Archive of Our Own

In retrospect, Taehyung should have realized that karma came right around the corner to bite him in the ass. It shouldn't have come as a surprise that he's hated, despised, envied by many people— some not too good for this world. But where does the line between black and white fall anyway? When do you say the poor old man in the store sneaking a cup of ramen in his jacket is a criminal? When do you say the high as fuck teenagers painting over the underpass are failures of this generation? Who gets to decide who is right and who is wrong in this world? 

Certainly not Taehyung.

But that doesn't mean he doesn't have his own two cents about what matters.

Take for example what happened not too long ago— his closest friend, Jimin, had been roughed up by some rival group in the city, came home not looking like his usual, pristine self and Taehyung thought he needed to mess more than some guy's jaw in return. 

In retrospect, jumping head first into a rival's stronghold may not have been the best of plans he'd have thought of, but in his defense, he wasn't really thinking— or feeling, for that matter— it's as if a switch had been turned off inside of him. Because no one messes with his family. No one.

So maybe the gunshot wound to his side may be bleeding more than it should— and maybe, just maybe, it's starting to hurt like a bitch but he's still alive and he can still manage. He just needs to get back to the base, get Seokjin to fix him up good as new and carry on his day—

Except that's not what happens. Instead, he finds himself against an alley wall, struggling to breathe, hand grasping and controlling the bleeding of his gunshot wound. Every muscle that moved and strained made him see stars and want to vomit and he might've done so— he's not too sure. 

He knows he's losing blood and he knows he should probably call for help back from home but his pride is sticking to him like a second skin and asking for help is not Kim Taehyung.

He tries to stand but only groans in pain in return and that's when he sees an elderly couple just walking past him and— great, witnesses— just what he needs.

"Oh my goodness," The woman gasps, pale face morphing into horror. "You're injured! You need help!" She motions for her husband who starts to fumble with his phone.

Who were they going to call? The police? Not good— "Go away. I don't need help."

"You're bleeding—"

"I said fuck off—" Taeyung hisses, pulling away from the elderly woman's reach but she hesitates and musters up the age old courage inside of her and reaches to grab Taehyung's arm to make him sit against a few boxes laying nearby. "Don't touch me—"

"I'm calling the ambulance." The man says before he stands by Taehyung and shrugs off his coat for him to put over the younger male, "It's cold, son, and you're turning pale— Oh god, you're losing so much blood."

Taehyung is too stunned to even register what they're saying to him. Why are they even helping them? Was this some kind of elusive trap? A trick by some other group to weaken his defenses? To gain his trust?

"Who are you working for?" Taehyung grunts, trying to save face and not whine in front of these two over the sting of his wound. 

The two blink, confused, as they turn to look at each other.

"We're— We're not working for anyone, dear." The elderly woman smiles, it's a small uplift of her thin lips but her eyes are shining and big and just— warm.

For a moment, Taehyung believes them.

But he snaps out of it quickly.

"Lying—" He gasps and tries to shrug off the man's touch over his shoulder as he leans forward, groaning in pain. "Don't— Don't touch me."

"Okay," The elderly man pulls back, sort of nervously hovering around Taehyung, eyes darting to the road just a few meters away, "We won't touch you—"

Taehyung sighs, feeling dizzy and just— tired. God, he's so tired. This gunshot wound is a real pain in the ass. Plus, he's been found by these two old people from god-knows-here— Great.

Karma is such a bitch.

He didn't realize he had fallen unconscious until he feels himself laying in a semi-recline and his surroundings are moving in a blur. Everything is so blindingly white—

Where was he?

"—you thinking? It's dangerous in that part of the city!"

He could hear another voice, different from the two who had found him in the alley earlier. Is he in their base? He wants to scoff, he should've known those elderly geezers were lying to him. He should've just gotten rid of them while he had the chance—

Then, he feels someone tugging at his arm and he darts his disoriented gaze to his left, sees someone in blue scrubs, a face mask and gloves gently skimming over his hand, tracing for a vein.

"What are you—"

"Sir?" The voice from earlier comes back and it's closer and it— it sounds nice. Taehyung turns his head to his right and blinks his bleary eyes awake because—

Good fucking god, is he face to face with an angel right now? 

The man is in literal white with a pair of oddly familiar brown, large doe-eyes looking back into his own pair. His black hair gently falls over his forehead, just right below his eyebrows and when he tilts his head questioningly, his mouth purses in concern— probably because Taehyung has yet to respond to his question. But how could Taehyung even react? All he could think of was how this all feels so surreal and how his lips feel so dry, his tongue weighing heavier, his body relaxing into the sterile bed—

He sees a stethoscope, the breast pocket of his white coat stitched with the color and pattern of a logo, an ID clipped that read Jeon Jungkook, Resident of Emergency Medicine.

Fuck.

He's in a hospital.

And his doctor is motherfucking hot.

"Fuck." Is what Taehyung says. 

The other male, Jeon Jungkook, furrows his brows but pays his blatant lack of manners no mind— probably assumes it's due to his blood loss— before he puts on his stethoscope and places it over Taehyung's chest quickly.

Oh god, he hopes he can't hear how fast his heart is beating—

"He's going over 130." Jungkook says,  (Fuck, just kill me now is all Taehyung could think of) voice neutral as he looks up to the nurse on Taehyung's other side having found a vein to insert an IV line into. How that happened without Taehyung having felt anything is beyond him but it's probably because he's too distracted by the beauty hovering just a head over him. "His blood loss is bad. Hook him to the O2 please, use the face mask— put it at 10 liters per minute for now. Lee-ssi, I need you over here—"

"Yes doctor." There's a chorus of agreements around Taehyung before he watches the angel walk away briefly; his lilting, breathy voice going distant as he gives instructions to a second nurse, who's jotting everything down on a clipboard.

Fuck, that was hot.

Taehyung feels a tug to his left again and sees his hand now with an intravenous line trailing up towards an IV bag. There's another nurse that walks toward him with a syringe, a couple of alcohol swabs and sterile materials in a tray.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Taehyung can feel his tongue slur in his mouth. He feels everything inside of him weigh almost a ton but no way is he just going to lay here and let other people touch and prod at him.

"We need to get your blood—"

"Don't touch me." Taehyung hisses and blinks when the nurses turn their heads to his right. He follows their gaze and sees his fallen angel walking back towards him.

"Sir, I know you're confused—"

"No, I'm fine."

Jungkook sighs, shaking his head before placing a hand on Taehyung's shoulder and he all but freezes in his place. His eyes are wide, darting to the hand on his shoulder. It's warm.

When was the last time warm hands had touched him?

The angel beside him leans a little closer and there's a small smile on his face, oddly familiar, Taehyung thinks as he stares back into those doe eyes. "It's okay. You're going to be all right, Kim Taehyung-ssi. I'm Dr. Jeon and I'm in charge of you. You were brought here by those two over there—" He turns his head briefly to indicate where the two elderly couple were standing by the Emergency Room doors, careful not to be in any body else's way. Jungkook turns back and his hand gently rubs at Taehyung's dirty suit jacket, "— You had lost a bit of blood, too much for my liking. You're at risk for some serious complications due to the blood loss so we're here to stop that from happening. Do you understand?"

Oh Christ, he's a godsend.

Taehyung nods dumbly at the doctor in front of him as if in a trance and feels his heart stutter pathetically in his chest at the quick glimpse of two little bunny teeth.

Cute.

Dr. Jeon pulls himself away and gives a few more instructions to the nurses beside him before turning back to Taehyung. "Kim Taehyung-ssi, these nurses will be getting some of your blood. We need to know your bloodtype to get some donor blood for you to replace the losses. We're going to have to run some diagnostics as well and I've called over Surgery to have a look at your gunshot wound—" He pauses, eyes darting to the monitor just right above Taehyung's head, attached to the wall showing his blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate. "— And we need to clean and further stop the bleeding, so we need to take off your clothes—"

Taehyung scoffs, a sardonic laugh escaping his lips before a graceful smirk crosses his features. "Not even an invite to have dinner first, doctor?"

Jungkook blinks, ignoring the small gasp from the nurse nearby. His face is— expressionless— but there's no denying the subtle hint of pink at the tips of his ears and cheekbones.

Taehyung suppresses a victorious whoop.

The doctor clears his throat before tugging at his coat, "That's not— That's not what I mean, Kim—"

"Taehyung."

"I-I'm sorry?" Jungkook looks at him owlishly.

"Just call me Taehyung, doctor. An angel like you deserves that privilege."

The nurses nearby are looking at one another, smiles hidden behind their clipboards. Jungkook's cheeks are flushed and he breathes in through his nose a tad bit harshly. He clears his throat again, "T-Taehyung-ssi— Please. Just cooperate."

"Whatever you say, angel." He leans back onto the hospital bed before a thought crosses his mind while Jungkook calls for the nurses again. "You— You don't know who I am, do you?"

Jungkook looks back at him, eyes intensely looking back into Taehyung's own and it leaves the elder almost breathless. Had he said the wrong thing? It's not like he hasn't been saying anything less of inappropriate anyway— 

The doctor leans close, hand over Taehyung's chest and the elder can feel his heart respond.

"Yes, I do. You're my patient, Taehyung-ssi." Jungkook smiles warmly, a little quirk of his pretty pink lips, "And I'll do whatever it takes to save you."

Oh.

Jungkook pulls away and steps back as the nurses take over his place, pulling at the curtains around his little spot in the Emergency Room to a close for some privacy.

Taehyung's head falls back onto the rather uncomfortable and poor excuse of a pillow, free arm reaching up to cover his eyes at the blinding hospital ceiling lights. His grin is wide and a soft chuckle escapes him without his consent.

He got me.

"So, whose head do we have to put a bullet through this time?" Seokjin asks, arms crossing as he leans against the wall of Taehyung's hospital room. 

Taehyung's surgery was a success, he barely felt the entire thing from when he was wheeled into the operating room up to when he was brought back to his private hospital room at the end of the hall. His men made sure to have him put here (probably through some questionable means) to ensure his identity be kept hidden as possible. When he came out of the anesthesia, it was to the presence of his close friends followed by the wonderful sight of Dr. Jeon stopping by his room for a visit, asking him how he's doing with that wonderfully cute smile on his face that makes Taehyung think of bunnies.

Needless to say, the group's murderous intent and conversation was cut short at the doctor's soft knocks on his hospital room door. Five pairs of eyes turn to glance at the young physician's appearance as he opens it and enters the threshold. Their sharp stares following his figure as he approaches Taehyung is enough to make him laugh, if only he wasn't feeling like Death had a tight hold on his neck.

"It's good to know the operation was a success and that the bullet had been completely removed, granted there were a few pieces— but Dr. Choi, the trauma surgeon who took care of you, had successfully removed it all and patched you up with no trouble." Dr. Jeon says with a smile, hands in the pockets of his pristine white coat. Taehyung suppresses the urge to lick his lips maliciously at the thought of touching him like this, of having such a pure, sweet being by his dirty, bloodstained life.

Dr. Jeon tilts his head again and Taehyung's eyes practically dilate in adoration— unmissed by his close friends who either raise their eyebrows suspiciously or smirk behind their hands. "How are you feeling today?"

"Like a fucking corpse, to be perfectly honest." Taehyung says and while his friends either chuckle or scoff playfully at his joke, Dr. Jeon furrows his eyebrows.

"I-I don't—" He stammers, clears his throat for a second before he looks at his monitor. "Are you uncomfortable in any way?"

"Well," Taehyung hums, tilts his head a little up and smirks, "This bed feels like I'm on pins and needles but I'm sure I'll feel a whole lot more comfortable resting on your lap, doctor."

"Taehyung—" Namjoon sighs, exasperated and amused.

Dr. Jeon pulls back with a blush high on his cheeks before he fucking pouts. 

Jesus, he's seriously pouting? Taehyung is seeing stars and it isn't because of the Nalbuphine high in his system.

"P-Please, stop that. I'm being serious, Taehyung-ssi." Jungkook steadies his gaze and his tone leaves no room for argument but Kim Taehyung has always been known to find even the tiniest of cracks to sneak into.

"I'm very serious as well, Dr. Jeon." Taehyung grins before slowly moving to sit up, a grunt escapes his lips before he could stop himself.

Jungkook's expression of slight annoyance suddenly shifts into pure worry as he watches Taehyung sit upright, his hands leave his pockets, hovering over the other male, "No, wait— you shouldn't move so suddenly, Taehyung-ssi. You're going to open your stitches—"

"Not the first time to happen, I can tell you that." He replies, leaning back against the bed's headboard. For a moment, Jungkook is perplexed before he shakes his head from the confusion and presses his lips into a firm line.

"Please, don't push yourself too hard. You're recovering from a major surgery and a gunshot wound."

"Kindness to go along with such a pretty face," Taehyung spares him a wink and relishes in the way Jungkook can't seem to control his cheeks from turning pink. "Thank you, doctor. Seeing you today has made my day infinitely better."

Jungkook stuffs his hands back in his pockets and glances aside, "O-Oh, well, I-I mean, I was just—"

"You'll visit me again tomorrow, right?" Taehyung asks, grinning. "I need a daily dose of a pretty angel in white, you know?"

Jungkook's beet red at this point, taking a step back. His mouth opens and closes before he takes a gulp and says in a small voice, "I-I should get going. Have a nice day, T-Taehyung-ssi." and as he abruptly turns around, he almost stumbles into Namjoon's space, "I-I'm sorry!" He gasps before bowing and leaving the room in a rush.

Taehyung smiles victoriously and smiles even wider when he meets Jimin's suspicious gaze.

"Okay," Jimin says, "Care to explain why you're suddenly flirting with your doctor out of the blue like that?"

"Isn't he pretty?" Taehyung says, crossing his leg over the other while placing his hands behind his head, relaxing further onto his bed though still mindful of the intravenous lines hanging off of him. "His name is Jeon Jungkook— took real good care of me at the ER when I got here."

"And how did you get here, Taehyung?" Seokjin frowns though the evident worry on his eyes was not ignored.

"Some elderly couple found me when I got stuck in an alleyway a few blocks away from the site." Taehyung monotonously replied. "I would've been fine, really, but they insisted on getting me help."

"You mean people saw you? There were witnesses?" Seokjin's eyes grow bigger in less than a second and look ready to jump out from his (handsome) face. He lets out a frustrated groan, "Taehyung, what the hell?"

"What? Was it my fault? How was I supposed to know there were going to be two people walking down that way?" Taehyung huffs as he leans back on his bed, growling at the IV lines that had somehow gotten tangled in the process. Hoseok leans over and rearranges them before turning to the eldest in the room with an uncharacteristic frown on his face.

"This doesn't sound too good, hyung. They might go after those two witnesses,"

Taehyung tenses in his place. Damn. This is why he had told them to fuck off— other than the fact that he had initially assumed they were working for another gang and pretended to be civilians to get his guard down— he also didn't want anybody else to be involved in his group's business particularly when they were innocent civilians in the first place.

Now that he had counter attacked and nearly destroyed the rival gang that had placed a hit on his best friend, his name is definitely up in their list of thugs to send to hell and knowing how the underground world works, word spreads fast.

He's sure that his survival and imminent recovery is now ringing in the ears of the rival gang bosses—

"Fuck, I can't just sit here—" Taehyung growls, all teeth and totally on edge. Hoseok returns to his side to place a hand on his shoulder, "— I know they're plotting something to get back at me. Namjoon-hyung, you have intel, right?"

"Always," Namjoon says calmly but his jaw is set tight and the obvious rigidity in Seokjin by his side doesn't sit well on Taehyung either. "But we have no choice, Taehyung. You're recovering from a major surgery— we can't let you out of the hospital."

"I've gotten hurt far worse than this—"

"Taehyung," Namjoon's stern voice leaves no room for argument. "For the time being, while we— clean this mess up— stay put. Recover."

"And maybe hit on that pretty doctor of yours," Jimin wiggles his eyebrows, "Might help you loosen the edge a bit."

"Fuck off, Park." Taehyung hisses but with little conviction. "I got hurt because of you, you know."

"No, dumbass, you got hurt because of your lack of control." Jimin huffs but the concern, gratitude and even hurt in his eyes is clear. They were like family after all. All of them. "Maybe that doctor will do you good. Might even do something about your anger issues."

"I have no such thing—" Taehyung huffs, crossing his arms, but still mindful of his IV lines. "I'm fine. I've calmed down, okay?"

"Seems like he's getting better already." Yoongi drawls with a sly smirk. "What a wonder, that Dr. Jeon is."

"Fuck off, guys." Taehyung throws his head back onto his pillow, a shit-eating grin on his face.

For the next couple of days, Jungkook makes dutiful rounds to Taehyung's room— sometimes occupied with one or two other of his friends. Even for a man, Jungkook can't help but think what an odd set of (extremely handsome) people they were, often dressed in luxurious and expensive sets of clothes and accessories, a domineering aura emanating from each and every one of them— Were they celebrities? High-class businessmen? Jungkook's view of the world had been very limited thanks to his rather focused and straightforward path in medical school, leading many to safely say that he's been living under a rock all this time. So, really, it's no surprise that the young ER doctor has no clue who he has been treating, just that, this young man— Kim Taehyung— is his patient.

That's all there is.

A patient.

And yet—

Whenever the elder male so as flashes him a quick smirk or sends a lingering glance along his way when he thinks he isn't looking or when he savors his touch when he checks on his pulse and on his operation site, something warm and fuzzy bursts out in Jungkook's chest— something exciting springs forth inside of him. 

The earliest time he felt such a thing was when he had successfully classified a cell type during his Pathology class when no one else could, earning many praises from his professor.

The last time he felt a semblance of such emotions was when he had earned his diploma to become a practicing physician.

Now—

Now, it's driving him over the wall— Because he knows Kim Taehyung is his patient and that it should stay that way until— until whenever. Because he is his doctor and a doctor-patient relationship blooming in the wards is no flourishing, Shakespearean romance. Not in real life.

Still, it isn't helping how the elder is just so blatantly flirting with him that even the nurses have begun to suspect something between them— if their not-so-hushed whispers is anything to go by.

Jungkook is a professional and things should stay that way. Which is why, today, as he's walking towards Kim Taehyung's room for his daily rounds, he's determined not to let the elder get the better of him today. He will firmly remind him that he is only his doctor and nothing more.

And that nothing— absolutely nothing— should be expected to come out between them.

"Good morning, Taehyung-ssi," Jungkook says, a small (and professional) smile on his face as he closes the door behind him. He notes that it is only Taehyung today in the room, though, a new set of flowers is perched in the vase on the table nearby. His friends must've stopped by earlier that day.

"Good morning, angel," Taehyung greets, unperturbed when Jungkook almost misses a step as he walks towards him at the nickname.

That's another thing with the elder— his petnames— Jungkook has never been given petnames before, never had the chance to hear them from other people given that in medical school, there was hardly any time for him to venture into romance. Now, everyday presents to him a new nickname of some sorts— bun, sweetheart, lovely, dear, honey— the number of times Jungkook has coughed, choked, tripped or blushed all the way to his hairline is too many to count.

But today, today is different—

"Please, you must address me correctly, Taehyung-ssi." Jungkook says, sitting on the stool beside the bed with a stern expression— or as stern as he'd like to think.

Taehyung, however, finds him utterly precious.

"Oh, I'm sorry, angel isn't to your liking?" Taehyung tilts his head in thought, "You did give better reactions when I called you bun before—"

"That's not what I mean— I—" Jungkook breathes in through his nostrils and sighs. Patience. Patience. "I'm just asking you to be— professional— over this. I'm your doctor, I'm here to treat you."

"And you're doing wonderfully, bun." Taehyung says with a handsome smile that for a moment, Jungkook forgets to breathe, "I've been feeling very well these past few days thanks to you."

"Really?" The words of his patient's improving status brings a surge of pride in Jungkook's heart. After all, that's what he's here for— to make his patients better and healthier again—

"Oh yeah," Taehyung's eyes darken a shade, "But you know, I'd feel even better if you'd come a little closer though. I do appreciate a beautiful and pretty one such as yourself,"

Jungkook splutters suddenly, turning away to hide his growing blush. "Taehyung-ssi!"

"Yes, bun?"

The audacity of this man— Jungkook clears his throat, "I'm saying that we should be respecting our— distance. People are talking, Taehyung-ssi. It isn't nice."

Taehyung leans back, something passes over his face that makes Jungkook pull back and stammer a little in his place, hands going clammy. 

Something— frightening.

"I-I just— because I'm your doctor—" Jungkook doesn't understand why he's trying to reason out, to explain why he needs this to stop but his mouth is moving before he can stop himself. There's something almost mesmerizingly powerful at the way Taehyung is looking at him— like he can end him in an instant if he so wishes to do so, like Taehyung has that much power in him—

And then, in a blink of an eye, the elder's face softens a little, his eyes are a warmer shade of brown and his lips quirk up playfully.

"Are you scared, doctor?" Taehyung asks out of the blue.

For a moment, Jungkook is— confused.

"S-Scared?"

"Did I scare you just now?" Taehyung asks, leaning forward again, "Do I scare you?"

Jungkook feels his heart thudding hard against his chest before he licks his bottom lip, doesn't miss the way Taehyung's eyes follow the movement and something— something inside of him stirs— stirs in a way that excites him.

Because as much as Taehyung has power over him, it seems that he has power over the elder as well— power to lure even those strong eyes to follow his mouth, as if awaiting a command, an answer, a request—

Jungkook swallows.

"No," Jungkook answers, though his voice quivers a little. "I'm not afraid of you, Taehyung-ssi."

Taehyung stays silent as he leans a little more forward, close enough for his warm breath to ghost over Jungkook's face. 

Something hot pulses over Jungkook as his hands begin to sweat, twitching as if an invisible pull is tugging him towards the elder— and maybe Taehyung feels it too, if the way his eyes discreetly look down towards Jungkook's mouth, the way they go hooded, is anything to go by. 

Then, Taehyung is looking straight into Jungkook's eyes and smiles.

"Well, you should be."

Jungkook spends the rest of the day a complete mess. He'd missed a few charts during his early shift at the ER, had barely registered one of his patient's maintenance medications that afternoon, barely concentrated in viewing a radiographic picture of another patient's fractured foot before he finds himself hunched over behind the ER station. He ducks his head into his hands, groaning at his poor work performance for the day. If his professors in medical school could see him now, his license would be stripped off from him in just a snap of a finger.

Pull it together, Jeon! He thinks as he scratches at his head. But before he could give himself a pep-talk, a warm hand rests on his shoulder. He looks over to see one of his senior residents offering him an almost sympathetic smile.

"Tough day?" He asks.

Jungkook returns the sentiment with a smile, "You could say. I'm sorry, I'll get myself together in a minute, I promise."

"Hey, no, I'm not pressuring you." He says before he nods his head to the call room. "Look, it's a slow day today, you can have an early off, if you want. Looks like you really need it."

Jungkook blushes, almost out of shame. "O-Oh no," If there's anything in the world Jungkook hates, it's cutting off his work mid-way for flimsy excuses and this is one such case. "I'm fine, really."

"Jeon, trust me on this." The senior says, tugging his hand and pulling him up to push him to the call room where his things were, "Go home and rest. It's fine to clock off early once in a while."

Jungkook looks back ready to negotiate but his senior is giving him the look and he wilts in his place, blushing all the way to the tips of his ears. "Th-Thank you, I'll make it up to you next shift."

"Nothing to make up for." He laughs, patting him on the shoulder. "We don't want one of our most promising doctors burning out on us so early, you know? Go on. Get out of here, Jeon."

Jungkook gives the elder one more warm smile before heading inside the call room to call it a day.

The younger doctor is just making his way to the near empty parking lot to get into his car when it happens— first, two burly looking men block his path and he freezes, white coat over his arm acting as a sort of (flimsy) shield— when he turns back, he sees another man making his way towards him.

A robbery? He thinks as he pulls his shoulder bag closer to him. He turns around to the two men in front of him, "I-I don't have much on me, I swear—" He says, voice small as he takes a step back, tenses when he can hear the footsteps of the third man getting louder. He's screwed but then thinks, in a sarcastic tone, that if anything were to happen to him, at least the hospital is just a few feet away—

"This him?" One of them says to his companion, who gives an affirmative nod. 

"What?" Jungkook croaks out but before he could do something, one of them suddenly surge towards him. He shouts, taking frightened steps back and bumps into the third man behind him who covers his mouth. His bag clatters to the pavement and his coat is thrown somewhere— He grips at the hand covering his mouth, eyes darting to man at his front who was holding what looks like

A knife? 

Oh god, knife wounds are more painful— grimly, he thinks that it would've been better if it was a gun, at least it would be quick and he wouldn't feel the pain—

"Hands off." 

There's a fourth person now and Jungkook is close to hysterical as he sees the thug at the distance give a jerk before collapsing onto the pavement. Seconds later, a pool of blood is forming like a holy halo over his head.

Jungkook is screaming behind his attacker's hand, still muffling him as he keeps a hold of him while he struggles to break free.

"I said, hands off." The same disembodied voice commands and the man in front of Jungkook holding the knife turns around before something hits him as well— silent and quick— but Jungkook sees the moment the bullet hits him at his temple and he falls on the pavement in less than a minute.

"Fuck!" His third assailant behind him shouts before he pulls out a gun. Before he could aim it at Jungkook's head, he freezes in his place, gulping as the feel of cold metal pushes against the back of his head.

"Don't even think about it." The voice says and Jungkook is let go just in time for him to push himself away, away from the bodies, clamoring to get away but refusing to budge any further. He turns around and sees a familiar man— one of the men with Taehyung— Jungkook recalls. "We gave you a chance, you know. You should've listened."

Jungkook sinks to the pavement, legs giving away as the man— Seokjin, if he can remember correctly— smiles towards him and giving him a wink. 

"Close your eyes, doctor." He says, "This must go against your oath or something."

"I—"

"Damn you, Kim!" The third assailant shouts, turning around to aim at Seokjin, but before he could, a shot is fired and hits him at the space between his eyes. He falls back, landing atop his other comrade and Jungkook pales— loses it.

"Oh my god—" He says, shaking his head and pushing himself away from the man— the man who was with Taehyung— further and further away until he feels his arm coming into contact with the first thug and he flinches away, turning to look at the corpse on the pavement. "Oh my god, oh god, this isn't happening—"

"Doctor,"

"Stay away from me." Jungkook turns back, hand holding up at the elder. "Please— Don't hurt me— I-I was just— I was just telling him— I didn't mean to make him mad."

Seokjin quirks an eyebrow up, "Hm?" He hums, as if he hadn't just shot a man dead in front of Jungkook just a few minutes ago.

"T-Taehyung-ssi—" Jungkook croaks, "Did he send you here? Did he tell you—"

Seokjin pauses before he rolls his eyes in annoyance, "Oh fuck, what'd he do this time?" He says, a hand bringing up to the earpiece in his right ear. There's silence for a few minutes before he sighs, facing Jungkook with a more calmer and warmer expression, "No, doctor. This isn't because you were telling our Taehyungie to keep his distance. In fact, you were doing the right thing."

Jungkook fish mouths back at the elder. Wait— how did— "W-What? D-Did you— Is Taehyung-ssi's room— Has it been bugged?"

Seokjin's eyebrows shoot up in fond surprise, "Oh, you're quick to connect the dots, eh? Well, you are smart for a reason, after all." He laughs and Jungkook feels sick to his stomach.

"I don't understand—"

"Give it to Taehyung to wait until things get out of hand and leave us to do all the dirty work," Seokjin sighs, shaking his head. He extends his hand out, pays no mind to the way Jungkook flinches and pulls himself back with a whimper, "Things are getting dangerous, doctor."

Dangerous? You are dangerous. Jungkook thinks before he gulps. Does this mean that everyone in the room with Taehyung was just as dangerous as well? Does this mean Taehyung is dangerous too? Was this what Taehyung meant earlier?

Who was Kim Taehyung?

"I don't— What is going on? Who are you?" Jungkook croaks, clammy hands refusing to hold out and take the hand in front of him— the hand that had killed someone in front of his very eyes—

Seokjin simply smiles back.

"Why, we are the Kim family, doctor." He says and Jungkook looks up with fear in his eyes mixed with a growing and slow realization.

Kim family—

Kim—

He'd seen that name in the news somewhere— seen it in countless headlines that screamed of all the bad things in the world—

Crime— a criminal family—

Oh dear god— Had he been treating a member of one of the city's most notorious crime families?

Jungkook just wants the earth to swallow him up whole that very moment.

God.

This can't be happening— is the last thing in Jungkook's mind before all he sees is black.

When Jungkook wakes up, all he feels is comfort. It's too soft, the cotton sheets and posh, fluffy pillows— he squirms before he turns over and just like that, all of his worries and thoughts come crashing down like a tidal wave when sees just who is in the room with him.

Kim Taehyung— his patient— now, possibly a crime lord(?), is seated on a chair at the corner of the room, intense gaze locked at Jungkook's frame on the bed.

The younger male struggles to sit up and sees the way Taehyung registers him, immediately standing up and heading over to the bed, concern etched on his face.

"No—" Jungkook gasps but as always, Taehyung promptly ignores him. Instead, he feels Taehyung sit on the bed and takes his outstretched hand into his own. 

"I heard what had happened from Jin-hyung." Taehyung says, voice a tone deeper, eyes more expressive, more raw. There's something serious in him that renders Jungkook speechless, "Are you hurt? Did they do anything to you?"

"What—" Jungkook croaks and gawks as Taehyung turns over his hand to check for any bruising or injuries. "What— I— L-Let go—"

Jungkook tugs his hand free and tucks it close to his chest. Taehyung pauses, stays silent as he waits for Jungkook to continue but the thing is, Jungkook doesn't know what to say, doesn't even know who he's talking to— because it seems that Kim Taehyung isn't just his patient anymore.

Oh god, what has he gotten himself into?

"Wh-Who are you?" Jungkook asks, softly, fear etched in his voice.

Taehyung narrows his eyes before he looks aside, almost sheepish. "I thought I was your patient, doctor."

"Clearly you aren't just my patient now." Jungkook fights through the waves of nausea, fear and panic. He's surprised himself that he's actually able to form coherent sentences.

Taehyung gives him a small smile, "Well, who do you think I am?"

Jungkook swallows but his throat remains dry. 

"A—" He starts carefully, wary not to insult or get on Taehyung's bad side. The last thing he recalls is seeing a man get shot in the head right in front of his eyes. What else could be in store for him then? "A... criminal?"

Taehyung grins, almost predatory. "Well, you could say."

Jungkook pulls away till his back hits the headrest, anywhere to get himself further away from the man. "I— I'm not going to cause trouble, I promise. Please, I won't say a word—"

Taehyung freezes and he stares, almost owlishly, at Jungkook as he listens to the younger male's pleas. "Sweetheart, you do know that you were a victim last night, right? You didn't do anything wrong."

Jungkook shakes his head and ducks, closing his eyes. "No, I mean— well, yes, I was— but I promise I won't say a word—"

Taehyung smirks, has the audacity to tease, "Doesn't that go against your oath? Something about being a member of society, with special obligations to all fellow human beings? Doesn't that ring a bell?"

Jungkook gawks back at the elder, pale and anxious, "I— I—"

Taehyung decides then, to go easy on him. He reaches out, tucks a bit of hair behind his ear and traces his cheek gently with a finger, careful not to be rough, careful not to hurt. 

"Believe me, doctor. You aren't here because we want you dead. You saved me after all, and all I'm doing is returning the favor." He says, a warm smile crossing his features. "Besides, I wouldn't want to lose such a pretty person in my life."

Jungkook sighs, an odd sense of relief coursing through his body but he doesn't let his guard down. He grips at the blanket over his lower body and bites his lip. "D-Does that mean— You'll let me go?"

Taehyung narrows his eyes and brings his finger back to press against his lips.

"Will you keep this a secret?"

Jungkook, frankly, doesn't have much of a choice.

"Then, yes, sweetheart— you can go."

Jungkook feels some color return to him as he sighs once more, looking at his hands as his shoulders slump. He registers Taehyung getting up from the bed and blinks.

"Hang on," He says, flinches when the elder turns to regard him with an intense gaze, "W-When were you discharged?"

"Oh," Taehyung hums, "I was already ready to leave the hospital about a week ago, but I didn't want to cut our time together too short, bun. You are very special to me, after all."

"What?" Jungkook squeaks, heart thundering in his chest, more so when Taehyung suddenly swoops forward and leans over him, fingers tilting his chin up.

"Very special," Taehyung hums, smiling. "My own guardian angel."

Jungkook can hardly breathe.

"This is— This can't—" Jungkook croaks nervously but before he can say anything any further, a familiar ringtone echoes in the room and he jerks. He looks around, sees his shoulder bag by the chair where Taehyung was seated just moments before and gasps. Taehyung has turned around then, picking up his bag and handing it over to him. Jungkook quickly takes it into his arms and rummages through his bag and sees his grandmother's contact name on the screen.

"Hello?" He says and winces when he gets a cry at the other end of the line.

"Jeon Jungkook! Where are you? Why didn't you get home last night? Aigoo, I was so worried I had called the hospital and the residents told me you had already left early—"

"H-Halmeoni—" Jungkook stammers and steals a glance at Taehyung who was still staring at him with that intense gaze again. He swallows the lump in his throat. Is he making sure that he wasn't going to say anything? "I-I'm fine, I was just— I slept over at a friend's place last night."

"A friend?" She says, almost sounding so surprised. Jungkook tries to reel in the pout that's just about to form in his lips. Just because he was close to a recluse since medical school doesn't mean he's that antisocial— "Oh my, why didn't you at least let us know?"

"Halmeoni— I'm 26 years old, please—"

"Doesn't give you the right to not at least tell us where you are, Jeon Jungkook." She huffs at the other end of the line and Jungkook swears it's loud enough for even Taehyung to hear, if the elder's little chuckle is any indication. Jungkook blushes. 

"I'm ending the call. I'll be home soon." He says with a pout as he closes the call, giving the elder standing nearby a childish glare. "It's not funny."

"Oh, no— I just found it very endearing." Taehyung tries to very poorly conceal his smile behind a hand. "Your halmeoni sounds like a very lovely woman."

Jungkook pauses before he places his phone back in his bag, "You didn't seem to think that way the first time you met her."

Taehyung freezes and blinks. He had met Jungkook's grandmother already? When? His mind races and races before his mouth parts in shock.

"Are you telling me the old couple who had found me were—"

"My grandparents? Yes." Jungkook slowly moves to leave the bed, feeling very and strangely vulnerable in this position. He clears his throat, "Well, now that we've settled— this— I-I should get going."

Taehyung laughs at Jungkook's awkwardness, finding it very, very endearing. "You don't have to be so on edge around me."

"Y-You're part of a gang, Taehyung-ssi, I—" Jungkook almost bristles but contains himself. "I just— I want to go home."

Taehyung hums before his eyes glance to the door and then back at Jungkook's tense posture. He offers the younger male a smile, "You can go,"

Jungkook sighs in relief.

"After you have breakfast with me."

Jungkook blinks and almost feels his eyes pop out of his sockets, "Wh-What?"

Taehyung walks over and Jungkook instinctively walks backwards away from him, until his back hits the wall. He freezes and holds his breath as Taehyung corners him, one arm reaching over to place a hand against the wall beside his head.

"Have," Taehyung smiles as he leans closer, "Breakfast. With me. All right?"

There's a sharp scent of pinewood from the elder and Jungkook can't help the blush that colors his cheeks, nor does he realize the way his eyes dilate as Taehyung offers him a handsome, confident smirk.

"F-Fine." Jungkook stammers, turning his head away to the side, one hand gently and politely trying to push at Taehyung to be just a bit more farther away from him. "I-I'll have breakfast with you."

Taehyung pulls back and gives him a boxy smile, "Thank you, angel."

Jungkook used to love going to work— The hospital was a bit of a second home to him and he valued his time spent there more than anything else. From the patients that would come through the doors, to the nurses and fellow doctors working together alongside him— it was a world Jungkook was so very much familiar with.

Now, it's become almost painfully embarrassing to step into the hospital— because for the past weeks since his meeting with the (in)famous Kim Taehyung and his near death experience from being associated with the man and his fellow criminal gang members, he's greeted, every single day, with a bouquet of fresh roses— each day sporting a different color of the flower with a note tucked in between the stems. 

Each day, the bouquets are in the ER station where several nurses would giggle relentlessly at the obvious display of affection to the young resident, where his fellow residents would smirk and give teasing side glances every now and then and where even some patients would start asking curious questions about it to him as he takes their histories.

Each day, the bouquets, which are always made of twenty four beautifully blooming roses, are as eye-catching as a bright stop sign in the middle of the road and each day, Jungkook is flushed all the way to the tips of his toes.

It doesn't take a genius to realize that Kim Taehyung has been very— open— to his affection of the young doctor, having flirted blatantly with him the very moment he was in the ER. In fact, most of the people in the ER have started to get used to him and are just awaiting Jungkook's eventual response to the very public display of affection.

Today is no different, it's a bouquet of pink roses today— pink roses meant grace and sweetness but also gratitude and admiration. As always, a small note is tucked in the stems. Jungkook takes it in his hands and blushes harder—

Hello, lovely. Another little gift from me to you today. Think of me always as I do you.

- T

Jungkook puts the note back in the bouquet in an exasperated rush— he has over a dozen of these at this point back home— and promptly ignores the little giggles of the nurses nearby as he takes the bouquet away from the ER and into the call room.

"Pink today, hm?" His senior resident greets him in the call room. The groan he gets in response makes him laugh, "Oh, come on. I don't see the harm in it, I think he's very romantic— not to mention consistent."

"You mean persistent, right?" Jungkook sighs, falling onto a free chair as he sets the bouquet, surprisingly gently, by his side. "Twenty four roses— I don't even know where he gets these many roses everyday."

"One rose for every hour of a day, hm? You've got to hand it to him, Jungkook-ah. He's a very smart guy." His senior gives him a wink as he leaves the room, leaving Jungkook whining in his seat.

The thing is, despite the dangers and the threats that hung over the Kim Family— of Kim Taehyung, himself— Jungkook can't help but think of the man that was his patient back then. He can't help but think of the playfulness and teasing smiles always directed his way, of the warm and sometimes steaming gaze that would be directed at him, of the way the elder regards him as if he was a walking angel on earth.

Jungkook hasn't had that many chances to start a relationship, has prioritized his road to becoming a doctor above anything else when he was still a student. So now that he's suddenly thrust into the limelight of someone as powerful as Kim Taehyung showering him with affections, it's a bit too much—

— and almost intoxicating.

He doesn't want to come off as someone vain— but when you've been living under a rock for almost a decade, and wherein the last time he's seen someone naked was when he was examining a donated body for Anatomy class during medical school, it shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone how easily Jungkook could fall for such a man— how easily it is for him to enjoy the attention and the little gifts, secretly.

Jungkook sighs as he places his chin on his hand, glancing at the bouquet and wondering where he was going to fit it in his room back in his grandparents' home. His room could be counted as a greenhouse at this point and yet, he makes no move to reject the elder, despite knowing who he is at this point.

He groans. He must secretly be a masochist at this point. Shocker.

Still, later that day, as he returns to the usual routine of work and ward rounds, it does come as a surprise when he meets the elder again— though this time, without the blood.

"Taehyung-ssi?" Jungkook croaks when he sees the elder just by the ER doors, giving him a wave.

"I hope I didn't come at a bad time," He says, eyes glancing to the side to check out the ER.

Jungkook looks around, sees the ER is free given that the pace at this time of the day was relatively slow. He clears his throat and walks over the elder, taking his arm and dragging him outside of the ER, mutely ignoring the little swoons some nurses nearby were giving them. This kind of relationship— whatever it was that they have— shouldn't be in the hospital. 

"Did you get my gift this morning?" Taehyung asks as they find themselves at a secluded part outside of the hospital.

Jungkook blushes, "Yes. But, please, I appreciate it and everything— but you can, you know, you can stop doing it."

Taehyung's eyebrows shoot up all the way to his hairline, "Oh? Is there something wrong with them? It was getting boring, wasn't it?" He says before he growls under his breath, "Fucking Jimin, I knew I shouldn't have listened to him—"

"What?"

"No, nothing." Taehyung grins before he takes a step closer. "So, I was thinking—"

Jungkook swallows down the unconscious fear in his throat. "Y-Yes?"

Taehyung's eyes soften a bit before he places a hand in his coat jacket and pulls out a small note, handing it to the young doctor. "I've reserved a private booth at Smeraldo and I'd be very happy if you came to have dinner with me tonight."

Smeraldo? The Smeraldo? The most luxurius restaurant in downtown Seoul? That Smeraldo? Jungkook almost loses all the oxygen in his head, feels a hypoxic spell coming into him in seconds as he staggers in his place. Kim Taehyung is asking him out to dinner to one of the most expensive places in the entire country?

Jungkook's eyes ogle at the small note in the elder's hand and he (very) carefully cradles it like it was made of gold. It was a card with very extravagant lettering and— "Wh-What is this?"

"It's a card for a suit rental," Taehyung says, smiling at Jungkook's naivety. "I've had one prepared for you—"

"Wh-What— But—" Jungkook wants to ask how he even knows his measurements to begin with but he also doesn't want to come to terms with it. Some things are better left unsaid. "This is— It's too much,"

"Please," Taehyung waves a hand dismissively, "It's nothing. So? Shall I be expecting you tonight?"

"Taehyung-ssi—" Jungkook stammers, feeling very out of place, "This is really very nice of you and I'm very grateful but I— I—"

Taehyung frowns and Jungkook's heart shoots up to his throat. The last thing he wants is to insult The Kim Taehyung and probably have his name blacklisted in the Kim family registry or something— "Do you not like Smeraldo? Well, we could always go somewhere else, I don't mind—"

"No, no!" Jungkook hurriedly amends, "Smeraldo is— It's— wow."

Jungkook blushes at his eloquent reply.

Taehyung is endeared and absolutely smitten.

"You are an angel on earth." He says out of the blue and Jungkook coughs. Before Jungkook could really process the words though, Taehyung is stepping forward again and takes one of his hands, pressing a chaste kiss onto the back of it like a true gentleman.

"I'll see you tonight, sweetheart." He says and just like that, leaves with Jungkook's foolish heart.

Smeraldo was exactly how Jungkook thought it was— a place that was too good to be true to even exist in reality. The luxurious and grandiose restaurant that was Smeraldo was the kind of place that was only graced with the upper echelons of society. It was the kind of place where you'd need to book two months in advance, not the kind of place you get a table on impulse. There's an array of large mullioned windows, long embroidered scarlet curtains, masterfully crafted tables, beautiful, almost iridescent flowers on each table, delicate live piano and violin music, perfectly trimmed carpeted floors, lounge area with embroidered couches, tea served from silver trays in white teapots and servers of the most impeccable training and hospitality—

Jungkook was in heaven on earth.

He nervously tugs at the coat he had, somehow, managed to rent from the equally luxurious suit rental that Taehyung had directed him to. Beside him, Kim Taehyung stood as if he had belonged there, and maybe it's true. He seems like the kind of man who would belong to such a magnificent place—

But he's also the kind of man who could shoot a bullet to anybody's head without batting an eye.

Jungkook shivers unconsciously, unable to stop himself from thinking back to the night he was threatened and almost kidnapped—

"Shall we?" Taehyung extends his arm out and Jungkook, before he could process, takes it.

Stupid, foolish heart! He thinks as he follows the elder to their private booth. The privacy eases Jungkook a little. He's seated first as Taehyung pulls his chair for him and the perfect manners are enough to make Jungkook internally swoon.

Taehyung sits across him and gives him a warm smile.

Almost as if he wasn't some kind of criminal mastermind.

That he was just that— a man named Kim Taehyung.

A man who is so openly enamored with someone like Jeon Jungkook.

Jungkook can't wrap his head around it at all.

He also can't wrap his head around the feast that was laid out in front of him. Steaming marinated chicken, grilled trout with lemon, fragrant wild rice, countless cheeses that went with baskets their famous bread rolls shaped as beautiful seashells, and all sorts of varieties of salads and side dishes. Jungkook salivates. Sure, his grandmother's meals are warm and cozy, a homemade gift worth thousands but Jungkook hasn't had a feast like this ever in his life— especially since he'd long since lived off of ramen, diet coke and coffee as a medical student.

Jungkook heartily and happily eats his way through the meal and misses the way Taehyung watches him with adoration— as if he wasn't stuffing his cheeks with hot bread rolls till he looked like a chipmunk storing nuts like its life depended on it.

And when Taehyung reaches forward to wipe a bit of sauce from his lips only to lick it off of his own finger, Jungkook tries (but fails) to ignore the beating of his heart and the red spreading all over his cheeks. He chalks it up to the white wine that's served with the meal, the handsome and ever alert waiter presenting the fancy bottle to Jungkook as if his opinion held any value.

After the meal, Jungkook and Taehyung leave the restaurant, the former having been so sated and so full that he hardly registers the way his arm sneaks its way back into Taehyung's own, curling around the elder's limb while leaning his head onto his shoulder.

Jungkook lets out a satisfied hum followed by a sigh and earns himself a soft chuckle as Taehyung leads him to the car that was waiting by the entrance of the restaurant.

"The meal to your liking?" Taehyung asks as if Jungkook's current state wasn't an answer already.

Jungkook pulls away and blinks at the elder, "It was more than that. That was amazing. Thank you, Taehyung-ssi."

Taehyung grins that adorable boxy smile of his, "Anything for you, angel."

Jungkook squirms in his place, "Y-You don't have to call me such things, I told you that remember?"

"But I don't see how you're anything less than an angel, sweetheart." 

"Taehyung-ssi, I just helped you get better— any doctor would do that."

"Ah," Taehyung gives him that intense gaze again and smirks, "But you aren't just any doctor, my dear."

Jungkook freezes as Taehyung stops in his place just outside of the car, taking both of Jungkook's hands in his own.

"When I asked you that time if you knew who I was and you simply told me that I was your patient and that you'd do anything to save me, I knew right then and there, that you were someone special." Taehyung says, voice a soothing melody, a melody Jungkook could listen to for forever in all honesty. "You looked at me as if I was another human being— not many people ever did, you know?"

Jungkook tenses and looks at their hands almost guiltily. After all, since he'd known who he was, he has this instinctual reaction to be on guard—

"But, I—" Jungkook whispers. "I'm not used to— to what you do— to who you are."

"I know," Taehyung simply replies, a smile still etched on his face, "And I don't blame you for being on your toes, for being apprehensive of me. In fact, it only makes me want you more, bun."

Jungkook blinks back at him.

"When someone so as gives me a glimpse of something so precious— so rare and wonderful— it's intoxicating, exciting." Taehyung says, "It makes me want to want you more."

Jungkook is beet red, clearing his throat. "R-Really?"

Taehyung nods slowly, "Yes." He smirks, "I do love a challenge, you know?"

Jungkook can't help the laugh that escapes his mouth. "This wouldn't make sense, Taehyung-ssi. We're like polar opposites—"

"Opposites attract, don't they?" Taehyung pulls him closer till their foreheads barely touch, their noses brushing against the other's. "You heal what I hurt, you light the way to what I cover in darkness— my little angel."

Jungkook whines at the back of his throat, ducking his head so that he rests it on Taehyung's shoulder, knowing full well how red even his ears are. The soft and endeared chuckle he gets makes him whine more.

"Sweetheart," Taehyung says, arms slowly creeping to wrap around his waist, "If you doubt me, if you ever had stopped to think and wonder why I treat you so differently,"

Jungkook pulls back and stares into the elder's eyes.

"Then you should think back and recall just how you've treated me. That should give you your answer."

Jungkook pauses and slowly smiles back at the elder's words.

"You really do have a way with words, Taehyung-ssi." Jungkook chuckles shyly, not flinching away when the elder lifts a hand to push a strand of hair away from his forehead, leaning forward to press a kiss that's just as gentle as the way he's being held in the elder's arms.

"Words that have only their meaning with you, sweetheart." Taehyung whispers.

Jungkook giggles as he follows Taehyung into the car, heart more trusting, mind more open and soul more willing to be patient for this man who does exactly the opposite of what his calling demands.

And when there's another bouquet of twenty four bright red roses on the ER station the following day with another little note tucked in between the stems, Jungkook doesn't cringe in embarrassment anymore— in fact, he warmly smiles at the flamboyant gift, taking the note in his hand with a clearer, more trusting heart—

An 'I love you' for every rose, for every hour of the day, my angel.

- T