Work Text:
Taehyung was borderline hysterical when he heard the news.
Hospital. Admitted. Head injury. Bleeding. Unconscious. Unconscious. Unconscious.
Riding a taxi heading to the hospital, Taehyung was still wearing his button-up and slacks, covered his long black coat over it to help with the chilly evening weather. It was a little past 10 in the evening. The elder's heart pumping wildly in his chest and his breath coming out in short gasps. Taehyung was afraid— afraid to lose Jungkook. It's the only time he ever feels fear. He hasn't noticed it yet but he could feel tears brimming at his eyes but he wasn't thinking about that, didn't have time to think about that— not when his boyfriend, his lover, his sweet angel was in the hospital, unconscious and bleeding from a head injury.
But he can't panic— not when the details aren't clear, not when he hasn't seen Jungkook in person. He places a hand on his chest to calm his heart and shuts his eyes tight, desperately wanting to see the black behind his eyelids to help ground himself, ignoring the way the taxi driver looks back at him through the rearview mirror. He mentally counts one to ten and then back to zero but all he can hear in his head is a female's cool voice saying, "Kim Taehyung-ssi? I'm Dr. Lee. Jeon Jungkook has just been admitted to the E.R. and I'm calling because you are listed as his emergency contact—"
Taehyung had gotten the call when he was at home, waiting for Jungkook to come home after he had told the elder of the cafe's dinner party to send off some senior employees. The elder had called Jungkook to check on him, asking him what time he's heading home and if he needed to be picked up, even volunteering to do so. The younger male refused though, saying something like not wanting to be a burden knowing Taehyung was tired from work. Taehyung would've been happy to drop anything for Jungkook but he respected the younger male's wishes— and he genuinely sounded very happy in the call. He didn't want to ruin his night.
An hour later, his phone began to ring incessantly and he groaned, rubbing the sleep away from his eyes. He checked the caller ID and realized that it's an unknown number. Something inside of him began telling him to take the call.
And he did.
And now, he's in a taxi, praying to whoever is listening to him to keep Jungkook alive—
He can't lose Jungkook. He can't.
His eyes blur a hazy, dull shade of crimson, almost mixed with a murky black— and it was hideous.
Taehyung arrives in the hospital moments later, rashly paying the taxi driver with apologies from his mouth and runs straight to a nurse behind a counter at the emergency room. Panting, he tries to desperately ask her where Jungkook was, how was he and if he was awake— but no words came out of his mouth. Harsh gasps escaped his lips as his calves burned, eyes shut tight in fear of falling after the adrenaline coursed through his veins.
"Sir, are you all right?" The nurse asks, standing from her table to look over Taehyung at the counter.
Taehyung darts his eyes at the lady and places his hands on the table for balance, "I-I— I'm looking— I'm looking for Jeon Jungkook— H-He was brought here— H-Head Injury— Please— Please tell me he's okay—"
"Sir, please calm down. May I ask who you are to the patient?"
Taehyung's chest aches but he stares into her eyes and says without a doubt, "I'm-I'm his boyfriend. Please— Please let me see him. Dr. Lee called me—"
The nurse's eyes blink and stare for a moment before she turns around to type something on her computer. After a few seconds, she hands him an ID pass and explains, "Patient Jeon Jungkook has just been wheeled to his room, sir. Take this ID and proceed to the fifth floor. He is in room 525."
"Thank you! Thank you—" Taehyung pants, taking the ID and heading straight for the elevators. He presses the button for the up elevator and it lights up but it feels like an hour till it gets moving— Taehyung's eyes begin to dart back and forth, hands trembling and he holds them together to keep people from seeing them. He presses the elevator once more and again and again and again—
Finally, the elevator opens and two people get out. He quickly jumps in and practically punches the button for the fifth floor. Taehyung brings his hands up to his lips in a sort of prayer, closing his eyes and also close to tears. The elevator chimes and he steps out, looking back and forth, disoriented at seeing the clean white identical halls. He spots a guide on a wall and mutters, "525, 525, 525..." while making his way down the hall, turning a corner and walking again, careful not to hit any medical equipment along the way, until—
He stands outside the door, running his fingers over the numbers while his other hand finds his chest again, pacing his heart as he takes a deep breath. Please, please, please—
The older male carefully opens the door and peers inside. The first thing he sees is the floor, all clean and spotless, carefully sweeping his eyes up to a bed with white bedsheets, and Taehyung sees him— sees his boyfriend, his lover— lying in bed, eyes closed with bandages wrapped around his head, some black to blue bruises near the injury and all over his face, he was dressed in a hospital gown and his arms were rested over the thin blanket, intravenous lines hooked to bottles hanging on stands beside his bed. Jungkook was peaceful in his sleep, completely out to the world.
Taehyung walks quietly towards the chair beside the bed. He doesn't completely register himself sitting on the chair but he does register the way his hands hold onto the younger male's hand, cold and motionless and that's what breaks him—
The older male lets the tears flow at last as small, near silent hiccups escape his lips, bringing the younger male's hand to his lips, pressing kisses on his fingers gently. They were so cold, so devoid of life— it scared him.
How on earth did this happen?
Earlier that day, Taehyung had dropped by Jungkook's workplace, a quaint little cafe at a corner street filled with warmth and freshly watered potted plants. It was designed like a doll house, all pastel colors and fairy lights. It suited Jungkook very well. Taehyung had brought some coffee for his co-workers along the way— after all, everything about Jungkook should be perfect and that includes his own boyfriend.
"Welcome to— Oh! Hyungie!" Jungkook grins behind the counter, brightening up like a light bulb once the elder enters the cafe, smiling back and carrying the coffee in his other hand. Jungkook steps around the counter and greets the elder with a brief hug and a kiss on the cheek, "What brings you here?"
Taehyung gives the younger male a warm smile, brushing a few strands of his black hair away from his eyes, tucking them carefully behind his ear. "I was along the way and thought I'd pay you a visit." he pauses, "Also, you mentioned about a party tonight right? I thought I'd treat myself to a bit of you while I still have the time— you know I'll miss you not being at home. Oh, I brought you and your co-workers some coffee."
"Stop it, hyung. You're overreacting— it's just a little farewell party for our seniors." Jungkook smiles with a blush as he takes the drinks and turns around to hand them to some of his co-workers already behind the counter. They give their thanks as they receive the drinks as the younger male turns back, giggling shyly, "Thank you, hyungie. It's very sweet of you."
Taehyung flicks the underside of his chin, earning him a little giggle.
"Would you like something? A cafe latte? Some croissant? We just made a fresh batch, I can get one for you. It'll be on the house." Jungkook tilts his head and Taehyung resists the urge to press his mouth against the younger male's, knowing full well that if he did, well, he wouldn't be able to stop.
Taehyung pockets his hands in his coat and hums, "A cafe latte sounds good, baby. I'll pay—"
"No," Jungkook shakes his head and instead guides the elder around to find a seat of his liking, "Like I said, it'll be on the house. Those drinks will do good as payment, hyungie. Sit and make yourself comfortable, okay?"
Taehyung chuckles but who is he to deny his angel? He presses a quick kiss to the younger male's temple and squeezes his waist for a moment before picking a solo table at the corner of the cafe, winking at the younger male before Jungkook turns back to head behind the counter.
"Quit showing off, Jeon." One of his co-workers, an older noona teases with a sly smirk on her face. Jungkook blushes.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Jungkook huffs as he busies preparing Taehyung's cafe latte.
The older female sighs, "When can I get a man like that in my life?"
Jungkook laughs and earns himself a look from the noona before moving back into the kitchen to fetch on Taehyung's croissant. He fails to notice his other co-worker, a junior male intern, approaching their senior.
"Is that man..."
She looks up and shrugs with a smirk, "His boyfriend, Kim Taehyung. Unbelievable, right? How could Jeon Jungkook get one of the most perfect boyfriends out there?"
"I don't know," He whispers back, "He seems to give a kind of—"
She turns to look at him curiously and questionably.
"— I don't know, noona, I just have a bad feeling about him." The intern admits, rubbing a hand at the back of his neck.
"Hey, don't say that—" She pats him on the shoulder, "Sure, sometimes he may give off a bit of a vibe but he doesn't seem to be too bad. He sure as hell treats Jungkook like he's everything in his world."
"But, noona—" The intern insists, "His name is Kim Taehyung, right? I have a senior before who went to the same school he did and he didn't seem to open up to anybody else other than Jungkook. He was always hanging around him and was very protective of him—"
She blinks, surprised to hear this. "Surely, there must've been a reason—"
"He seems kind of fishy to me."
"What was that?"
Jungkook's voice causes both of them to jump in their place.
"I-I don't mean to be rude, sunbaenim." The intern quickly retracts his statement, "I just mean—"
"Don't be rude to him. You don't know him." Jungkook says before he registers what he's actually saying. He looks down at his feet and turns away, an ugly feeling bubbling in his chest— no, more like coiling around his ribcage. How could someone who doesn't know Taehyung personally say something like that about him? He doesn't know how kind and wonderful Taehyung is— How he's helped him come out of his shell and always made sure he was safe— How Taehyung always took good care of him when he was sick or when he was in a bad mood— How Taehyung always listened to his demands and wishes without batting an eye—
How is Taehyung bad?
"Sunbaenim, I'm sorry—" The intern meekly adds, "I didn't mean to upset you. I guess it was just me or something. I hope you're not offended."
Jungkook doesn't think he's offended but he feels offended— he's offended for Taehyung's sake. He turns around and frowns, eyebrows furrowing and his posture is tense, defensive even. "Don't talk like that about him."
But before the intern could utter another word, Jungkook takes the cafe latte in his hand and leaves the counter, ignoring the calm yet worried look of his senior co-worker. Jungkook heads for Taehyung's table, too distracted in his muddled thoughts to worry about his expression so Taehyung sees it— he sees the crease on his forehead, the frown on his face and the mood change on his angel's features.
Needless to say, Taehyung is concerned.
"Baby, what's wrong?" Taehyung asks softly, careful not to attract too much attention on them because he knows Jungkook doesn't like to be some kind of attraction whenever he becomes a little too emotional in public. The elder reaches over, a warm hand gently holding onto his own after he places down the cup of cafe latte on the coffee table. He doesn't let the younger male leave yet.
Jungkook purses his lips— hesitating.
Taehyung narrows his eyes and glances at the counter for a split second, sees the female employee talking to a male employee whose large frame seems to shrink in size as he lowers his head in apology. The elder turns back to Jungkook whose eyes look sad and upset.
Taehyung's blood begins to turn hot.
"Has something happened with you and your co-workers?" He asks carefully and feels a little flinch in the hand he's holding. "What happened? What did they say to you?"
Jungkook makes a strangled noise at the back of his throat. A feeble attempt to change the subject but Taehyung doesn't want to change anything— not yet.
"Baby," Taehyung coos, smiling up at him, warming up his eyes to Jungkook's doe pair, "Don't worry, I won't be mad. I promise. What did they say to you? Look, you're upset— I can't let you go back to work like this."
".... you..."
Taehyung cranes his head a little closer, "What was that, angel?"
Jungkook sighs and looks at Taehyung, upset, "He said something about you."
Taehyung's features are indifferent— or at least, they seem to be. His hand caresses the one he's holding and his smile returns, calm and serene. "Really? What did he say about me?"
Jungkook shakes his head, "It's wrong— I don't want to say it—"
"Hush, baby—" Taehyung stands up and cups Jungkook's cheeks, tilting his head up gently. "Please tell me. Whatever they said, it's making you sad and I don't like it."
Jungkook frowns and reaches over to place his hand over one of Taehyung's, "He said that you gave off a bad feeling— which is stupid, it's just plain stupid, hyungie. I told him not to be rude to you when he doesn't even know you in person. I told him not to talk like that about you because it's not true—"
Taehyung hums, brushing a thumb on a soft cheek, "Really, angel? You said all of that for me?"
Jungkook nods his head, gazing up at the elder's eyes, "Of course I did, hyungie. You've been nothing but good to me— I don't understand why he doesn't see that and— and it's making me upset."
Taehyung tuts, "Don't mind him, baby. You don't have time to think about what he thinks of me. As long as you think I'm good to you— as long as you're happy with the way I am, then I don't care about what other people think of me. You're all that matters to me, okay?"
"But—"
"Jungkook," Taehyung whispers and Jungkook looks back at the elder and sees only a man he has come to trust with all of his life. How could anyone think of Taehyung as someone bad? Jungkook can't comprehend— "Listen to me, sweetheart, I want you to forget about what he said. It means nothing to what you think. I don't care what he thinks of me either, okay? Please, baby— I don't want to see you so upset."
"Hyungie—"
Taehyung frowns, "What can I do to make you happy again? Would you like me to buy you another pair of those Chukkas you were eyeing in the internet the other day? Or would you like us to go on a date after this? Anything you want, angel. I'll do anything for you to smile again."
Jungkook blinks and shakes his head, this time a small smile forms on his face and he lets out an airy giggle, "Stop it, hyung. You don't have to go that far."
"But you're upset, baby—"
"I was," Jungkook clarifies and squeezes Taehyung's hands in his own. "But I'm all better now thanks to you. You're right, hyungie. I shouldn't let other people get to me. All I know is that I'm happy with you and that's all that matters."
Taehyung smiles back, "That's right, angel." He leans and presses a kiss onto his forehead. "Are you sure you're all better now? Will you be okay at the party later? You can always refuse if you don't want to go—"
"No, I'll be fine." Jungkook shakes his head and gives him a quick hug before turning around to head back to work, looking back to give the elder a little flying kiss. Taehyung smiles back warmly at the younger male, observing him return to his work station and ignoring the younger male intern trailing after him, apologies running from his mouth. Taehyung sits back on his chair and picks up the cafe latte Jungkook had prepared for him.
It's hot.
Like the blood boiling in his veins.
Jungkook was the type of guy who always tried his best to see the good in people— he really did. Ever since Taehyung took him in his arms, showed him how to love again and became his, he's found time to trust other people again.
He owes it all to Taehyung.
Taehyung— the one person who has seen all of him, inside and out. The one person in this world who gave him the definition of true love, who gave him nothing but the best and treated him more than what he truly deserves. Taehyung who was so generous and so loving to him. Taehyung was a man who was willing to protect him, keep him safe and sound and away from all the dark things in the world... and Jungkook— well, he was a man who was willing to protect him as well.
It all started after Taehyung had called him in the middle of the party. He had excused himself and answered the call, comforted the elder that he will be fine going home by himself and that he won't stay out too late, promising not to drink too much alcohol or else the elder will get mad. After ending the call, he returns to the group to see some of the employees begin to whisper amongst themselves.
"What is it?" Jungkook asks, brows creasing.
There are a few of them turning to look at each other before one employee, a senior who happened to know the intern from earlier, turns to look at him with a strained smile, "No, it's nothing. Don't worry about it, Jungkook-ah."
Jungkook clutches the phone in his hand, "... Are you sure?"
"Yeah, we're sure."
Jungkook should've known better. He thinks as he observes the rest of the group huddling closer amongst themselves, as he picks up Taehyung's name in their hushed gossip. Jungkook feels a strange, unpleasant churning in his stomach. He feels sick.
But, he doesn't understand. These people were trustworthy. They really were.
So why?
Why can't they trust Taehyung?
It was after the party when Jungkook confronted the group again. It was one of his seniors from high school, the intern from earlier and another acquaintance of theirs.
"— If you have something to say, just say it. I know it's about me and Taehyung," Jungkook says, fisting his hands at his sides. He watches as the senior and intern exchange a look between each other.
"Jeon, listen, about Kim Taehyung—" The senior starts, hands raised defensively. "Isn't he— Isn't he a little overbearing for you?"
Jungkook's eyes widen, "What?"
"Think about it, I've known you two since we were in the same high school years back. I saw him and how he is around you from afar, from a third person's perspective. It isn't healthy, Jeon." The senior motions to the phone in Jungkook's pocket. "And earlier? He called you to make sure what time you got home, didn't he? You're an adult yourself, Jeon. You don't need another person's permission—"
"That's not true!" Jungkook quickly intervenes, "You've got him all wrong!"
"Jeon—"
"Taehyung is honest and kind and he'd never do anything to hurt me— you've got him all wrong!" Jungkook argues and jumps back when their acquaintance kicks a trashcan nearby.
"Geez," He drawls, glaring back at the younger male, "I never realized how annoying a faggot is until now."
Jungkook pales, taking a step back.
"Hey, stop it—" The senior tries to grab their friend's shoulder but he easily shrugs him off. The intern is speechless, like a deer caught in the headlights, darting his eyes back and forth.
"You know what?" Their acquaintance— he didn't quite get his name— steps up into Jungkook's space and glares down at him, "I don't understand why you fags are always so whiny, bitching about being treated unfairly and all that—"
Jungkook tightens his fist, glaring back at the man. He's not running away anymore. He's done and tired of that.
"If you're this bitchy then no wonder your little faggot of a boyfriend's got a tight leash on you," He grins, leaning close so that only he and Jungkook hears the rest, "You gotta keep the leash tight for a bitch, right?"
Jungkook grits his teeth and pushes the man back, throwing his fist back and landing it square on his jaw— he swears his hears a bone crack somewhere.
"Hey!" The senior gasps from behind but Jungkook isn't listening.
How dare this man insult him and Taehyung? How dare he judge them and their love for each other?
After all this time, Taehyung had carefully helped put back the pieces of his fragile heart to open up to people again— Jungkook comes to a conclusion that no one else deserves that trust anymore.
No one but Taehyung.
"You—" The man growls, grabbing Jungkook by the collar and landing a punch on his cheek. Jungkook stands his ground though and grabs a hold of the man's wrist before bringing his other hand up to hit him on the eye. The man staggers back, landing on his side, eyes glaring wildly at Jungkook. "You piece of shit—"
"Stop it!" The senior and the intern cry out in the distance.
Jungkook readies his stance as the man picks himself up, lunging at him, grabbing hold of his neck and slams him against the wall. The black haired male puts up a fight, kicking him on the stomach and punching him back— he's fighting hard that he doesn't realize that the man had taken something from the ground from where he had fallen.
It's a second too late when Jungkook realizes it as something heavy hits him on the head. Vaguely, he sees a piece of a broken beer bottle thrown past his head and Jungkook grunts, pain coursing through his head— like a persistent migraine; a nagging, throbbing ache and it's fuelling the adrenaline in his body.
"God, what did you do?!" He vaguely hears the senior shout before he feels himself falling and falling and falling onto the ground. It feels wet around his head— warm and sticky and it's gradually pooling by him.
"Ugh," Jungkook groans, hand coming up to feel the damage but as he touches it, the pain spikes ten times worse and he whimpers pitifully. He's too much in pain that he doesn't realize the little scuffle between the three of them before they look at him, horrified and panicked. Jungkook tries to pry one eye open but he can't.
"L-Let's get out of here." He hears one of them say— can't tell who anymore. His head is throbbing and throbbing and throbbing and he just wants it to stop. He just wants this pain to stop.
He doesn't want to hurt anymore.
So why does he keep on hurting?
When he comes to, he's being laid down on a stretcher in another location with an influx of people in white beginning to ask him questions— his name, age, what had happened to him and if anybody was with him—
"J-Jeon Jungkook—" He groans, the blood in his eyes now fading as the pain seeps through his very core. The blood is dripping down more profusely now and he pants, his chest aching and begging for air, "I— Wh-Where am I—"
"Sir? Please stay with us— you're in a hospital right now. Can you tell us your name? What happened?" A nurse says in a controlled voice as she places an oxygen mask over his mouth, "The doctor will be here soon—"
"I— I was talking to people—" Jungkook croaks out, vision almost going black, "Was just talking and then— there was a fight a-and I was hit— hit by— ugh,"
The nurses widen their eyes as they continued to control the bleeding. Jungkook vaguely hears one nurse inform someone, perhaps the doctor— "— arrived with a blunt trauma to the head— possible assault— still conscious but losing blood fast— attached IV and oxygen—"
Jungkook lets out a groan and sees a woman in a white coat over him.
"Do you have anybody with you? Any family or relative we can contact?" She asks calmly.
Jungkook registers for a moment and, in his dazed state, utters only one name.
"Taehyung— Kim Taehyung."
And then all he sees is black.
Taehyung carefully brushes his thumb over the skin on Jungkook's cold hand. He doesn't want to think he's dead. No. He can't be. But his peaceful, unmoving body is making Taehyung think otherwise. He leans a little forward and presses a soft kiss onto the younger male's chapped, cracked lips— confused as to how this had happened. What on earth happened to him? Who did this to him? Where was he? There were so many questions that he needed answers to. His blood is boiling at seeing his angel in this state. Whoever did this was about to see hell in the flesh as the crimson color slowly overtakes his vision— his everything. Then, soft knocks echo from behind the door and he hurriedly wipes the tears from his eyes away as he turns to see a female doctor enter the room with a nurse in tow, a gentle smile on her face.
"Hello, you must be Kim Taehyung-ssi?" She greets, extending a hand. Taehyung takes it after a pregnant pause, not wanting to remove his hand from Jungkook's so easily, and nods his head. "I'm Dr. Lee, I admitted your partner, Jeon Jungkook earlier." She pauses and looks over Taehyung's disheveled state.
"I—" Taehyung croaks before clearing his throat and taking in a deep breath, "Yes— Thank you very much, doctor."
Dr. Lee nods and allows the nurse to take the vitals and other information from Jungkook's monitor while she continues talking with Taehyung.
"How is he? Is he going to be fine?" Taehyung asks, hands still holding onto Jungkook's, careful yet tight enough to make sure he doesn't disappear.
Dr. Lee offers a smile, "He's going to be fine," Dr. Lee steps around the bed to stand on the other side. Taehyung is watching her a like a hawk.
"He has a blunt trauma to the head, probably from something like a bottle or some sort— some bruising around the area, but I can assure you it isn't life-threatening." She continues, "He's suffered a mild concussion and some contusions because of the attack—"
"Attack?" Taehyung sucks in a sharp breath.
Dr. Lee's expression becomes solemn now as she lowers her gaze a little, "Yes, when we had interviewed the patient, it seemed that he had a confrontation with his assailant and had a bit of a fight with him— though any further details haven't been disclosed yet as he lost consciousness thereafter."
Taehyung is a pale mass of limbs now, hands trembling and heart racing. Jungkook was attacked? He was hit and left to bleed on the side of the road? The crimson blinding the elder's vision is becoming murky and dull again— almost like blood. Taehyung is angry— wrathful. He wants the names of the people who had hurt his precious, beautiful angel— the people who have scarred him and left him to die alone.
How dare they— How dare they do this to him?
Taehyung's mind was racing and his hands began to itch for action.
He needed to fulfill this vengeance seeping through every fiber of his being.
Nobody hurts Jungkook and comes out alive and whole. Not if Taehyung can help it.
"The police were here earlier and I had relayed this information to them. I believe they will be back later to interview your partner when he wakes up." Dr. Lee adds but Taehyung is only barely listening to her words.
Someone had hurt him— Someone had violently hurt Jungkook while he was safe and sound at home, waiting for him to come home— Someone almost killed him!
"— Kim-ssi?"
Taehyung blinks the unshed tears away and darts his eyes back to the doctor who looks at him worriedly.
"I'm sorry for what had happened, but I assure you he is in safe hands now." She offers him a comforting smile which does little to ease the anger flaring inside him, "We've closed the wound so now, we'll allow him to rest."
"When will he wake up?" Taehyung asks, voice monotone and cold as he carefully brushes his thumb on Jungkook's soft skin. He's only gentle and warm when it comes to him because his angel deserves nothing less— even as black to blue bruises and scratches litter his face, to Taehyung, he is still the most beautiful person in the world.
"We have him on a morphine drip for the pain but he can wake up any time within the day, really." She replies and Taehyung nods, dazed.
"Yes—" Taehyung takes a big gulp, suddenly noting how dry his throat was, "Thank you for all that you've done, doctor— I really appreciate it."
She gives him a kind smile before taking a bow along with the nurse and leaving the room in silence. Taehyung stays there in his seat, hand still holding Jungkook's motionless, cold one and prays silently— prays for his fallen angel to wake up. He doesn't want to do this alone. He hates being alone. He's scared to be alone. He's scared of a world without Jungkook. Jungkook means so much more to him than any other person and he can't lose him.
He needs Jungkook.
He— He can't live without him.
It's nearly 4:00 in the morning, an inch of light is seeping through the thin hospital curtains, bringing some sunlight into the dull room. Taehyung furrows his eyebrows at the rising dawn and rubs his sleepy eyes awake, his hand still holding onto Jungkook's, afraid that he would disappear again if he didn't hold onto it. Taehyung moves to sit up, having leaned over to rest his head on his arms at the side of the bed, hoping to catch some semblance of sleep, but it had been a dreamless one— one where all he saw was just a black void of nothingness and it scared him.
He stretches his back a little before blinking the cobwebs of sleep away from his eyes and then he looks to Jungkook hoping for something— some kind of change—
And there is.
Jungkook is looking back at him, watching the older male with a small smile on his face. Taehyung lets out a soft gasp as their eyes meet and worries that he might be dreaming, that he might still be asleep— but then Jungkook gently squeezes Taehyung's hand and it's all the confirmation he needs to know that the younger male is awake.
"Jungkook—" Taehyung croaks, almost sobs again as he leans forward, pulling his hand away to cup both of the younger male's cheeks tenderly, careful not to hurt him. "Baby— Oh, angel—"
"Hi, hyungie." Jungkook sighs, voice raspy from lack of use and his eyes show an emotion Taehyung is all too familiar with— guilt.
"I've missed you—" Taehyung says, tears brimming at his eyes— sees the way Jungkook's beautiful doe eyes that are always so expressive and emotional look at him. "I've missed you and I know it hasn't even been a day but—"
"Hyungie," Jungkook croaks and slowly raises a hand to card his fingers through Taehyung's soft hair, hoping to give him some kind of comfort. The older male is crying now.
"I'm so happy you're all right," Taehyung manages to say through the tears, "I was so scared, Jungkook— I thought I was going to— to—"
"I know," Jungkook pulls him so that he rests his head on the younger male's chest, making sure that he hears the steady beat of the his heart. It offers the older male some comfort as his cries gradually soften, "I know, hyungie. I'm so sorry for worrying you..."
Taehyung sighs against Jungkook's chest, closing his eyes for a moment, "What happened, angel? What were you doing at that hour? Who did this to you?"
"I—" Jungkook's head buzzes and he squeezes his hold on Taehyung's hand, "When you called, there were a few people who were talking behind my back about you. After the party, I confronted them and—"
Taehyung looks up with sad eyes as he scoots closer to press a kiss at the younger male's bottom lip, nuzzling closer to offer Jungkook some comfort. "Tell me what did they do to you, baby." He says, masking the growing anger boiling in his blood.
"— Called me bad names, hyungie," Jungkook's lips wobble, his headspace dropping from the trauma and adrenaline dropping but more so from having the elder here with him, his strong presence an anchor Jungkook is clutching onto for life. Taehyung's now caressing the younger male's cheeks, keeping him close and relishing the warmth of his body while they're in this cold hospital room. "Called you bad names too a-and I didn't like it. Made me m-mad."
He hiccups which causes Taehyung to look back at his face in alarm, quickly peppering kisses over his flushed cheeks and trembling lips.
"I h-hit him b-because I didn't like him calling us names like that a-and then he pushed me back too— hit me a couple of times a-and on my 'ead—"
Taehyung's brows furrow as he tenses in his hold.
"He was upset and—"
"No, that's enough—" Taehyung says, looking back at the yonger male, "That's enough, sweetheart. I'm sorry— I shouldn't have asked. I'm making you relive it, right baby? I didn't mean to. I'm so sorry."
Jungkook shakes his head and nuzzles closer to Taehyung's warm hands, "'m sorry— I tried to protect hyungie— tried to."
Taehyung offers him a warm smile and Jungkook can't help but smile back. "Thank you, angel. You always know what's best for me."
Jungkook shakes his head, "I—I—" He takes a deep, calming breath before leaning forward, kissing the elder's dry lips before pulling away, resting his head on the white pillow but not too hard because of his injury,
Taehyung sighs, brushing his nose against Jungkook's, "I was so scared when I got the call from the doctor. I feared the worst. But I'm glad you're all right, angel. I wouldn't know what to do without you."
Jungkook rests his hand on Taehyung's back and giggles softly, "Me too, hyungie." His smile falters and he looks at the older male sadly, "But 'm sorry you had to see me like this. I-I didn't wan' you seeing me like this, hyungie— I look bad, really bad—"
Taehyung quickly hushes the younger male, "No— No, baby, don't apologize. It's all right." He gives the younger male a small smile, "As long as you're awake and all right now, I'm happy and besides, nothing in this world is as beautiful as you."
Jungkook returns the smile back.
"Are you in any pain? Do you need anything?" Taehyung asks, trying to lean back to give the younger male some room but Jungkook keeps his hand in place, refusing to budge. "Baby?"
"Stay."
Taehyung stills.
"Just stay, hyungie. P-Please? I only need you." Jungkook whispers and his eyes have darkened, his voice soft like a gentle whisper. "I need nothing else but you, hyungie."
Taehyung's gaze is softer now, ducking his head to kiss the younger male's split lips, "Of course, angel. Anything for you." He nuzzles closer to his neck, pressing soft kisses at any skin he can find, offering any comfort he can give. "I'll stay. I'll stay with you. Always."
Taehyung smiles serenely and at peace— his angel by his side.
It was later that day when the rest of their group of friends visited, all with faces of concern and worry. It took Jungkook almost an hour to get them to calm down. Taehyung was brought some extra clothes courtesy of Jimin while Seokjin had brought some homemade food for them. Needless to say, it made Jungkook feel a whole lot better being surrounded by his hyungs.
Later that night, Jimin and Yoongi stayed behind to help Taehyung in watching over the younger male. After playing a bit of cards and some board games (Hoseok had brought them), Jungkook had fallen into a peaceful sleep, tucked in his hospital bed by Jimin.
"Hyung, I'm stepping out for a bit for work. Can you watch over him for me?" Taehyung asks Yoongi as he sits by the window, a book in hand. The elder looks up, almost assesses Taehyung for a moment.
"Of course, you don't have to ask." Yoongi says, nodding his head to Jimin. "Jiminnie is here anyway, so he'll be in good hands. Don't stay up too late, though. You need your rest too, Tae."
Taehyung offers the elder a smile, "Yeah, I know, hyung." He sighs, "If I could do this another day, I would but..."
"I get it," Yoongi waves a hand off, "You go do what you have to do. We'll watch over the kid for you, okay? Stay safe."
Taehyung nods his head, putting on his coat and opening the door, "Thank you hyung."
He exits the hospital, dressed in an all black coat on a black turtleneck and slacks ensemble resembling an undertaker. Well, in a way, perhaps Taehyung is—
The thing is, this is the kind of work that couldn't wait. Not when Taehyung's hands have been itching to maim since the moment he laid eyes on Jungkook's bruised form.
How dare they touch him like this? How dare they hurt him?
It isn't hard for Taehyung to obtain the information that he needs on people— he's got the money, the brains and the connections. Through the time he's been with Jungkook, he's carefully crafted and mastered his technique into eliminating whatever stands in the way of his faultless angel. Normally, the targets were thirsty men hoping to get a touch on the vulnerable young male and often times, Jungkook is unaware of their intentions— call it his trait or golden charm— but Jungkook has always been the better between the two of them when it comes to opening their hearts to people, even if those people didn't deserve it in the first place. His baby had gone through hell and back that he knows no one should ever have to go through that, no one deserves to go through what he had gone through— which is why he remains kind to people.
Unlike Taehyung whose heart had frozen the moment he held his first knife and plunged it into his first victim.
Tonight is a little different though since Taehyung isn't after a predator hunting what's his— no— he's just going to offer a little warning to the meddling rats for having upset Jungkook to that extent— from having to push Jungkook to the point that he himself had to defend Taehyung. It shouldn't be like that. Taehyung isn't built to be protected, he's built to be the protector. If he fails in doing that then what is he here for? If he can't even protect Jungkook from something as simple as three pathetic worms then it might as well be a repeat of the past—
And Taehyung is tired of history having to repeat itself.
Taehyung looks at his phone as he parks his car at a safe distance, a dark, poorly lit parking lot near an apartment complex. 12:00 AM. He unlocks his phone and checks the information he's managed to gather. In the morning before his hyungs had visited, the police dropped by when Jungkook was awake and asked for a detailed report of the incident. Jungkook shared the story, had mentioned the senior, the intern at the cafe and their acquaintance. When asked if he wanted to press charges, Jungkook fidgeted and grew nervous— afraid to speak up against the three from fear that they might hurt him or Taehyung again. Taehyung had to hold his hand and comfort him— made him feel safe again. The smile Jungkook gave him almost punctured his heart.
It was right then and there that he decided not one rat is going to roam free tonight.
The young intern should be going back home now after his evening shift at a local convenience store— he would be tired and weary, vulnerable in Taehyung's hands.
After a few minutes, Taehyung looks up and sees his prey walking along the sidewalk, unable to see the car parked at a distance. He waits until he heads for his apartment and goes inside, waits a bit more— lets the moment stew for a bit— before he pulls on a black cap, pulling it down to cover his eyes, steps out of the car and heads to the apartment.
He gives the door a few knocks and waits, knowing all too well that the man behind the door is still very much awake and hoping to catch a quick rest for the next day. The door opens and Taehyung lunges before the youngster can realize what was happening—
Taehyung pushes a cloth doused with chloroform, trapping him by pushing his forearm against his throat. He was a big male, quite big for his age but Taehyung has thought this through and he's sure to succeed—
"Mmmrgh!" The male's eyes dart at Taehyung, putting up a fight.
Taehyung pushes harder against his throat, enclosing his airway as he sucks in more of the chloroform. Then, the young male gradually succumbs to the chemical, his muscles going lax as he slumps against the wall. Taehyung slowly pulls back, grinning as he caught the little rat, he turns around to close the door shut—
— big mistake.
The young male shakes the dizzy, disoriented state away for a moment before he grabs hold of Taehyung's legs and pulls him back. Taehyung loses hold of his footing, landing flat on his back with a grunt. The young man then grabs hold of Taehyung's collar and was about to pull off his hat when Taehyung flings his fist at the male's temple, hitting him and knocking him off his bearings. Taehyung pushes him back and slams his head against the wall, hoping to knock him off but he's young and he's strong— and Taehyung—
— he's made a fucking mistake.
Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.
Taehyung's mind reels as the male fights back and no one has fought back against him with this much fervor before. Then, before Taehyung could comprehend what was happening, something had violently struck him on his gut.
FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK—
Taehyung's head is buzzing with the need to kill. How dare this rat hit him? How dare he—
All Taehyung sees is crimson but now its coated with another layer of red and its thicker and thicker and thicker and he can't see— he fucking can't see and it's driving him insane and he wastes no second in pulling out a knife from inside his coat and plunges it into the male's body— doesn't know where he stabs him, too blinded by the anger seeping through his eyes— a kind of black over the crimson that almost scares him. He groans in pain as the blunt injury throbs again, pulling the knife away as he feels the male slump against the wall, clutching at the knife wound on his body. Taehyung thinks it's not enough.
It's not enough.
He fucking hurt me. HE FUCKING—
"Listen you piece of shit," Taehyung grabs hold of the intern's hair, pulling his head up to face his bloodshot eyes. "I'm letting you live for information. Where are your little friends? Tell me so that I can end your misery nicely while I'm still patient."
The man groans in pain. Taehyung tuts and slams his head against his wall.
"Answer the damn question." Taehyung pauses before his eyes flicker dangerously to the phone nearby, a devilish smirk forming on his lips. "No, you know what— there's no reason for me to go hunting for them."
He looks back into the intern's fearful face and laughs.
"Let's have a party, shall we?"
The other two arrive in front of the apartment that night, having received a call from the intern about wanting to hang out— an innocent request with a truly ulterior motive behind it. When they knock on the door, they find it to be unlocked.
Slowly, they make their way in and it's pitch black.
"Hey, if this is a prank, it's a pretty lame one." One of them says.
The door shuts close behind them and before any of them could register what's happening, something hits both of their heads— something hard and blunt. They fall to the floor, groaning in pain.
Taehyung looms over them before striking them with the blunt object— a bat— again and again until they were unconscious, his devilish smile the last thing they see.
When they come to, they're tied up, the three of them lining up on the living floor nicely, positioned to kneel with their hands and ankles tied behind them tightly. Towels bound at their mouths to keep them quiet. They dart their eyes here and there, wondering what the hell was going on when they land on the male intern's bruised face and blood-stained shirt, the red liquid trickling and pooling down onto the floor.
The other two panic, eyes widening in fear at his state but before they could move, they see something creeping in the dark. They look to the front and see a figure— Taehyung— standing before them
"Good evening, gentlemen." He greets, smile creeping wider and wider like a Cheshire cat's. "Thank you for accepting my invitation tonight."
One of them, the acquaintance, grunts behind the towel in his mouth and struggles with his bounds. Taehyung glares at him, takes the bat leaning on the wall nearby and hits him on his stomach, rendering him weak and groaning in pain.
"Let's behave, shall we?" Taehyung says, swinging the bat playfully before throwing it aside, his manic grin on full display before walking around the group till he stood behind them. "Let me ask a question first—"
"Mmrgh!" The acquaintance mutters again, turning his head back to glare daggers at Taehyung's direction. The elder rolls his eyes, fists his hand tight and throws a punch straight at the man's jaw, causing him to land on the floor with a heavy thud, groaning in pain.
"Now," Taehyung shakes his fist and glares at the two remaining, kneeling at his mercy. "My question—"
The senior's fearful eyes look back into Taehyung's dull ones, wondering what on earth is in store for him.
"Last night, you and Jungkook had a little fight, right?"
Their eyes widen at the realization of what this was all for, what this was all about. The senior begins to move, making muffled noises and whines against the towel only for Taehyung to kick him on the stomach, grabbing a fistful of his hair to pull his head back.
"You had a fight, yes?" Taehyung grinned like a maniac at him and the senior almost felt his heart drop. "What did you say to him?"
A muffled response.
Taehyung tsks and throws him till he also lands on the floor on his face. Playing with his victims— that was Taehyung's modus operandi— he wants his victims to slowly feel the cold, disgusting feel of dread creeping up in their veins the way the flames of anger gradually begin to burn inside of his.
Taehyung turns to face the bleeding intern and fakes a pitying tone in his voice, "Oh dear," He sighs, walking towards him before undoing the towel around his mouth, "Do you have something to say too?"
The intern whimpers in pain— the once obvious fervor and strength from earlier has vanished along with the trickling flow of blood from his knife wound.
"You were there, weren't you?" Taehyung asks, leaning closer, "What did you say to him?"
The intern keeps his eyes tightly shut, afraid of what he might see as he trembled his place. Should he lie? Would it even matter? He parts his lips slowly and cries. The grip on his hair tightened and he whines once more. There was no escape—
"S-said bad things—"
Taehyung growls, "You can do better than that."
And the intern feels a cold blade against his throat.
"What. Did. You. Say."
And he swears he hears Death behind that voice.
"H-He said y-you were fags! He called you fags!" The intern breaks down, ugly and fat tears rolling down his cheeks. The other two males lie on the floor, slowly turning ashen white now that the truth has been out. "He called Jungkook—"
The blade cuts through skin and blood trickles down. The intern cries harder.
"Who said you can say his name?" Taehyung's voice is distant and cold— devoid of any form of emotion. That's what scares him the most.
The intern keeps his mouth shut.
"Go on." Taehyung hisses. "What was that about Jungkook? What did you call him?"
The intern maintains his silence, eyes still shut tight.
Taehyung grits his teeth and roars, "WHAT ELSE DID YOU CALL HIM?!"
The intern wails, feels the blade go deeper at his throat and panics, "C-Called him a bitch! H-He called him a bitch w-with a tight leash around his neck— P-Please— Please don't— I told you— I told you everything I know—"
Crimson has never looked so painfully beautiful to look at.
Taehyung slits his throat clean and drops the body on the floor. The senior screams through the towel wrapped around his mouth, writhing in panic on the floor. He wails as he sees the intern slowly cough out blood, still alive and begging in silence to die. Minutes later, the light from the intern's eyes leave. His eyes widen as he watches the way Taehyung slowly turns around, eyes blank and mouth parted slightly.
"A bitch, huh?" Taehyung whispers, creeping slowly towards the senior. "Who said it? Was it the both of you?"
The senior's eyes dart towards the other male beside him in a split second, as if praying for some form of mercy to befall him.
Taehyung hums, "I see." He tilts his head, his bangs falling on his forehead and covering a bit of his eyes, "And what did you do?"
The senior whimpers.
"Nothing?" Taehyung slowly kneels down on the floor beside him, "Did you do anything? Were you just watching and listening? An innocent bystander?"
The senior shakes his head, desperately shakes his head in denial.
"Don't fucking lie to my face." Taehyung drags the knife along the floor, scraping sounds echoing throughout the room and the senior writhes in panic now— realizing that there was no escape.
No escape.
"I hate liars," Taehyung mutters, "I hate all of you." And he plunges the knife straight into the senior's abdomen without warning.
Crimson. Crimson. Crimson.
Let the blood flow and flow and flow and flow—
Taehyung growls, his vision going blank as he kills the senior, kicking aside the lifeless body before looming over the last remaining victim. By this point, his head is a mess— a mess of anger, guilt and disgust. How dare these ugly worms call his angel such things? How dare they hurt him like this? Who gave them the fucking right to call him horrendous names? To Jungkook? To the one person whose heart was far bigger, far more generous than any other person's in this goddamn world?
All Taehyung sees is red as he hacks away whatever his knife meets, doesn't care if he's ripping through flesh or if he's mutilating a face. Taehyung is insulted and burning— and he wants to vomit out this sick feeling of fault, of him making a fucking mistake.
He had left his angel alone with these disgusting, vile rats and he paid the price.
And this shouldn't have happened in the first place.
Taehyung tucks the knife back into his coat after a certain amount of time of senseless slashing, no longer hearing the other male's pants or whimpers of pain. It's quiet now— all he hears is the throb of his beating heart.
—a gruesome murder happened last night, the victims, young males in within their twenties, had been found by a neighbor with multiple stab wounds and violent lacerations found on the bodies. They have been tightly bound with rope around their wrists and ankles. There have been no signs of apparent robbery and no evidence of forced entry suggesting to the police that the suspect may be someone the victims knew. Police have been—
Seokjin shuts the television off, "We don't need such morbid news so early in the morning," The eldest says as he turns around to look at the male in the hospital bed. Beside him was Taehyung, dutifully sitting beside the younger male. On Jungkook's other side are Jimin and Yoongi with Hoseok by the foot of the bed with Seokjin.
"That's true, I've had enough of terrible news for now," Jimin says worriedly, looking over Jungkook's bandages wrapped around his head, "You have no idea how I felt, do you Kookie? Still, it's a relief to know that it's not that serious. Are you sure you're not going to press charges?"
Jungkook gives him a dry smile, "Yes hyung. I just want this to be over. I don't want to see them again." He sighs and smiles at Taehyung when he feels the elder reach over to hold his hand.
"It's just very disconcerting that those people who you knew would do this to you." Hoseok frowns, crossing his arms.
Jungkook sighs, rubbing his temple and Taehyung frowns at him, telling him not to pull at his bandages, afraid that it'll loosen or something. The younger male gives him a reassuring look, clearing his throat, "I thought so too, hyung. I really did. I just didn't see why they wouldn't trust Taehyungie—"
"That's not your problem anymore, baby." Taehyung reaches over his other hand to card through Jungkook's hair.
"I agree," Hoseok sighs. Seokjin hums in agreement as he pours some water in a small plastic cup for Jungkook to drink.
"How are you feeling, Jungkook?" Yoongi asks.
"Better now, hyung. Thank you for asking." Jungkook smiles, still holding onto Taehyung's hand while he accepts a cup of water from Seokjin with his other.
The rest of their circle of friends have visited later that day. They had come over with gifts of fresh fruits, flowers and some change of clothes for the two of them. They had offered to help Jungkook with trying to press legal action but Jungkook adamantly denied to press charges— he didn't want to involve himself with those people again and there were no other witnesses to the crime when it happened. Jungkook just wants it to be put to a close, thankful that he was still alive.
Jungkook just wants to rest now. He just wants to go home and rest with Taehyung holding him in his arms.
As they always say— there's no place like home.
Namjoon heads over to the empty flower vase and places a fresh set of flowers in it, "It'd be nice to have some color in here, don't you think?"
Taehyung glances to the flowers— all shades of red— like the blood that had stained his hands the night prior. He hears the small hint of happiness in Jungkook's voice as he says his thanks.
Taehyung offers the elder a smile as well, "Yes," His eyes look to Jungkook's warm gaze and gives the younger male's hand a squeeze.
"They're beautiful."