization when I was sleeping, it might all be in my mind, but I really, really think that I'm right. That voice, I can't ever forget it alright? For years I've wanted to know who it was and I finally understood after actually meeting that person some days ago."

"Taehyung," Jungkook's tone is bordering on a warning, obviously shocked that his husband had actually met that person and he hadn't known till now, "Who is it?"

Truth be told, Taehyung is actually scared to admit it because even he can't believe that that person could do something so evil. He doesn't want to spoil something precious but this realisation, this answer that he has gotten in the middle of a fitful sleep, needs to be told.

As unconvincing and false or made up it might sound, Taehyung has to take the risk.

"Seunghoon hyung." He mumbles and it takes not even a second for Jungkook to grab his hand, frowning as he asks Taehyung to repeat himself.

"Seunghoon hyung, Jungkook."

As soon as it comes, it goes away; the warmth and strength that Jungkook's hold provides. Jungkook stands up abruptly, shaking his head, face adorned  with a disbelieving smile.

"That can't be true you know. Hyung has worked for- hell, he's worked with dad for more than 8 years by now Taehyung. Don't accuse him of doing such vile things."

And Taehyung understands where his husband is coming from, Seunghoon has been a supporting, friendly figure in Jungkook's life and anyone would not believe it at first when someone would say something against their friend or someone close.

 Which doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt when Jungkook says all that, clearly implying that Taehyung is lying or making this up.

Exactly like he feared it would end up happening.

"Please Jungkook, this is not something sick I made up just to be at peace with my inner self alright? I hadn't ever met Seunghoon hyung until our parents' anniversary party. For the first time I heard him speak because the rest of the time you used to talk about him. I knew I'd heard that voice somewhere and I remember being on the edge of recognizing it before I fainted." Taehyung reasons, or tries to at least, because Jungkook isn't having any of it.

Taehyung gets that Jungkook's life has been shaped by his dear Seunghoon hyung, he's been taught so many things by him and hearing something like this might not only be shocking  or surprising, it might be hurting. But Taehyung is his husband, so why is Jungkook having a hard time believing him?

"Taehyung, are you sure? I've met him and he doesn't seem the type to-"

"Seem the type to kidnap someone, threaten them or attempt to kill them? Hyung, he kills people everyday just like you do. Don't tell that to me." Taehyung interjects Seokjin and Yoongi's attempt at changing his mind and making him think again, but he can't do that.

He can't think again because he doesn't need to. As far as he has recognized the voice, he is adamant on believing who he thinks it is. And besides since the day he met Seunghoon, he's been feeling unsettled. Taehyung still remembers his gaze on him and how it made him feel unsafe... filthy.

"Taehyung, no. This time I won't take your side. I'm sorry but no. That just can't be true." Jungkook clearly says, taking a step back from Taehyung to heed his statement.

"Jungkook, you're blinded by his love and support. I understand that he is like family to you. But I'm  not lying, I promise. My mind is not conjuring up things just out of desperation. Please."

 "I don't know Taehyung. For the first time, I can't believe you. Sorry, you're wrong. You're-"

"I don't think Tae is wrong." Jimin cuts in, having been sitting silent since Taehyung's confessions. He stares blankly at the floor as he says that, his hands clenched into fists and resting on his knees.

"I remember his voice saying things to me that made me spiral and think less of myself. I remember him breaking me." Jimin finally looks up and meets gazes with Taehyung,  "I remember him warning me about Taehyung's life."

Taehyung knows what instance he is talking about and it's been so long but he still remembers.

"I didn't see who it was too. But his voice is stuck in my mind forever. And I've not met Seunghoon hyung many times but now that Taehyung mentions it, I really think that it could be him."

('He said that he will bide his time and when it is the right opportunity, he will make full use of it.')

"What are you saying?" Jungkook questions, lips trembling as he's made to defend his own truth. "Seunghoon hyung is one of the most trusted people in our family. He gets to know about everything that happens or will happen because he is trusted. He can't do things like that, he can't break dad's trust."

"How do you know that?" Taehyung asks, exasperated.

"How do you!?" Jungkook yells at his husband, livid at what he is claiming."Your memories, or dreams, can't be counted as evidences Taehyung. They just can't." Jungkook counters.

"Jungkook, I'm telling you, the voice in my head and the one I heard at the party, they match. When I met Seunghoon hyung that day, I knew he seemed familiar. I thought that maybe I.. I missed seeing him at our wedding but he confessed that he couldn't make it. But still, there was something Jungkook, something about him that was unconventional. Before I could've deduced that he sounded like I'd heard him  before, I started feeling queasy. And before I could even say it out loud, I fell unconscious." Taehyung fusses around, pacing along the couch and trying to make Jungkook see some sense.

"But he called me as soon as he saw that you weren't in your best spirits. He could have done anything, if he was the way you accuse him to be, but he didn't." 

"What is wrong with you Jungkook?" Taehyung shouts at the top of his lungs, his voice breaking. "You out of everyone should know that he wouldn't try to do anything to me in a place filled with so many people. It was more like he was there to warn me, warn us. I think I remember him calling me little Kim, and that name for me has only be used by only one person." 

"Who is not Seunghoon hyung. Taehyung you need to understand that goddamnit."

Everyone watches as Jungkook and Taehyung try to make each other discern and see that they are correct. It just keeps on causing a much bigger fight where no one reaches any conclusion.

"Jimin, what are saying about Seun- that person warning you about Taehyung's life?" Yoongi interrupts their quarrel, connecting everything in order. Jimin gulps, his hands visibly shaking when Yoongi takes them in his. It's time to let it all out and Taehyung just prays it doesn't leave them collecting  broken pieces of their own selves.

"I- you remember when I was taken all those years ago?" Jimin asks Yoongi, looking down at their clasped hands and not saying anything as Yoongi nods, "He said some things when you finally found me and then  ran away. I didn't have it me to remember those things because remembering them meant feeling the helplessness and pain all over gain and Yoongi I couldn't. I couldn't  do that, I'm sorry."

"Jimin-" Taehyung tunes out their conversation, just as Yoongi starts consoling Jimin, feeling like he's invading on a private moment as he stares up at his husband who is still not convinced about what he said.

"Jungkook, listen to me. It's.. it's fine if you don't want to believe me but please, before making your final decision can you please try to, maybe, find some things about him? For me?"

"Taehyung, I won't do that. He's...he's family. How can you even accuse him of that?" Jungkook asks, his tone distrusting and this time, Taehyung can't take it. How can Jungkook, the person who he is the closest to, say all of this, as if he is doing all this intentionally. Did everything that happen to him, not matter as much to Jungkook?

"Do you even have any idea about how much I've shouted, screamed in fear, taken the scars of harsh words all over my mind? Are you hearing yourself? You're basically telling me that I'm lying and doing all of this intentionally. I would not stoop that low Jungkook." Taehyung grits out and when it dawns on Jungkook, the realization about what his words have meant so far, he immediately comes closer and takes Taehyung's hands in his.

"Please try and understand Tae. He's been a part of half of my life. He taught me defense, he has been there when I killed the first person and cried for a week. Tae, he's more than dad's right hand man. He's become his friend. He won't- can't do that baby, please."

"Kook-ah I get it. But-"

"He's not lying Jungkook." A breathless voice interrupts them, making everyone's eyes snap in its direction.

Hoseok stands halfway inside the living room, leaning against the doorframe as he takes in heavy breaths, wiping the sweat on his forehead with the back of his hand.

Taehyung immediately stands up, knowing that Hoseok ran here as soon as he could after what Taehyung demanded of him. And with the way he said what he said, with so much conviction, just works towards strengthening his belief.

Hoseok moves towards the group, dropping the papers on the center table before flopping down on one of the couches. 

"Hyung you don't know what is going on." Jungkook comments, obviously still putting up his defences.

"I know everything Jungkook. Taehyung wanted me to find some information and that is why I'm late." Hoseok replies back, motioning towards the documents he just dropped on the table.

Jungkook looks at his husband, his brows pinched as Taehyung looks back at him apologetically. This needed to be done.

"I can't believe we all actually trusted this guy. He was right under our noses and we let things happen. For fucks sake, how dense could we be?" Hoseok sighs irritatedly just as Seokjin picks up the documents, handing half of them to Yoongi.

"Why are you all against him? Why are you lying hyung? Don't-"

"Jungkook, I wish I could be lying. You're the fucking leader of the Jeon clan. You out of everyone shouldn't  take someone else's side. I don't care how close he has been to you, but are you seriously going to choose him over Taehyung, over us? You might have known him longer than us but its the loyalty that matters  and right now, right in these documents, there is proof that he hasn't  been loyal at all."

Hoseok spits out, being open with Jungkook about how he's feeling

"Don't say that-"

"What is his name Jungkook? His whole name?"

Hoseok suddenly asks, cutting Jungkook off mid sentence. Its such a sudden question and so obvious that Jungkook gives him raised eyebrows and an unimpressed look.

"Choe Seunghoon."

"Wrong. That's the name he uses in all of his records to fool people, or more importantly, to fool you. His real name is Heo Seunghoon." Hoseok's face remains straight and passive, his gaze boring into Jungkook's.

And Jungkook laughs at what his hyung said.

As if that could be true.

But then when he looks around and sees everyone watching him seriously, his laughter dies down as Jimin mumbles, "Hyung's right. That's his real name." Jungkook snatches the papers out of Jimin's hands, trying to wrap his mind around the fact that the person he is defending, is in fact, roaming with a false identity.

"Hoseok," Seokjin starts, getting up to sit beside him and for some reason, he sounds really concerned about something, "Tell us everything. Everything you've found."

Taehyung is not dense enough to ignore the conversation his brother and his boyfriend seem to be having with their eyes.

Seokjin knows something.

"This runs much deeper than you could have ever guessed." Hoseok whispers, cupping Seokjin's cheek and then turning to look at everyone.

It's way too quiet and even the smallest sounds reach their ears so it's not a surprise when everyone hears what Hoseok just told to Seokjin.

"Tell us hyung. I sense that we might not have much time." Hoseok looks at Taehyung with an expression that just proves Taehyung's assumption correct.

Jungkook is still busy, flipping through the papers when Hoseok starts from the beginning and Taehyung knows he should comfort his husband but he can't. Jungkook needs to understand and he'll have to traverse through this alone, for the time being at least.

"This all, has been a very minutely and well organised plan that fooled even the best of us." Hoseok looks at Seokjin, pursing his lips and twining their fingers, "The Heo name rings a bell?"

And Seokjin bites his lips, shaking his head as his eyes turn glassy, "Please don't tell me it's him. I beg of you Hoseok, please."

Hoseok is nodding way before Seokjin finishes, "I'm sorry. It is who you are thinking about."

"What? Guys what's happening? I need to know everything. Stop talking  as if I'm not here and explain it to me." Taehyung requests, moving closer to the couple and watching Yoongi and Jimin do the same.

"Do you remember when I told you about how I killed the person who shot our grandfather?" Seokjin asks, his lips trembling with the force he's trying to keep his tears in command.

"Yes, that he shot halabeoji and that he was the leader of some clan."

"Yes. He was the leader of the Heo Clan. Heo Sunwoo. Father of Heo Byungho, -"

"-Heo Seunghoon and Heo Donghyun." Jungkook completes, his eyes blank as the papers flutter out of his grasp and land on the floor, creating a mess.

"Isn't that- oh fuck. " Yoongi exclaims to himself, his mouth parted as he realizes how big of a game this is.

"Guys please. Include me . I don't know what is going on." Taehyung says, distressed at the fact that he doesn't understand anything.

"Heo Byungho is basically the Jeons' biggest rival. Always lusting after all the districts under their control. He's a power hungry motherfucker who would do anything to get what he wants." Yoongi explains, making Taehyung gulp and look at Jungkook, only to be graced with a face  void of any emotions, like a mask placed onto his features.

"That is not all." Hoseok confesses, rubbing his eyes and groaning.

"You still don't realise how deep this mess goes. It was basically planned years ago. The day Seokjin killed Heo Sunwoo at the party before all hell broke lose, that day during the whole shootout, another person died that no one knew was even present."

There's a small pause as everyone anticipates what is to come but mostly Seokjin, because he was there, present throughout it all.

"Heo Donghyun. The youngest brother."

"And how does that connect to anything?" Jimin asks, intrigued because everything is taking a crucial turn.

"Think about it." Jungkook supplies emotionlessly, as his eyes flit towards Jimin, "Until now we thought that only one person from their clan was killed. But now we know that not one but two people were killed and of course the Heo's are going to blame the Kim's for that."

"It gave them a reason to target you and so they made this whole plan. At that time, your father was trying to leave everything behind but Seunghoon and Byungho, having lost their brother and their father were not ready to forget everything. Ofcourse, Byungho being the eldest inherited everything, and Seunghoon was dead set on avenging his brother's death. So when he found out that the Jeon's were new in the field and wanted more men, he immediately took up the opportunity, probably getting all these fake records made at that time to be shown to Jeon Jaegguk."

It takes time for everything to sink in. It feels like hours have passed before they start talking again but in reality it's just been mere minutes because everyone knows after this revelation, they don't have much time to spare.

"But why the Jeon's. Why not someone else?"  Taehyung asks slowly, this certain question standing out to him, more than anything else.

"Do you think he wouldn't have kept tabs on you all after you left Seoul? His brother and father were killed Taehyung. And I'm pretty sure that he would have had people following your every move. So of course he knew that the Jeon's were getting help from the Kims. Which obviously formed an alliance between the two clans, easily opening another door of opportunity for Seunghoon." Hoseok takes a deep breath, and Taehyung can almost see everything getting connected in his head.

"Even Byungho. Not only him but his father too, had always preyed upon the weak, threatening them or killing them just to get a hold of everything under their clan name. And whenever new clans are formed, they are considered weak. So being recruited by Jaegguk not only gave Seunghoon a connection to the Kim's, but also gave him an opening to spy and get closer to the Jeon heir. Not for himself, but his power hungry brother." Hoseok fixes his gaze upon Jungkook's, warning him about what is about to come.

Taheyung's mind is still swaddled with thoughts and questions and he wants answers to so many things but he just can't seem to get how it all connects to everything. Sure, he thought he joined the dots but now that Hoseok has come through with all this new information, the amount of queries about the life that he's had, have just increased. He desperately wants to know how his realisation of the person being Seunghoon matches to Hoseok's claim of his life being in danger because by the sounds of it, it's not his life that's in danger, its Jungkook's.

"But how does it end up endangering my life? I thought I would find an answer as to why you said that my life was in danger but I just ended up with more questions."

 Hoseok gets up suddenly, moving towards Taehyung and clutching his shoulder, bending down to face him, "Taehyung, don't you get it? If Seunghoon and Byungho avenged their father's death by killing your parents, how would they avenge their youngest brother's death?"

Silence rings loud in his ears and everyone's eyes are on him making him feel conscious. He doesn't even need to think too much about it, the answer flashes brightly behind his eyes which then crashes down on him like a harsh wave, drowning him in its woes.

"By killing me." He whispers, the confession and realisation deafening to everyone's ears.

🌊

"Taehyung, I said no. You're not going to deliberately put your life on line like that."

Maybe he has finally lost his mind or maybe it's how he's been feeling since the past days that prompts him to announce that he will offer himself as bait so that Seunghoon and all his men can be caught. And that is exactly why he's engaged in a heated argument with Jungkook, who obviously thinks its a bad idea.

"Because it is a bad idea Tae. We understand that you want to help but we can't let you do that." Jimin tells him resolutely, crossing his arms and fixing Taehyung with a hard stare.

"You don't understand. He wants me. He'll go to any depths to get me. And you want to kill him. If he's still keeping tabs on us, knows our whereabouts, I just have to go out alone and I will be taken."

"Taehyung, that is exactly what we don't want." Yoongi interjects, his jaw slack at what Taehyung is suggesting.

"But that would lead you to him. I have my ring with the tracker. As soon I'm with them I'll send a signal and you guys will get to know their hidden location."

"Taehyung, look at me." Jungkook pleads, cradling his face in his hands and urging his husband to look at him, "I don't know what's going through your head, but whatever it is, it isn't right. We want to keep you safe and away from him, not push you towards him. As for the location, I've alerted dad, he'll look into the matter himself. Once we have the information, without you stepping in this scenario, it will be the end of Seunghoon. I swear I'll  make him suffer for every lie he's spoken and every harm he has done to you." Jungkook says this with so much conviction and emotion, gritting his teeth at the last sentence and Taehyung knows he's still reeling from the sudden information that's been thrown his way.

 As soon as Jungkook came to terms with what had happened and had been happening, he contacted his father, telling him everything, promising that he'd come over with the documents by the evening.

Jaegguk had been livid, immediately distancing himself from all his men, given the breach of honesty. He'd told Jungkook that Seunghoon was on a week's leave, otherwise he would've killed him himself.

Jungkook had calmed his father down, asking him to think rationally. At the same time, worry had clouded his mind because if Seunghoon, given his nature, had taken a week's leave, of course he was upto something.

 And now as Taehyung looks at the same worry lines that sit on Jungkook's  forehead, he presses his thumbs upon them to smooth them out. Its applaudable how he's holding up just as a frontier for everyone to see, but Taehyung sees past the masks, knows that Jungkook needs just him to take all his feelings out. His life has been rocked off its axis, the person he thought was close, the person he used to tell personal things to, wasn't someone he should've shared everything with. And Taehyung sees the way Jungkook is blaming himself and labeling himself unworthy because he couldn't  see through the facade.

Maybe, that is why Taehyung wants to step in.

It's been enough of a burden for his husband, this time he wants to share some of it, this time he wants to help.

"Please, you guys don't understand. He can kill Jungkook in that time because it's not just me who his brother and him are after. Its Jungkook too. We can end this faster than you think. Just let me do this. Let me help for once."

 "Tae -" Seokjin starts, only to be interrupted when a lone tear slips past Jungkook's eyes and he moves closer to place a wet kiss to Taehyung's lips.

"I don't want to lose you Tae. I'm a target for later. They'll want to kill you first and by you giving in, there is no guarantee they'll even keep you alive for a day. It can be over in a second. And I don't want to delve into the dark stuff that I know they'll indulge in. I can't even imagine that Taehyung, so please try and understand. I can't let you give yourself up like that. I won't be able to live with myself if I let you go."

The emotion behind Jungkook's words is so pure, so unadulterated and Taehyung is immediately reminded of their conversation last night. He doesn't want Jungkook to experience what he did, doesn't want him to cry if he gets harmed.

But when some things need to be done, they, most certainly, need to be done.

"Jungkook -ah, do you trust me?" Taehyung asks, knowing the answer.

"With my life."

"Do you trust yourself to save me?"

Jungkook looks at him with wavering eyes, trembling lips and hands that shake, "I'd rather die than let anyone do anything to you."

"See, I know you'd never let anything happen to me. So this time, let me step in, let me do my part. It'll be less than a day, some mere hours and I'll be back to you. And you know when I say that I'll be back, I mean it. I'm not leaving you that easy." Taehyung chuckles wetly, placing his hand on Jungkook's chest, just above his heart, once again finding solace in its rhythmic beats.

"I'm sorry Tae, for not believing you. You were telling the truth and I just let my memories shape my opinion. It wasn't correct of me to do so and I'm so, so sorry baby. I hope you can forgive me." 

"Consider yourself forgiven if you let me go and help you this time." Taehyung says without missing a beat, a silent plead in his eyes as he takes Jungkook's hands in his.

"He's right, you know?" Hoseok breaks his, having retreated to the far corner of the room to do some major thinking. He cuts off what Jungkook was about to say, nodding in Taehyung's direction.

"I don't support his idea, but Tae does have a point. Him stepping in and leading us to Seunghoon and Byungho's quarters would save us much needed time. Everything could get over earlier than we think."

Taehyung gives Hoseok a tight smile, not being able to manage anything more.

"See, I'm right. Please just trust me on this okay?" He announces, looking at everyone to gauge their expressions.

Seokjin gathers him in his arms before pulling him away at arms distance, "You're brave and I'm proud  of you. You do what you feel is right and I'll punch, hopefully kill, some guys for you." Taehyung scrunches up his nose and winces making everyone chuckle as he turns to Jungkook.

He might be his own person, making his own decisions, but a big part of his life is formed by his husband and without his opinion on the matter, Taehyung really doesn't think he'd be able to pull anything off.

"You promise you'll come back?" Jungkook asks brokenly, raising his pinky finger.

All Taehyung can do is wrap his pinky finger around Jungkook's while he bites his lips to  conceal his sobs, "I promise."

 🌊

"Promise me, if something happens, if Taehyung's life is on the line, you will-"

"I will make sure that he comes back to you, Jungkook. I'll give myself away if it means saving him."

"Thank you hyung. Thank you, I owe you so much, fuck I owe you my life for doing this. Anything. You can as anything of me."

"I don't need to. I have you and all the others as my friends. I don't need anything else to sustain me."

When Jungkook opens his mouth to say something again, he is stopped abruptly, "I promise." Hoseok tells him with a bright smile.

And that is that.

🌊

Taehyung knew it'd be rough, had scenarios clear in his head, knew it would hurt and had made up his mind to not give up because of it, but he hadn't ever thought that it would be this hard.

 And as he is blindfolded and pushed into van, his hands being cuffed and stripped off any accessory he wears, he can't help but think that everything has already ended.

He can't protest because then he would be doubted of having ulterior motives and that would lead to everyone believing that this all is part of a plan and is intentional. Which Taehyung doesn't wish to happen.

So he seals his lips tight, bites his tongue through the pain as the rope chafes the skin of his wrist. He needs to think of something, a way to get the ring back. Because if he doesn't have that ring, he wouldn't be able to signal Jungkook.

He desperately prays that his captors speak of where they are going because that would be of great importance. None of them were stupid enough to think that this couldn't a possiblity; him being stripped  off every accessory he wears. It was a low one, but a possiblity nonentheless.

Which is why Seokjin had placed a small, dark grey microchip on his black shirt,  just where the shirt falls on the side of his hip, so that they all could hear whatever these people are talking about.

Taehyung strains his ears, trying to keep tabs of what they're saying as well as listening for some hint that might alert him to the where he's being taken.The road isn't that bumpy but he can hear some heavy rusling from the slightly open window and can smell the scent of greenery.

He can just hope that his wild guess of them being in the woods in a secluded cabin is correct.

🌊

Taehyung doesn't have his ring, he needs his ring.

And the worst part is that now Taehyung actually senses everything falling apart and he wants to cry. Why didn't he listen to Jungkook and stay back? He's not made for this, he can't handle this.

Rough fabric hits his face when some clothes are thrown at him, the person in the room demanding him to change into them.

Changing clothes means letting go of that microchip, which means that the last resort at saving him is going away too.

"Why?" He asks in cracked voice, making the bulked up man scowl at him in distaste, his tattooed arms flexing before he snaps.

"I don't need to answer you. Just do as you're told."

Taehyung knows there's fear swimming in his eyes and wherever he is, he knows he's being seen, he spotted the cameras as soon as he was locked in this empty room. He can't let his guard down, knowing that everyone would jump on him like hungry hyenas, preying on the weak.

So he squares his shoulders, grits his teeth and steels his expression. He has to do this, for everyone he loves and for himself.

It's his turn to prove himself.

Taehyung waits patiently for the man standing in the room to move out so that he can change, but he doesn't. He tries to clear his throat, subtly eyeing the man but still he doesn't move.

Suddenly, a chuckle is heard that makes Taehyung freeze.

"Don't be a prude. I'm not leaving. Change quick, I don't have all day." He announces and that is the time Taehyung understands that everything is actually much, much harder than he thought it would be.

Tears are burning at the back of his eyes when another realization hits him.

He's in a room with cameras which means that whoever is behind them is also going to be able to see him.

He can't do that. He's never felt comfortable baring his body for anyone other than Jungkook. It's not just one person watching him, the people behind the cameras would be able to see him change too.

It makes him want to retch, the vile thought making him shiver.

"I said, do it fast. I don't have all day." Taehyung startles when the man shouts at him, blinking his eyes rapidly and wiping at them conspicuously so that no one suspects that he's about to cry.

Looking at the heavily tattooed man standing in front of the door, Taehyung tries and thinks of Jungkook and how maybe ink only looked good on his skin. The thought of his husband gives him strength and he remembers that he's not just doing this for himself but for Jungkook too.

That thought is probably what makes him take off his shirt with shaky hands and quickly replace it with the faded shirt he's been given. He tries not to let it bother him, when he gets to his pants, removing them quickly and stretching his shirt lower as soon as he picks up the linen pants that he has to wear.

"That too." Comes the man's voice, who Taehyung knows has been staring at him this whole time. When Taehyung looks up, the guy is staring at his boxers and Taehyung momentarily goes into panic mode when he tries to understand what he meant.

Surely he doesn't-

"Take those boxers off too. What are you, deaf or something?" He rudely comments, clenching his jaw and spitting whatever he was eating in the corner of the room.

Taheyung knows he can't fight his way out of this but the humiliation burning through him makes it even more unbearable. He gives one look to the camera in the top right corner, before pulling his shirt even lower with one hand while pulling his boxers off with the other hand.

Shame is filling body and he feels so dirty that he doubts he'd even let Jungkook near his body again. His husband should not engage with a person like him anyway. And there they go, his cocytic thoughts of dark and miserable feelings in his head. Jungkook would never think that but Taehyung can't help but think that he would.

Quickly discarding the boxers he puts on the linen pants without any underwear and sighs shakily.

He's sure everything's been seen because there are cameras behind him in the corners too. He still feels utterly bare of everything, feels naked as he's still spied upon.

His mind is telling him that he should have never  come here, shouldn't have ever spoken in that moment of bravery. But his heart is telling him that it will all be fine and that he needs to do this for the betterment of his loved ones. Taehyung is already being scarred mentally, he's sure he won't ever forget this, and not in a good way. It's just going to get added to the list of his nightmares that wake him up drenched in sweat.

He's losing all hope, ready to sit in a corner and wait for his death when help comes to him in the most unexpected ways.

Or people, he should say.

"Thank you Choi, I think I'll take over for now. Mr Heo needs you in his office." Hoseok's voice rings loud and clear, snapping Taehyung out of his reverie to stare at the door where his hyung is standing. He looks different and when Taehyung puts his mind to it, he understands why. Hoseok has dyed his hair a bright red.

Choi looks conflicted as he corners Hoseok, clearly not convinced. Hoseok might not be as bulky as the man - Choi - in front of him but Taehyung knows that Hoseok could snap a person's neck before  they could say 'one'.

So Hoseok takes up Choi's space just as the latter takes up his, locking his jaw.

"What was your name again?"

"Go search for it in the files asshole." Choi bares his teeth, ready to curse back but Hoseok is quick, already punching him in the stomach and making him double over.

"Go to Mr Heo and don't you dare try to intimidate me. Try it next time and I'll make sure to hit you in your perfect teeth and not in your stomach."

Taehyung for the better part of him, can't believe that Hoseok is here.

For a painstaking moment he thinks that Hoseok is not here for him and maybe he's actually working for Seunghoon or his Byungho.

But then just as Choi huffs out a reluctant 'fine' accepting his defeat, Hoseok roams his gaze over the whole room, stopping just a second to linger at Taehyung and its then that Taehyung knows.

It's not more than 2 seconds but Taehyung's sees the plead in them; a sign to go along with what he says, lest risk something bad happening.

"So you're the mighty Kim Jeon Taehyung everyone's been talking about huh?" Hoseok asks casually, strolling in and going to stand in a corner, leaning his weight back against a wall and crossing his arms.

"You don't know how long everyone here has been waiting to get their hands on you. And then you walk out, all alone, giving us the perfect opportunity." Taehyung knows that Hoseok is acting for the cameras just so that no one suspects them but it still stings a little, thinking that his hyung could be working for the enemy.

"What a show you put on for me by the way." He lewdly mentions, picking his nails with his switchblade, walking towards him.

And Taehyung's heart drops to his feet.

Did Hosek see him changing? Was there anyone else behind the camera? It's too much for a second and then suddenly there's a rude "hey" and the knife blade is being pressed under his chin to lift it up.

When he meets his scared eyes with Hoseok's, the latter just blinks slowly, giving the smallest and sublest shake of his head that alerts Taehyung to the fact that his hyung probably averted his eyes while he was changing.

He is grateful for the hint but he still needs to hear it from his mouth, won't be sure until he does so.

"You look scared." Hoseok mentions, smiling mirthfully, "You should be, you're about to meet Heo Seunghoon. I just pray that he makes your death fast and painless. Believe me you don't want to see him indulging himself. It's rather," Hoseok looks away for a moment, thinking about the correct word and Taehyung thinks if he can hear his rapid heartbeat, "bloody." Hoseok whispers, moving closer and then suddenly cackling like a maniac.

Idly, Taehyung wonders about how hard it might be to act like this. Hoseok might be a ball of nerves, thinking about what to do and what not to do, not to mention that Taehyung knows that talking to him like this might be the hardest part yet.

He also wonders if Hoseok is dropping yet another hint.

And then suddenly everything goes dark, and where ever Taehyung's eyes roam, all he sees is nothing but darkness. The stark blackness of the room makes him want to shrink into a corner, his breathing increasing as he puts a hand on his chest to calm his rapid breaths down. He can't afford a panic attack right now. He just can't .

"Taehyung," Hoseok whisper shouts and there are hands on is shoulders which he wants to shake off but they are sturdy, keeping him in place.

"We don't have much time. We have less than 5 minutes so we can't sit here and chit chat." Hoseok tells him and belatedly he understands that this blackout is deliberate.

A small fire of hope ignites in his body.

"Here," Hoseok murmurs and the weight of his old clothes that he had been clutching tightly till now is taken away from him.

It takes a moment for him to adjust his eyes to the darkness but when it happens he can see Hoseok offering him something shiny.

"Come on Taehyung, pay attention." Hoseok says irritatedly, thrusting his hand forward and Taehyung immediately takes not one but two rings from his hand.

"Keep your wedding ring hidden in the pocket of your pants. You should've left it at home in the first place." Hoseok is flitting around the room, his face illuminated with the light coming from the screen on his phone. And then he looks up at Taehyung, his eyes widening as he comes to stand in front of him again.

"What are you doing? You have the ring, signal Jungkook." That makes Taehyung blink out of his stupor as he gulps and wears the ring on his index finger, immediately putting pressure on the inside of it by forming a fist.

"Keep on signalling. I figured their location and told Jungkook about it but they changed it at the last minute. I tried calling him but I  think he barely heard my voice. I hope he tracked my phone." Hoseok murmurs, clearly distressed as he rubs at his eyes and tells Taehyung to continue pressing his ring.

"Hyung," Taehyung starts brokenly and that is what makes Hoseok snap out of his stressed mindspace to look at him with wide eyes, "what are you doing here? How did you get in? Hoseok hyung what's-"

"Shh, shh," Hoseok slides closer to him, his finger on his lips to signal Taehyung to be quiet.

"Don't call me by my name here. It's Jay. Not Hoseok. Jay. And I have connections Taehyung. I am their new recruit. So don't, in any way, let it show that you know me. Alright?" Hoseok ducks down to look him in the eyes, cradling his face.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for all that I said. If it wasn't clear, I didn't see anything when I was behind the camera. And I made sure no one else was in the room." Hoseok admits sincerely, making Taehyung's eyes go glassy as Hoseok shakes his head.

"They know you're scared. Don't give them something to stroke your fear anymore okay? It'll be alright. Jungkook will be here soon enough and till then I'm here for you yeah?"

Taehyung is nodding, futilely rubbing at his eyes when Hoseok sighs and presses the switchblade, close to his chest.

"Keep this hidden in the waistband of your pants. If anything were to happen before jungkook arrives and I can't do something, use it Tae. Use it."

Taehyung looks at with narrowed eyes and it just makes Hoseok shake his head more, pressing the switchblade more forcefully until Taehyung is giving in and tucking it in his waistband. He closes his hand over his wedding ring in his pocket, secretly drawing strength from him as hoseok urges him to take off the ring he's currently wearing and put it in his pocket.

"Don't risk anything. Now we just hope that Jungkook arrives soon."

Just as the sentence is out of his mouth, the lights are fluttering on and immediately Hoseok's whole persona changes and he mutters a small sorry before rounding Taehyung and forcing him to his knees, hand wrapped around his neck and tilting it at an angle that makes Taehyung vulnerable .

The doorknob rattles and Taehyung feels the cool press of a gun on the side of his neck and he dares himself to not make a sound or move an inch.

The door bursts open and in comes Seunghoon, panting, with Choi and another man behind him.

 Apparently the image of Taehyung on his knees, with a gun pressed to his neck, amuses Seunghoon as his lips twist into a sickly sweet smile.

Taehyung hates to think that he was once, not too long ago, graced with the same smile at the party.

His eyes flit from Taehyung's helpless form to Hoseok's, and he gives a disbelieving chuckle, spreading his arms.

"I have to say, I was doubting you but no more, no more. Good work Jay." He comes closer, sliding his hands between Taehyung's hair, "Very good work."

Taehyung tries not to shiver or spit on the man's face with the disgust rolling through him as Hoseok is commanded away from him.

"Thank you for taking care of him in my absence. It will be all." Seunghoon eyes never once leave his face, trailing his finger down the side of his jaw and tipping his chin up. Taehyung closes his eyes, not wanting to look oom at whatever dirty emotion that is swimming through  Seunghoon's eyes. 

"I could stand guard outside." Hoseok offers, but even Taehyung picks up on his nervousness.

A chuckle resounds in the room.

"Did I ask you to stand guard outside the room Jay?"

"No sir."

"Then you've gotten your answer right?"

"Yes sir." Hoseok reluctantly agrees.

All through this, Taehyung keeps his eyes closed, imagining Jungkook's face behind his eyelids.

'Where are you Kook-ah? I need you.'

There is a tug at his hair and then his body is pushed back, his back hitting the hard tiles beneath him, immediately knocking the breath out of him and making him groan.

"Do you have any idea," Seunghoon starts, his voice neutral, "how many years I've waited to catch you, torture you, kill you? For years I've taken my time, agreeing and living  with the sick fool, Jeon Jaegguk, giving him ideas that I'd rather use. It made me want to scream and rip his throat out, I wanted to gut him every fucking second, kill that boy of his. But I didn't. I showed restraint. And now, I'm about to happily unleash hell."

Taehyung shudders at everything Seunghoon claims, bile rising to his throat when he talks about his family like that. He scoots back, his palms scratching over the rough surfaces of the floor as he backs up against a wall, his breathing heavy.

Seunghoon drags a chair from the corner of the room and places it in front of him, taking a seat and resting his foot on Taehyung's leg.

He looks down at him smiling, "I want to make it quick and just finish you off, Donghyun would be so happy." He presses his foot, putting pressure on Taehyung's leg and making him slightly wince. "But what's the fun in that right?"

 Taehyung almost wishes that he had chosen the first option when he sees the maniacal smile on his face as he takes out his gun and balances it on his knee.

"I'm surprised you know? Suprised that Jungkook hasn't found me yet. It was a good idea to change locations." Seunghoon chuckles to himself before his lips form a scowl.

"The only downside is that if we would have taken you to our old location, I could've killed you as well as your husband. You know, killing two birds with one stone?" His eyes widen mirthfully as he crosses his legs and rests his foot on Taehyung's knee, making him bite his lip to keep from whimpering in pain.

"I could've ended him sooner, but hyung insisted that I keep him alive for him. Hyung almost had him, did you know Taehyung?" He asks with wide eyes, as if he's telling a kid about something interesting unraveling.

"That day at hyung's penthouse, ah I wish I was there when a bullet got lodged in his arm. Which let me clear the air," Seunghoon chuckles, clapping his hands, "was a mistake."

Taehyung inhales sharply at that. He remembers asking Jungkook about what had happened, demanding answers and Jungkook had told him that one of his men had been brutally murdered and that they'd gone to investigate. They hadn't known that it was Byung ho's penthouse.

It means that Seunghoon's brother had basically lied to Jungkook, Seokjin and Namjoon to lure them to his place because he had wanted to harm them.

And if Seunghoon is saying that Jungkook getting shot in the arm was a mistake then-

"The person who shot him, I had personally trained him. I had drilled into his mind to shoot Jungkook expertly through the neck. He should've been paralyzed before the bullet left his body. Do you understand what that means? He would feel the pain, but wouldn't be able to do anything about it." Seunghoon laughs.

"And then I'd get you to see as I would dismember him slowly, and then kill you. Think about it Taehyung, you would have died watching me take away what is yours."

"What an absolutely ethereal concept it would have been."

And with that Taehyung can't keep it in himself anymore as a sob breaks free, the images running free in his head. His Imagination has always been bright, and it doesn take long to imagine everything that he hears.

It's disgusting and it weighs on Taehyung's heart and he doesn't really want to think what would've happened if Jungkook wouldn't have ducked in time.

'He ducked at the correct time, honestly. Otherwise I don't know what would've happened.'

"Apparently that fucker was fast. I absolutely shouldn't have been proud but I was. I trained him too. And do you know what happened to the person who couldn't shoot correctly?"

Taehyug doesn't answer him and then he feels Seunghoon removing his foot from his knee and then pressing it back down with more force, making Taehyung shriek.

He finally shakes his head in response.

"I killed him the same way I taught him to kill Jeonie boy."

"Why are you doing this? Please. Don't you have any feelings? Jungkook basically worships the ground you walk on, you're his mentor. Why are you betraying him like that?"

 And in  flash Seunghoon is too close to him, his breath hitting Taheyung's cheek as he turns his head to the side, tears still rolling down Taehyung's eyes.

Harsh fingers grab his face and turn it to look straight at Seunghoon, "Betraying him? I don't care about him little Kim. He was nothing but a tool for me to gather information about you and your pathetic brothers. The way he rambled about you guys and even his precious Jimin hyung, it made me sick, make me want to shoot him right there, straight in the head, but I waited. You should be thankful, you ungrateful little bitch." Seunghoon spits, releasing Taheyung's face with such force that it collides with the wall behind him. Taehyung's vision floats for a moment and when he raises a shaky hand to touch his hair, it comes  back red.

"Oh there it goes, your descend has started little Kim. Soon, all that will remain of you will be a  bloody corpse."

 Taehyung isgetting delirious, blinking his eyes to clear his vision when a sudden sting on his cheek makes him wince.

"Look at me while I talk to you. I don't handle disobedient people like you with care."

With the last dregs of self respect that is left in him,  he swallows down the bitter pill of his fate and thinks, why the fuck not.

"Fuck you!" Taehyung yells, making his voice go hoarse.

Opposite to what he was expecting, Seunghoon doesn't do anything, picking his nails like its a normal scene for him.

Then again, it is.

"You know, you're about to die Taehyung. It'd be better if you don't provoke me to make you watch your own death or maybe everyone that you hold close."

Now Taehyung is at a point where he doesn't care about himself anymore.

All that he hears are his family member's names. Jungkook, Seokjin, Namjoon, Jimin, Yoongi, Jaegguk, Yunha, Hoseok. If something happens to him this second, he won't mind if it means saving his family.

"Now because you were rude to me, I'm not going to tell you something I was going to. Your parents' death wasn't your fault at all. But hyung and I were happy when you blamed yourself. It gave us satisfaction. And I'll leave it at that. You deserve to know half the truth and die trying to beg the rest out of me." Seunghoon gets up from the chair and Taheyung sighs more out of the distance that it provides and less from the pain that throbs in his leg and knee. The statement hangs heavy in the air and Taehyung is at the stage where nothing really surprises him anymore. He stores the information in his heart so that if he does get out of here alive, he will make sure he knows the truth somehow.

Not for anyone's sake, but for once, his own peacefulness.

"Get up." Seunghoon commands from where he's filling new phone bullets into his gun, frowning while he loads them up.

Taehyung doesn't think it will do him any good if he tries to show restraint and he also doesn't think that he cares that much now.

So he gets up, way too done with all of this, just hoping and praying for a quick escape.

Giving up was never what he thought he would do, but again if it means providing some sort of sick contentment to Seunghoon and Byungho so that his family is kept safe, he'll do it without batting an eyelash, in a second, in a flash.

He looks up when he's beckoned forward, stopping to straighten his knee as he purses his lips and stretches it.

Nothing fazes him now, he's seen and heard and even done the worst that he could have imagined. He doesn't even look up when he feels Seunghoon coming closer, rounding him to stand  behind him and switching off the safety of his gun. Taehyung knows that it is pointed at his back, he feels the similar tingling sensation when someone or something is near his skin. He delicately places his hands by his sides, his right hand pressing over the pocket to feel both the rings that are hidden there.

Taehyung says one last goodbye, lets his body fill with all the love for Jungkook and prays  for his happiness after he is gone. He smiles to himself, remembering everything they have ever done, every small activity they'd partaken in just for fun, fought and then made up, listened to each other because that was what was important and needed.

His lips barely move when he says a small I love you to the stank air around him, feeling the press of cold metal of the gun on the back of his neck. This time he doesn't cower, this time he takes a deep breath and just accepts it.

Which is why, when he said that nothing fazes him anymore, the door to the room bursting open does take his attention away.

And Jungkook entering alongside Hoseok certainly does end up fazing him.

It doesn't take even a second before Taehyung is spluttering and an arm is wrapping tight around his throat, gun pointed to the side of the head.

"Finally found me Jeonie boy?"

"Quit it Seunghoon hyu-" Jungkook seems to catch himself as he shakes his head.

Taehyung, as much as he is happy for Jungkook finally being here, cannot help but think that he actually shouldn't be here considering his injury. Which, if Taehyung looks closely, he notices Jungkook's arm shaking just a little.

"Leave Taehyung alone." Jungkook grits out threateningly, his own gun pointing straight past Taehyung's shoulder and towards Seunghoon.

"And why do you think I'll listen to you? Your little boy's life was in my hands and unfortunately still is in my hands. Move away before I decide to do something you surely will regret."

Jungkook takes one step back just as Hoseok takes one forward, "Leave him Seunghoon, let him go. It's over for you."

"And here I was thinking that someone good like you would be on our side. Seriously though, why can't I score some good men as my recruits?" Seunghoon sighs and Taehyung squirms, making the arm around his neck go tighter.

"But now I don't have to worry,  do I i? After I've finished each and everyone of you, all your men will be mine and Byungho hyung's. So who's winning here?" Seunghoon chuckles, which immediately stutters to a stop when Hoseok and Jungkook share a serious look.

"I think you're wrong. Youre brother's already dead you-"

"Do not lie!" Seunghoon spits out, his jaw locked. Taehyung tries to meet Jungkook's eyes but they are solely focused on his captor.

If Taheyung's learnt even a small thing from all the events that have taken place, it is to take advantage of the situation.

So with his hands free and Seunghoon being distracted by the apparent death of his elder brother, Taheyung's hand slowly, very carefully, moves towards his waistband, ready to take out the switchblade.

It's just a few centimeters away.

"We don't have a reason to lie. He got what he deserved."

Taehyung's panting, his chest heaving for breaths as his air supply gets cut shorter and shorter with the way Seunghoon is obviously getting angry, the news heavily affecting him.

 A few more centimeters.

"And do you know who killed him?" Hoseok provokes, feeling way too good by seeing Seunghoon getting worked up but still not noticing how that is damaging Taehyung.

Jungkook although, does notice and tries to stop Hoseok by calling out his name as a warning.

"He isn't dead. I'm not going to believe you."

"Park Jimin, the person who you thought to be the weakest, stabbed your fucking brother to death!" Hoseok shouts, hovering closer, his eyes wild and grip steady.

Taehyung is trying to plead with his eyes to not come closer but there's a certain anger that has possessed him, anger that even Jungkook feels but doesn't think is appropriate to take it out in such a sensitive situation.

Taehyung's hand touches the cold metal of the switchblade just as he sputters and chokes for a breath.

"Hoseok!" Jungkook yells, trying to snap him out of his relentless stupor, "Stop!"

"All this fucking time you were right there, being the reason so many of us suffered because you couldn't keep your sick fantasies of killing and hurting people under control."

 "You suffered because you're weak. You still suffer because you have feeli-"

Seunghoon's statements gets converted into a loud groan of pain as Taehyung hits him with the blunt end of the switchblade with as much force as he can muster. If that's not enough, he makes sure to dig his elbow in his ribs, pushing his hand away and making the gun clatter out of his hold. He takes his chance and runs towards Jungkook as soon as Seunghoon's arm around him goes lax.

He has his back to the both of them as he points the sharp blade in Seunghoon's direction, one hand rubbing his throat and taking long breaths to compensate for the lack of them.

"You fucking bitch." Seunghoon stumbles back to his feet, his hand curled around the area of pain as he quickly tries to retrieve his weapon.

Only, Jungkook is faster as he surpasses Taehyung and Hoseok and kicks it out of Seunghoon's reach, his own gun pointed at his head.

"Stay down and watch your mouth. One word against my husband and I'll make sure that you can't speak before you're even dead." Jungkook speaks grudgingly, making Taehyung swallow down a whimper as the hair at the back of his neck rise.

Being captive for less than a day doesn't mean that Taehyung doesn't have thoughts stuck in his head and wounds opening in his soul. His husband is threatening to do something he might have never done, just for him. His hyung is standing behind him, fuming, the anger clouding all his senses as he is ready to unleash all his fury, but Taehyung is not sure if he's ready to see it. His best friend, as he heard, killed someone and Taehyung even in this state can't begin to imagine how traumatic that might be for Jimin.

But he doesn't have too much time to think as there's a hand on his arm, and all he hears is the commotion outside of the room as Hoseok starts dragging him outside.

"No, no. Hyung, Jungkook.. no." Taehyung mumbles, trying to resist, holding onto anything he gets because no matter what, he promised his husband that he'd stay with him through thick and thin.

Jungkook might look that he's having all the power over Seunghoon but Taehyung knows too that it isn't going to be this easy.

"Taehyung, no one has time for this, come on, move." Hoseok fumbles, pulling at Taehyung's shirt with more force and finally pushing him out of the room where he stumbles into a broad chest.

He's almost afraid to look but then he hears a sigh of relief amongst everything going on around him and he knows this voice as it matters his name and knows these arms which have held him since he was a kid.

"Hyung… hyung I-.. Jungkook, Hoseok.. hyung, Jimin," Taehyung is battling with everything in his mind and everything he wants to know about, trying to turn his head  against his brother's hold and  point to where ahosoek and Jungkook are alone with Seunghoon.

"They'll handle it. You've been so brave Tae. Now all you have to do is run and go sit in the car waiting for you outside. Go baby, Jiyong is waiting."

Taehyung is vigorously shaking his head before the sentence is even out, making Seokjin tense up and look Taehyung in the eyes. And its then that Taehyung notices the dust layered over his whole face and the bloody gash on his left cheek that he is sure is going to scar.

Tears are blurring Taehyung's eyes but Seokjin is shaking his shoulders to get him back to reality as another gunshot sounds from below and Taehyung's breath hitches.

"Please, I'll take care of Jungkook. Just go." Seokjin says over the voices rising and meeting Taehyung's ears.

"Hyung, Jimin. Did he.. he -"

Seokjin understands everything Taehyung has ever tried to convey, and even now he does.

"Yes. Yes he did. Byungho's hunger wasn't limited to killing you, he wanted  mine and Namjoon's lives too. Namjoon was an easy target with him forgetting everything, so he attacked the old apartment Namjoon was staying at. Thankfully Jimin was there and he- ..he did what had to be done."

Seokjin sounds like he's making up Taehyung's mind as if he is going to be angry over the fact that Jimin saved his brother. What he is more concerned about is Jimin shutting himself off after his abrupt behavior. But now is not the right time as another person creeps up behind Seokjin and the first instinct Taehyung has is to protect.

So he pushes Seokjin aside and makes sure to put everything he learnt to use, giving one clean hit to the side of the person's neck and knocking him out of consciousness.

When he turns around Seokjin is smiling at him softly and that is something that he shouldn't really do right now but Taehyung can't complain.

"Go," Seokjin mouths and in the moment that his brother smiles at him while leaning against the railing to shoot another person, Taehyung makes a decision.

If he can get his family to safety by putting any any skill of his to use, he will.

And it's not important that anyone needs to know.

"I love you." Taehyung tells his brother as he backs away towards the stairs and rushes down, ducking his head. He makes it seem like he's running outside and as soon as Seokjin eyes flutter away from his, he changes course, going to hide in another small room and evening his breaths. The first thing he does is wear his rings because he needs even the smallest essence of Jungkook with him.

Taehyung can't kill someone but he can rob them of their consciousness for enough time to hide again and lessen the burden on his brothers and his husband.

He places his hand on the door handle to open it and face everything he's kept away from himself because he wouldn't dare to see it in the first place.

All of it is waiting for him just behind the closed door. After a futile attempt at wiping his eyes and strengthening himself, Taehyung finally pulls the door open.

Its then that all the chaos rises.

 🌊

Its almost been an hour of Taehyung slashing around with the knife he salvaged, throwing around the self defense moves he learnt from Jungkook and it honestly comes as a shock to Taehyung that he's still alive.

Beat down with small injuries, but alive.

Given, that he is using hiding as the main tactic, remaining by the small hallway before it opens into the main hall where all of the carnage is taking place. He has done everything in his power to push his thoughts at the back of his head and fight to protect his family for much harm.

No one knows that he is not back with Jimin, but in here fighting.

With a heavy heart and tearful eyes that refuse to look at the bodies littered around his feet, he sees Seunghoon standinh with a mad look in his eyes as Jungkook and his men engage in a fight with his men.

His hands are empty and so are Taehyung's and all that the latter is praying is that Jungkook doesn't come anywhere near this man. Jungkook's men have clearly overpowered the rivals and it seems as if Seunghoon can't digest the fact as his eyes waver, the fire of madness increasing in his eyes.

His jaw clenches and Taehyung can see the way he looks around and Taehyung's breathing increases and he desperately wishes that no one close to him gets hurt too brutally.

He's selfish, he can't help it.

But then everything goes downhill when Hoseok calls out to Seunghoon, one of his loyal cronies kneeling in front of Hoseok as he points the gun behind his head.

No, Taehyung thinks, this shouldn't be happening no-

"Watch your men die you lying, useless prick. Watch your downfall. That's what you deserve."

And with that Hoseok pulls the trigger and the bullet breaks free from the front of the man's head as his limp body falls forward and blood pools around his head.

The scream that echoes between shouts of the fights is Taehyung's own. His hands are shaking and he can feel his throat getting scratchy. All his life he's avoided something like this. All his life he has refrained from knowing how dangerous Jungkook's business is. But everything changed today.

Seunghoon might not have age on his side but he is experienced and fast. And before anyone can anticipate anything, he is ducking down and rolling on the ground, picking up a stray pistol.

Before Taehyung can even blink, the weapon is pointed at Hoseok.

They both stand facing each other, weapons pointed at the most vulnerable parts that Taehyung knows with even one bullet will have the person bleeding his life out.

"Drop the gun Seunghoon, it's over for you."

Jungkook's voice suddenly rings through his ears and a small 'No' escapes Taehyung's lips when he sees his husband come stand in front of Hoseok.

He's too close to Suenghoon.

This can't be happening.

"Jungkook," he whispers, his eyes blurry and Taehyung immediately wipes at his unshed tears.

His voice is too low to reach Jungkook's ears.

His whole body is aching, his mind is tired but he can't let anything happen to his husband, his family. Nobody around cares about him now, nobody makes him their target because they don't know that he's hiding here, except for the people who did attack him but are now lying on the floor. So very slowly, Taehyung takes measured steps toward the three of them.

His hands are shaking and legs are trembling and he's scared but he promised Jungkook when he married him that he'd always be there for him.

It's time he makes true on his vow.

"Step away Jeon. I'll deal with you later. I have to finish this cocky fucker first." Seunghoon grits out and Hoseok spits at the ground beside him in anger.

"Like hell you do-"

"Hoseok." Jungkook warns because even he senses that right now nothing good would come out of provoking Seunghoon.

The fight around them is dying down and everyone is falling to the ground, some from exhaustion and many from their wounds or just because they're dead.

Taehyung takes another step.

 "Put your gun down Seunghoon hyung. We can discuss this."

"Discuss?" Seunghoon roars, "your husband's family took away my family from me and now you even killed my elder brother. I'm not discussing shit with  you Jeon!"

"Move aside or I'm shooting you too." Seunghoon warns.

"Your brother attacked my brother too.That was stupidity. And for what? Because he wanted revenge on someone who had no hand in the killing of your younger brother? Because he still wants all the districts and areas the Jeon family owns?

"He brutally murdered one of my men, left his heart out by his side as if to mock us. Do you think I would forget about it as if that man meant nothing to me? On top of it, his men entrap us and try to kill us. Now that is nothing less than signing a death warrant for themselves."

Taehyung can see a muscle twitch in Seunghoon's jaw and he can tell that this topic is a bit sensitive for him. He detects a movement from the corner of his eye and watches as Seokjin and Yoongi close in on Seunghoon but then they see Taehyung and they freeze because according to them he shouldn't even be here.

Taehyung, truthfully, can't care much about what they think right now as seems to find some courage to shake his head, gesturing them to move back.

God forbid they provoke him too.

It will just result in another bloodbath.

So he mouths at them to call a doctor because this all needs to end but he knows that when it does, it's not going to be something that ends easily without someone getting hurt badly. They'll need all the medical assistance they can get.

So he mouths the words again and pleads for them with his eyes to understand and not go near Seunghoon.

Yoongi being the more rational one, nods at him and drags Seokjin back against his side, as they slowly retrace their steps, their weapons still pointed at Seunghoon's head.

When they're out the door, Taehyung takes another courageous step forward and prays that Seunghoon  doesn't see him from his peripheral vision.

 But even if his recent prayer is answered, the rest are not as it takes just one second for everything to go haywire.

Jungkook loses his patience and so does Seunghoon as Hoseok snarls out another rude comment. The gun pointed at Jungkook shifts a little to the side and it takes just a nanosecond for the bullet to leave Seunghoon's gun and another nanosecond for a bullet to leave Jungkook's gun.

It makes Taehyung close his eyes and then he hears the loud groan.

He dares to open them and when he does he sees Seunghoon struggling on the ground, his breathing laboured as red spreads over his chest. He spares a look at Hoseok and finds him cupping his shoulder as he waves nonchalantly at Jungkook.

With his behaviour he is clearly wounded but not severely wounded. Taehyung is content with what he can salvage.

 Although, the relief that is starting to bloom in his heart, cuts short just as he sees another event unfolding.

Jungkook's back is to Seunghoon, clearly all vulnerable and thinking that probably Seunghoon is dead but Taehyung, who can see everything knows better. He sees as Seunghoon spares the last of his energy source and picks up the discarded gun and aims it shakily at Jungkook.

Taehyung's eyes widen at what's about to happen and nothing but one sentence flashes in his head. 

'I'll always be there for you Jungkook. I got your back.'

So without a second thought, he relieves himself of all stealthiness and dashes forward, ready to snatch Jungkook's gun from his hands to try and shoot Seunghoon as many times as it takes for him to fall dead, fears and nightmares be damned.

He thinks he has at least one second but he miscalculates.

And as he takes his place in front of Jungkook, his hand outstretched to take Jungkook's gun, he feels something in his torso.

A kind of intrusion.

It takes a moment for the pain to spread its wings inside of his whole stomach and then his whole body as he feels the same piercing pain once more. He grunts, breathing out heavily, and his body hurts even at that.

It takes Jungkook a minute to register what is happening, his mind too slow to comprehend what went on. He heard a gunshot, saw Hoseok's wide eyes and heard a loud groan of pain.

But when he turns around, he's not ready to grace his eyes with what he clearly knows is Taehyung's mop of honey brown hair. Another gunshot sounds from behind him and the struggling body of Seunghoon lies lifeless on the ground, his chest unmoving.

His ears are ringing, everything around him is a blur and his breathing is rapid.

Is this how it feels to undergo a panic attack?

Because he feels as if he is undergoing through 10 of them combined.

And although that situation would rob him of his life, he'd prefer that rather than looking at the love of his life clutching his abdomen, his hand coming off red.

"T-tae.. Taehyung!" Jungkook yells, catching Taehyung around the waist as he falls down on his knees.

Taehyung can't say anything, his lips parted as he chokes on his own breaths, his chest heaving painfully.

"Taehyung.. baby why? You- no. No, no.You didn't have to do that." Jungkook cradles him in his arms and cups his face lovingly, looking into his unfocused eyes and feeling Taeyhung's tears wet the skin of his hand.

The red is blooming over the faded blue shirt that Taehyung wears and it looks sick because it's not supposed to be present on a body as innocent as his husband's.

Jungkook presses onto the wound to try and stop the blood flow but he still feels the blood trickle out around his hands.

Just like the life vanishing from Taehyung's eyes.

He is trying to say something, his eyes boring into Jungkook's and Jungkook just shakes his head, shouting around for someone to call the medics.

And just as the first word comes out of Taehyung's lips, a choked version of his name, Taehyung coughs up blood.

Jungkook's eyes widen even more as he shouts a chorus of no's, the denial of something this bad happening wrapping itself around his brain and making him go mad. He can't even elevate Taehyung right now, isn't sure if there is no spinal injury.

How could he be so irresponsible and let this happen? He had promised Taehyung that he'd keep him safe, protect him.

Yet again and again, he had failed him.

Jungkook pushes Taehyung's bangs away from his sweaty forehead and tells Taehyung to hold on for him, for them.

He talks to him and doesn't hear anyone calling for him. Blood trickles down Taehyung's chin, the next time another bout of it escapes out of his mouth, and Jungkook thinks he's mistaken but then he sees Taehyung's lips pull up as if he's smiling.

How his husband can actually pull that off is beyond  him.

"Keep your eyes on me baby. Don't close them. Look at me. I love you so much." Jungkook keeps on babbling whatever comes into his mouth, his mind short circuited over the fact that Taehyung clearly thinks that he's not going to survive.

His eyes say it all.

As if to prove Jungkook's theory correct, Taehyung very slowly lifts his bloody hand, despite Jungkook's protests, wheezing and panting loudly, as he places the hand over Jungkook's cheek.

It oddly feels like Taehyung is taking his time as if he's won't be able to touch Jungkook again.

"Tae.." Jungkook whispers, defeated, tears repeatedly streaming down his eyes, "Don't leave me. Stay, baby please. I love you. I'm so sorry."

Tears from Jungkook's eyes falls down onto Taehyung's cheek, merging with the tear droplet already present there.

Taehyung's eyes seem to be closing on their own accord but he fights to keep them open and Jungkook sees every emotion play in them. He tries to say something and Jungkook urges him on because anything is better than making Taehyung go silent and lose him forever.

His lips are shaping into words and Jungkook bends down and puts his  ear next to Taheyung's lips, hearing the broken words leaving them, "Dra... -stand.." Taehyung seems to be trying hard and when Jungkook tries to tell him to stop straining himself, he feels a pressure on his cheek where Taehyung has cupped it.

Taehyungs telling him to stay like that.

"R-room... bot..-bottom..dr...-draw-er... "

Jungkook doesn't make much sense of it but still understands the three words.

Room, bottom drawer.

When he resumes his previous position, he sees nothing but love in Taehyung's glassy eyes.

Love for him and everyone around him.

His eyes seem to dim with every breath and fuck, where the fuck is the doctor. Jungkook pleads and pleads, shouts for Taehyung to stay, promises that he'll stay whenever Taheyung asks him to.

Promises that he'll love him more than he does now, if that is even possible.

Tells him that he can't lose him.

Because there's no love for him, no life for him, without Taehyung.

"You're my everything, you're my whole w-world Tae. Please baby Xi is coming. Stay with me."

This time Taehyung uses the last of his energy to smile fully, and even though his teeth are bloody and red, Jungkook smiles back, telling him that he loves him just before he hears an ambulance pull up.

"Tae, they are here baby. You'll be fine."

This time, Taehyung's face remains stoic.

This time he doesn't choke on blood because it doesn't come out.

This time, Taehyung's eyes don't waver.

This time, Taehyung closes his eyes.

And this time, Jungkook shouts when Taehyung doesn't move or answer.

He thrashes as they pick Taehyung up and put him on a stretcher. Someone is holding him back as he screams his husband's name, making his throat go raw.

But Taehyung is moving away and he wants to go with him.

He promised Taehyung that he would accompany him wherever he went.

He promised Taehyung that he would always be by his side.

"Shh... Kookie. Let him go." A deep voice whispers in his ear that he recognizes as Yoongi's and Jungkook sees the paramedics putting him in the ambulance.

He wants to hold Taehyung's hand while they drive him to the hospital.

"Let me go!" he shouts loudly, crying and crying and not stopping.

His love is going away. He wants to walk by his side.

"Jungkook-ah, Seokjin is going with him."

"Hush.. its ok." Yoongi whispers, but his voice wavers too as he presses his palm on Jungkook's forehead and pulls him back in his arms.

He doesn't mind the red coating Jungkook's clothes and face or hands, just holds him there and lets him flail until he goes limp in his arms.

 When Yoongi pulls back, Jungkook looks all but defeated, he looks vulnerable.

If someone would come up in front of them and stab Jungkook, Yoongi is sure that he wouldn't even put up a fight.

He's tired.

He's numb.

Yoongi drags Jungkook out of the house and they meet Hoseok halfway as he engulfs the younger in another hug and apologizes profusely.

Jungkook's arms still lie limp by his sides and his eyes remain glazed over, his mind shutting down.

Yoongi drives them to the place he knows Jungkook would rather be than anywhere else and Hoseok makes sure to call upon some of their men to take care of the situation in the now massacred place.

Jungkook stares at the passing scenery, not aware of anything as his mind doesn't even register what he's seeing. His body is betraying him when all he remembers is holding Taehyung in his arms.

He looks at his hands and turns them around shakily, the red standing against his skin, mocking him.

He touches the skin on his chest, just over his heart and thumbs at Taehyung's name that permanently rests there. When he closes his eyes, he just sees an image of Taehyung's body covered in red, the life leaving him.

The shock of it all has Jungkook shut off completely,  feeling wounded.

He bleeds and bleeds and he's sure no one can cure the wound.

Because this time, he bleeds from his shattered soul.

He bleeds for Taehyung.

🌊

Seokjin sits tensely, on one of the plastic chairs of the basement of the hospital.

His emotions are a mess as he can't stop the tears from rolling down his cheeks. They'd just taken Taehyung inside the ICU and he can do nothing but wait for Xi's verdict.

Seokjin has never been one to pray, but for the first time, he does.

He folds his hands and hangs his head and asks any powerful force above to punish him for his sins but take away all the pain from his brother. He prays and prays until suddenly his phone rings and he takes it out sluggishly, expecting a call from Jungkook or Yoongi.

But Jimin's name flashes on his screen and he almost drops it.

The phone goes silent before it rings again and he picks it up with bated breats.

"Hyung," Namjoon's voice speaks over the line.

The familiarity in that single word has Seokjin keeling over and falling from the chair and onto his knees.

"Joonie."

"Seokjin hyung," his voice cracks and this time Seokjin is sure that Namjoon is crying.

"Hyung  why am I at Jimin's house? What's wrong?" Seokjin doesn't have the energy to explain everything to Namjoon, he doesn't even have the energy to rejoice the fact that his brother is no longer a patient of retrograde amnesia.

He proceeds to say something but is cut off when Namjoon speaks again, "Hyung, my heart. My chest is aching. What's going on?"

And that has Seokjin fully embracing everything as all the emotions crash over him cruelly and he sobs loudly, his frail voice echoing in the empty hallway.

He hangs up the phone and lies down on the tiled and cold floor and cries and cries.

Because he understands his brother's dilemma and his heart aches too.

 His heart aches and his whole being shatters and builds itself back together.

For Taehyung.

Just for Taehyung.

🌊

If forever does exist,

Please let it be you.

Chapter Text

If tomorrow brings new hope,

I hope it brings You.

      ~ Perry Poetry

 💜

Present.

He feels a tight pressure on his hand as if someone is squeezing it. Something wet touches the bridge of his nose, making him scrunch it in irritation as he shakes his head once, resting it next to Taehyung's.

The utter exhaustion and pain that he feels is taking a toll on his body, wanting nothing more than to sleep it off in Taehyung 's arms, his body wrapped around his husband and kisses being peppered on his face because he fucking deserves it and can get them anytime he wants.

Because Taehyung is his husband and he-

Taehyung .

Taehyung .

He-

Taehyung .

Taehyung .

Taehyung .

Tae-

Jungkook wakes up with a start, inhaling sharply and looking around to find the horrifyingly similar white walls that he has spent most of his week surrounded by.

A high beeping sound graces his ears, alerting him, as he whips his head around to look at the monitor showing Taehyung's brain activity. The lines across it are moving rapidly, compared to earlier when they were barely showing any change. Jungkook hopes and wishes for everyone's sake and his own that this is a good  sign. Immediately he gets up to call for the doctor but finds himself unable to move his hand as it is grasped in a tight hold.

Looking down, almost in fear, his mouth parts and his eyes let the tears out as he sees Taehyung 's hand strongly clutching his, making the veins bulge.

Jungkook can't help the gasp that escapes his lips, and for a moment he forgets what he was about to do as he takes in Taehyung 's face, trying to see if maybe he shows any sign of opening his eyes or just something.

And when he notices the wet tracks leading from his eyes and to his hairline, he nearly falls down in happiness, ready to claim a corner of the room and cry his fucking eyes out.

But there is a much more important matter at hand as the monitor starts rapidly beeping again, and Jungkook scrambles to free his hold even though he doesn't want to, to go find Xi.

Maybe it's his stupidity during the hopefulness he feels, that he forgets about the button beside the monitor on the table. Jungkook curses and then sighs loudly once he presses it, immediately hearing Xi's voice from the little speaker placed beside the button.

"Xi, I need you here. Right now. Please. I think.. I think Taehyung  might be waking up."

💜

4 weeks ago.

Jungkook is sure that everyone is talking around  him, bickering or telling him something, but their voices are nothing but small murmurs that don't faze him from the news that he's just heard.

Xi stands before all of them, waiting for someone to dismiss him, but everyone is too busy to actually comprehend what is happening.

"Repeat it again Xi." Jungkook politely demands, his eyes fixed on his shoes and the splatters of blood, now dried and turned brown and how they merge with the shiny black surface.

Xi does not find it difficult, to speak about it, or maybe he does, Jungkook doesn't know. It's his job after all.

"We tried our best Jungkook-ssi. He's alive." Xi mentions as if that will lessen the hurt caused by what he's about to say next.

"But his mind suffered a lot of trauma and he lost a lot of  blood because of which it couldn't reach his brain properly. As of right now, Taehyung-ssi is in a comatose state and we do not know how much longer he will stay that way."

"What do you mean you don't know?" Jungkook hears Yoongi interrupt and sees as his hyung scowls at Xi, obviously judging him, his grief overcoming his thought process.

"Sir, I'm sorry but we can't really predict that."

"Then what are you a doctor for?"

"Yoongi." Jimin quietly pulls his fuming lover back, rubbing his neck to calm him down as he sends a small apologetic smile the doctor's way.

Namjoon is sitting to the side, completely motionless, staring blankly as if he's asking the wall for answers that he hasn't gotten yet.

Jungkook looks at all of their friends and he wants to scoff, shout at them for having such less faith in Taehyung .

His husband promised him that he'd come back to him, and so he will.

How can everyone just sit so hopelessly, giving Taehyung no credit.

"Taehyung  will wake up soon." Jungkook announces with so much confidence that even Namjoon zones in to look at him.

"I believe in my Tae," Jungkook whispers, stumbling back just as Hoseok supports his arm and makes him sit down.

"I believe he will wake up soon. He promised me that he'd come back to me. And Taehyung  never -never-breaks his promises. I .. I-"

"Okay, yes Jungkook-ah, we believe in Tae and we believe in you hm? It's okay." Jimin murmurs, kneeling down in front of him and taking his shaky hands in his, "We believe."

Jungkook's heart, against all odds, hopes just a little.

💜

3 weeks ago.

"Hello baby brother, or should I say my fellow classmate in my psychology class?" Namjoon chuckles, taking a seat beside Taehyung's hospital bed and setting down the book he brought on the white sheets in favor of grasping Taehyung's hand.

Namjoon's eyes rake over his brother's emotionless face, chest moving with steady breaths, telling him that he's breathing but not so alive. The monitor on the table across from him beeps at a constant rhythm showing no change in the brain activity.

It's been a week since Namjoon has remembered everything and a week since he hasn't heard the voice he wanted the most to hear.

"Tae, look I found the photo album that you thought you lost while moving." Namjoon starts a conversation, knowing he won't get a response which does not, infact, lessen the hurt running through his veins.

"So apparently, you left it at Yoongi and Jimin's house while you were staying with them during that time." Namjoon continues, stubbing the pain that he feels all over his body when all he hears are his own hands rustling the sheets.

"I gotta thank you though. It helped a great deal to get my memory back. Some things are still missing but it will come back over time. Do you know? I cried so hard the day I suddenly remembered everything? My head started throbbing and I called Jin hyung to get some answers and I even called you- " Namjoon immediately stops talking, putting a stop to his train of thought as it randomly stumbles towards the destination it shouldn't even turn to.

"Anyway," Namjoon excitedly claps his hands and then scratches Taehyung's scalp, not letting the unresponsiveness dampen his frontier.

"I brought this album here because it has your baby pictures. Like, I can't believe you and Jimin loved to roll in sand and then cry when eomma tried to bathe you both." Namjoon snorts, opening the album to that page and picking it up to show it to Taehyung, despite his eyes being closed.

Namjoon, again, doesn't let it deter him.

He keeps on talking animatedly about every memory related to every photo. He goes on for hours, and there comes a time where his enthusiasm starts subsiding when he gets no answer, no smiles or no sounds whatsoever.

It shouldn't happen, but frustration starts creeping up on him. He just wants his brother to talk to him, why can't he talk to him?

"You know what? I'm about to show these pictures to Jungkook. I know how much you didn't want that to happen, so I'm going to show him all your baby pictures. Why don't you stop me huh?" Namjoon asks in a challenging voice, taking Taehyung's hand and shaking it, trying desperately to get his brother's  attention.

"Come on Tae. You'll be embarrassed forever. Do you want that? I know you don't. So stop me, do it." And now his voice is shaking, his grip is trembling as he rests his forehead on their joined hands, the tears threatening to break free.

When he looks back up, knowing he won't get anything, he still cries when he gets the same blank face, eyes closed, no expression and no sound.

"Tae-ah. For once, stop me. I'll not tease you, I'll stop, I'll keep the album away from Jungkook, I won't show him. Say the word, tell me no. Tell me to stop." He cries, his tears falling over Taehyung's hand and flowing down onto his forearm. "Why won't you stop me?" He whispers through sobs, sniffling and trying to get his breathing in order.

When he feels a hand on his shoulder, he doesn't get startled, he just wonders how long Jungkook has been standing and listening to them.

"Hyung, come on let him rest." Jungkook squeezes his shoulder comfortingly and when he turns to look up at the younger, he's smiling, trying to cheer Namjoon up.

Namjoon again wonders about how someone younger than him can be so strong.

"Lets go, you can show me the album over coffee."

Namjoon chuckles wetly, placing a tender kiss to Taehyung 's now damp hand, "Don't blame me Tae, you didn't tell me no." He means it to be lighthearted and it surprisingly is.

Namjoon gets up with another kiss to his brother's forehead, following Jungkook out with the album in hand.

He believes in his brother, he  has faith and he hopes that no matter what, his brother will always fight for what he loves.

💜

3 weeks ago.

Seokjin comes to meet Taehyung along with Yoongi because he knows he won't be able to do it alone. He'd probably throw a fit and demand Taehyung  be taken home despite Xi's instructions of keeping him under observation in the hospital.

The dripping IV alone is enough to peeve Seokjin as he backtracks, but then his shoulders meet the force of Yoongi's hands as he pushes him forward.

"Hyung," Yoongi starts, his voice raspy, "he needs us. He needs you."

That, though not enough, does make Seokjin take deep breaths as he sits by his brother's side.

"Hey," Seokjin  whispers, trying to smile even though Taehyung can't see it, but in a way its good because all that comes out is a sob.

"Sorry, I just, I told you didn't I? I told you to go sit in the car, and just go to Jimin and Namjoon. I wish I hadn't listened to you and left you alone when you were hiding in plain sight, telling me to go away and call the medics. I wish I had taken you with me Tae." And just like that every feeling comes rushing out as Seokjin watches his brother's unresponsiveness and waits for some reaction, a small movement, maybe a flick of a finger.

But there's nothing and Yoongi's words of encouragement might not be enough, but Taehyung's unresponsiveness is enough to make him get up and walk towards the door, his tears unrelenting as he ignores Yoongi calling out to him.

As soon as the both of them exit the room, a nurse enters, and immediately Seokjin's brotherly instincts kick in as he goes back in and pours out all the questions that the nurse probably wasn't expecting.

When he's does, he's breathless and the nurse in front of him is looking back at him, wide eyed and a little bit scared.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..I'm so sorry." Seokjin  apologises after he has realised what he has done.

"No its okay. Its fine.. uh, I was actually going to  change his dressing so if you want you can wait outside." She politely smiles and moves towards Taehyung, checking everything before beginning the work.

Seokjin, out of his own volition and protectiveness, stays inside, alongside Yoongi who takes a seat on the couch placed in the far corner of the room.

Seokjin lingers near the bed, not a stranger to gunshots and the wounds they leave behind, but something in him tells him to avert his eyes this time as Taehyung's injury comes into his line of sight.

When the nurse is done and she leaves the room with a polite bow, Yoongi is the first one to break the silence.

"Taehyung -ah, you really need to wake up faster. Your brother is getting on my nerves these days, I need someone to hold him back." Yoongi chuckles, pulling out an indignant 'hey' from Seokjin's lips as he takes a seat across from Yoongi.

"What? It's the truth. Taehyung stabilizes your actions around me honestly, and I really need that stability right now." Yoongi turns to look at Taehyung, carding his fingers through his hair.

"We all have faith in you Tae. I've always told Jimin that you're a fighter and I tell him this even now. Don't prove me wrong okay? I miss you." Yoongi is not someone to explicitly convey what he is feeling. He only does it around Jimin, so him actually admitting that he misses Taehyung, means that he more than misses him. And right now, he's holding many feelings back.

"I'll be outside." He mutters, squeezing Taehyung's hand and exiting the room, leaving Seokjin with his too silent brother.

"I've never loved your silence you know? So why are you making me suffer right now? You promised we'd be brave together. Come on I need you to be brave with me." Seokjin lies his head down next to Taehyung's arms, his tears being soaked through the unlikely soft hospital sheets.

"Come back to us Taehyung please. I need you baby, please, I promise I'll never let anything happen to you ever again" Seokjin sobs, his lips trembling as a headache starts building in the back of his head.

"Please."

Around an hour later when Seokjin  goes back out, feeling considerably lighter after having taken out all his repressed emotions, Yoongi is still waiting for him

"You still waited?"

"Yeah Jimin would kill me if I'd leave you alone."

"Brat, just let go of that dismissive 'I don't care what happens to anyone, the world can burn in hell' persona."

Yoongi gives him a stoic expression, walking ahead of him as Seokjin huffs irritatedly.

When they're out of the hospital door, Yoongi takes Seokjin's hand and stops him in front of his car, "Hyung, I'll be brave with you."

That is all he says before rounding the vehicle and getting in.

This time, it's enough to satisfy Seokjin as he smiles and gets in too.

💜

2 weeks ago.

Jungkook is exiting the room just as Hoseok gathers the courage to push the door open.

Upon seeing him, Hoseok takes a step back and his eyes automatically fill up, downcast, because he feels heavily guilty for what happened.

Maybe, this is the right time to apologize to Jungkook before he does the same to Taehyung .

Maybe, he'll be forgiven.

With immense will power, Hoseok clears his throat and stuffs his hands in his jacket pockets before opening his mouth to speak.

Before he can Jungkook's arms are around him, pulling him close in a hug.

It's so sudden and so surprising that Hoseok actually squawks and doesn't hug back until Jungkook is pulling away 

"Its okay hyung. I know you want to apologise, but you don't need to. Nothing about it was your fault."

Jungkook's words should give him hope, should relieve some of the weight from his shoulders but it only ends up making him feel guiltier.

He shouldn't have provoked Seunghoon like he did that day. He should've kept his mouth shut. Taehyung  would have been safe and sound amongst them then.

Before he can relay all these thoughts to Jungkook, make him see how stupid he is to still beileve in him, Jungkook smiling down at him, stepping aside.

"Go see Taehyung. I know you've missed him." With that he turns on his heel and walks away. Hoseok watches him until he reaches the end of the hallway and then goes out.

How Jungkook can be so strong in a time when everyone is breaking down, is beyond him. But then, he needs to be that way, less for everyone else and more for himself and Taehyung .

Although if Jungkook gives up, everyone else's hopes and beliefs would also be squashed under a wall, scattered in the wind and buried in the sand.

So taking some inspiration from the younger, Hoseok takes a deep breath before schooling his features and entering. He almost falls down right in front of Taehyung's bed when he sees him lying motionless amongst the white sheets that smell too clean, his head tilted to the side.

He looks so serene and calm that it's almost impossible to believe that he had been shot and had lost so much blood.

Its as if Taehyung had a purpose of keeping Jungkook safe no matter what the circumstances, and he is at peace just by the fact that he did achieve that purpose.

"I'm sorry Tae," Hoseok starts, his voice already wavering and eyes swimming with tears when he takes Taehyung's hand in his.

"I'm so sorry it took me so long to come meet you. I-..I needed some strength after what happened. If I tell you that I blame myself, you would respond back with a huff and tell me not to. But you're not going to  respond back to me, are you?" Hoseok questions, jutting his lower lip out, knowing that Taehyung always found it extremely cute on him.

He gets no response.

"When you wake up, and you will soon, I've decided to do anything you want. You can demand anything and I'll do it. Perhaps you'd want me to make me your personal servant?" He hopefully and mirthfully asks, laughing wetly as he thumbs at his stray tears.

"That day… I shouldn't have provoked Seunghoon. I'm so sorry Tae-ah. I never meant to make it hard for everyone. You're so brave," Hoseok whipers in awe, "So brave to give yourself like that for Jungkook. I admire you, you know. Jungkook told me how you had been feeling recently and I agree with him. You shouldn't have ever thought that you were useless." Hoseok sniffles, smoothing his thumb over Taehyung's knuckles.

"You are the most important part of our everyday life. You give us strength, you care for us, you show us that humanity is still left in this world. You love us so fiercely, ready to do anything for us and yet, you think so little of yourself." Hoseok praises and the only voices in the room are of Hoseok's little concealed sobs as he chokes on his breath, thinking back to every moment he'd spent happily with the younger.

"I'm going to pamper you so fucking much once you wake up, I swear." Hoseok resolutely promises, lying his head over Taehyung 's chest, not putting any pressure, "More than your husband. I'm going to just start staying at your house, I don't care what he says, I'm just going to..." Hoseok trails off, growing quiet as he tries to make his point clear.

He stays with Taehyung for a lot of hours, forgoing the time and telling him stories about how everyone has been doing or of something that did end up raising their spirits just a bit.

He continues until the nurse comes in to tell him that the doctor is coming in to do this daily check. Jungkook follows behind her, a little surprised to see Hoseok still present with Taehyung, although not against it.

Hoseok stays with him until Xi examines everything and gives him the same report.

It's the same everyday and Hoseok sees as Jungkook tries to conceal his emotions and tamp them down.

It's only when Hoseok has thanked Xi on behalf of Jungkook and just the both of them are left, does he engulf Jungkook in a warm embrace and lets him take every ounce of support he needs.

He's his hyung at the end of the day and if Jungkook needs him to recharge his own belief system and faith, Hoseok will always be ready to give it all to him.

It's what a family does after all.

💜

  1 week ago.

Jungkook is sleeping soundly with his head pillowed beside Taehyung's arm when Jimin enters the room, shrugging off his jacket and immediately rushing to leave a kiss on Taehyung's head before sitting down.

He knows that everyone has tried to be cheerful around him, even though Taehyung can't see or respond to them. And Jimin feels the same, thinks that somehow these small memories might always be lodged in Taehyung's subconscious mind.

Which does not mean that he doesn't cry when his feelings get too much to handle, does not vent everything to Taehyung like he always has because he is his best friend and soulmate.

But today, he is here to idly talk to Taehyung, feeling the need to randomly gossip with his best friend.

"Tae, I really think that Yoongi is going to ask me to marry him. I can sense it," Jimin clenches his fists and sighs loudly, ''I think he has been dropping hints unintentionally. That dork."  Jimin laughs.

"Also, oh my God Tae, Jungkook sent a resignation letter to your university because of course you won't be able to teach for some time once you wake up," Jimin ignores the bitter feeling inside of him, "but did you know what the Dean said? He said that you're one of the best faculty teachers that the university has and the students aren't happy to let you go. So he offered a substitute for your position until you recover from the apparent death of a loved one." Jimin cups Taehyung's cheek, thumb sliding over his cheekbone, "They will welcome you back with open arms baby. And don't get me started on your students, they absolutely adore you."

And Jimin can't help it, the same longing that rises up and holds his heart in its desperate clutches.

"Won't you wake up for them? There are so many people here who love you and are waiting for you to open your eyes Tae, why don't you?"

The shakiness in his voice becomes apparent and the more he stares at Taehyung's unresponsive form, the more his eyes blur.

He knows he's spiralling down the pathway he shouldn't, but he's come too far to retreat back.

"Dinners aren't the same without you. Jungkook barely eats anything that's made. He's lost weight, always running around to come meet you, pacing around the house when he's not near you."

Despite the knowledge of his hopes crashing, he lets them rise.

"All of us have tried so hard but he eats only what you like, says he's eating your share." Jimin tries to chuckle, but it comes out more like a sob.

"If not for us, come back for him. He worships you Tae. He's only known one religion all his life, and that is you."

He's so deep in the woes of his dire feelings for his best friend to wake up that he never even registers the voice calling out to him.

"Hyung-"

"You promised him didn't you? How can you be so cruel to him, dammit. Please Tae, wake up now, it's been too long without you, it's been too long without your voice, your laugh. I need you Taehyung," Jimin inhales shakily, "everyone needs you."

After that he's being turned away from Taehyung as his face smushes against hard muscle, fingers in his hair that try to calm him down.

"Don't cry hyung, Taehyung won't like it. He will come back to us, you know that he never breaks his promises."

"Jungkook, tell him to open his eyes, please. He always listens to you, tell him."Jimin cries, choking on hiccups as he holds Jungkook closer, snatching the much needed support he needs.

"I told him that, and I believe in him. He will wake up soon hyung. He will."

"No, tell him n-now. J-Jungkook, now." Jimin fumbles angrily, almost hitting Jungkook, but before he can, the latter takes a hold of Jimin's wrists and shakes his head at him.

"I can't force him. Don't you believe him too hyung? He'll wake up in his own time, I know he will. H-he surely will."

Jimin stares at Jungkook for a long time before freeing his wrists and turning around to face Taehyung, "This man is crazy for you, loves you more than anyone or anything. You better prove him right. And once you have recovered, you better ready yourself to start listening to all the shit I have to say." With that, he gets up, picking up his jacket and stopping by the door.

"I love you." he defiantly says, looking straight at Taehyung and then walking out of the door

It makes Jungkook chuckle, as he bends down to nose at Taehyung's jaw, "You heard him right? Please come back faster baby, we're nothing without you."

💜

 Present.

Taehyung can hear the commotion outside his room as Xi checks up on him, conducting all the tests carefully and then smiling at him once he's done, "Welcome back, Mr Kim Jeon. We hope you're feeling well."

Taehyung wants to laugh out loud at that, but he keeps it in, too weak to say anything but a few phrases, "I've been better Xi."

It makes the doctor chuckle at least.

"You will be able to meet everyone in some time. Till then, I'll be sending in a nurse with food and she'll help you change your clothes too."

"Ah, yes please. I feel quite unclean."

"I assure you Taehyung-ssi, that we always changed your clothes periodically and-"

"I know Xi, it's just I'd really like to get out of these ones please."

"Of Course." After that, Xi is smiling at him and moving out.

Taehyung thinks he catches a glimpse of his brothers waving at him and he can't help but laugh, which apparently does make him wince with the pressure that is put on his abdomen.

That though reminds him of something and very carefully, Taehyung  pulls up his hospital shirt to look at his stomach, inhaling shakily when he sees the stitches and the bullet wounds. 

He immediately pushes the shirt down, eyes flicking to the blank white ceiling above as he blinks his tears away.

He's happy he did so, because in the next second, a nurse is entering his room with a tray of food balanced in one hand and a bouquet of flowers in another.

Taehyung automatically smiles. 

"Hello, Taehyung-ssi, would you like to eat first or change first?" Taehyung thinks about it and decides quickly.

"Change first." The nurse gives him a nod and sets the tray down on the small coffee table in the room and adjusts the bouquet by his side.

After helping him through everything, Taehyung feels absolutely fresh and new as he towels his wet hair, breathing a sigh of relief when he pulls on Jungkook's shirt and comfortable pants. He has missed all of this for too long, having been stuck in a fitful coma for around four and a half weeks.

The first change that the notices when he walks out of the washroom is that there is another bouquet of flowers, much bigger than the previous one.

The second one is the man walking towards him with a full blown grin stretching his lips.

Taehyung doesn't even care that it hurts when he frees his arms from the nurse's hold and stumbles towards his husband who catches him around the waist and hugs him close, breathing him in.

Jungkook places kisses on every inch of skin available, his neck, his face, his hands and finally his lips.

Taehyung is already melting in his hold but he's not scared, he knows Jungkook will always be there to mould him back.

"Baby, Taehyung, I missed you so much." Jungkook whispers, his eyes lined with unshed tears as Taehyung wraps his arms around Jungkook's neck, albeit with some difficulty, "I promised you didn't I? Unlike you Jungkook-ssi," Taehyung pecks his nose, "I fulfill my promises."

"You do."

(So easy.)

When Jungkook buries his face in the crook of his neck, he never expects  his husband to move down, his hands coming to curl over his abdomen, resting there lightly.

Taehyung understands Jungkook's intentions before they come to fruition.

He's already kneeling, his forehead resting by Taehyung's pelvis and Taehyung is shaking his head, telling him a resolute no, as soon as Jungkook pulls his shirt away from his skin.

"Don't, no. Jungkook its… its ugly."

Jungkook look up at that, watching as Taehyung hides his face with shaky hands, "You've kissed my wounds close and caressed my scars like medallions Tae, it's only fair I do so too."

With that Jungkook, oh so lovingly, places two small kisses on the bullet wounds that have blotched and discolored in these weeks.

He quickly gets up, tipping Taehyung's chin up and kissing him, "I love you, I love every aspect of you. So don't feel insecure over this. You still remain the most beautiful person to me baby, always will."

With that Jungkook helps Taehyung to one of the couches and removes the cling wrap from the tray, mixing the rice to feed it to him.

Taehyung makes a face at the bland food and Jungkook promises him that he'll get him all the junk food he wants once he finishes this last  hospital meal.

They are out of the big hospital building in 30 minutes after that. Jungkook had gotten soft and fluffy pillows for Taehyung to sit back and relax while they are on their way back home and he puts them all around his husband when he takes refuge in the back seat.

Jungkook drives at the slowest speed he can so that Taehyung doesn't feel uncomfortable.

"For God's sake Kook, you can drive faster than that. The kid on the cycle just surpassed us."

"I don't care about that. We're  driving as slow as possible."

"You're gonna ruin your dear Porsche."

"I'd burn it just for you baby, what are you talking about?" Jungkook comments, smirking at Taehyung through the rearview mirror. He watches as Taehyung groans, flopping his head back against the headrest.

Needless to say, they take longer than expected to reach back home.

Go figure.

When they're driving up the pathway, finally back home, Jungkook quickly gets out to help Taehyung out of the car, supporting him and grabbing all the supplies that he had previously bought for Taehyung's well being. 

Taehyung feels a sudden coldness touch his neck and he gasps when Jungkook's fingers linger on the nape of his neck, closing the clasp of the necklace that, no doubt, looks beautiful against Taehyung's skin. 

"Happy anniversary, my love." Jungkook whispers, nuzzling Taehyung's neck and placing a tender kiss on the spot.

And when Taehyung stumbles on his feet just a little when they are walking up the steps towards their door, Jungkook tightly grasps his hand before he can trip and fall.

Taehyung, for the nth time realizes that, no matter how hard everything might be, his Jungkook will always be there to catch him when he falls.

He holds his hand tightly and smiles at the ring adorning Jungkook's ring finger along with the wedding ring. 

"Happy anniversary to you too. You found your gift huh?" 

"Never wanted to break it to you but I already knew about it before you even mentioned it." Jungkook chuckles at Taehyung's parted lips, leaning closer, "Thank you. Its beautiful baby." 

Opening the door and having his friends, brothers and parents shout "Welcome home" just reminds him that wherever he goes, if he has his family by his side, his husband holding his hand, he'll always be home.

You were you,

And I was I;

We were two,

Before our time.

I was yours,

Before I knew,

And you have always,

Been mine too.

~ Lang Leav

💜