Therefore, just as water retains no constant shape, so in warfare there are no constant conditions.
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The Art of War
Sun Tzu

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Stupid. Taehyung was absolutely fucking stupid.

He lost control. Snapped. Succumbed to his baser instincts to blur out the rage eating him alive.

Everything was his fault.

When he overthought, hesitated a fraction too long, people got hurt. When he didn't think at all, let himself be selfish, people got hurt. No matter what he did or how hard he tried to do right by everyone, people always got hurt because of him.

Taehyung should just leave, escape the confines of all duty and obligation. If he stuck around, he'd inevitably attract more trouble and put others in harm's way. That was his constant, the unavoidable truth staring back at him. But maybe if he went somewhere far away, he wouldn't have to be a liability anymore.

Maybe he could even start over.

If given the opportunity, Taehyung could leave this world behind and take the chance to rediscover himself. He'd use his newfound freedom to discover passions and to build interests, to explore strengths and to better his faults. He'd become the man he aspired to be, the man he stopped working towards when his life turned upside down three years ago.

Taehyung would give anything for that to happen. All he needed to do was leave this place and never look back.

But he couldn't go.

He wouldn't go.

No matter how appealing fleeing from this life and starting anew sounded, he'd be selfish to leave everything - and everyone - behind. He needed to stay and take accountability for his actions.

So he did.

Taehyung went to Yoongi, Chief of Security at Korean National Oil, and disclosed all of the information he'd been harboring for the last several days. No detail went uncovered, even if it might have seemed unimportant or minuscule. After that hour-long conversation with his boss, everything from Taehyung's side was out in the open.

And with all his memories finally revealed, Taehyung couldn't deny anything anymore. What he prayed was just a fantasy - an illusion of his broken mind - had to be accepted as reality. He had to face the truth, to accept his guilt and pain and sadness as emotions he needed to process - to feel.

But fuck, Taehyung was terrified. It became blatantly obvious to him how unprepared he was to deal with his suppressed suffering; he lacked the resources - the time and space - he needed to work through these emotions. So as he recounted his story to Yoongi, described the screaming and the gunshots and the blood, he yet again pushed down his anguish.

It was a harsh denial that only hurt him more.

But he masked his feelings with a cold aloofness, not wanting to appear weak or vulnerable in front of the Chief.

As Taehyung explained his past, Yoongi listened with a stoic and composed expression. He never once interrupted or asked for additional clarity; he simply absorbed everything that was said. If he was shocked to hear of Taehyung's news, it didn't show. And there was no hint of anger in his voice as he ordered Taehyung to return to his room, to remain there until they could fully debrief in the morning.

Taehyung didn't know what to make of it. He expected to be harshly reprimanded, called names, or chided endlessly. But none of that occurred; he wasn't even asked to hand over any of his ammo or guns.

Before leaving the Chief's room, Taehyung demanded one more time that Jungkook would not be harmed. The man agreed, though it was tough to tell if his word meant anything. But Taehyung had to take the chance and trust him. For all he knew, it was another mistake, but he felt desperate enough to risk both his and Jungkook's life.

Jungkook.

Fuck, he screwed up so badly.

After his talk with the Chief, Taehyung was moments away from another breakdown. Voluntarily reliving the worst day of his life caused sweat to gather at his hairline and for his limbs to shake uncontrollably. He had made it back to his room, almost gasping for air, when he found Jungkook out on the balcony. And then their eyes met, and suddenly he wasn't falling apart anymore.

All he could think about while looking at the wide-eyed Jungkook was how desperately he needed to burn off the edge of his pain. Succumbing to those feelings wasn't an option, and he didn't feel like hurting his hands again. Truthfully, he just wanted to lose himself and not think of anything but the boy who managed to crawl underneath his skin.

The whole time he pleasured Jungkook, Taehyung didn't dare stop to consider his morals or the implications of his actions. He was consumed with the beautiful imposter, momentarily forgetting the lies the boy told. The only thing that mattered to him at the moment was watching Jungkook lose control and hearing him moan in ecstasy.

But when Taehyung achieved both of those things, when the spell dissipated and he could see through the haze, guilt washed over his mind and body. He realized he completely took advantage of this whole situation, using the younger without remorse to forget his fucked up life.

And it didn't make a difference they both saw each other as a diversion only; it made no difference that they were both consenting adults. Taehyung knew better. Getting involved with Jungkook - someone whose intentions still remained completely unknown - was incredibly naive. 

Yet he threw all of his good sense out the window, giving up his integrity in exchange for a fleeting moment of reprieve.

And there was something else, something he couldn't discount at all: Jungkook was Namjoon's brother.

Namjoon, the man whom Taehyung owed everything. Namjoon, the man whom Taehyung couldn't save. Namjoon, the man Taehyung spent the last three years of his life with.

Taehyung failed Namjoon, so he vowed to do everything possible to protect his brother, a brother he never even knew existed. And while there was still so much unknown and unproven, he didn't think Jungkook was lying about his blood ties. There was too much raw sincerity in the younger's voice whenever he talked about Namjoon.

So Taehyung, against his better judgment, decided to put his own neck on the line to keep Namjoon's brother safe. Protecting Jungkook was his opportunity for redemption, his way of righting all of his past wrongs.

But how did Taehyung repay Namjoon and honor his memory? By giving his younger brother a blow job and fucking him with his fingers.

Taehyung made a mistake; his purpose was to defend Jungkook, not to fool around with him.

But kissing the younger, tasting him, and feeling him . . . He enjoyed it so much more than he should have. Their experience together went far beyond a meaningless distraction. The feel of Jungkook's defined muscles and the sound of his breathy moans drugged Taehyung entirely, contributing significantly to his own arousal. But he didn't think about receiving pleasure in return. He was satisfied enough by giving.

But as soon as Taehyung brought Jungkook to his climax, as soon as the younger attempted to reciprocate, he remembered who they each were. He remembered how wrong it was to engage in all of this. Guilt overtook every single conscious thought, preventing him from even looking at Jungkook.

So he fled, needing to put some distance between the boy he just took advantage of and himself. He knew he reacted poorly, probably making Jungkook feel like shit, but he couldn't stay in that room for a second longer.

He navigated through the bed and breakfast for a while, not exactly sure where he was going. He eventually ended up at a gym, which was a small space enclosed by glass windows. Quickly scanning the room, he found one particular item of interest and felt the need to examine it more closely.

Taehyung entered through a glass door, maneuvering between cardio and weight machines to come up to a heavyweight bag. It hung from the ceiling, a silver chain keeping it in place, and was both taller and broader than himself. His hand slid over the vinyl material, which was smooth and sturdy beneath his palm.

It made him think of Jungkook's earlier offer, when he held his hands up for Taehyung to punch. And while he didn't want to box with the younger - didn't want to inflict any sort of pain on him - he was more than happy to inflict that pain on his own body.

Balling his hands into fists, Taehyung unleashed a series of jabs against the bag, putting all of his force into the moves. He never boxed before, though proper form and technique weren't important at the moment. All that mattered was the uncomfortable impact against his already sore knuckles.

In the end, this was just another distraction.

But as he kept at it, delivering hooks and jabs and undercuts, he slowly channeled more and more of his rage onto the bag. It swung back and forth from the momentum of his hits, the chain creaking loudly. And all the while, Taehyung prowled around and adjusted his positioning, envisioning his fists connecting with something other than the heavyweight bag.

He imagined hitting himself.

All of the anger - the contempt and disappointment - finally boiled over and he couldn't withstand it any longer. So he punished himself with every single blow, hitting the stiff material until his energy dissipated.

With his hands throbbing, he finally stopped and stepped away. At the same time, he heard the gym's door opening, and he full well knew who just entered.

"I thought I told you to stay in the room," Taehyung barked, spinning away from the bag to confront Jungkook.

Except someone else stood by the door, not Jungkook.

Jimin casually strode into the room, coming up alongside Taehyung. He wore a gentle smile, with a soft happiness residing in his eyes.

"Did you and Kook have a fight or something?" The older boy asked, resting a hand upon the bag. "You didn't sound too happy there."

Taehyung ran a hand through his hair, the strands limp and damp with sweat. "I'm sorry, Jimin. I didn't know it was you."

Jimin pushed the bag slightly, watching as it spun on its chain. "Is everything alright? Are you guys okay?"

"I needed a little space, that's all," he responded, eyeing his bruised and irritated knuckles. "But we'll . . . We'll be okay."

Taehyung didn't know how best to appease Jungkook's friend, and he doubted his efforts were convincing. Hell, his voice was so unwavering that he didn't believe the words he spoke.

"Can I ask you something, Taehyung?" Jimin replied, voice sweet and smooth but his eyes turning sharp.

"Sure," Taehyung agreed, nodding as he waited to be grilled. He understood the elder's intentions; he probably wanted to see if Taehyung was a good enough person for his friend.

If only Jimin knew what was really going on.

"Don't mind my bluntness, it's just how I am," Jimin warned before crossing his arms over his chest. "Are you cheating on Jungkook? I saw you eating dinner with that guy who checked in tonight."

Fuck, Taehyung hadn't realized his dinner with Yoongi had been observed. This was yet another example of how often he screwed up, putting himself and others at risk. But he shook his head, trying to appear as sincere as possible.

"I swear, Jimin, that was just a business meeting. Nothing more."

"What kind of business?" The elder persisted, not looking at all convinced.

"I can't say right now," Taehyung admitted, licking over his suddenly dry lips. "But I have a feeling you'll find out tomorrow."

Jimin's eyes narrowed, though thankfully he didn't ask for more details on the topic. "Alright, we'll wait for tomorrow then. In the meantime, how about you and I get to know each other? I want to learn all about the man who captured our Jungkookie's heart."

He didn't wait for Taehyung to agree; instead, he strode purposely from the exercise room, expecting to be followed.

Taehyung reluctantly trailed after the elder, not wanting to appear more suspicious than he probably already did. At this point, it was a waiting game until all secrets would come to light. And even though he was apprehensive for that to occur, it would be relieving to have everything out in the open.

Soon.

A minute or so later, Jimin led them into a spacious and modern kitchen. Multiple stoves and refrigerators lined two walls, with a huge island for food preparation in the middle. A couple of barstools were tucked on one side of the room, which Jimin pulled out and set near a makeshift bar.

"Do you drink?" The elder asked, walking behind the bar area and rummaging around among the glasses. "Or will it just be me?"

Normally, Taehyung didn't indulge in alcohol. Not because he had a family history of alcoholism like Jungkook mentioned, but because he needed to keep his senses alert in his hostile environment. Plus, he was never great at holding his liquor. But tonight, a night where he lacked all good judgment, he figured why the hell not.

"I'll join you," he said, ignoring the voice in his head that urged him to reconsider. "Do you have soju?"

Jimin pulled two bottles out with a flourish, setting one alongside two shot glasses. Almost like a professional bartender, the elder shook one of the bottles with confidence, clearly quite proud of his skills. After that step was complete, he slapped the bottom of the bottle before finally twisting off the cap. He poured their drinks, sliding one of the shot glasses over to Taehyung.

"To new friends," Jimin beamed, tapping their glasses together with a clink.

They both tossed back their drinks, the slightly sweetened liquor warming Taehyung's throat. Jimin immediately poured them another shot, encouraging him to drink again. And when the elder poured a third, Taehyung resorted to sipping. All he needed was to black out right now.

"So, where are you from?" Jimin asked, leaning his elbows onto the counter.

"Born and raised in Daegu," Taehyung replied, hoping these questions wouldn't get too personal. "But I moved to Seoul when I was eighteen."

Jimin tossed back his third shot, a friendly - and unfocused - film covering his eyes. "How'd you meet Kookie then? For all I know, he's stuck around here his whole life."

That confirmed Taehyung's thoughts, though he stored the fact away to cross-reference later. "Right. Well, I guess we just happened to be in the same place at the same time. It was a coincidence, really."

"Ah, that sounds like serendipity! You found something good without even looking for it," Jimin gushed, nodding at his own words. "You two found each other by accident."

"It definitely was an accident," Taehyung agreed, sliding his glass in between his lips again and drinking. He quickly drained the contents,  though Jimin was even quicker to pour more.

The elder emptied the rest of the soju into his glass before starting on the second bottle. "Was it love at first sight?"

The question caught Taehyung off guard, and he couldn't help but shake his head vigorously. "Definitely not. I don't believe in love at first sight. Lust, perhaps, but not love."

"Maybe I'm just a romantic," Jimin giggled, clearly less inhibited than before. "But anyway, I hope to have what you and Kookie have one day. You know what I mean."

"I don't know what you mean," Taehyung replied honestly, reaching for his glass, which was suddenly full once more.

The elder looked at him pointedly. "It's all in the eyes. With you and Kook . . . It's like no one else exists. You're in your own little world."

They were in their own world, alright. A world with murders and guns and bodyguards. A world where every person was most likely your enemy, every place most likely a trap.

Taehyung could never forget this world.

But for now, he chose not to focus on any of it. Tonight, he was just Taehyung, a boy with no duties or obligations.

The two drifted off into an amicable conversation, all the while drinking more and more soju. They told funny stories, made bad jokes, and bonded over some reheated dumplings. The alcohol was getting to them both, which was made quite apparent as they giggled loudly over the different lengths of their pinkies.

Taehyung finally cut himself off a few minutes ago, when an angry Hoseok barged in and scolded them for being too loud. Jimin kept drinking, adamant that he had a higher tolerance than anyone he knew.

"Oh, I got a good one," the elder said a bit drunkenly, now in a barstool and leaning on his elbows. "As you know, Kookie's parents . . . Not good people. Never let anyone to their house . . . Anyway. Kook snuck out a lot to have some fun - you know what I mean - and went to those cheap pay-by-the-hour motels to meet some guy. Apparently, neither him nor the guy brought any of the goods - you know what I mean - so Kook had the balls to ask me to bring him condoms and shit! Can you believe that?"

Taehyung, quite tipsy himself, chuckled along at the story. "Wait, wait. Go back. Tell me more about his parents. He doesn't talk about them."

Jimin started talking, though Taehyung was distracted as upset voices sounded from behind them. He leaned closer to his new friend, trying to hear whatever he was saying.

But Jimin became distracted as well, and he looked over his shoulder to see the source of all the noise. What he found caused his eyes to go wide, and he giggled into his hand as he turned back towards Taehyung.

"Uh, oh," he snickered, reaching for their third - or fourth? - bottle of soju. "I should hide this."

But before he could grab it, a new hand reached out for the almost empty bottle. "Jimin, how many times have I told you that the alcohol is for paying guests and not you?"

Jimin pouted at the lodge owner, attempting to grab the bottle back. "Let me just finish it off, so it doesn't go to waste!"

Hoseok brought the soju to his lips, quickly draining the contents. "Go to bed, Jimin. I don't trust you in here."

Taehyung smiled at the scene, exchanging conspiratorial glances with the drunken boy. He was so lost in watching the scene before him that he hadn't realized someone approached until it was too late. A strong pair of arms wrapped around his waist from behind, a head tucking into his neck.

"Angel, care to explain why Hoseok had to summon me to come get you?" Jungkook spoke into his ear roughly, his lips tickling his delicate skin.

A shiver went down Taehyung's spine at the contact, and he subconsciously tilted his head to the side. But he kept quiet, mind too relaxed to scold the younger for leaving the room.

"You're here getting shit-faced, all while expecting me to lie low. How is that fair?" Jungkook asked quietly, his hot breath fanning over Taehyung's neck. "And besides, aren't you supposed to be watching over me? How are you supposed to do that when you're drunk?"

Taehyung waved his hand, a loose and careless gesture. "You're asking too many damn questions right now. Chill."

"Chill? Tae, are you out of your mind? Are you . . .? Stand up," the younger ordered, letting go of Taehyung's waist and stepping back.

Taehyung spun in his chair, the movement making him slightly dizzy. He took a moment to concentrate on the floor, and when the world was no longer turning, he met the younger's eyes. Jungkook looked so pretty, hair all messy and lips still slightly swollen.

"Hi, sweetheart," he beamed, lips spreading wide as he studied the younger's handsome face. But Jungkook didn't look too happy; his eyebrows were set low and his swollen lips pushed into an aggravated pout.

"Tae -"

"Where's your smile, Kook?" Taehyung teased, feeling lighter than he had in days, no weeks, no years. "You look so pretty when you smile."

But despite Taehyung's best attempts to get the younger to smile, he didn't. Instead, the boy turned towards Hoseok, who was now pulling Jimin to his feet.

"Do you need any help with him?" Jungkook asked, watching as his drunken friend stumbled into Hoseok's arms.

"I'm good," Hoseok confirmed, securing an arm around Jimin's waist. "I've done this too many times before."

The pair slowly left the kitchen, leaving Taehyung on the barstool and Jungkook standing in front of him. With a sigh, the younger went to the line of refrigerators, opening up the doors until he found a bottle of water. He came back and thrust it in Taehyung's face.

"Drink," the younger demanded, his voice unyielding and forceful.

Taehyung took the bottle, wrapping his lips around the top and lifting his chin. After a few hearty gulps, he set the bottle down. "Did that remind you of when my lips were on your dick?"

Jungkook picked up the bottle again, handing it to Taehyung and making him finish it off. "Who are you and what have you done with my stuck up bodyguard?"

"He's gone for the night," Taehyung laughed openly, his cheeks beginning to hurt from smiling so widely over the last hour.

There was a softening of Jungkook's expression, a gentling of his eyes, as he stared back at him. "I don't know if I've ever seen you smile - like a real, genuine smile - before tonight."

"I'm sure I've smiled at you," Taehyung defended, though he couldn't think of many examples at the moment. So he grinned happily, just for Jungkook to see. "Here. I'm smiling at you now."

Jungkook mumbled something under his breath, though Taehyung couldn't tell if he said chewable or beautiful.

"Did you have fun with Jimin?" The younger asked after a minute, sitting in the barstool next to him.

"I've always wanted a friend like him," Taehyung reflected, thinking of how different the elder was from Bogum and his old group of friends. "I don't have many friends anymore."

"What about me?" Jungkook asked, turning Taehyung until they were facing each other. They were seated closely, with one of the younger's knees in between Taehyung's. "Am I your friend?"

"Nope," Taehyung said, the word popping on his lips. "You're something else to me."

"And what's that?"

"My responsibility," Taehyung beamed, setting a hand on the younger's knee. "But that's okay. It's nice to have someone to look after."

Jungkook looked at Taehyung's hand, eyes widening like he didn't know what to make of the gesture. "Is it?"

"Yeah," Taehyung murmured, fingers idly moving higher to caress the younger's thigh. "I think it is."

"And who looks after you?"

Taehyung frowned, thinking of the people he once had and then lost. "Well, no one anymore. It's just me. I'm responsible for me now. But I guess it's better that way."

Hesitantly, like he was questioning his move, Jungkook brought his fingers up to Taehyung's face. They lightly traced over his features, both delicately and reverently. "Don't you have a family to look after you?"

The gentle touches were relaxing, and Taehyung couldn't help but close his eyes. "Yes and no. But I don't like to be a burden. So it's easier to just take care of myself."

"Tell me about them, your family," Jungkook said, knuckles brushing over his cheek now.

Taehyung opened his eyes, taking in the younger's dark eyelashes and the little mole beneath his lip. "They're the nicest people I've ever met. And growing up, they always told me I could be whatever I wanted. As long as I was happy, they said they'd be happy, too. I . . . I miss them."

Jungkook nodded, his fingers carefully sweeping Taehyung's hair away from his face. "My parents weren't like that."

"No?"

"Before I was born, my mom had an affair. My dad and her were married, and yet she cheated on him. She got pregnant with Namjoon," Jungkook explained quietly, the tone of his voice turning introspective. "But the thing is, no one found out until Namjoon was eleven and I was eight. My dad . . . He was never the same. He began drinking and openly expressed his hatred for my brother. Even though he spent eleven years thinking Namjoon was his son, he just stopped loving him."

Taehyung brought his hand up to Jungkook's cheek, holding him carefully like he was afraid he'd break. "That sucks."

"Yeah, it does," Jungkook laughed in agreement, his eyes lighting up a bit more. "But that's how Namjoon and I got so close. We relied on each other for the love we couldn't get from our parents."

The younger's story about his family made Taehyung feel all the more grateful for the love he received as a child. It never dawned on him that not everyone had parents like his own. It also made him feel terrible that Jungkook's only source of love and support - his brother - was gone.

"I'm sorry about Namjoon," Taehyung whispered, the haze of his tipsiness beginning to clear.

Jungkook nodded, still holding onto Taehyung. And it was then they both seemed to realize how intimate their positions were, heat rushing to Taehyung's cheeks and redness coating Jungkook's.

But neither moved.

"Why did you run out on me, Tae?" The younger asked tentatively, his eyes wide with uncertainty. "I felt like I did something wrong."

And sure, Jungkook lied to him. That in itself was wrong. But maybe there was a reason for it. Maybe the younger thought that was his only option.

"You didn't do anything wrong," Taehyung assured him, voice low with seriousness. "I . . . I wanted you that way, Kook. Really. But I have a duty to keep you safe first. Not to . . . Not to take advantage of you."

"You didn't take advantage of me, though. You know how much I've wanted you since the day we met," the younger argued, leaning slightly closer. "And I still want you. I want you in so many more ways."

And Taehyung did as well, but he couldn't think clearly at the moment. His thoughts were a jumbled mess, and the remnants of soju weren't helping either. So he brought his hands back into his lap, which took more effort than he cared to admit.

"How about we talk in the morning? My head hurts." It was true; a slight headache put tension in his neck. But it was more than that. He had a feeling the younger might not feel the same way once learning of Taehyung's past.

Jungkook let out a small sigh, but didn't push the subject further. Instead, he interlinked their fingers and helped pull Taehyung to his feet. But as he took in the bruised and battered skin of Taehyung's knuckles, his eyes narrowed considerably.

"This looks worse than before," he commented, lifting their linked hands to better study Taehyung's damaged ones. "Tae . . . What happened?"

"I found a heavyweight bag," he replied with a shrug, attempting to free himself but not getting very far. "I might have gotten carried away."

Jungkook gently guided them from the kitchen, taking care not to move too quickly. "We need to clean out these cuts. The skin is all torn."

"Worse things can happen besides torn skin, you know," Taehyung said, attempting to draw the attention away from his mild injuries.

"I do know, but I still don't like seeing you hurt." They were on the second floor now, with Jungkook fumbling for their room key.

And as the younger unlocked the door, Taehyung couldn't help but smile. "What's this? Do you care for me now, too?"

Jungkook kicked off his shoes, sparing him a glance before he strolled into the bathroom. Taehyung followed along, still a bit shaky but not as bad as before.

"Kook?" He said, joining the younger in the bathroom and watching as he soaped up a washcloth.

"Sit," Jungkook pointed to the counter, wringing out the excess water.

Taehyung hopped up next to the sink, legs slightly swinging back and forth. He felt young, younger than he had in far too long. And while it was nice to know alcohol relaxed him in this way, he didn't want to become dependent on drinking. He needed to find another way to let go of his stress.

Jungkook reached for one of his hands, attentively cleaning the nicks and cuts. His touch was tender, almost like he feared inflicting any additional pain. And as he worked silently, his eyebrows knit together in a steady focus.

A few minutes later and Taehyung's knuckles were washed out and dried. They still looked bad, but at least they were no longer dirty or bloody.

"There," the younger said, setting down the washcloth. "Much better."

Taehyung kept his eyes on Jungkook, willing the boy to meet his gaze. And when their eyes found each other's, there was that familiar energy - that tight tether - pulling between them.

"How could I not care for you?" Jungkook asked softly, hands resting on Taehyung's thighs. "You've done so much for me already. And I probably won't ever be able to repay you."

"You don't need to repay me," Taehyung assured, not liking the flash of guilt that colored Jungkook's face.

"Oh. The company is paying you enough to look after me, right?" The younger looked down, breaking their eye contact.

Taehyung was still a bit out of it, still less alert than he typically was, but he swore he saw remorse in the boy's eyes as well. And for some reason, that just made him want to comfort Jungkook even more.

"Kook? I could've left you at any point. But I didn't. I stuck around to make sure you got out of all this alive. And I'll continue to be here for you. No matter what."

He doubted Jungkook understood the full weight of his words, though he felt the need to say them. Really, they were a reminder for himself; he couldn't forget who Jungkook was or the duty he had to the boy's family.

Jungkook moved fluidly, shifting his hands to hold Taehyung's face delicately. And then he leaned forward, sure and full of purpose, as he brushed their lips together in a soft and gentle caress.

"I'm sorry," Jungkook whispered against his mouth, taking a small breath before kissing him again.

And while the younger didn't explain what he was apologizing for, Taehyung knew. He knew Jungkook was regretting all of his lies.

Their kiss didn't last long, and it wasn't as heated or as passionate as before. No, this kiss was different. It was a gesture of comfort and understanding. And even though this kiss held no promise of more to come, it still managed to make Taehyung's heart race.

"We should go to sleep," Taehyung offered, knowing the morning would be one of their most challenging yet.

Jungkook stepped back, nodding his head in agreement. "You're right. Do you want me to sleep on the couch? I . . . Whatever you need, I'll do it for you."

A light chuckle pushed through Taehyung's lips at the younger's generosity. "Okay, who are you and what have you done with my brat?"

"He's taking a little vacation so I can look after my tipsy bodyguard," Jungkook laughed in return, his nose scrunching up with faint amusement.

"I'm not tipsy anymore," Taehyung defended, hopping off the counter and flexing his stiff knuckles. "And Kook? You don't have to sleep on the couch."

"Okay, good," the younger beamed brightly, "because I really didn't want to."

A short while later, they both were in bed, backs flat against the mattress as they stared up at the ceiling. There was too much on Taehyung's mind to instantly fall asleep tonight; knowing what tomorrow would bring caused him an ample amount of restlessness.

Everything would come to light . . . For both him and Jungkook.

The younger seemed to be thinking along the same lines. "Tae? I'm going to talk to the Chief tomorrow, aren't I?"

There was no point in denying it. "Yeah."

"I figured."

Silence stretched between them for a while after that, so Taehyung rolled to his side and faced away from the younger. His heart continued to race even as he took controlled breaths, his anxiety over everything unrelenting. But he wasn't nervous for himself; no, he was worried Yoongi wouldn't keep his promise and would end up hurting Jungkook.

That unknown factor completely scared the shit out of Taehyung.

But he pushed that aside for now. What he needed was to sleep, not to dwell on his uncertainties all night. So he closed his eyes, inhaling and exhaling deeply.

A few minutes later, Jungkook's soft and sleepy voice pierced the quiet surrounding them. "Tae, do you hate me?"

The question caught Taehyung off guard, sure, but he was more surprised by the tone of the younger's voice. It was filled with self-loathing.

"Do you want me to?"

There was a hesitant pause before, "No."

"Then I don't," Taehyung said, and he truly meant those words. Even though he should hate the boy for everything, he didn't.

He blamed his pacifism.

The sheets slid and tightened as Jungkook turned onto his side, facing in the opposite direction. "Good. I don't hate you, either."

And while that sentiment was sweet, Taehyung couldn't help think it would change come morning. Because when Jungkook learned the truth - when he learned Taehyung failed at saving Namjoon's life - he'd never look at Taehyung the same way again.

It was inevitable.

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》 V A L E N W R I T I N G 《

A softening between Taekook, I love it! But how will that change when the truth is finally revealed??

I hope this question doesn't get annoying, but I truly love to know! What was your favorite part of the chapter? I have so many, but it was probably the vmin bonding scene hehe.

And the next chapter is when your theories will either be confirmed or shattered! Last call to make them!

T H E O R I E S ↴