"You'll stay here and we'll go to work together, right?" Taehyung asked as he peeped at him above his shoulder.

"If you want me to."

"Of course I do. But I have to go to the club two hours earlier than you. You'll come with me, hmm?"

"Yes, if you want to..."

"What do you want?"

"Um, I—I want that too."

A mellow chuckle seeped through Taehyung's lips as he crept closer to him. "Why are you so shy now? If you want something, you can say it, little bun." He offered him a warm smile as he cupped his cheeks.

"I don't know, really. I don't want you to think I'm clinging to you."

"I think you don't deserve my waffles with what you just said." Taehyung pressed his forehead against his playfully. "Where's that coming from?" He trod back to his previous spot to continue cooking.

"I just... I know you promised things and took care of me, but I don't want you to feel obligated to do anything," Jeongguk mumbled. He just didn't want to be a bother, and he didn't even know why Taehyung cared so much in the first place.

"I can assure you that I don't feel obligated to do anything when I'm with you. Everything I do, I do it because I want to. So I'm asking you to not be shy to tell me what you want. Your opinion matters to me more than you know." Taehyung placed the last waffle on a plate and grabbed it before walking towards the table. "And if you don't want to cling to me, can I cling to you? Because damn, I really want to do that."

The younger snorted as a wide smile stretched on his lips. "I want to do that too. I just didn't know if you had a problem with that."

"You shouldn't stop yourself from saying or doing things because you think I don't want you to. You're free to say and do whatever you want, and if I have a problem, I promise, I'll tell you." Taehyung gazed at him with soft eyes and tucked a strand of hair behind his ear. "Promise number twenty-six. Write that down."

"It's not promise number twenty-six!" Jeongguk giggled as he gave him an impish push. "You haven't made that many promises."

"Oh, really? It feels like it. Jokes aside, I'm sorry for promising so many things. I just can't help it. I feel like I want to give you... everything."

His lips formed into an 'O' shape and his distinctive puppy eyes made their appearance at his remark. "Why?"

"What do you mean why?" Taehyung scoffed as he curled his fingers around his nape and pressed a sweet kiss on his forehead. "I care about you, and I want to fill your life with happy memories. You don't deserve to have any bad ones."

"Tae." They didn't know how it happened, but their faces ended up a breath away from each other. Their gazes were locked, and as Jeongguk felt utterly anxious, Taehyung had a slight smile on his lips.

"Jeongguk," he uttered, his breath hitting the other's face. "I'll do anything you want right now." He passed his fingers through his hair and let his hand rest on his nape. "All you have to do is tell me what you want."

Jeongguk was confused like yesterday when they were in a similar situation in Taehyung's office. Why did he say that again and what was he supposed to do about it? "Tae, I—I don't know. I don't know w-what you want me to do."

"I told you. It's not about what I want you to do. It's about what you want to do." Taehyung was on a whole other level of desperation by now, and it took everything he had not to close the gap between them himself.

Taehyung knew he was innocent and pure, and honestly, he didn't want to pressure him into something he might be uncomfortable with. He saw yesterday how much he freaked out when he kissed his neck and back, and he dreaded to think how he would react if he effaced that damn small gap between them.

But on the other hand, he pressured him even at that moment when he asked him that. So with a forced smile and caressing his head once more, he drew back and focused on his food.

Jeongguk stayed still for a while, unable to understand what just happened. When he perceived that Taehyung started eating, he glanced away, uneasy, and sat straighter. He began eating too as an awkward silence floated around them — at least that was how it felt for him.

"You like my waffles?"

"Yeah, thank you for making this." Although surprised at the question, Jeongguk cast him a glance with a timid smile. Maybe it wasn't so awkward between them as he thought it was. Maybe he was just overthinking things as always. Yeah, they were good.

After eating, Taehyung checked his back to see if the bandages were still okay, and thankfully, everything looked good. They spent their time together watching various things on TV and giggling nonstop. No one brought up what happened before, even though both were thinking about it, and especially Jeongguk.

It was almost time to go to the club, and the younger went to change his clothes, leaving Taehyung in the living room, pacing in front of the window. They won't be here, he chanted in his head and finally stood still. He inhaled a deep breath and vacated his lungs at a slow pace as he clutched the curtain. The moment he peeked down the road though, he shut his eyes and cursed under his breath.

He started pacing once again, his face wearing a mask of sheer anxiety. He didn't want Jeongguk to worry about him and cry again. He really didn't want to see that again.

"Tae?" He trod into the living room with a smile, which disappeared rather fast once he espied Taehyung's fretful state. "What's wrong?"

Sadness made its way into every crease on Taehyung’s face as he trudged closer to him and held his cheeks in tender palms. "Jeonggukie, I want you to be calm, okay?"

Jeongguk frowned as he clawed at his shirt. "What happened?"

"Kang's sidekicks are here." He saw his eyes swell right away and heard a terrified gasp that pricked his heart. "It's okay. It'll be okay," he said in a velvety tone as he rubbed his cheeks with his thumbs.

"Tae, don't go. Please."

"I can't, Kook. I have to."

"No! You don't, just—just don't go!" Jeongguk raised his voice, frustrated and brimmed with consternation.

"If I don't go, they'll come here to look for me, and they can't find you here."

"Then don't open the door!"

"Jeongguk," he called soothingly as he wiped the first tears that leaked out of the boy’s eyes. "I don't have a choice here. It'll only get worse if I don't go. You understand, right?"

Jeongguk pushed his hands away and took a step back, patting his face with his sleeve. "No, I don't. You're choosing to go."

"Please understand that there is no running away from Kang. If he wants to see me, he will look everywhere to find me. Not going with these motherfuckers will only worsen the situation." He reached out to hold his hands, but Jeongguk jerked away. "Please," he breathed out, tears welling up in his eyes too as all he wanted was his touch to give him strength and comfort.

"I don't want you to go."

"I don't want to go either. Can you just... Can you just give me a hug? Just one."

Jeongguk resumed sobbing silently as he inched closer with faltering steps and girdled his back with his arms. The older wrapped his own around his nape, giving numerous delicate kisses on his head, and they stayed like this for a while without saying anything at all.

"Once you see the car leave, call Namjoon to come here and drive you home, okay?"

"Why home? I have work."

"If Wang comes, I won't be there to protect you. There's no way you're going to the club if I'm not there."

"Namjoon will be there."

"You're going home."

"You won't be here to know if I went home or not!" Jeongguk cried out, more tears gushing out of his puffy eyes.

"Please, don't make this harder, please."

Jeongguk didn't say anything else. He pivoted on his heel and stormed towards the bedroom, leaving the older with the tears he endeavored to choke back finally rolling down his cheeks. He had to go, and he couldn't do anything about it. He only wished that Jeongguk could understand that too.

His chest felt heavier and heavier with each listless step as he headed to the car that was parked outside of his house. "Why are you here?"

"Ah, no need to worry. The big head just has some questions." The driver beckoned him to get in the car, and reluctantly, he did.

Taehyung didn't bother asking more questions since he knew they wouldn't tell him more than that.

The rest of the ride was silent until they arrived, and Taehyung went downstairs without wasting a second. The big metallic door was opened by a guard as usual, and he walked inside.

"This is the third time you're here in three weeks, Taehyung."

"I'm not sure why I'm here now, sir."

"You're not sure?" Kang snickered. "What the hell happened in my club yesterday?"

"If you're asking me that, I believe you already know, sir."

"You beat someone in my club. That's what I know."

"That happened too, but I didn't start it. The father of an employee came to the club yesterday and beat him up. I only tried to stop him, but things got out of control a bit." V seemed calm and collected as he talked, although he was apprehensive about what would happen. "He wasn't even our client."

"Then why the fuck was he there?"

"He's Wang's friend. He brought him. I'm sure he didn't know that man doesn't have a good relationship with his son." His hand clenched into a fist as the lie rolled off his tongue with great difficulty.

Kang eyed him for a stretch and clicked his tongue in annoyance. "This is the first and last time I'm letting you go with a warning. Take better care of my club or else I won't hesitate to throw you back where I found you."

A stream of surprise hit him, bringing a stunned expression to his face. He wouldn't put his sidekicks to beat him up? With slightly wide eyes, he rose from his seat and bowed. "Thank you, sir."

"The next time you'll come here, I'll make you wish you'd never been born," Kang said, voice dripping with viciousness.

Taehyung swallowed past his dry throat. "Yes, sir." He exited the room, and Kang's sidekicks drove him back to his house since he had to take his car.

When they arrived, he got into his car and drove to the club. The whole thing with Kang didn't take more than an hour, and he pondered a lot on going to Jeongguk's house. He didn't like how they left things before, and he couldn't stop thinking about it. So he decided to at least call him.

"Taehyung?"

"Hey, little bun."

"Where are you? Are you—Are you okay?"

"Yes, he only talked to me. He didn't hurt me."

Jeongguk sighed instantly in relief. "So can I come to the club?"

"No, Kook. You have to rest, anyway. Please rest for today."

"Okay, Tae. Take care."

"You too, little bun."

It didn't take long to reach his destination, and once he did, he was greeted by Wang right in the parking lot. He got out of his car, a scowl decorating his face. "What are you doing here?"

"Tsk, tsk, come on, V. Greet me properly." A sly smirk was plastered on his features.

"I asked you something!"

"Let's go to your office. We have some things to discuss." Wang didn't wait for his response; he strolled towards the office with Taehyung trailing behind him with clenched fists.

  
"What do you want?" V spat out as he sat on his chair.

Wang's smirk remained, cocky and teasing, as he took something out of his pocket. He threw three photos onto the the desk and leaned back in his seat with a smug face. "You care so much for this boy, Taehyung."

He edged closer and observed the photos. It was him, lying on the floor and holding Jeongguk's hand. "What do you want from me, Wang?"

"Oh, I don't want anything from you," he sneered. "I want... Jeongguk. For only one night. You know, I want to wreck him real good and then you can have him all to yourself."

Taehyung's breath stuck in his throat at his words, feeling beyond infuriated. "What the fuck are you talking about? There is no way this is happening."

"Oh, but you don't have a choice here." Wang lurched forward and pointed at the photos that were scattered on the desk. "The next person who'll see these pictures is Kang. You know what's going to happen then, right?" A sinister laugh spewed from his mouth as he reclined again.

"I don't care," he growled. "The only way this is going to happen is over my dead body. I won't let you touch him again."

"Ah, don't put ideas in my head, V. I would be more than happy to kill you, you know. But then what am I supposed to say to Kang? I'm sure he wants to be the one killing your pathetic ass."

Taehyung took a drag of calming air as his eyes shut for a few seconds. "I'll give anything. Except him. I can give you cocaine for free for as long as you want. I can... I can do anything. Except this."

Wang raised his brows and smirked in amusement. "You'll really do that?"

"Yes. I will do anything. I don't care, anyway. I only care about keeping him safe. So... just let him be."

Wang threw his head back as another laugh tumbled out of him. "Too bad because I don't care about that. I only want him, and you leave me no choice here." He stood up, not bothering to take the photos with him. "Be ready to visit Kang once again. But it'll be your last time since you won't be walking out of there alive."

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