[AN]
Hello lovelies!
Thank you for 2k!!! That's insane, thank you soo much!!!!<3<3<3
I hope you all are doing well and staying safe!
School is almost over which means this kid(:D) is throwing herself into writing, woo!-my plan is to have The Grey Angel up and running within the next two months, finish Tattoo Boy, and maybe start another one of the books I have stored in my ideas hmm..;) (hint I'm thinking a werewolf au...if you all would be interested)
Also purple Jin^ was such an iconic look
Enjoy the chapter!!
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Jeongguk ducked with a practiced expertise as a crouton vaulted through the kitchen window.
Flanked by Namjoon and Jeongguk, sandwiched between their towering bodies, Taehyung watched the small square of bread whiz past, just under his nose. Bewildered, he glanced around the common room, finding that not a single occupant looked remotely phased. He shrugged as Jeongguk rose to his feet, shaking his head, a ghost of a smile present on his thin lips.
"Get out of my kitchen, you infidel! There's a Glock 17 strapped to my leg and I will not hesitate to start picking off fingers!"
A blur of bright orange and black scuttled out the swinging kitchen door not a moment later, head bent and extremities flailing wildly. The tangle of limbs rushed past, colliding with Taehyung, before dive bombing onto the couch with a dramatic war-cry. The brunette stumbled, the force of the impact rocking him off balance and he teetered, dangerously.
Jeongguk steadied him, in one fell swoop, bracing his hips with strong hands, sinewy muscles prominent under rippling veins, jacket having been discarded in favor of just the plain white tee. Taehyung tensed, his skin burning where Jeongguk's palms rested. He could feel the ravenette's warmth soaking into his skin where they met, chest scarcely touching back. Taehyung could feel as Jeongguk grew rigid, fingers tightening ever so slightly in tandem with a sharp inhale.
When Taehyung stepped away, Jeongguk remained still as stone, eyes murky and far away. He lowered his hands robotically, movements conflicted.
"Hobi-hyung! Get off me! I promise, Jin-hyung isn't going to kill you. He didn't even come out of the kitchen this time!" The high-pitched tone was followed by animated laughter, like bells dancing on the wind.
Taehyung froze, a ripple running the length of his body as his limbs locked. Jeongguk side-glanced him, a dim flicker of concern flaring before his eyes returned to their normal dark, impassive hue.
The ravenette stalked into the living room, without a second glance, nudging Jimin imperceptibly as he passed, bending to murmur in his ear. Jimin's eyes immediately widened to the size of saucers, finding Taehyung's newly wet orbs instantly. The orange-haired male made to step forward, gaze impossibly guilty. However, Taehyung scrambled backwards, breath falling choppily from his lips. He found refuge behind the lumbering form of Namjoon, who shifted to shield him thoroughly.
"Jimin" Namjoon spoke into the settled silence, assertion clear, but a hint of gentleness present. He ignored Taehyung's hitch of breath at the name. "Perhaps now is not a good time."
"Tae-" Jimin trailed off, voice cracking and remorse drenching the single syllable, disregarding Namjoon completely. Taehyung shook his head rapidly from behind blond, leaning his weight against the sturdy back, unable to hold his own. He felt as if a mountain of sadness had descended upon him, betrayal flitting here and there, but overall, an ache racked his entire body, making him tremble.
"Please" Taehyung whispered, pressing his eyes tightly together, wishing the floor would engulf him. Jimin's presence made everything all the more real. He wondered what his brother must be thinking. If he'd even realized he was gone. "Don't."
A heavy pause settled over the room, tense and uncomfortable. Eyes flit cautiously between the two men, treading lightly over the delicate situation. Yoongi laid a tentative hand on Jimin's shoulder, who sighed, staring at Namjoon as if he could see through him. Taehyung felt the gaze pin him, felt Jimin's guilt roll over him.
"I'm sorry." The reply was shaky, hardly audible even in the strained silence. It was followed a beat later by Jimin's quiet, retreating footsteps. Taehyung exhaled, feeling some of the weight fall from his shoulders, only for guilt to wheedle its way into the void. Despite what Jimin had done, Taehyung hated to be the cause of his friend's remorse.
The room hung in hesitation, waiting with bated breath, unsure what to do.
"Well, that was dramatic" The black-haired blur deemed Hoseok chittered, chuckling awkwardly. His light voice cut through the tension, cracking it like glass. "C'mere Taehyung, let me get a look at our newest house guest!"
The tension shattered.
Namjoon stepped aside, rubbing Taehyung's shoulder in a fashion which was far too comforting for such a short acquaintance. "Don't be too hard on Jimin. Or yourself." The blonde muttered, voice low and ever knowing, words only for his and Taehyung's ears. "He was just following orders, nearly chopped Jeongguk's head off when he saw how banged up you got though."
Namjoon's eyes were sincere, honest, and Taehyung found himself nodding along, albeit dazedly. Confliction became prominent in his knot of emotions. Namjoon slung an arm casually over Taehyung's shoulder, earlier threat forgotten, steering him to the couch, where Hoseok sat, eyes alight with mirth.
However, he tut as Taehyung was eased beside him, fixing Jeongguk with a hard glare. "Why was he not brought to me sooner? These cuts could get infected!"
For the first time since he'd met him, Jeongguk flushed, obviously not liking being reprimanded. The pretty pink shade dusting over his cheeks contrasted greatly with his dark persona, yet Taehyung found it oddly fitting all the same.
Hoseok huffed, picking up one of Taehyung's hands, turning it over, and gently running a finger along the deepest scratch. "I'm Hoseok, by the way. Doctor and intel within this fine establishment." The male rattled off, nose scrunching as he lightly dug a nail under a piece of gravel rooted in Taehyung's palm. The brunette hissed, harsh pain flaring at the motion.
Hoseok hummed. "Yoongi, sweetie, go and fetch my first aid kit, will you?"
The white haired male grumbled, toying lightly with his phone, where he was sprawled out on his back at the other end of the couch. "Why should I?"
Hoseok was quick to send him a sharp glare. "Because I said so." He snapped, raising a single challenging brow. Yoongi grumbled again, muttering to himself, but he stood, arching his back in a cat like fashion, signing as it popped satisfyingly. He trod off without another word.
"Oh you're just the best!" Hoseok called after him, tone teasing. Taehyung giggled shyly at the exchange, unaware mafia members could be so domestic.
Hoseok winked at him. "Wouldn't survive a day without me, that boy. You can bet me on that, cutie." The black-haired man smiled then, bright and so joyful that Taehyung could only mirror him with a grin of his own.
Hoseok, with his slender face, sharp cheekbones, and vivacious eyes reminded Taehyung of his mother. He found comfort in these attributes, quickly.
~・✧・~
Yoongi returned with the first aid kit just as Jin swept into the living room, purple hair framing his face beautifully, and steaming tray hoisted on one arm. He lay the tray on the table, looking smug as nearly every head in the room turned towards the delicious smell wafting from the hot food.
Jeongguk was the first to descend on the freshly prepared meal but was quickly dismissed by a sharp slap to the wrist. Jin directed a pointed gaze in his direction.
"Our guest gets served first. You and Hobi eat last, for trying to steal my food and because Jimin told me you let Taehyung get hurt." He stated, moving to lightly swat at Jeongguk's head. "Brat." Taehyung lips quirked, Jin's tone was headily fond yet scolding.
Jeongguk sulked. "You play favorites." He mumbled, tone begrudging. Jin chuckled, the airy sound tilting upwards at the end.
"You said it, not me, Guk."
The dark haired male glared but was largely cut off by the ripple of laughter that rang through the room. A small laugh even fell past Taehyung's lips, much to the delight of Hoseok, who cooed and pinched his cheek accordingly.
Their meal was calm, the boisterous atmosphere having descended into something more serene, broken only by soft murmurs and light teasing.
Taehyung absently stirred the contents of his bowl with one hand, as Hoseok was occupied with the other, picking bits of gravel out of the cuts before wrapping his hand tightly in gauze. Despite Taehyung falling into the ambience rather easily, his stomach still tossed, plagued by thoughts of Jimin and what his further purpose would prove to be amongst Bangtan. Information was crucial, sure, but Taehyung had the inkling there was more to them kidnapping him than just details. However, much as he tried, the brunette could scarcely locate the bundle of anger which had previously rooted itself in his chest. He understood the urgency of the mafia; the pain of losing someone to a powerful mafia, with no knowledge if they would be well treated, had to be torturous.
Despite the delicious smell of the food directly under his nose, Taehyung's stomach simply couldn't take it. A mess of stress and guilt had accumulated to nausea, stealing the boy's appetite.
He mixed the broth once again, knowing instantly when Jeongguk's heavy gaze settled upon him, midnight eyes following the movement. Taehyung ignored him, not wishing to add the pressure of annoyance to his already frayed emotional state.
A moment of stilted silence, only felt between the two males, passed slowly, before Jeongguk broke the stalemate, low rumble drawing the attention of the room.
"Eat." He grunted, tone heavily masked in anger, though there was a lilt there, almost akin to care. The dark haired male made a point not to lift his eyes from Taehyung's bowl. His posture was wooden yet his eyes appeared almost bewildered, as if he, himself, couldn't believe he was saying such a thing. Taehyung stared at the inky fringe atop his head, silently willing Jeongguk to meet his gaze.
Stubbornly, the other male refrained, seeming to grow more agitated by Taehyung's lack of compliance. He growled low in his throat.
"Dammit" Jeongguk hissed, tone rough. The ravenette stood then, hands curling into fists at his sides. The movement was so abrupt that it made Taehyung drop his spoon in surprise, the metal clanging loudly against the bowl.
Jeongguk closed his eyes, standing rigid, nostrils flaring slightly as he took large, barely controlled breaths. Then, without another word, he turned on his heel and stalked down the hallway, shoulders thrown back and muscles locked into place. Taehyung stared after him, utterly confused but a lick of interest rest at the edge of his mind as the quiet chatter picked up once again, albeit slowly.
Taehyung ate.
~・✧・~
Taehyung tossed fitfully in his bed, unable to relax, his brain running on overdrive.
Jeongguk was a constant presence within his mind's eye, stuck on a loop of confusion and annoyance. Taehyung didn't understand what had transpired between them that night. First Jeongguk was positively aggravating, ego overwhelmingly prominent. Then, there was the warmth, the lasting feeling of Jeongguk's hands pressed firmly to his hips still lingered, pleasant and decorated with a tingle that danced along his skin. And finally, his outburst during dinner, tone brash but words spoken in a manner which resembled care, during which the dark-haired male seemed to be having an internal battle with himself. It was all dreadfully confusing.
Taehyung rolled over, squeezing his eyes shut, attempting to banish Jeongguk from his thoughts. They persisted, however, and the brunette's heart beat quickened the longer he remained awake. He cast a longing look at the window on the far side of the room, feeling his chest tighten.
They'd locked the door.
It was merely precautionary, Namjoon had explained. They knew of Taehyung's long track-record of sneaking out of his house and hadn't wanted to risk it should they not be able to trust Taehyung to stay.
Taehyung had refrained from telling the tall blonde that a mere lock would not prevent him from leaving, had he wanted to. That would result in a more extravagant attempt to contain him and a simple lock was troubling enough for the young male.
Even with such a flimsy door latch, being confined made Taehyung's heart race just a touch faster, his only comfort being the light breeze which wafted through the open window, room much too high up for him to escape that way.
A sudden patter on his door shook Taehyung from his inner reverie and he rolled back over, eyebrows furrowed. He wondered if he'd imagined it, unable to fathom which resident of the house would knock on his door.
Then a second later, the tapping came again, followed by the indistinguishable rattle of a lock-pick.
Taehyung sat up, sliding from the bed in one swift movement to stand timidly in front of the pane, chest suddenly constricting painfully. The lock clicked and the wood smoothly opened, knocking lightly against its frame before settling.
Jimin stood on the threshold, head bowed and orange fringe covering his eyes. In his left hand, he held a lock-pick, in the other, was a small MP3 player.
Taehyung cocked his head, feeling much too exhausted to be angry or hurt. Namjoon's words had resonated with him and at some point during the night, he'd decided Jimin at least deserved to explain himself.
"You're breaking me out of your own house?"
Jimin smiled sheepishly, lifting his head to reveal red-rimmed eyes heavily accentuated by dark circles, a testament to the guilt currently racking his body.
"The roof's the perfect spot for stargazing." The male mumbled, voice a mere whisper and deeply coated with trepidation. "Thought you might need some air and I want to talk." Jimin gazed deeply into Taehyung's eyes, stare shimmering with sincerity and a layer of immense regret. His warm brown eyes plead with Taehyung, making his heart ache with longing.
Taehyung sighed after a moment of heavy silence, letting a tiny smile tilt the corners of his lips.
"You're lucky I love you, Park Jimin."
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[AN]
This chapter was kinda hard for me to write, I was trying to imply things with Jeongguk but I'm not sure if they came across right, tell me what you thought was going on with him during the dinner scene, I'm curious! I liked the ending of this chapter a lot, next will have a focus on Vmin and Tae's role in getting back the missing member. Lemme know what you thought in the comments! :)
In case it never gets mentioned; Tae is 19(about 5'8/5'9), Jimin is also 19 but older than Tae(5'7), Yoongi is 24(5'8), Hobi is 23(5'9), Jin is 24(5'10), Namjoon and JK have the greatest height changes: Namjoon is 23(6'2/6'3), and JK is 20(6'0/6''1)
Oh! I think I've also decided that this book will feature Sope so yay, and Jimin is really just everyone's child along with his soulmate, Taehyung ;)(more backstory for Vmin in the next chapter)
My lovelies, how are you doing? Are you eating enough, drinking enough, sleeping enough? Taking good care of yourselves? Please make your health a priority, both physical and mental as they are both equally important. I would also like to say, please, if you are struggling with anything, talk to somebody. It doesn't have to be a professional by any means(although it some situations it provides the most help) but I find that letting go of whatever it is that is bothering you or simply speaking on your struggles, removes such a large weight from your shoulders and uncaps that bottle of emotions you've screwed tight. Letting out your emotions is not a bad thing, I would argue it is healthy and you'll feel worlds better afterwards. Even journaling helps. And remember, you have the power and strength to push through whatever it is you are going through and it will get better. I promise<3
Not exactly sure what is going on here but I love it
Until the next update!
I purple you!
- Megan<3