A/N : sorry, I went to meet the void.

....

present 

53| “Filled with misery” 

“Don’t you worry, It's just a call.” Taehyung nuzzled his nose against Nina’s cheek, relishing the closeness and warmth, absorbing all of her compassion and kindness by proximity.

“If you say so.” Nina mused and Taehyung’s veiny hands pulled the t-shirt over his head to avoid the evident contemplation in her eyes. 

Taehyung let loose a battered breath and flicked quite an anxious glance at Nina. It was a relief that his senses were gathered, and his thoughts weren't jarring. Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to notice how soft and warm her eyes were, how welcoming and comforting her every exhale was, how effortlessly her one touch put him at complete ease. And, Taehyung loathed those moments when he was plagued in his head, fighting those ugly demons, so much that he was unable to notice such little things about her. 

“Go back to sleep, I'll make it quick, mhm.” Nina nodded, watching Taehyung stomping out of the room like a man with a mission.

Taehyung walked downstairs, the faint thumping of his slippers against the floor drowned out the beating of his heart. His shoulders were squared, his chest was puffed out and every muscle of his body was strung tight around the t-shirt. He winced and looked down, only to find Leote nuzzling against his feet, clearly demanding Taehyung to scoop up his fluffy body in his arms. They were finally friends, and let's just say, Leote was especially a daddy’s boy.

“Why aren't you sleeping, buddy?” Taehyung scratched his ear and Leote purred in his embrace. It had been a few weeks since Taehyung made Nina and the cats move into his mansion, sulking and throwing tantrums with pleadings that he would only willingly take care of himself properly if she stayed with him. He was stubborn to a fault and Nina couldn't resist his wish.

“Good night, kid.” Taehyung put Leote in his donut bed and stroked his ear a little until Leo’s purrs were faint. With Nina, the cats were a part of his life. 

He loved their adorable presence, and effortlessly took offense when Jungkook called them “cute pets” — In which Taehyung responded, “Fuck you asshole, they aren't just pets, they are Nina’s and mine fur babies. Our child. Can't you see the resemblance? You know what? I'll teach them to keep you in line, or perhaps scratch your face.”

Then he recalled the talk he and Nina had  about making her move into his place. 

“Why do you want me to move into your place?” Nina’s eyes sparkled as she stared at the happy lines etching on his handsome face. 

“Because I want to.” Taehyung shrugged, a playful smirk on his lips as Nina narrowed her eyes, exhaling a miff sigh.

“Try harder to convince me, buddy.” She playfully poked his chest and then dragged the fingertips over his collarbones, sensing him quivering under the touch.

“Because you love me, and I'm your everything— your baby, your boyfriend, your fiancé and, of course, soon, your husband.” His raspy voice had something that abandoned her with a blissful ache behind her rib cage.

“Give me more.” Nina could feel her heart going completely nuts in utter bliss.

“Because you can't live without me.” Taehyung confidently tipped his chin up. 

“Keep them coming, pretty boy.” Nina flashed him a bold look.

“You are enjoying this, aren't you?” Taehyung pulled his lower lip between his teeth. A squeal abandoned her when he hauled her on his lap, his arms wrapping around her waist, enclosing her in a steely bear hug.

“Maybe yes. Maybe not. Who am I kidding, yes I'm enjoying this a lil too much.” She pressed her chest to his, feeling the drastic pattering of his heart slamming and merging with hers. “Hey, let the poor girl do whatever she wants.” 

“Finnnne.” Taehyung flipped his front hair back with an eye roll. Such a sassy diva he was sometimes. 

“Because I don't understand the concept of distance when it comes to you. I don't know, maybe you are made of drugs or something.” Nina couldn't control the giggle when Taehyung frowned in fascination, as if he couldn't believe that she was real in flesh and bones, walking around the earth and actually belonged to him.

“You are an integral part of my shitty life and I can barely function if you aren't with me. I want to see you all day which isn't possible since we both have stupid corporate work but after that… I wanna see you in my space, wearing my clothes, sleeping on my bed. Owning my vicinity. Your touch and smell in every corner of my house.” One look into his fierce eyes and Nina understood that it was too late to get out of his orbit. This man was in her veins, so much that she wouldn't care if he just tore her chest open, plucked her heart out and stomped all over it.

“Can I tell you something?” Nina loved the sight of his eyes blazing with a new force of life. Taehyung stifleeagerly nodded his head, always ready to savor every word of hers.

“You are my favorite person in this entire world.” Nina cradled his face between her palms and kissed between his brows. 

“Really?” His one arm tightened around her waist, and one hand smoothed over the top of her thighs, mirroring the affection by pecking her lips. 

“Yes.” 

“More than your aunt?” He chuckled bitterly. “Why the fuck am I comparing myself with her?” 

“You don't get it, do you?” Nina frowned. Her hand skidded under his jaw, tilted his face up and stared at the essence of his soul.

“Honestly, being your favorite is all that matters to me, baby. It's like an achievement. A reward. But let's be real, I'm a greedy bastard when it comes to you.” His eyes flashed grimly and his jaw hardened against the palm of her skin. “I want to be the one you choose, red. everytime. Always. No matter what.” His lips parted when she kissed his cheeks harder than needed.

“Even more than my aunt.” Her answer was crystal clear, though it was like a tight kick in his stomach. For a second he couldn't believe what he heard, because Lea was someone Nina had, unfortunately, always loved and cherished.

“More than anyone? Am I the only one right?” His throat worked for a gulp and it didn't matter that he sounded so downright desperate.

“More than anyone. I've got my priorities straight and you are at the top. Everything and everyone is a blur. You are my go-to, my safe haven. You always come first, baby.” The corner of her eyes crescent when she smiled.

“Bahaha I knew that, I just wanted you to say that to me.” A knavish smirk pulled the corner of his lips and his eyes dropped her parted lips.

“Get over yourself!” Nina pinched his nipple and he snorted a low laugh.

“Someone's got to keep the ego alive around here, darling.” Smugness still kindled his handsome face.

“Great, here we go again!” She scrunched her nose. “Don't expect me to stroke that notorious ego of yours.”

“How about you stroke something else? This fucker is slowly waking up.” Nina gasped when Taehyung ground his cock against her thighs as she shifted on his lap, attempting to shoo away the warmth touring across her face.

“You are hard?” She gawked at him, not caring how suddenly something hot and boily was forming in the pit of her stomach.

“Absolutely, hard, over excited and ready to drown inside you.” Nina scoffed, though the smiling lines around her eyes were visible.

“Shut it, you are enjoying this far too much.” Nina exhaled out. “Can you not be so foul?” 

“Forgive me for my blunt fashion and passionate expressive behavior.” He bowed his head. “However, I'm not ashamed or shy to shower my woman with my ageless devotion and imperishable love. You are mine.” Nina sucked her lower lip into her mouth and released it, quelling the laugh at his dramatics. 

“In simple words, you are just horny. Also, at inappropriate times.” Nina finally spoke out. It had been a long time since their relationship, yet he managed to leave her speechless and rattled.

“The shame, the horror! Me? horny? for you?” He gasped, clutching his chest. “Yes. Yes I am.” Taehyung grinned. 

“Can you take anything seriously?” Nina tried to regain her grumpy demeanor as she rolled her eyes while clicking her tongue on the roof of her mouth.

“I repeat. I'm very, disgustingly horny.” He tilted his head and batted his lashes at her with a dreamy sigh. She was nestled in his arms yet this man gazed at her as if she was a dream.

“Yeah sure.” She kissed his cheek to dismiss his antics. “I'm going to prepare dinner and you are coming to help me, mister. But no improper touches.”

“Apologies in advance. There will be loads of improper touches, milady. You can't escape them.” He shrugged and Nina sat up from his lap with a fed up sigh, then blinked down at him with her signature blank face.

“See, you are seducing me. Fine you win, woman, you fucking win. You have got me wrapped around your pretty, little fingers. I'm a goner. It's decided, we are fucking until we both pass out. That's it.” He sat up and tossed her into his shoulder, breaking her lips into a massive smile. He was so daft sometimes, her lover, and she had no words to describe how much she appreciated him for it.

“Put me down you caveman!” Her laughter echoed in the space and slammed right back into his chest. “I can walk!” Nina hit his back, not even making an effort to appear nonchalant.

“Your fists hurt like a motherfucker, Mrs Kim.”

“FUCK OFF YOU LIAR!” She patted his ass as he climbed the stairs, chuckling at her miffy huffs and puffs.

“God, you are the reason I look forward to a new day, red.” He chuckled, feeling the tightness in his chest mellowing. 

°°°

Indeed. Nina was the reason he warred those demons inhabiting his head. She was the reason he fought the dusky, ugly fog that surrounded him and tried to suck him into the never-ending pit of darkness.

The nightmares were getting worse and worse, chipping his sanity and leaving him hollow. It was asphyxiating and slowly robbing him of life. Taehyung already couldn't work or sleep because if he sleeps, he would slip into nothingness, in those grouchy land of memories, web of agony. The experience was mentally fucking him up.

And the only reason he ate was because Nina spends her meals with him, and if they weren't eating together, they would FaceTime and then he would force himself to swallow the food. Taehyung would say something and that would effortlessly earn him honeyed laughter from her. And that made it easier for him to push the nausea away. 

Nina made it easier for him to breathe through his starved lungs. It was like he had to have a moment with her. No, he was actually depending on her like a junky, although he was not seeing any problem in it, but the mere thought of not being with her depressed him. Nina was his home, just like he was hers. A heaven taking place in something evil within him.

Taehyung knew that he couldn't keep going like that. Some days were fine, but some days, he was choking silently in the wave of his myriad emotions. He was unable to look at people without imagining their faces blurring and dissolving into black ink and shadowy hands throttling him and rummaging through the gears of his brain. 

In the midst of his chaos, Nina was his solace, and that's why he decided to move in together. See, with her, things were falling in places. It was easier for him to function, to move and look forward to another day. With Nina’s presence, he was doing great out of his head. When Taehyung basked into her warmth, the demons in his head didn't rear their head back to mock or remind him of his woe and failure towards Aiya and Nabi.

Even though having a clusterfuck mind and fucked up sleeping routine, the couple's relationship was healthy and flourishing. They surely got comfortable in each other's space. Nina spoiled him as much as he spoiled her with his care and love. Nina made sure to make him feel appreciated for his hard work. For devoting himself into the company that he was now leading with his mother.

Since Hyeon wasn't around— let's just say, since they forcefully kicked him out and forced him to retire from the company — it was all on Taehyung's shoulders and he was hellbent on giving his best. So, Nina rewarded him for attending and sitting those council meetings without murdering the board members who didn't hold back their snarky statements.They exhibited their doubts and even questioned if Taehyung was actually qualified to protect the name of his family’s legacy. 

Because for them, Taehyung was just a pretty face who was climbing the ladder of success without doing anything (those people who used to stay in Hyeon’s good books) Nina praised him for the things that he didn't want to do but did because he couldn't let Seon and himself down. because he had this extreme sense of duty to fulfill his family's obligations. He didn't want to, but he had to. 

And how she rewarded and pampered and spoiled her man? By cuddling him while watching his favorite movies. By washing his hair and massaging his shoulders. By preparing his favorite meal and kissing all over his face. By dancing around him when he was agitated and tenser until he gave up and laughed. 

Oh, and Nina also seduced him while only wearing his shirt…only shirt and nothing which Taehyung came to absolutely love. The sight never fails to salivate his mouth, dry his throat and twitch his cock. And then she made him chase her around until he grabbed her, threw her onto his shoulders like a caveman he was and tossed her on the bed while onslaughting her mouth with his ravenous kisses. 

Sometimes, Taehyung would be all patient and cocky and flirtatious, taking his hearty time to explore every inch of her while pouring dirty words into her ears, and all she could do was sink her fingers into his hair and arch her back, inviting him to take her dripping pussy. As he sucks and sucks on her clit and tongue fuck her, making her all sore and swollen.

And sometimes he was grumpy and desperate and agitated and showed his rough around the edges side. Especially when the demons roared in his head, trying to pull him into the never ending frenzy. Then, Taehyung would rush back to her. He would shut the door, cage her into his strong arms and fucked her into oblivion, until he both were a wild moaning mess against the wall, until she was running her hands on his hair and soothing his rapid breaths. 

And Nina adored how after the rough love making, Taehyung would wipe her clean, draw her bath and brush her hair and keep telling her how much he cherished her. The constant ‘i love yous’ never stopped. No matter how tired he was and how worse his dark circles went. 

They were perfect, they were in love and Taehyung always felt like he lacked a sense of meaning, it wasn't until this woman recklessly entered his heart like a wrecking ball. 

“What do you want, daddy dearest?” Taehyung grumbled, feeling every neverending charge with a sudden wave of resentment. 

As soon as Taehyung set foot outside of the house, the security team formed a perimeter around him. Since the attack happened, Taehyung's secretary, Mo, couldn't take any chances with him as Nina was worried sick over his safety and hell-bent on making Taehyung agree for special security. Taehyung didn't like unwanted presence but it was Nina and her wishes so at last he gave up and accepted whatever demand she had.

“What's with this rude tone? Aren't we a family?” Hyeon gave him a once-over as if Taehyung was a dust stuck beneath his boots, then lifted his chin with an air of simmering arrogance. 

Taehyung sneered at the man’s audacity. A ruined man shouldn't be this obnoxious.

It was as if the words would suffocate Taehyung if I didn't exhale them out. If Hyeon meant to rattle him, he was going to be big time disappointed, because he wouldn't be getting a reaction.

“You are mistaken here. We aren't family, we never were. I owe you nothing but contempt.” Taehyung's calm composure couldn't conceal the deep-seated hatred. 

“My fiancée is waiting for me, so be quick with your crappy talks, I don't have another minute to waste on you.” Taehyung’s eyes never left Hyeon’s face as he dismissed the burly guards with the wave of his hand and they all stepped away, giving them space.

“Nina is surely the brightest star, not one of the affluent and influential ones but the brightest indeed. I always knew she would be such a glorious woman.” His tone was dripping with condescension and just by the name of Nina from his vicious mouth made Taehyung want to plunge a knife in his eyeball and twist.

“Don't even think about discussing my girl. Her name is even off-limits to you.” A sudden wave of protectiveness clutched him at its claws and Taehyung took an infuriated steps toward Hyeon, forcing the man to flinch and recoil. 

"Why not? I took her in, a vulnerable 15-year-old. I gave her a home, a chance at redemption, and funded her education. I sheltered her and her two-faced bitch aunt. I basically fixed her pathetic life. She should be eternally grateful and thanking her lucky stars that I stepped in. And here you are daring to claim her as yours alone. That's not fair, I feel betrayed by her.” The scalding rage vibrated along his voice as it cut through Taehyung like a serrated razor. Each cut left a deeper, ugly scar. 

“You have the unmitigated gall to feign betrayal? Do you want her to kiss the ground you walk in? Listen you thick fuck, you did nothing but provide a roof and a meager paycheck, that's it.” Taehyung's jaw was set as he grabbed Hyeon by his collar and gave him a harsh jerk until he was face to face. 

“But the fact is we both know what you wanted from her in return. You were nothing but a predator, a fucking sick monster, waiting for a vulnerable kid to walk into his well-crafted trap. So don't you dare to pretend in front of me. Are we crystal clear?” Taehyung sneered on his face, staring down at the fear dancing in Hyeon's golden eyes was oddly fascinating.

Sometimes Taehyung hated the blood running through his veins, because no matter how much he shirked the truth, he was a chunk of this hollow-hearted man.

Hyeon pushed Taehyung away and exhaled a long sigh of disappointment as if the conversation wasn't going anywhere and Taehyung was the one who was wasting his time. The brashness of this old hag…

“Forget it. So when you are planning to stop your games, Taehyung.” Hyeon slowly blinked and Taehyung's gaze lingered on the worn face, and for a moment, he savored the sweet taste of triumph.

Hyeon's usual impeccable appearance was nowhere to be found. Gone was the tailored suit that accentuated his physique, a testament to his wealth and status. Instead, he wore a crinkled button-down shirt, his face gaunt and exhausted, with bloodshot eyes that betrayed the toll of hardship. The once-sharp jawline was now shadowed by a scruffy beard, and the dark circles under his eyes recited a story of sleepless nights. It was so obvious that Hyeon was going through hell. The contrast was stark, and Taehyung couldn't help but find a twisted sense of satisfaction in seeing the usually composed Hyeon falling to such a miserable state. The dingy hotel room, with its cheap food and stale air — Yes, Taehyung was keeping an eye on Hyeon— seemed to be a fitting scenery for Hyeon's downfall. 

What grated on Taehyung was the way  Hyeon still carried himself with an air of arrogance, refusing to admit defeat. It was as if he couldn't accept that his life had changed, that he was no longer the powerful and respected man he once was.  

“Games?” Taehyung squinted his eyes, regarding the man with feigned confusion. “You are always playing games. manipulating people like pawns. Not fairly, I might add. Why can't I do the same?” 

“You think you are clever, don't you? Trying to turn the tables on me.” His eyes blazed with restrained fury. “You think you can easily sneak in, feed off my success and steal what’s mine? The empire I worked so hard on, the wealth you are accustomed to, it all belongs to me, every last penny, every fucking cent!” 

“Oh, you mean to say when it belonged to you?” Taehyung clicked his tongue and shook his head. “But aren't you enjoying your days far away from the noisy city in one of your rich, remote islands? That's what we told the media and the board members and no one bats an eye. They all nodded their heads and respectfully bowed to me as their new boss. So…” The corner of Taehyung's lip curled upward when Hyeon’s eyes narrowed. 

“... which stealing are you talking about, my dearest daddy?” Taehyung pushed his lower lips out and mocked Hyeon with his taunting eyes. “You named all your wealth to Seon and me. you did it willingly.”

“You plotted all of that!” Hyeon screeched out.

“Quite, you old man, my red is sleeping inside.” Taehyung spoke out in profound calm and the corner of his eyes tightened.

“Also, who is gonna trust you, after all I'm your precious, one and only heir. That's why you took me in, right? That's why you stole me from Nabi. You stole me, and I stole something from you, including your pride so we are even.” 

“You ungrateful, asshole.” Hyeon’s glare honed and a disbelieving scoff left him.

“Am I? Really? I'm deeply hurt by your accusation, father.” Taehyung pulled a sad expression, though Hyeon could catch the sight of the unbridled wickedness through it. “You should thank me for having the patient not to kill you, although the thought is so fucking tempting.” And while Kim Hyeon deserved every shit thing that ever happened to him, Taehyung was irritated that he didn’t get to end his life. Not now. Not so soon. Snatching his wealth wasn't enough because Taehyung was out to cripple his sanity. 

“You won't kill me, you don't want to paint your hands with blood. You wouldn't like to end up in jail, leaving your girls behind. I know Nabi is with you and Seon. I know you are going to marry your exotic girlfriend soon. But you better be careful, son. You wouldn't like to see them hurt. You wouldn't want to make wrong decisions.” Him mentioning the most important people in his life formed something dreadful inside Taehyung, a black hole that sucked all of his energy. It was like venom had been injected into his veins and slowly killed his ability to breathe.

“Was that manipulation? I guess with time you are also losing your skills.” Taehyung’s fingertips were shaking with the new anxiety, though he wouldn't bear to show Hyeon the weakest side of him. “Now, if there's some point, care to reach it, or you can fuck off.” Taehyung waved his fingers as if he was shooing away a dog.

“I'm struggling—” Finally, Hyeon let out a flimsy tone.

“So?” Taehyung offered him an exquisite smile, relishing the sight of Hyeon’s eyes twitching in bruised shame. 

“If you can help me, that would be nice of you.”

“Nah, fuck you. I'm neither a god nor a nice person. I hold grudges and I hold them pretty fucking well.” Taehyung's smile took a sharp edge of sinister.

“I've frozen your assets, seized your bank account, and maxed out your credit cards for a reason, and I did it all with a pretty smile. You’re welcome to rot in that dingy hotel, wallowing in your own misery, because you’ve earned every ounce of it. You brought this upon yourself the day you chose to shatter my life.” Hyeon stared at the man who was once a boy. A weak, vulnerable boy who couldn't stare into his eyes, bowed his head instantly and took his fists without making a whimper. 

“You are still harping on about that?! Fine, I did wrong to you. It wasn't fair.” Hyeon rubbed his face, his face was masked with despair. “Can't we put the ugliness aside? I did whatever I could do for you. We can all be happy. How about we forgive and forget? and I'll try my best to be the father you always wanted.” Hyeon grabbed Taehyung's shoulders, nearly in an affectionate way as Taehyung winced in profound disgust.

Hot fury rolled off him in bitter waves and Taehyung barked out a laugh, a menacing laugh as he grabbed Hyeon’s wrists in a punishing grip and yanked it away from his body.

“So you want forgiveness? Have you forgotten what you did? You ruined us. I could have forgiven you for all the wrongs against me if you had treated my mother differently. Nabi didn't deserve that. You were never a good husband, a good father, nor a good human being.” Taehyung's eyes were dripping with rage as he felt a shiver zigzagging through his spine. He was shaking so badly, so furiously. 

“Look at you being an ungrateful asshole again, you’re just as pathetic as you’ve always been!” Hyeon shook his head and Taehyung’s mouth parched, it was like his own saliva was chafing against the insides of my throat, like he was trying to swallow nails.

“You act as if you had such a bad life when you’ve been nothing but a spoiled, little rebellion fucker. You always complained about things, when all I did was to place the luxuries of the world in front of you. I gave you everything. Every fucking thing that Nabi couldn't offer you, but you still cried for her like a toddler, you still do. Fucking grow up and be a man. Be thankful to me. I made sure that you didn't die out somewhere, and you are repaying me like this? I’d tried so hard to change things between us, to make you better, stronger, but every time you proved to me that you are nothing but a disappointing screw-up. A fucked mess in your damn head. I should have thrown you in the asylum with your crazy mother when the doctor said you were showing the symptoms of abandonment depression, I should have left your sorry ass to rot there.” 

Hyeon was spouting those malicious words, but Taehyung was the one panting and sweating hard. With every word, Taehyung felt a deep crack in his subconscious. It was all over again, he got cornered and intimidated by Hyeon. It was as if Taehyung were teleported to Hyeon’s soundproof office, the door shut and him getting hits on his body.

Taehyung flinched, his eyes wavered and knees were on the verge of collapsing. He was scared, he was scared by Hyeon’s eyes and the hits and punches that would come with it. He was all over the little boy again.

“And what do you think is why I had those abandonment issues? You destroyed my life, and you are calling me spoiled? You laughed when I asked you about my mother and sister. I was a fucking child, I didn't need to be strong, I didn't need your luxuries!” His voice trembled, and his eyes melted into a pool of sorrow. “You brought me into your lavish world to raise me into a well-trained dog. You would hit me and shove me aside when you felt bored and didn't feel like playing.” He was wrecked and ragged, and a fist twisted his heart in a painful grip.

“You abused Nabi, Seon and me. No one knows how much of a monster you are behind the doors. Do you remember how you used to find excuses to hit us? Do you remember how many times you came home, yelling at Seon and calling her a worthless whore? Do you remember how you tossed Nabi in the mental asylum and made a hollow cell out of her just because she decided to walk out of your life? You knew what you were doing, you just didn't care how much we got destroyed in that process. You only cared about yourself and your perfect, narcissistic image and made sure we just stayed quiet and didn't taint it.” The words exploded out of him, coated in red-hot anger. His nails dug into the soft flesh of his palm. If his nails were any longer, they would have cut into his skin. 

“I gave you a life, you bastard.” Hyeon snarled.

“The life you gave me was a violent slavery.” 

They stared at each other, neither one of them backing down. The weight on his chest hadn’t lessened even after dumping some anger and hatred that had lived in him since he was a child. And he refused to let this man control him, let him be the part of his life. He was just a rusty, rotten chapter, and Taehyung made sure that Hyeon wouldn't be the whole story of his.

When Hyeon understood, Taehyung wasn't going to change his mind, Hyeon slowly started to turn but paused when Taehyung called him.

“Or we can strike a deal. I'm up for a negotiation.” Taehyung trampled the nothingness tunneling into his chest as he put on a tranquil mask though he didn't feel a tiny bit of calm.

“What are you insinuating?” Hyeon narrowed his eyes but Taehyung could see the fragile hope kindling in his face.

“You tell me where my sister is and I'll return all of your property to you, every single thing with your shiny as fuck reputation.” As soon as Taehyung said those words, Hyeon's face paled.  

“I don't know where she is, she ran away.” He rubbed his hands over his face as if it would help him to stay intact in one place. 

“Aiya was just 11.” Taehyung mumbled, all he could imagine was the small child's face, her quivering and the fear in those doe eyes. The imagination was suddenly a sharp brick hitting his flesh out of nowhere.

Taehyung remembered begging Seon to help him to find his sister. Seon did everything within her power without letting Hyeon sniff off her efforts. She organized search parties, kept calling hospitals and police stations and homeless shelters. Even knocked on doors, talked to the neighbors, checked abandoned buildings and burned out houses on the abandoned side of town. She hired a private detective who lost interest when there were no details of the disappearance of the little girl. But Taehyung hadn't given up, he was still searching for the girl who was haunting his dreams.

“Yeah I know, and she was a child so she ran away…kids do that, I don't know where she is.” How easily he said those words as if she weren't his blood but a stray animal.

“A kid won't do it unless she is scared.” Taehyung chided out, the muscles of his jaw strung tight and the veins around his neck pounded.

Taehyung paused when he followed Hyeon’s stilled gaze and looked over his shoulder, only to find Nina staring back at him with tears glossing her eyes and gripping the pendant in her achy fist. His emotions rushed in and boiled with intensity. It roared and bubbled and scalded him when he noticed the tears rolling down from her lower lashes to her chin.

His Nina was crying and he knew those tears belonged to him, for him and for his pain, for the wrecked kid who couldn't get the chance to properly healed. 

“Nina, I wonder if my son is actually serious about this whole so called marriage fiasco or you are just another tight hole to satisfy—” 

Taehyung's body moved in a rapid, furious motion as he slammed his fist on Hyeon's face, a sick cracking sound echoed in the air. Hyeon staggered back, blood exploded from his lip and his body swayed backward by the force. Nina gasped when Taehyung lunged at Hyeon and rained his face with a series of drastic punches, his fists were working in a deadly rhythm, not even once he stopped, breathed it blinked. The noises Taehyung was making were pure animalistic, dangerous and guttural, they ripped out of the valley of his soul and sank into her heart.

“You’ll never disrespect her. You’ll never talk to her, think about her or fucking look at her.” Taehyung punched him as more blood trickled out of Hyeon's mouth, painting his teeth and jaw and his head lolled on the ground, he lurched and weakly grabbed Taehyung's shoulders to push him away.

“Do you hear me? You’ll never fucking disrespect my red.” Taehyung's expression was maddening, his fist connected Hyeon’s jaw with a wrenching crack and the background got blurred for him, all he saw and felt were the red, raging emotions.

“Tae, you are going to kill him!” Nina’s panic screams weren't going through him, he couldn't see the guards were there, some even tried to stop him but backed away when Taehyung blindly sneered at them as he proceeded to pummel his fist on Hyeon's face. He was going to kill him, end him right there so he was unable to cloud Taehyung's life with his miserable presence, so he couldn't stare at his Nina with those lechery eyes.

“Stop. Taehyung, please stop!” Nina clutched his arm, though it was a futile attempt when Taehyung’s demons were on hollering in the back of his head and were on the verge of crawling out to destroy everything in their wake.

Taehyung jerked his hand free, accidentally elbowing Nina in the face. With a sharp hiss, Nina stumbled back into a guard, and when Taehyung turned, he was met with a chilling sight: blood streaming from Nina's nose in a steady, sickening trail. Taehyung stopped altogether, his throat grew tight, and a coil twisted his stomach.

“Taehyung, it's fine.” Nina pushed away from the guard, her eyes begging, pleading with him to have him close.

“What the fuck have I done?” Taehyung dumped Hyeon's limp body on the ground and rushed to Nina. He couldn't feel his blood in his ears and the thudding of his heart. The guard handed him the handkerchief as Taehyung gently dabbed it against her nose while being a trembling heap of muscles.

“I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, baby. You alright?” Guilt consumed his insides, leaving him numb and boneless, and all he could stare at the blood faintly absorbing to clothe.

Nina's face was pained, but she pretended to remain unaffected, his strong girl wasn't ready to make him go through the horrible feeling. Fuck! Him hitting Nina like that? Even unintentionally. How could he do that, how could he just lose himself in the violence?

"You monster! Look what you've done! You've hurt the one person who cares about you. You’re a pathetic excuse for a human being. Not only that, but you’re so consumed by your anger and hate that you can’t even control yourself. Nina will leave you, she will leave you again, and this time she has a reason. Who would want to be with a violent, out-of-control asshole like you? You're not worthy of her love or anyone else's. You're a joke, a failure, you don't deserve her.” The voices in Taehyung's head cackled and drowned him in the deeper chamber of shame. 

Taehyung looked at her eyes, but he wasn't actually looking at her, he was just listening to those voices in a loop.

“Tae, baby.” A soft hand cupped his cheek and he winced and blinked back at Nina. “I'm fine. I'm absolutely fine.” 

“I'm so sorry, I'm sorry.” He kept chanting the words in a scared, vulnerable voice that ached Nina. She firmly gripped his wrist to stop the dabbing of cloth. The blood stopped, but the sight beat through his body like a cadence of a heartbeat.

“You fucking bastard.” Hyeon stood up on his swaying feet, hissing at the couple.

Taehyung had to gather immense control not to strangle him to death. “He isn't worth it.” Nina's soft voice mumbled, and she stroked his jaw to make him breathe properly.

“Pick up whatever dignity you have left and walk away.” Nina flashed a flesh wounding glare at Hyeon. 

“throw him out.” Taehyung barely looked back at Hyeon as he moved to step inside the house with Nina in his arms.

“You think this ends here? No, I'll be back.” Nina stilled when Taehyung paused, his whole body went on an alert mode and expression filled with panic. She had never seen Taehyung so scared and…shattered. 

“You stupid boy, all this madness because of a girl?” Hyeon let out a mocking scoff and snarled at Taehyung. “She is nothing more than your fixation— an unhealthy infatuation that will be your downhill.” With that, Hyeon walked away, leaving a lingering threat that echoed in Taehyung's chest like a haunting melody.

….

This old hag needs to calm down. Explain Hyeon’s character in one word (insult him)