Chapter Text
Taehyung stands outside the dance studio which his best friend attends. He and Jimin had been friends since they were little. Often people who have just met them wonder how the two could be so close. Jimin is a tiny ball of energy, athletic, kind, and overall adorable (but has some seriously defined abs). He's a dancer, and is extremely dedicated. He has studied different styles for as long as Taehyung can remember. Taehyung, on the other hand, is a tall, geeky, strange person with a deep voice. At first glance he may seem intimidating- until he smiles a beautiful box-smile showing off his perfect teeth, making his whole face look like that of a small child. He’s no athlete and doesn’t understand the appeal of doing something so extremely active.
“Tae~!” A voice calls to him. Jimin is just stepping out of the building and has already spotted his tall friend. “Thanks for coming to pick me up!”
“No problem. I couldn’t leave my little Jimin out here all alone.”
“I’m not little, I’m fun-sized! Besides, I’m older than you!” Jimin pouts as Taehyung grins at him cheekily. He can’t stay annoyed at Taehyung though, not with his adorable, puppy-like features stretched into a happy smile.
Soon the two of them are in Taehyung’s car on the way to the Dreamer’s Cafe, one of their favorite hang-out spots. Jimin has no idea who thought it would be a good idea to ever let Taehyung drive. He is convinced that they both must be extremely lucky since they haven’t gotten into an accident and died. Yet.
“Are we meeting Jungkookie there, Tae?”
“I don’t know. I hope so. He didn’t pick up when I called him so I left a voicemail. I hope he got it.”
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Jungkook’s eyes are puffy and bloodshot as he smiles and greets his two friends. Both Taehyung and Jimin are concerned, but opt not to say anything.
“So, how was your day?” Jungkook asks the two of them as they sit down after ordering their drinks and snacks. Taehyung had ordered bubble tea and a large chocolate chip cookie, Jimin a caramel macchiato and a slice of blueberry cheesecake. Jungkook had ordered chamomile tea and a chocolate muffin before the others had arrived.
“Boring, Soonsim had to be taken to the vet and I was left at home alone” Taehyung pouts adorably. Jimin thinks he does that way too often for someone who sounds like they went through puberty three times.
“Is he okay?”
“Yep, just a regular check-up!”
“I was dancing pretty much the whole day, Tae just picked me up right before this,” Jimin cuts in.
“What about you Jungkookie?”
“Oh.” He pauses, hesitating to tell the two anything. “I spent most of today at home, doing homework.” He decides this will be enough to tell his friends, they don’t have to worry about anything on his behalf.
Taehyung gives Jimin a look, like they both know that Jungkook isn’t telling them something. Jungkook is grateful that they don’t ask anything else.
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“Bye~! See you guys Monday!”
“Bye Jimin, be safe walking home!”
“Yeah, bye. Be safe.”
Taehyung and Jungkook wave as Jimin takes off towards his house. After a little while of silence Taehyung asks “So, do you need a ride home? It would be easier and more safe than walking.”
“Actually, Jisung is picking me up, but thanks for the offer.”
Taehyung feels his heart clench and struggles not to make a face. Jisung is the brother of Jungkook’s girlfriend, Jiyeon. He treats Jungkook like shit, and she doesn’t try to stop him. Taehyung knows that Jungkook is emotionally fragile and can only take so much of a verbal beating, so he hates Jisung and dislikes Jiyeon for not trying to help. Besides, it’s not fair that some random girl gets Jungkook when he has known Taehyung for quite some time. It’s not fair that Jungkook has chosen a girl. It’s not fair that Taehyung is sure that his own feelings will never be returned.
“I’ll stay until he comes.”
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Taehyung: Did you cry before coming to the cafe?
Jungkook: Why?
Taehyung: Your eyes gave it away.
Jungkook: Then what is the point in asking?
Taehyung: Are you okay?
Jungkook: I’m fine
Taehyung: You aren’t
Jungkook: I AM
Taehyung: Fine
Taehyung: Will you tell me what happened?
Jungkook: You’re persistent
Taehyung: Yeah, so?
Jungkook: I visited my mom.
Jungkook: My dad was also kinda being an ass
Taehyung: Oh, I see
Jungkook: Can we not talk about this right now? I’m kinda tired
Taehyung: Okay, Goodnight <3
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“Was he in a fight?”
“I wonder who he pissed off.”
“Poor kid.”
Taehyung wonders who the heck everyone is talking about, so he moves closer to get a closer look. Oh. Oh no. He rushes forward as soon as he sees Jungkook walking past with a black eye and all sorts of cuts on his face.
“What happened?! Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I don’t want to talk about it.”
“JUNGKOOK WHAT THE HELL?!”
Jimin is now running toward them, concern written all over his face.
“You will tell us what happened.” His tone leaves no room for argument.
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“And she just stood by and watched?!”
“. . . Yeah”
“Does that bitch have no heart?!”
“Watch your mouth! How could you speak of her like that!”
“She let her brother beat you up!! What kind of sick bitch does that?! Just break up with her!”
“Jimin!” Taehyung interrupts. “Stop, okay? Just Stop!”
Only then does Jimin notice that Jungkook is in tears. Damn it, I didn’t mean to make him cry.
The two older boys feel like they can’t do anything as their friend breaks down in front of them. They knew things weren’t going well for him, but this is the first time either of them have seen him in this much pain. Taehyung moves first, circling his arms around the thin junior as he starts to collapse in on himself.
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“How are you doing now?”
“. . .Better.”
Taehyung is relieved that Jungkook was able to make it through the rest of the day without crying again. He’s so sensitive it would have been easy for anyone to upset him, and he cares so much about what others think that he would barely be able to lift his head afterward.
“You know Jimin was just angry, right? He didn’t mean what he said.”
“I know.”
This isn’t the first time Jimin and Jungkook have been angry with each other, or have upset each other. Taehyung hates seeing them this way, especially Jungkook. He and Jimin are Jungkook’s only friends, if you don’t count Jiyeon.
“Do you want to come over today?”
“Sure.”
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Playing video games with Jungkook is one of Taehyung’s favorite things to do. The younger boy gets super competitive over every game. If he wins, then he acts like he just won some grand tournament, if he loses he pouts and demands a rematch. Taehyung would never admit to Jungkook that he sometimes would let him win, just to see his happy, triumphant grin.
They play for hours. Taehyung is sure that he has cheered up Jungkook, hopefully making him forget about the events from earlier. Eventually Jungkook has to leave. As he steps out of the house, Taehyung hugs him close, holding him as gently and lovingly as he can. Jungkook is the first to break away.
“Goodnight, hyung. I’ll see you at school.”
“Goodnight, Jungkookie. Take care of yourself.”
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“Who’s that? Why is he here?” Jungkook looks slightly panicked as he glances at the table Jimin is seated at.
“Um, that is Jimin’s . . . friend.”
“Why didn’t you tell me that someone else was joining us?”
“Jimin asked me not to.”
Jungkook seems reluctant to approach. His eyes are fixed on the short man sitting across from Jimin. He has bleach-blond hair and dark eyes with a mildly amused expression on his porcelain face as he watches Jimin ramble on about something. Taehyung can almost feel the uneasiness rolling off of Jungkook. They eventually approach the table where Jimin introduces everyone
“Yoongi, these are my friends, Jungkook and Taehyung.” Jimin gestures at them as he says their names. “Guys, this is Yoongi, my boyfriend.”
“ . . . Excuse me? Are you joking?” Jungkook looks quite surprised at this news. Taehyung giggles at Jungkooks reaction, since he already knew.
“I’m not joking. Hoseok introduced me to him. Apparently they have known each other for a long time. Anyway, we met a few times after that and eventually I asked him out.” Jimin looks pleased with himself, almost smug.
“Hoseok is that guy who goes to the same dance studio as you, right?”
“Yes, Jungkook.”
For most of the rest of their time at the cafe, Jungkook remains silent. Taehyung feels a little bad about not telling him before hand, since he is so shy, but he can’t do anything about that now. He hopes that Jungkook might be able to open himself up more, even if it’s just to this one person.
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Taehyung: How’s your mom?
Jungkook: Not well. Her condition hasn’t changed
Taehyung: Oh
Taehyung: At least she’s not worse?
Jungkook: But I want her to get better
Taehyung: I know, just wait a little longer
Jungkook: I can’t help but think the worst could happen
Taehyung: Don’t think about that. Everything will be okay
Jungkook: Hopefully. Goodnight hyung
Taehyung: Goodnight Jungkookie
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“Jiyeon is going to break up with Jungkook tomorrow.”
“What?! How do you know?”
“I overheard her, duh.”
“But Jimin, isn’t tomorrow their one-year anniversary?”
“. . . fuck.”
Taehyung is at a loss for words. Who would want to break up with Jungkook? How could this person be planning on causing Jungkook so much pain?
“We should tell him.”
“No, you idiot. He’ll just get mad at us and say we are lying.”
“Then what should we do? We can’t just stand by and wait for her to hurt Jungkook.”
“I’ll figure out something.”
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Jungkook: Hyung
Jungkook: HYUNG!!
Jungkook: answer me, damn it!
Jungkook: Hyung, I’m scared
Jungkook: Help me
Jungkook: I’m at Jiyeon’s place
Jungkook: why aren’t you answering?
Taehyung looks at the messages from Jungkook, his heart sinking with each one he reads. Why did he have to have his phone off at that moment? The most recent text was from roughly half an hour earlier, the oldest maybe an hour. Without thinking, Taehyung grabs his keys and dashes out of his house, heading straight for his car. I hope I’m not too late.
Taehyung: I’m on my way
Taehyung spends the whole ride there extremely tense. The fact that he has not received a text back worries him even more.
When he arrives at Jiyeon’s house, he does not knock and wait to be let in. Luckily, the door isn’t locked so breaking in is easy. He immediately starts to search the house, calling for Jungkook.
As he is searching, a heavy hand lands on his shoulder and a threatening voice from behind him asks “What the hell are you doing here?”
Taehyung whirls around and comes face-to-face with Jisung. Steeling his nerves, Taehyung replies “I have come to get Jungkook and I’m not leaving without him.” He is shaking, terrified of the young man in front of him, but he hopes it doesn’t show.
“Oppa, who’s there?”
“It’s me, Taehyung, I’ve come to pick up Jungkook” Taehyung says, cutting off whatever Jisung’s response would have been.
“Oh, okay. I wasn’t expecting you to show up, Jungkook didn’t tell me. It’s about time he left anyway, so thanks for coming”
Taehyung makes his way over to the stairs which Jiyeon is standing on top of, angling his head up to see her more clearly.
“Where is he?”
“Up here.”
“Can I come up then?”
“Sure.”
Taehyung cautiously ascends the stairs until he is standing next to Jiyeon. Jiyeon then leads him to her room and gestures in. Taehyung looks, but doesn’t see Jungkook at first. Then he hears soft whimpering sounds coming from the corner of the room, hidden mostly by the bed. He carefully approaches the place the noises are coming from, seeing Jungkook curled in on himself, pressing himself into the corner as if he was trying to become one with the wall. Not wanting to startle him, Taehyung gently puts a hand on his arm. Jungkook flinches. At this point Taehyung doesn’t even want to know what happened, he just wants to get Jungkook somewhere safe.
“Jungkookie, it’s me. I’m here to take you home.”
Jungkook hesitantly looks up at his worried hyung, his whimpers and sobs turning into quiet hiccups and sniffles. Taehyung’s heart aches seeing Jungkook in tears, wanting nothing more than to wipe them away (if he could, he would kiss them away, but he knows Jungkook wouldn’t want that).
“Come on, I’m going to take you away from here. You are safe now.” He helps the younger boy to his feet, holding him close, and guides him out of the room and down the stairs. He says a brief goodbye to Jisung and Jiyeon before guiding Jungkook out to his car. Only when the two are safely inside Taehyung’s car does Jungkook allow himself to cry again.
“Th-thank you” Jungkook chokes out between sobs.
“I’m sorry I didn’t come earlier, my phone was off, I didn’t receive your messages until a little while ago.”
Jungkook nods in understanding, letting Taehyung know he had heard, but can’t bring himself to say anything else. Taehyung doesn’t say anything else either, just focuses on driving Jungkook home. To his own home.
Taehyung notices the way Jungkook cradles his swollen wrist. He notices the dark bruises forming over Jungkook’s arms. He notices every little visible injury and difference that has been left on Jungkook’s perfect, pale skin. He mentally promises himself and Jungkook that he will never let anyone hurt him this much ever again.
I’m going to be right beside him from now on. I won’t let anyone break him.