(JIKOOK) Texting Story Snippets

Straightforward

"I was a bad friend to you." Jimin mutters now with a grimace.

Something inside of Taehyung's heart breaks. Not solely because of Jimin's words, but for a reason more selfish. He is afraid to be told a story that he won't be able to forget, a story he's been mulling over in his head for weeks, nothing confirmed. He's afraid of a terrible truth for his friend, because he knows that regardless of what Jimin would prefer, he will help carry the burden of it. Taehyung will try his best to patch up open wounds and mend the broken heart before him, the one he can see clearly displayed on Jimin's sleeve. "You're a great friend, Jiminie. I- Please stop thinking I don't know that. I was absorbed in my own issues and-"

"It's really hard to move past this when everyone keeps making excuses for my actions, to be honest with you." Jimin interrupts. His voice sounds as if it's draining, tired. His bouncing knee stops bouncing, his fingers don't twitch. His eyes close and his heart opens, gates coming all the way down.

"O-oh." Taehyung whispers. He hadn't meant to make excuses. He was speaking honestly, but instead of arguing his point he closes his lips.

"It's not only you, or Jungkook. It's going to be everyone." The smaller boy starts, already beginning to dig his heels into the concreted deck beneath his feet. "You guys will look at me the same way and I'll become the fragile flower that needs constant attention and love so that I can heal and grow stronger." It's a complaint that could so easily be garnished with a roll of the eyes, but Jimin isn't in the mood for real annoyance. He only feels sad. He feels like a damsel in distress, weak and always in need of someone else's strength. A burden. "And, yeah, maybe I need that. Of course I do, because you guys are my family and you'll give it to me anyway. But, when I'm sucking up all of this attention and lo-"

Taehyung, seeing exactly where Jimin's chaotic speech is going, rolls his eyes, grunting softly. He chooses to completely halt the others words, knowing that he's about to blatantly backtrack everything he said before when he was angry. Speaking through fumes was never a good idea. "Jimin, there's plenty."

Jimin meshes his eyebrows together, confused. His train of thought abandons him. "What? I don't want to-"

"There's enough love and attention for both of us." The younger clarifies. "It's just that, when you're gone I can't think about anything beyond the danger you might face out there alone. It made me crazy having to pile more worry onto my existing worry after already worrying for so long. I was ready to let go of some of it, but the weight became heavier instead and my head broke." Taehyung rambles it all out quickly, stopping only when he thinks he's finished letting out everything he has to say. "I was mad at you, but I really just needed to see you. All my anger is gone, Jiminie. I love you, okay? Take all the love and care and attention you need right now, especially from me. I have a lot of that kind of stuff."

Jimin is quiet again, for a longer period of time as he listens to a series of cars passing on the street in front of the house. He's inside his head, digging around for something honest and positive to say, but his insecurities take over faster than he can fight them off. "You deserve better, Tae." He mumbles, sort of wishing that he could let go of Taehyung's hand without making them both sad. Their hands feel like a bond to each other's hearts. Deep discussions always crave physical touch, something simple and close.

Taehyung shakes his head, ready to deny and defend at the same time. "Don't say that." He denies the accusation. "It's coming from the part of you that hates himself and I wish that part of you would disappear." He defends the sanity of the boy.

Jimin laughs suddenly, shaking his head as he finds Taehyung too smart for his own good. "Me too. I'm trying to kick him out of my head, but he's stubborn."