There's this very thick, strong, and suffocating tension that has settled over this apartment.

It's a tension that was not there previously, since everyone would either be asleep or just in their own space when being in this apartment. But tonight is different.

Everyone is awake and everyone is home a bit early.

If you count one in the morning early.

After that group chat message, everyone is on edge.

Like walking on thin glass.

Jeongguk is in the room, packing up his things silently because he damn well is not going to last here another second. He was being serious about leaving and going to wherever Woosung is. Being here isn't doing him any better, and if anything it's making his emotional stability worse.

He can't take it anymore.

Taehyung is in the bathroom, door open, attending a few wounds from the fight today. Mother has asked him to do the usual all night routine, but tonight he wasn't focused at all and got fucked up real good - even while the opponent wasn't so tough so to say. He still won, but couldn't fight anymore and just left.

He doesn't know why, but he couldn't focus. No matter how hard he tried.

Jimin is in the kitchen, not really eating or doing anything, just leaning over the sink with grudging eyes to the faucet. He cancelled his and Joshua's usual meeting today, deciding to stay back to make sure Jeongguk isn't being stupid enough to run away or Taehyung being an idiot to go fight again.

But they were both here when he got back, and now he's waiting.

For the explosion.

Everyone is like a ticking bomb. The ticking clock loud against everyone's ears, striking against their every sense in their head to play games of being on guard to the silence.

Tick.

Tock.

Tick.

Tock.

Sealed, Jeongguk closes his duffle bag and carries it without taking another spare glance to the room when he walked out. He passes Taehyung from the bathroom, who glanced at him from the mirror, and Jimin from the kitchen to make it to the front door.

Right when he placed his hand on it, that's when the glass broke.

And the ticking started speeding.

"So you're just going to leave?"

Jeongguk froze upon hearing the voice, closing his eyes momentarily to not roll his eyes with a deep exhale before he cranes his head to the side.

Seeing Jimin standing there with arms crossed.

No matter how upset he wanted to be with him, Jeongguk couldn't.

Maybe it's his sensible bond he has over him, or his depression with the longing to finally be cared for something. Whatever it was, he blindly let himself give Jimin that one last chance to meet him half way to fix this broken friendship.

Right now, in this very moment.

If he fails, Jeongguk is out of that door.

So he let's go of the door nob, lips still tight together, "I will if I have to."

"You're still in Phoenix territory, they won't let you leave."

"I think I can manage," He tries to say monotonous but it came out a bit bitter, "Guess there's still things left to know about me."

"I see."

There's a fierce glare exchanged between the two of them and that was the confirmation Jeongguk needed to know that Jimin was not going to open up. He wasn't going to try to find he root to their problem or help each other be that emotional support that they once were for each other.

Now evidently rolling his eyes, Jeongguk turns around, "Whatever-"

"Don't tell me you're actually going to leave because of this asshole?"

And the man who was left appears, Taehyung.

Jeongguk doesn't have any personal bad relations with Taehyung so to say, but he has not been liking that he's been going out to fights and acting like a whole different person this entire time.

He's not the same Taehyung he knew.

Not he seems as though he just doesn't care, which makes Jeongguk feel the need to just show that same thing to - show how uncaring he is about him.

So he keeps his guard up when Taehyung rounds the corner, approaching the two with arms crossed to his chest and a playful smirk on his lips, "Did you forget it's not all unicorns and rainbows the second you step out that door? Or how your little prince charming is the crown prince as to why the world is shitty these days?"

Something about Taehyung mocking him like this really did rile Jeongguk up, but at this point he was too exhausted to even act upon it.

Just so mentally drained.

So he just continues for the door, but he was suddenly yanked back by his backpack.

Jimin is holding onto him, a deep scowl on his lips, "I'm not going to risk you being in danger over our petty attitude."

"Then what do you want from me!" Jeongguk exclaims, eying both Jimin and Taehyung, "You think it's easy for me to just stay in here most of the time, alone, and letting my head fuck with me about how trapped I feel! You don't want to talk about the evident problem that separated us and Taehyung prefers getting himself shit faced than even dealing with any of us-"

"Woah, back up," Taehyung intervenes, the smirk dropping from his face, now stepping more towards the other two, "Don't get it twisted sweetheart. Just because you're a little emotional doesn't mean I-"

A hand flies to the back of Taehyung's head, coming from Jimin. The man is glaring painfully murderously at him, "Snap the fuck out of it. You've been hanging out too much around Mother and one thing you need to stick in your damn head is that you're Taehyung before Karma."

Taehyung stays frozen for a few moments, almost as though he's going through some personality crisis with eyebrows furrowed together. Jeongguk huffs annoyedly and shoves Jimin's hand off his backpack.

"Listen, maybe you're getting use to being back here and all, but I'm not. I want to see my sister! I want to not have a fucking panic attack whenever I wake up in the morning and I want to be around someone who actually gives a shit about me-"

"You think I don't want the same thing too?" Jimin suddenly spat, taking this a bit too personally, "I wanted to go back and be with Taemin but no! We had to get back here. I didn't want this fucking tattoo on my neck but that's the only thing keeping us alive right now!"

"If that's your way to persuade me to stay, let me tell you that it's shitty tactic."

Jimin lip is snarling, but before he can say anything Taehyung got involved, "Alright that's enough," He bellows, annoyedly, "Jungkook if you want to leave then get out."

"Gladly."

Jeongguk turns around and puts a handle on the door.

"But if something happens to you, your sister won't have anyone and you won't get to see Woosung."

Jeongguk froze.

Completely froze.

Jimin was too annoyed and had to look away with arms crossed just to not infuriate himself even more. Taehyung remains with eyes on Jeongguk, trying not to smirk as the ravenette doubts it over now.

If he leaves, the chance of something happening to him back in the city is high, too high.

Without Jimin there's no guarentee on his surivival, and without Taehyung he will never be able to defend himself if they do try to get him.

It will be a kidnapping all over again.

This time with him being dead.

No sees his sister or Woosung.

Fuck.

Jeongguk grinds his teeth together debating, but defeatedly drops his hand with a deep from from the handle.

He can't leave.

Even if he wanted to.

"See, this is the safest option," Taehyung mutters, just as Jungkook turns around with his head bowed down, "But now that we are aware of your mental state and how being alone is affecting you, let me take care of you."

Jeongguk furrows his eyebrows, snapping his gaze up.

The fuck does that mean?

Jimin even snaps his head to Taehyung, accusing eyes in cautious, "What are you on about?"

Taehyung chuckles and wraps his arms around both of their necks, guiding them to the door with a devious grin.

"Time for our time to shine."

____________________________________

A/N:

Hello loveliessssss,

It's been a whileeeee!!

I want to advise you guys that this story is close to ending soon.

Maybe ten-fifteen chapters left, I'm not sure.

Once this story ends, I will continue with Whimsical and mid way Whimsical I will start I'll Live Forever!

There's another Vminkook story that I'll be starting soon but it's not part of the Therapeutic series, and it's called Growl. That story will be posted when the 4th Generation stories start, which will be when I finish with the current Jikook, Taekook and coming in Yoomin story.

While also hopefully finishing up Bambi, Yum and The Spawn.

Let's wait for it! :)

I PURPLE YOU! <3333