__________

There was a stalling silence in the burning warehouse room. Taehyung stood on the side, feeling awfully guilty and shocked by the revelation that Miss Muscle was Jungkook's mother. Jungkook looked sick, close to passing out. His mother- gosh that's weird to say -was messaging someone through her superhero phone thingy which reached out to authorities.

"Damn it. Police are outside. Along with the press." Miss Muscle mumbled. Jungkook opened his eyes weakly.

He sniffled. "I-I don't feel well, mama."

"I know, sweetheart. But you know how this stuff works." Miss Muscle said in a whisper. Taehyung was more confused.

"Taehyung- that's your name, right? Yes. Can you get your friends out of here? It's unsafe and I don't want the press to bombard them with questions." Miss Muscle said. Taehyung nodded, about to rush out. Before he could, Miss Muscle picked Jungkook up.

"Jungkookie." She said gently. "The press is outside. Just for 5 minutes, and then you can go back to yourself."

Taehyung furrowed his eyebrows. Jungkook was still for a few seconds, and then nodded- and turned into his girl form.

Taehyung widened his eyes. Miss Muscle carried him out, his body looking smaller now that he was in his girl self, long grey hair tangled and eyes dulled. Taehyung had no clue what was going on but he did have a thousand questions.

He had to do his job, however. So Taehyung ran out of the room and saw Yoongi, Hoseok, and Jimin lying on the ground, looking beaten. He helped them up. Hoseok put an arm around Jimin, who's hands were charred. Taehyung put his arm around Yoongi.

"Fuck off," Yoongi muttered, pushing him away. Taehyung stumbled back, and then looked down.

"I-I'm trying to help."

"Don't. I'm fine." Yoongi grumbled, trying to move forward, but he was lumping and his body was burnt from some places. Taehyung tsked.

"Yoongi," Taehyung moved closer to him. "Stop being stubborn." Taehyung lifted the boy up onto his back so he was giving him a piggyback ride. Yoongi was frozen for a few seconds, but then threw his arms around Taehyung's neck and basically collapsed onto his shoulder.

"You don't even have a single scratch," Yoongi grumbled against his shoulder. "I hate that."

"You did much more than me." Taehyung breathed out. "Stop comparing yourself to me. You're strong too. Stronger."

The four boys went outside the warehouse. There were cameramen and news reporters up in Miss Muscle's face, and Jungkook was still in his girl form, eyes closed against Miss Muscle's shoulder. Taehyung whispered to the rest of the boys and they went away from the side to not get attention to themselves.

"Why was Jungkook in his girl form?" Hoseok asked.

"I don't know." Taehyung breathed out.

"He got to be held in Miss Muscle's arms.... lucky fuck. Does Jungkook have a raging crush on her too? He doesn't talk about her much." Yoongi said.

"I'm sure he doesn't...." Taehyung mumbled.

"Everyone does, Tae. Miss Muscle is beautiful. Just because Jungkook is gay doesn't mean he isn't also in love with her." Jimin scoffed.

Taehyung grimaced to himself. The guys walked away from the forest and then held onto Hoseok to swiftly reach the school. Namjoon and Jin were there. They helped the boys to the medical room.

"I'm glad Miss Muscle came in time to help," Namjoon said softly. "We called the police."

"Thank you. We would've been in real trouble if you didn't." Taehyung replied. Yoongi, Hoseok, and Jimin got mended by the nurses. Taehyung just took an aspirin and went back to his dorm room.

He went to sleep later, curled up, feeling all too confused and muddled up. It was a strange day, for sure. Too much had happened. Right now, he just needed to rest and let his aching muscles rest.

"Here's the thing," Coach Neon began. Jimin, Hoseok, Yoongi, Namjoon, Taehyung, and Jin stood there in the Principal's office, avoiding all eye contact and having their hands folded respectfully in front of them. "What you boys did was reckless, irresponsible, and dangerous. I understand wanting to protect your friend- but all of you are still students. Something terrible could've happened. What would we have done then?"

"You boys need to leave these sort of things to the authorities. Having bursts of heroism is good, but not when it puts your and others lives in danger. This was heedless, and I don't want it to happen again. Understood?" The principal barked.

"Yes, sir." All 6 boys said together.

"If the press finds out that 6 students went out hunting for villains like this there will be an uproar. So none of you will disclose anything about this little 'mission' of yours, okay? If anyone asks, say you were out in the city, and Miss Muscle went and saved Jungkook." Coach Neon said. The boys nodded.

"Besides that, all of you are going to get suspended for a short time period."

"W-what?" Namjoon cried, eyes wide. Hoseok looked nervous too. Though they might be immature and thoughtless at times, they were still in the best superhero university in Asia. They worked had to be here. They work hard here. They didn't want to get suspended. How would they explain that to their parents? To their future employers?

"Sir- please don't suspend us. We apologize profusely. We'll do extra work and clean the whole school three times. But please. You can't suspend us. We'll miss out on a lot of studies." Jin said quickly, and the boys nodded.

"You need to face the consequences of your actions. Suspending you is only a punishment, but it's also enough time for the whole situation to air out." Coach Neon said. "All of you did this together, and you will have to be disciplined."

There was silence. The boys did dumb stuff, yeah, but none of them had ever gotten suspended. They completely forgot that going out of their way to save Jungkook would backfire like this once they were back in school. Taehyung could sense how upset the 5 boys were, and somewhere on the inside, he felt guilty.

"Sir," Taehyung said, abrupt. "It's not their fault, sir. I... I forced them to come along with me. Guilt tripped them into saving Jungkook. I was being absentminded and ruled with my adrenaline. It's my fault. Don't punish them." Taehyung mumbled in a small voice.

"Taehyung, it might've been your idea- but the rest of the boys still-" Coach Neon began, but the principal cleared his throat.

"Kim Taehyung, this is absolutely unacceptable. Especially coming from you. You are a great student, but this is the second time you've caused such problems." The principal snapped. Taehyung flinched. "Fine then. I'm glad you came forward. The rest of the boys will get a week-long suspension. Taehyung, you'll get a 4-week suspension."

"F-four weeks?!" Taehyung cried. Coach Neon looked hesitant, but the principal nodded.

"Yes. Your transport for back home will be arranged tomorrow." The principal said. The boys nodded meekly and walked out. Taehyung lingered on for a second because Coach Neon was giving him a look.

"Taehyung. This break is not only for you to go over your mistakes and fix them but also for a little mental health break. You just fought a very deadly villain who messed with your brain. Take this time to work with your trait and be at home. Okay?" Coach Neon said. Taehyung nodded hastily, and then turned around and rushed out.

Taehyung walked out of the school building, seeing students walk around, talking in hushed voices. The attack from the villains had definitely sent the flurry and fun of college life to a dismayed realization of the real world. Students had their fists tightened and walked in groups. They kept looking around, trying to stay alert.

Taehyung was walking towards his dorm but then got a text.

Jungkook
come over please

Taehyung instantly turned around and practically ran to Jungkook's apartment. He rushed up the lift and knocked on his front door 5 times. The door opened, and Jungkook stood there looking disheveled. His hair was a mess and he wore a baggy t-shirt and sweatpants.

"Oh Kook." Taehyung breathed out, stepping forward and hugging him tightly. "Fuck. I'm glad you're okay."

"I am," Jungkook said, stuff. "D-don't hug me so tight my sides are bruised."

"I'm sorry." Taehyung moved away. He awkwardly kept his hands on Jungkook's shoulders. "Are you okay?"

"K-king of? My head hurts a lot." Jungkook said, shoulders dropping. "I d-don't wanna leave my apartment."

"I get it. You must be scared because of what happened." Taehyung said. Jungkook nodded. Taehyung let his hands down. "I got suspended for 4 weeks."

"What?? Seriously? That's unfair. You were just trying to save me." Jungkook pouted. Taehyung nodded.

"I know! I've never gotten suspended before. Not even detention. So this is really weird. I'm actually freaking out but it's okay. Coach Neon said it's good for me to take a break. Are you taking one too?" Taehyung asked.

"Yes. A month for me too. It's good but... I don't know what to do. I haven't stayed at my childhood home for 2 years, and that's where Coach Neon wants me to go." Jungkook mumbled. "Last year holidays I spent with Jimin. But ever since we fell out, I spent all summer here, alone."

"Why don't you go back home?"

"It's lonely," Jungkook said, looking down. "It's always so lonely."

"What about.... your m-mom?" Taehyung asked in a small voice.

Jungkook looked at Taehyung with big eyes. Taehyung gulped. "Sorry, i-if that's private."

"No, it's fine. I was waiting for you to ask actually. I know you saw her hug me. No one else knows." Jungkook said, walking towards his couch. Taehyung followed.

"It's so weird." Taehyung sat down beside him. "That she's your mom. Sorry, I just can't wrap my head around it. I mean, she- she's like... my idol, you know? Someone I look up to. So knowing she's your actual mother is just... odd." Taehyung settled with.

"I get it. You have a massive crush on her or something, right?" Jungkook tilted his head. Taehyung blushed.

"N-not anymore, obviously..." Taehyung mumbled, biting the inside of his cheek.

"Do you know how hard it is? All the boys talked about is how much they love her. Yoongi got drunk once and told me he wanted to shove his head in her tits. That's my mom!" Jungkook cried, looking petrified. "I was so grossed out but I never said anything."

"Has anyone ever asked you to transform into her?"

"Yes! Many times. Ren asked me once. Because he wanted to have sex with her...." Jungkook shuddered. "I said no, obviously. Before he could ask why I just turned into my girl form and took my shirt off in public."

"S-speaking of your girl form.... how come you turned into her? When Miss Mus- your mom took you outside?" Taehyung asked, picking on the threads coming out of his sweater. Jungkook looked at Taehyung for a few seconds.

"Can I trust you?" Jungkook asked.

"Of course you can."

"I-I don't know anymore with you. I thought we ended things before I got kidnapped." Jungkook muttered. "Plus, aren't you with Moe? Have you even talked to her?"

"Not really... but that's not the point! I'm here for you, Kookie. Talk to me." Taehyung said, pinching his cheek.

"Okay... well, I turned to my girl form because technically, no one except the principal and Coach Neon knows that Miss Muscle is my mom. It's not public knowledge that Miss Muscle got knocked up at 18 and had a kid." Jungkook snickered weakly.

"O-oh. Jeez." Taehyung whispered.

"I'm technically not supposed to be out to the public. So it was hard in school... no one ever showed up for my parent-teacher meetings. No one ever showed up to pick me up from school. No one showed up for t-the dance performances I did in school. And I did so many!" Jungkook squeaked. Taehyung scooted a little closer to him, holding onto his hand.

"Mom had me when she was 18. I have no clue who my father is. I don't think it matters. Until I was 4, I was raised by my mom's apprentice." Jungkook said softly. "Who was.... the girl I change into."

"Oh."

"She was much younger than my mom, but my mom trained her in her free time. My mom looked at her as her own younger sister or-or daughter of some kind." Jungkook said faintly. "I was just... a hassle for her to take care of."

"That's not true-"

"But it is." Jungkook looked at Taehyung. "My mom's apprentice, she-she died when I was 8. I was so sad, Tae. Mom was even sadder. She broke down at nights and cried in her room all day. I u-used to transform into her apprentice and talk to her to comfort her." Jungkook mumbled.

"But then it never really stopped," Jungkook said, biting his bottom lip. "M-mom actually used to talk to me when I was her apprentice. When I w-was in my girl form. She used to call me her daughter, and-" Jungkook got tears in his eyes. "No o-one cared about me when I was m-myself."

"Kookie," Taehyung said in a trailing voice, squeezing his hand. Suddenly, things began making sense. Why Jungkook preferred to be in the girl's body. Why he let people use him. Why he let people walk all over him. He'd been raised like that, hadn't he? Without any affection or love. He longed for attention. Just a little bit of love. But he never got it. Everything made sense now.

"T-to the public, the apprentice isn't dead. She's somewhere unknown. Has an Instagram account where her boobs look great." Jungkook chuckled weakly. "So m-my mom didn't want me to be myself when she showed me to the press. She wanted me to be her. She a-always wants me to be her."

"I'm sorry." Taehyung wrapped his arms around Jungkook, pulling the smaller boy onto his lap. "I'm so fucking sorry."

Jungkook laid against him and started crying, holding onto his shoulders. "P-please don't leave me, Taehyung. Y-you can date Moe and still b-be friends with me, right?" Jungkook cried.

"Of course I can. I will. I'll be there for you when you need it." Taehyung said, holding him close. "I'm really sorry, Kookie."

"Are you just saying t-this because I'm Miss Muscle's child?"

"No. No no. I'm saying this because I care about you." Taehyung looked at him. He wiped his tears. "I think you're beautiful. I think you deserve to be taken care of. I think... I think you make me really h-happy and I want you near me."

"Oh." Jungkook smiled, watery. "Th-thank you. I'm gonna miss you for 4 weeks. Gosh, that's too long."

Jungkook hugged Taehyung, who stilled. Taehyung suddenly gulped. "Say.... if you have nowhere to go.... do-do you wanna come back home with me?"

"W-what?" Jungkook asked, eyes big.

"Back to my town with me." Taehyung blushed a little. "It's a really small town. I live on a farm. It's a small house and I have 3 siblings. But- but it's nice! And you wouldn't  have to be a-alone!" Taehyung smiled.

Jungkook gulped. "Are you sure? I wouldn't wanna burden you or your family..."

"You'll never do that, Kookie. My mom loves having guests over." Taehyung grinned. "It'll be fun. We can be together for 4 weeks. Little holiday for you."

Jungkook giggled, smiling widely. "I'm so thankful for you, Taehyungie."

"I'm thankful for you," Taehyung said, hugging him.

_____

So Jungkook was going back home with Taehyung. Taehyung was nervous but also excited. Jungkook would meet his entire family which would be weird. But he was excited. Well, he was excited until he went to Jungkook's house to help him pack. As in, his house house. The one he grew up in.

Jungkook was fucking rich.

He lived in a gigantic mansion with many floors and a big front yard and even bigger back yard. He had 4 cars lined up front, really expensive ones, and a bunch of maids inside moving around. Jungkook hadn't been home for a while, but he needed winter clothes because it was colder where Taehyung lived.

"W-wow." Taehyung's eyes glazed as he walked into Jungkook's house. He was walking on marble flooring and got offered cold lemon water by the butler. What the fuck.

Jungkook walked across the foyer and towards the stairs to go up to his room. Taehyung rushed after him, feeling like he was going to surely break some very expensive glass vase. There were pictures of Miss Muscle holding awards at ceremonies, getting awarded the Seoul Saviour when she was only 21, pictures with her... apprentice. Jungkook's girl form, like he'd said.

Jungkook walked into his bedroom which was very big and had a very big bed and very big windows. Wow. Jungkook picked out some oversized sweaters and scarves and jackets. Taehyung helped him pack those things into suitcases.

"So Miss Muscle is the reason you got accepted into this school so easily?" Taehyung asked as Jungkook chucked things at Taehyung from his walk in closet to put into his Louis Vuitton suitcase.

"Yup."

"Why didn't she talk to you at the tournament?" Taehyung asked.

Jungkook paused for a brief second. "I don't know."

"Okay. Sorry." Taehyung said quickly. "Wow, you're really rich."

"My mom's the strongest superhero in Korea. So, like, duh." Jungkook said, walking out of the bathroom. Jungkook put a bag full of toiletries in the suitcase.

Taehyung smiled at him. "We'll catch the train tomorrow morning at 7 AM. Sorry, it's so early."

"That's okay, Taehyung. Don't apologize." Jungkook said, and then closed the suitcase. "I'm excited."

"Really?"

"I'm scared. To meet your parents. They'll hate me. Parents always hate me." Jungkook mumbled. "Jimin's parents- nevermind."

"My parents are lovely, don't worry!" Taehyung pinched Jungkook's chin. "I'm just... worried because my life isn't exactly like yours. My house is small. There's a lot of people. I don't live in a big city." Taehyung said in a small voice. "Don't be disappointed."

"Tae, c'mon. What do you take me for? I'm not gonna judge you because of where you grew up. I'm sure it's lovely if you talk so highly about it." Jungkook smiled gently. Taehyung nodded, looking away.

They packed Jungkook's stuff and left his mansion. Jungkook lingered for a second and asked the butler when his mother was going to return, but the butler told him that it wasn't going to be any time soon. Jungkook nodded and left. He was quiet on the way back to the university.

"I'll see you tomorrow morning," Taehyung said outside the building of Jungkook's apartment. Jungkook nodded.

"Thanks," Jungkook said in a small voice. "Sometimes I feel like no one cares about me so when you do, it makes me really happy."

"I'm glad it does. I care about you immensely." Taehyung said, hiding his feelings in small words. Jungkook giggled. He reached forward and kissed Taehyung's cheek.

Jungkook then turned around and went into the building. Taehyung stood there for a few seconds to stop blushing. But then he turned and saw Moe standing there, eyes big.

"M-Moe!" Taehyung cried. "I haven't seen you in-"

"It's really obvious, you know." Moe walked closer to him. "It's really obvious that you were using me to get over him. It's really obvious that you're practically in love with him."

"Moe..." Taehyung trailed. "Look. I never meant for this to happen. I do like you-"

"You don't! Is it so hard for you to be mean sometimes? You couldn't just say no to my face the first time I asked? It would've saved so much trouble, Tae!" Moe said, eyebrows furrowed. "I see the way you look at him. Like he's an angel."

Taehyung looked down. "I'm sorry." He whispered. Moe shook her head, turning around. "D-does this mean we're breaking up?"

"Yes, you dummy! For someone so smart you sure lack basic common sense! Like the fact that you were treating me badly and that Jungkook likes you too!" Moe snapped. Taehyung looked at her, eyes sparkly." Get with him or don't. But don't fool with others to make yourself feel better."

"M'sorry." Taehyung squeaked. Moe turned around and walked away.

She did sound confident and harsh to Taehyung, but as she walked towards her dorm building, she got tears in her eyes. It sucked. For two guys to leave her for Jungkook. She felt a little worthless.

Moe turned into a small alleyway, a shortcut to her dorm building instead of going all the way around campus. She walked down it, but then heard a sound. Moe turned around quickly.

No one was there. Moe gulped and then turned around, but when she did- her eyes widened and she gasped. It was the Mind Controller.

"W-what-" Moe let out frantically, but he instantly wrapped his arm around her waist and another around her mouth. Moe tried fighting, but then went limp in his arms, her eyes going grey. He was inside her mind.

"You hate them, don't you? Do you want to ruin them? I know you do." He growled into her ear. She nodded, but her mind was being corrupted, taken over. "I'll make good use of you." The Mind Controller smirked, and then disappeared with her.

__________

sorry for kinda crappy chapter :)