Twisted Every Way || Vmin/Yoonmin {Complete}

11 -- Run

"Follow me," Jimin said at last before moving past Taehyung and toward the other side of the room; the redhead followed him as quickly as he could, trying to be gentle as he moved past the crowd. Jimin led him into a hallway just off to the side of the main entrance that looked to be empty. He led him just far enough in that the noise from the entrance hall was dimmed. Taehyung released a breath, watching Jimin as he seemed to glance around with paranoia. Taehyung couldn't take his eyes off of him; even as Jimin turned around and walked back to him, it took him a moment to remember why it was so important for them to talk. Between those pants and the cut of his shirt, it was hard to stay focused.

"I'm so glad you came," Jimin said. Now that Taehyung was thinking straight again, he focused on Jimin's face; he looked rather pale and tired once more, doing nothing to ease his worries about him. "I was scared you wouldn't find the note," the blond went on.

"You said we needed to talk," Taehyung said calmly, but sternly. "So why not start with explaining why you were spotted Saturday night with another man?" Jimin's eyes widened slightly.

"How did you...?"

"Seokjin was apparently there that night," Taehyung explained. Jimin frowned, but gave a small nod.

"It's just as well," Jimin said with guilt in his eyes. "That's what I was going to talk about first." He bit his lip, but Taehyung waited calmly. Still, Jimin could see the pain in his eyes and had to take a breath before going on. "I was forced to go. He threatened that if I didn't, or even if I told anyone, that he was going to hurt you. He figured out where I live, and has proven he knows how to break in... I think he bugged my phone or the apartment, which is why I haven't called you. I've been terrified to talk to you, only because I'm afraid he'll hear too much and use it against us somehow."

Taehyung thought hard. He believed Jimin as he spoke, but that didn't stop him from wanting the ghost to drop dead. He looked away and then looked at Jimin with intensity.

"Please tell me you're going to turn him in now," he begged. Jimin suddenly looked at him with despair.

"Don't make me do that," he said meekly.

"Why not?" Taehyung asked, raising his voice a little. "Now he's outright threatening you and the people you love, and you're just going to let him do it?"

"Do you think I enjoy this?" Jimin asked, raising his voice back. He took a step toward Taehyung with fire in his eyes. "Ultimately, he's like this because of me. If I'm also the one who turns him in...!"

"Have you really been possessed to take this much responsibility for him?" Taehyung snapped. "This is nonsense, Jimin. How could any of this actually be your fault?"

"Maybe if you saw the way he looked at me," Jimin said defiantly, "... maybe then you'd understand why I feel so guilty."

"But you're just enabling him!" Taehyung exclaimed, exasperated. Looking him over, he finally noticed the ring on his right hand. It was hard to tell in his context if it was a part of his costume or not, but he felt a knot in his stomach as he met Jimin's furious eyes. "I won't ask you again how you feel about him, so let me ask you this instead." He took Jimin by the shoulders, giving him a small shake. "Do you love me or don't you?" he demanded. Jimin stared up at him at first with pain in his eyes, and then with another wave of anger. He pushed Taehyung away and stepped back.

"If I didn't love you," he hissed, "then why do you think I keep coming back despite all of the obstacles we're facing?"

"I could ask you the exact same thing about the ghost, Jimin," Taehyung retorted with bitter calmness. Jimin froze in place as Taehyung bit his lip. "Think about that for a minute."