Chapter Text
“I see he still declines to make an appearance.” Pouting lips form the words with care, though eyes barley turn to glance towards the newcomer slipping within their sanctuary. Gleaming polished hardwood echoed the steps of sharp dress shoes as they moved across it.
There is hesitance in the steps, but the click clack of their steps is definite, determined in the path they cut towards the lounging figure. Splayed out on the chaise, wrapped in delicate silks and perfectly tailored seams. Were they to rise the outfit would no doubt cut an impressive figure, but for now it served as a messy wrapping to crumpling insides.
“You know he’s busy.” The words were soft, delivered like a caress while the statement previous was more comparable to a slap. Large doe brown eyes peered down towards the feline male, taking in his long legs, and delicate lines. Aching to reach out and touch, as he once might have.
But the steady ground they used to stand upon was now cracking under their feet, shifting and changing their alignment to one another. It left him searching for a map to figure out to reach out to the other once more. Had him scrambling to find new ground to build upon, build new hopefully stronger, foundations upon.
“Not to busy to send me a good morning text every morning and remind me to eat lunch.” A perfectly groomed brow was raised in accusation. Leaving him with nothing to say, as he had been unaware the other still had the others number.
Opening their mouth nothing escaped them, the words would only form excuses they knew would serve no purpose in this conversation. “Jungkook, he’s, well you know how he is. If you would just agree to join us for lunch, or, or… come back home?”
Jimin finally deigned himself to turn and look up at the other, small narrowed eyes searching the others before he sat up with a small scoff. Bare feet planted on the floor and carried him away from the taller male, leaving Taehyung to watch him move towards the kitchenet. Unsure if he would be permitted to follow.
“Jungkook made his bed and he should have to lie in it. The fact that you continue to lend him your own astounds me.” Jimin hummed, waving a small hand. It hurt him to turn his back to Taehyung, losing his constant companionship felt almost like losing his own shadow. But Jimin would not let himself be pushed around.
Fingers clenching Taehyung resisted the urge to reach out to grab Jimin’s hand, to envelope it in his larger grasp. “Jungkook did nothing he doesn’t normally do! He makes deals Jimin! That’s what he does.” His temper snapped, after weeks of beating the same dead horse he found himself unable to do it anymore.
“He shouldn’t!” His head snapping up and eyes glaring towards Taehyung, finally releasing the dragon that lay curled up inside his chest. That called for blood, for retribution, called for him to ruin them for what they cost him. “I asked him not to Taehyung! I so rarely ask for anything and then when I finally ask for something, something I really want, he tosses the request out like he never heard it!”
Long fingers ran through caramel brown hair, gripping it as he tried to think of some way to argue with the silver haired man and came up empty. The sigh escaped him in one rushed gust, arms dropping and hands unclenching, fingers limp. Earlier temper fleeing at the sight of Jimin’s now teary eyes. The knowledge of his impending defeat striking him hard, leaving a bitter taste along his tongue.
“He let him die Taetae. I asked him, I asked him to spare Jeobum. And Jungkook still tossed him to the wolves. And for what?” Jimin snarled, tears escaping and cutting a path across his soft cheeks. “As a sign of good will? To help Yoongi? Jeobum didn’t deserve to die, not for simply being foolish and young.”
A soft hiccupping sob escaped him, his shoulders hunching, turning away from Taehyung as he tried to regain his composure. To piece together some semblance of control, find the anger he had harbored only moments ago. But the thought of Jeobum, the thought of how he had failed the other refused to release the crushing grip it had on his heart.
“I don’t want to die Jimin. I’m sorry! I really am..” Jeobum cried, small fingers digging into the soft fabric of Jimin’s sweater. Curling his arms around the young boys shoulders Jimin shushed him, trying to soothe his cries the best he could.
“I know you’re sorry Jeobum, I know.”
“It was a dumb mistake, I thought, I thought they were right! Thought if I could just prove myself to them.. it was a dumb mistake!” The 15 year old continued to babble hiding his face in Jimin’s chest now.
The bubblegum haired male pet the others contrasting black and tried to ignore his heart breaking at the sight of the broken thing curled up against his chest. “It’s fine Jeobum, I’ll talk to Jungkook, we’ll sort this out okay sweetheart.” He promised.
“Really, you, you’ll try?” The hope in his voice was devastating, the boy obviously grasping to the last tendrils of it.
“I promise.”
Taehyung hadn’t known Jeobum, not like Jimin had. Jimin who often frequented the club, who had gotten to know Jeobum and quickly taken a shine to the young male. He had refused to accept the betrayal at first and had been the first to hunt Jeobum down. Wanting explanations for his broken trust and the accusations he now faced on Jeobums behalf.
Only to return pleading for mercy on the younger, mercy Jungkook didn’t grant.
“Jimin…” He wanted to push the other, make him see that letting Jeobum live would have only brought them more trouble.
“Get out.” Jimin’s cold voice shut down anything he could start to say. “Get out Taehyung. Please. I can’t do this right now. Please leave.”
There was a time when Taehyung would have comforted Jimin, but now he only served as a source of his distress. The shame this realization brought curling into his gut had him ducking his head and accepting the others command.
“Jimin.. please just. At-least call me if you need anything. And respond to his texts. Please don’t cut us out completely. We can fix this.” Taehyung spoke to the door, hand grasping the handle.
“Out.” Jimin repeated fiercely, only letting his sobs rise once more when he could no longer hear Taehyung’s dress shoes echoing down the hall.