"Hyung!" Taehyung slammed into me as soon as I exited the truck that I had driven all the way to the train station in Seoul. He didn't want to remain in his hometown, so we had agreed to meet in Seoul again. His body collided into mine, and his arms immediately tangled around my torso.

He buried his face in my shoulder, and I protectively wrapped my arms around his body as he clung onto me. I felt shudders in my arms, and I heard muffled sobs coming from him. The cold, wetted cotton of my shirt pressed against my sternum, and I sighed softly.

"It's okay, Tae, you did the right thing," I consoled, trying to fight back my own tears. It wasn't every day that you saw someone you loved completely broken down, and it was worse when you knew a possible outcome, simply because you've experienced it before. "Your siblings are safe now, aren't they?"

He just cried harder and dug his fingers into my arms. They were cold, and they pressed into my skin with a tingling sensation. His breath was warm against my collarbone, but he was cold everywhere else. If his breath was the only warm thing left, I had to preserve it. I sighed sadly and kissed the top of his head. He smelt of the city and cleaning wipes.

"I'm here for you," I murmured, rubbing his back in fragile circles. He was literally coming apart in my arms, and I had to help him somehow. But how? I had absolutely no experience in saving people. It took five deaths to know that.

"Let's go." I gently peeled him off of me and led him to the passenger side of the truck. Taehyung stumbled into the seat, sniffling, and covering his face. Throughout the car ride, he kept turning his face and looking out the window so I wouldn't see his tears. It was so rare to see Taehyung even averagely upset, so seeing him like this was so strange.

"What do you want me to do for you?" I asked, my eyes still glued to the road. Taehyung remained silent for a few moments, his sniffling and the air conditioner the only audible noises.

"Well," he began, his voice crackling before he cleared his throat, "I just want you to be here for me, hyung. If you're here, I think I'll be okay."

"Really?" I tore my gaze from the winding road to glance at him in surprise. He nodded.

"You were always the mother figure in Bangtan," he mumbled, "and you knew how to take care of us. You manage to make me feel better all the time, and you never blame me. I'm a murderer, but you reminded me that it was to save the family I had left. So, thank you. You've put everything into perspective for me."

I smiled softly. "No, thank you for still staying with me, Tae," I replied. "I don't know what I'd do if I was all alone."

Taehyung sighed quietly and propped his elbow onto the window and rested his head on top of his fist, his eyes staring at the smoggy horizon.

"Give me some time," he whispered. "I think I'll be okay soon."