I'll Protect You, Maknae||TaeKook FF ✓

Chapter 15.

Once it was dark out, they could hear music from outside. They peeked out their window through the metal bars and saw in the town square something that seemed like a festival. They heard upbeat music and could see people dancing and cheering and eating.

"Some kind of party?" Taehyung asked. He looked around at all the people. "It's only the owners. I don't see anyone out there in shackles or handcuffs. All of us must be put away."

The two dropped back onto the bed. They didn't care to watch others have fun. It reminded them of when they would have fun with their hyungs and it made their hearts even more broken.

"I miss hyungs," Jungkook said sadly.

"I do too," Taehyung agreed. He could see the light from the lanterns lighting up Jungkook's downcast face and he really wanted the boy to feel better. He stood up and reached out his hand.

"What are you doing?" Jungkook looked up at his hyung, confused.

"It might be a while before we hear music again, bunny. Care to dance?" Taehyung asked smiling. Jungkook chuckled and called Taehyung strange, but got up and they danced together. They danced to fast songs they could hear playing, and to slow ones. Suddenly Taehyung felt Jungkook wrap his arms tightly around him as his maknae buried his face into his neck and started sobbing.

"Hey, hey what's wrong? " Taehyung asked as he began rubbing Jungkook's back.

"I'm just...really glad you're here, hyungie. I'd never survive this without you." Jungkook sniffled.

Taehyung sighed and held Jungkook close. "I'm glad I'm here too." That felt quite weird for him to say. He wasn't glad he was there, exactly, but he was glad he was with Jungkook at least. To protect him and be there for him. He knew if Jungkook had gone missing without him he wouldn't even know how to handle it. It made him wonder how his hyungs were holding up because they'd been missing for days now. He couldn't imagine how scared they were. He wished he could tell them that they were both alive, at least.

The two stood there and hugged for a long time, crying together. Taehyung kept offering soft reassurances that everything would be okay. They'd make it out of there someday, somehow.

They peeked outside again when they heard the music stop. Taehyung caught sight of their Master returning back towards the house with two women.

"Jungkookie he's on his way back," Taehyung pointed out, "With some others."

Jungkook gulped. He knew whatever he was needed for was about to happen. And before he knew it the Master was at their door ready to take him away again.

"I have some dinner guests over," the Master told Jungkook, "And you will be serving us tonight."

Taehyung and Jungkook both sighed in relief when they finally both had the answer to what Jungkook was needed for. Serving the Masters dinner guests.

That was a lot better than what they originally assumed.

Taehyung's heart hurt seeing Jungkook go, but at least he knew Jungkook should be okay while they were apart. The Master quietly threatened Jungkook while they made their way downstairs. He told the singer to make sure to be on his most obedient behavior, present himself well, and not to mess up his night.

Jungkook did the best he could. He waited on his Master and the two woman hand and foot. Getting them food and drinks, napkins, whatever it was they needed. He stood motionless beside the table when he wasn't fulfilling commands. His mouth watered at the sight and smell of food and drinks.

The Master started telling his guests about Jungkook. About how he was the finest slave in the village because he'd paid such a hefty price for him. "My finest possession," he called him. The Master said that Jungkook was extremely obedient, but Jungkook rolled his eyes. He knew the bruises on his body meant the man clearly thought otherwise. His Master was just lying to make himself look all big and mighty.

"Didn't you buy two of them?" One of the women asked as she sipped her wine.

"Oh, no. Nobody wanted that little street rat so he was freely given up," the Master laughed.

Jungkook clenched his fists and had to refrain from punching the man in the face. My Taehyungie is not a street rat, you asshole!

He wanted to scream and hurt this man but he knew the consequences of that already.

"You, boy, more wine!" the woman demanded. Jungkook leaned over to pour her glass but accidentally tipped over the bottle of wine, sending it spilling down the womans dress. All of them got up and started yelling. The Master apologized to her immensely and Jungkook stood there frozen with fear.

Oh no. Oh no. Oh no. He said before that he hates messes.

The Master grabbed Jungkook by the ear. "You incompetent little shit!" he screamed.

"Ahh!" Jungkook screamed in pain. "I'm sorry! It was an accident! I'm really sorry!"

The Master didn't listen. He started dragging Jungkook back to his room while cursing at him and threatening him. "I will deal with you later!" he screamed as he unlocked the door to his room and shoved Jungkook back in.

Jungkook felt like his heart was ready to leap right out of his throat. He knew that this was really, really bad and that this could only mean that something really, really bad was coming.

Taehyung lunged to his feet from the bed and asked Jungkook how dinner went, when he noticed Jungkook was standing there not moving, aside from his severe trembling.

"Kook? What's wrong? What happened?" Taehyung asked as he made his way over to his maknae. Jungkook wasn't answering him but just standing there like he was in shock. Taehyung gently took Jungkook's hand in his and tried to get him to make eye contact. "Hey..look at me..what happened? What's wrong? You tell me what's wrong right now Kook-ah."

Anxiety was shooting off like fireworks inside Taehyung's body. He wanted to know what happened but Jungkook wouldn't answer him.

"H-hyungie..." Jungkook finally opened his mouth and as soon as he did the tears came too as his trembling got worse.

"Yes, I'm here. What's wrong? Hm?" Taehyung asked gently.

"I-I-I...I'm...I'm..." Jungkook was choking over his own words. Taehyung had seen his maknae be terrified plenty of times within the last few days, but it still broke his heart all over again every single time.

"Jungkook?" Taehyung frowned.

"Hyungie..." Jungkook's tears turned into waterfalls as he finally looked directly at his hyung. "I'm in a lot of trouble."