Even the finest sword plunged into salt water will eventually rust.
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The Art of War
Sun Tzu

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Four days passed.

Seconds turned into minutes, minutes turned into hours, and hours turned into days. Time stretched out continuously, a road with no end in sight . . . no end in existence. Everyone was simply along for the ride, making the most of anything brought their way.

Well, everyone except Taehyung.

Four days passed and he didn't know what to do with himself.

The first day - the day Jungkook was sent away and ripped out of Taehyung's life - was the most productive. He abandoned all control, becoming nothing but a conduit for the never-ending grief, guilt, and anger. These emotions couldn't be suppressed any longer, so they clawed their way to the surface and pushed past the thorns of Taehyung's mind.

And all he could do was lower his defenses and experience the dizzying rush full force.

The grief emerged first, a deep anguish that weighed down Taehyung's bones and squeezed his heart with an unrelenting fist. Not only did he mourn the deaths of his mother and Namjoon, but now he also had to deal with the loss of Jungkook. That was three people - each of whom meant something special to him - prematurely removed from his life. Unfillable voids bloomed into existence, eradicating much of his innocence and naivete.

After the grief came the guilt. While he understood none of these events were his fault, he accepted responsibility nonetheless. He needed a culprit - someone to blame - yet had no idea who was behind this treachery. All he had was himself, the face in the mirror. So he welcomed the self-loathing, the endless amount of shame. He replayed everything over and over, retreating inward as he dreamed of going back and changing what had happened.

And finally, there was the anger, the heat flushing through his body as he asked himself why this occurred and why his family was targeted. He was possessed with the need to hit something, to release his fury in sharp bursts and mindless rages. Miraculously, he held himself back and did not inflict any physical self-harm; he knew that wouldn't solve anything. But he needed to let it out; he had to purge this outrage from his system. So he picked up a newspaper from the coffee table and ripped the pages to shreds.

After the turbulent outpouring of these emotions, Taehyung expected to feel better. Lighter. He thought some of his pain would burn off, leaving him with a refreshed mind. But rather than the clarity he craved, he felt foggy and tired. Each part of his body was exhausted and drained.

And that was just the first day.

On the second day, Taehyung woke up numb and desensitized. He lacked the capacity to do much of anything since he was still hollow from the day before. So he went through the motions, agreeing to whatever Yoongi asked of him. For starters, the two moved into the same room so the Chief could provide around-the-clock protection. Historically, Taehyung might have been agitated, but this time he didn't mind . . . He found it difficult staying in the room he once shared with Jungkook.

In such a short amount of time, they created so many memories there.

After that, Taehyung was required to sit in on the interviews for his replacement bodyguard. He understood it was less for his input and more for his protection, though Yoongi allowed him to ask the candidates questions from off-screen. He only ever had one: Have you ever shot anyone, and if not, could you do it?

Most of the candidates said they could do it no problem, though Taehyung remained skeptical. He knew firsthand how impossible that question was to answer unless you'd personally been in that type of scenario.

Once the first round interviews concluded, Yoongi spent hours reviewing his notes. He explained selected candidates would have a field test at the company's headquarters, where he looped in a trusted advisor to run target practices. Background checks, drug tests, and psychological exams would also occur back in Seoul, and only candidates who passed would have final behavioral, tactical, and situational interviews with Yoongi.

Something Taehyung didn't anticipate was how seriously the Chief would take his feedback. If he had doubts about a particular person, Yoongi openly listened and started a discussion. His concerns weren't immediately brushed off - they were explored. It made Taehyung feel like an active participant, like he actually had a say in the matter.

And it certainly helped things to suck just a little less.

Even still, Taehyung couldn't help but feel that he remained the best candidate for the job. Regardless of his inability to shoot someone down, he understood the role and company better than anyone else. And at the end of the day, he knew he could protect himself. After all, he managed to stay alive for almost two weeks on his own and protect someone else as well.

But it didn't matter. No one at Korean National Oil would let the son of the CEO go off without proper protection. Taehyung fully understood this fact, though that didn't stop him from repeatedly asking Yoongi to give him another shot. And while the Chief had every right to tell him to shut up, he never did. Yoongi let Taehyung babble on about the matter until he got it all out of his system, then would resume the interview process.

The third day was more or less the same, with Taehyung once again required to sit with Yoongi during the interviews. Three final candidates had been selected, and Yoongi spent a majority of the day drilling them on their experiences and abilities. Taehyung didn't care who was chosen as his bodyguard at that point; it wasn't like he planned on becoming friends with them.

He made that mistake once and he would not make it again. Because if anything went wrong . . . He didn't want to experience that sort of loss anytime soon.

Later that day, Taehyung was allowed to seek out Hoseok and Jimin. He hadn't spoken with them since Jungkook's departure and knew they deserved an explanation. Plus, he needed to deliver Jungkook's apology and try to right things between the group of friends.

Luckily, both Hoseok and Jimin were willing to hear him out. They sat in the gazebo outside, keeping quiet as Taehyung revealed as much as he possibly could. He didn't mention anything remotely related to Korean National Oil - the industry, the key players, or even his relation to it all - but was still able to successfully convey what happened and how Jungkook got involved.

The two older boys instantly became sympathetic towards Taehyung, shocked at the number of horrors he experienced. They also regretted their treatment of Jungkook, wishing they weren't so quick to judge him. And while they knew they couldn't see the younger just yet - Yoongi forbade them from leaving - they promised to visit when they were allowed.

And Taehyung knew in his bones that they'd be there for Jungkook, would be there in a way he could not.

After the two elders were filled in on most of the details, they only had one remaining question: Was Taehyung's and Jungkook's relationship just a cover-up?

It was a struggle for Taehyung to answer that question without falling apart. Every time he opened his mouth to explain his feelings, his eyes watered and his breathing hitched. He tried several times to collect himself, to tell Jungkook's closest friends how special the younger was to him, but ultimately failed. He ended up burying his head in his hands and crumbling once more.

Without hesitation, Jimin had pulled him into a hug and said he knew Jungkook felt the same way. Hoseok joined in, explaining how they'd never seen Jungkook look at anyone with such open adoration and love before.

Love.

When Taehyung heard that word, the tears finally spilled onto his cheeks.

But he reminded himself that Jungkook was safe and away from any chance of danger. Staying here in Busan - away from him - was the younger's best shot at living. And at some point down the road, however long it took, Taehyung would find Jungkook again. He wouldn't accept anything less.

And now it was the fourth day.

This day was already off to an interesting start. Just a few minutes ago, Hoseok had come knocking at Taehyung's door with a muffin in hand. He wore a friendly smile, though rolled his eyes as he explained how Yoongi ordered him to retrieve Taehyung. The reason for his summoning was unknown, though the Chief demanded that they meet now. So Taehyung took a lightning-fast shower, dressed in the only set of clothing he had, and stuffed the muffin Hoseok brought him in his mouth.

"Your Chief seems to be on edge this morning," the lodge owner revealed dryly as they walked down the hall. "More so than usual. When I suggested he use his own two feet and come get you himself, I thought he'd pounce on me. It seems he didn't like being reminded that I'm not his personal servant."

A soft chuckle pushed out of Taehyung's lips, the feeling foreign as it rumbled in his chest. "And here I was thinking you two were the best of friends. I guess it's safe to say you'll be happy when we're gone."

"I won't miss that infuriating man, that's for sure. Ruining my business, ordering me around . . . Anyway. You're more than welcome to come back anytime you want, Tae. As long as there aren't any shooters after you, of course. Bullets ricocheting off of the fireplace kind of goes against the ambiance I've spent years creating," Hoseok smiled as they trotted down the stairs. "I'm running a bed and breakfast, not a live-action escape room."

"I hope I can come back soon," Taehyung whispered, his heart longing for what else - who else - remained in Busan. "I . . . I hope . . ."

Hoseok stopped walking as they came into the lobby, turning to face Taehyung head-on. "You'll see Kook again soon, and whenever that happens . . . Here. Follow me."

Taehyung trailed the elder to the front desk, watching as he pulled out a pen and postcard. The sounds of scribbling filled the silent room, which abruptly stopped as Hoseok thrust the sturdy paper in Taehyung's direction.

"I know you can't tell us everything that's going on, but whenever all of this is over, go and find him."

Taehyung grasped the postcard, seeing the bed and breakfast pictured on the front. He turned it over and found a Busan address printed in neat handwriting. He knew without question it was for Jungkook's house. "Hoseok, I -"

Hoseok cut him off with a wave. "No need to thank me, alright? Just don't lose that. And for that matter, don't tell Yoongi I gave this to you either. I'm sure he's looking for any excuse to start up an argument with me."

"I won't," Taehyung breathed, staring at the address until he could see it in his mind. Once he had it memorized, he slipped it into his back pocket for safekeeping.

As they started walking towards Hoseok's office, Yoongi's voice could be heard echoing off of the quiet halls. His tone was uncharacteristically sharp as he spoke with someone else, and it sounded like they were in the midst of an argument.

"For the last time, you'll drop it off tomorrow morning at nine," Yoongi ordered pointedly, tone rich with frustration. "Are we clear?"

"No, we are most certainly not clear," a responding voice quipped - Jimin's. "I have to water the flowers in the morning before it gets too hot. Otherwise, they'll wither and die. So Hoseok and I will drop off Kook's car tonight."

After a slight pause, Yoongi spoke again, this time in a strained attempt at control. "This is an order, Jimin, not a half-hearted suggestion. You will drop off the car in the morning so that Taehyung and I have adequate time to head back to Seoul."

Taehyung paused outside of the office, trading a skeptical look with Hoseok. The lodge owner shrugged, seemingly unwilling to barge inside. It was reminiscent of a few days ago, when Taehyung waited with Jungkook to learn of their fates.

"I don't work for you, Yoongi. You can't order me around and expect me to listen. And for your information, Jungkook isn't stupid. He wouldn't chase after Taehyung," Jimin retorted in exasperation.

"I'm trying to do my job here, and -"

"Yeah, well, I'm trying to do mine, too," Jimin interrupted, his voice rising in volume and indignation. "We can be flexible here."

"Right, gardening. While you're off tending to your flowers, some of us are trying to do bigger things, like protect people's lives," Yoongi shot right back, a new fire heating his words.

Taehyung let out a harsh breath, feeling incredibly awkward overhearing this conversation.

Hoseok nudged his side. "Told you he was on edge."

"Just because my ambition looks different from yours doesn't mean it's not worth something," Jimin responded a bit more softly. "I believe in myself. That's all that matters."

Judging by Jimin's words, it sounded like he heard some of Yoongi's criticisms before. Taehyung didn't know the gardener too well, though he got the sense he always followed his passions regardless of others' opinions. That didn't mean he wasn't scarred, though.

Hoseok barged in the office then, hands on his hips and shooting metaphorical daggers at the Chief. "Look. We're complying with you as best we can. And while I understand the direness of this situation, you have no right to insult others."

Taehyung stood towards the back, happy to be nothing but a third party observer in this scenario. The three other boys looked ready to jump down one another's throats, with hands clenched into fists and spines unnaturally rigid.

"Jimin," Hoseok said at last, looking at his friend and gardener. "Take the keys. You and I will go to Kook tomorrow afternoon. That way, you can take care of the watering and we'll be giving Taehyung enough time to depart. Sound good?"

Jimin nodded with a neutral face before grabbing the car keys off of the desk. He didn't spare Yoongi another glance as he turned around, though he sent a weak smile Taehyung's way before storming out of the office.

Once it was just the three of them, Hoseok hardened his gaze again. "Have any objection with that, Chief?"

Yoongi scolded his features into a look of neutrality. "Your solution will do."

"Finish up whatever business you have here and then get the hell out of my office," the lodge owner sneered as he left the room, anger rolling off him in waves.

Now it was just Taehyung and Yoongi in the small space, alone with the thick tension in the air. The elder sunk into the desk chair, fingers coming up to rub at his temples.

"Somehow, those two give me a bigger headache than anything else I've been through the last few weeks. How is that possible?" The Chief wondered aloud, eyes screwed shut as he massaged all over his face.

Taehyung sat in another chair, a reluctant smile twisting up his lips. "Some people just get under your skin more than others, I guess."

"That's an understatement if I ever heard one," Yoongi huffed, sitting back and regarding Taehyung. "Anyway, enough of that. We have a couple of things to discuss."

"I assumed," Taehyung commented, folding his arms over his chest and waiting. "I didn't think you wanted me to listen in on your lovers' quarrels."

Yoongi grimaced but remarkably didn't rebuke him. Instead, he started tapping his fingers against the desk. "As you may have gathered, we're leaving for Seoul tonight. We coordinated a safe house for us to stay at, which will have a full security team in position. We'll meet our first pick for your bodyguard and then go from there."

"No wonder why you're so antsy," Taehyung said under his breath, smiling more as he found amusement in his assessment.

"Damn right, I'm antsy. Anxious. This is serious business, Taehyung. Transporting you back to Seoul is no easy feat. There's no telling what's waiting for us back at the capitol."

"You know I made it from Daegu to Seoul on foot, right? That's arguably more difficult than driving in a luxury vehicle, and I didn't run into any issues at all." Taehyung was still pretty proud of this fact, thinking it was yet another sign that spoke to his qualifications.

Yoongi just sighed, his skin looking dull and wan from exhaustion. "Why don't you take the next couple of hours to pack and rest. I'm guessing it'll be a long night."

Taehyung nodded, glad to have a few more hours to himself. This time he was going to appreciate it, to savor this last chance of solitude and freedom. Once they arrived back in Seoul, he'd be pushed into a cage once more.

"Good," the Chief said, nodding his head in return. "Last thing. We set your father up with a burner phone. If you want to call him before you leave, you may."

Taehyung sucked in a breath, not expecting this offer at all. "Really? I thought . . . Is it safe?"

"Since we'll both be using burner phones, it will be. After your call, both of us will destroy the devices to be on the safe side. And then we'll be gone by the time any logs could be pulled, so there really aren't any risks." Yoongi lifted a dated looking flip phone from the desk, extending his hand to Taehyung.

Hesitantly, Taehyung took the phone from the Chief's fingers. He stared at it for a moment, his heart suddenly thumping in his chest. It had been a while since he and his father last spoke. Usually, they needed to plan their calls far in advance to make sure it was safe to talk. It required a lot of planning and communication between security teams.

And while their last conversation had been a happy one, there was no denying that today would be different. Taehyung was nervous to hear his father's voice in light of all that had happened, in light of all he did and failed to do.

"Here's the number," Yoongi said, pointing to a piece of paper. "I'll give you some privacy."

The Chief left Taehyung in the office, closing the door on his way out. Stillness and silence settled around the cozy space, amplifying the pounding of Taehyung's blood in his ears. With shaky hands, he lifted the paper and dialed the number.

It was now or never.

The phone rang once before his father answered, his warm voice sounding in his ear. "Taehyung? Taehyung, is that you?"

Taehyung inhaled unevenly, a lump forming at the back of his throat. "Dad?"

"Tae," his father breathed in relief, "thank god you're okay. I've been going out of my mind with worry. Tae . . . How are you holding up?"

"I . . ." Taehyung started, mind scrambling as he tried to form a logical sentence. "I . . . I'm not good, Dad. I'm falling apart."

He swallowed down a fresh wave of emotion, not wanting to burst into tears just yet. If he started crying now, he knew his father would also become a blubbering mess. Any hope for a productive conversation would fly out of the window.

"I know, Tae. I . . . I am, too," his father admitted hoarsely, his deep voice cracking around the edges. "I'm so sorry you had to witness that. I'm so sorry I exposed you to all of this."

"Did Yoongi tell you everything?" Taehyung asked, running a hand over his eyes to wick away the moisture. "Did he fill you in on everything I told him?"

"We spoke earlier this morning. And yes, he told me everything. About what you saw . . . About it all."

Taehyung wrapped his free hand around his waist, trying to keep a newly formed pain from traveling up to his heart. "I saw them get shot. I saw them die . . . Both Mom and Namjoon."

A ragged sob sounded from the other side of the phone as his father began to cry openly. "I'm so sorry, Tae. This is all my fault. If I never accepted this job, we'd all be together. Back home and happy and . . . it's all my fault. It's all my fault."

Tears fell from Taehyung's eyes as he shook his head viciously. "No, no, it's mine. I could've saved them. If I just . . . the trigger . . . If I just pulled the trigger, I could have . . . I'm sorry. You must hate me. I . . . I hate me."

"Kim Taehyung, you are my son," his father said fiercely through his emotions. "I could never hate you. You are a good, loving, peaceful boy who doesn't deserve any of this. So please, Tae. Please don't blame yourself. It's my fault. You should hate me. If only I ordered more security for you guys, or if I left this job years ago . . . I didn't protect you enough."

Taehyung let out a sob of his own as his breathing escaped his control. "I don't hate you. I hate all of this, Dad. I hate whoever is doing this."

"I know, and I do, too. And I hate how I can't even protect you. But I'll give you more security and protection and -"

"Dad," Taehyung cut him off, a paralyzing sense of apprehension coursing through his veins. "I don't want a security team with me every moment of the day. I don't want every single move I make to be watched by three people. I want to live. I just want to be normal."

"Is that why you interviewed for your own bodyguard?" His father asked, probably already knowing the answer but giving Taehyung a much-needed chance to explain.

"I just wanted to have control over my own life for once. I wanted space to breathe. And I thought it would be easy, that all I had to was keep a low profile," Taehyung sniffed loudly, not caring how weak he must sound right now. He knew his father would never judge him for it.

His father managed a small laugh through his own tears. "You sound just like your mother. She was always such a free spirit and loved taking matters into her own hands. God, you're so similar to her, Tae. And I bet anything she would've done what you did as well . . . Protecting the very person who pretended to be you. He was Namjoon's brother, right?"

Taehyung tried not to think of Jungkook; he wasn't sure he could handle that additional pain right now. But he was a lost cause. When it came to Jungkook, he'd always cave in. So he envisioned the younger's vibrant face, clearly picturing those big doe eyes and teasing smile. He imagined holding the boy in his arms, tracing his inky tattoos with a finger. And he heard the sound of his laugh playing in his mind.

And even though it hurt, even though it brought more tears to his eyes, he smiled thinking of his sweetheart.

"Yeah," he said at last, deciding to answer honestly and risk the consequences. "I kept him safe."

"You have such a big heart, Tae. I'm so lucky - honored - to be your father."

That caused Taehyung to freeze. While his father never really yelled at him, he somewhat expected it this time. He thought he'd be lectured for so carelessly trusting someone he didn't know, for getting attached to such a person. Hell, he even used company resources to go out of his way and protect Jungkook from any potential danger.

"You're not mad?" He asked in an awed stupor, mouth slightly gaping open.

"Tae, you did what you thought was right. You trusted yourself and made the best judgment call. Even though you put your life at risk, I'm truly not mad," his father said with a convincing tone.

And because he felt comfortable, because his father seemed so understanding, Taehyung took a deep breath and continued. He knew it wasn't the right time to talk about any of this, but he also knew his father would listen.

"Yoongi made him leave."

"And let me guess, you wanted him to stay?" As always, his father knew him very well.

"Dad," Taehyung started, running his free hand through his hair, "I really like him. He came to mean so much to me so soon and it terrifies me. But he was so good, so . . . annoying, but in the best way possible. He pushed me and was there for me when I needed him. He cared for me when I was hurting. We took care of each other."

"The first time you fall in love and it's with your own imposter. What kind of drama is this?" His father lamented, a gentle note coloring his voice.

Taehyung wasn't sure what exactly he felt for Jungkook. He didn't have enough time to explore the names he might assign to his emotions. All he knew was that he missed having the younger by his side, rambling in his ear twenty-four seven. He missed his sharp mind and compassionate heart. He missed his airy laugh, his relentless questioning, and taunting nature.

"Tae?" His father asked after a few moments. "Did I lose you?"

"No. I don't know what I feel. I just . . . I miss him so much. And I think not knowing when I'll see him again makes everything more difficult. He was brought into my life and now he's gone. Nothing makes sense to me anymore," Taehyung admitted, fingers idly tracing his neck. He wondered how much longer it'd be until Jungkook's marks faded from view, just like the boy himself.

"Some people are meant to impact you in big ways. They teach you how to open your heart and put someone else first. It sounds like this person did that for you."

Taehyung hummed in agreement. "He did, Dad. But . . . But I only knew him for a few days. How is that possible? How did it all happen so quickly?"

His dad probably didn't have time for any of this, though he was a good enough friend and father to push aside his obligations. That had always been the way with him; family came first and work came second. Well, that had been the way most of the time.

The CEO position definitely shifted around everyone's priorities.

"It only took me twenty-four hours with your mother to realize she was it for me. It was like her soul called out to mine. So I did everything I could to show her I'd be a loving and supportive partner and I knew I . . . I knew I couldn't let her go," his father broke off in a muffled cry, sounding farther away from the phone.

Taehyung swallowed, trying to push down that uncomfortable lump but somehow making it grow even larger. "You showed her all of those things, Dad. I witnessed that my whole life."

His father took a few moments to collect himself, audible sounds of sniffling and coughing in the background. Then he was back, voice weaker than before but still possessing a trace of hope. "You've always been a romantic. You wear your heart on your sleeve and have always been ready for a big love."

"Really?

"Really," his father affirmed tenderly. "I hope you always follow your heart."

They talked for a little while longer about Taehyung's impending trip back to Seoul, discussing new security protocols and plans for the future. Taehyung tried to pay attention and gather as much insight as possible, but all he could focus on was his impending imprisonment, his return to that gilded cage. His father wasn't purposely forcing him into it - the man thought it was for the best - yet that didn't help Taehyung to breathe any easier.

A cage was still a cage, no matter the hand that turned the key.

"Alright, Tae," his father sighed a short while later. "I'll let you go and get ready. Just please be safe for me and take care of yourself. We'll see each other soon and -"

"Wait," Taehyung said before their call could cut short. "One last question. Have you ever considered not hiding me?"

"What do you mean?"

There was a slim shot Taehyung's father would ever agree to such a thing, but he had to ask . . . He had to try and escape his impending fate. "Have you ever thought about letting me shadow you? Or bringing me into the spotlight? You know, like how Bogum goes everywhere with Sungho."

"Bogum only trails his father because he wants to be in a leadership role one day. Is that what . . . I thought you didn't want that?" His father asked in an understandable confusion.

Taehyung shook his head even though the gesture couldn't be seen. "I don't. Not at all. But I've never heard of any attacks on Bogum before. So maybe being out in public and surrounded by influential people discourages potential attackers."

"I have my doubts about that family, Tae. We've been looking into Sungho recently and suspect some foul play. I even hired this private investigator to gather intelligence on the Parks. She's been feeding me information on both Sungho and Bogum, uncovering some of their more private affairs. So until I have a better sense of what's going on, I can't bring you into the public eye. I have to keep you safe."

Taehyung assumed this would be the outcome, though at least he tried. At least he wouldn't look back on this moment weeks from now, wondering what might have happened if he had asked.

They hung up after that, exchanging good wishes and gentle farewells. After everything that happened, both were reluctant to say goodbye, so they instead said a hopeful see you soon.

Taehyung allowed himself to sit in silence for a few minutes, thinking over his entire conversation with his father. He initially feared backlash for all of his mistakes, though he was met with love in place of anger. His father had the unwavering ability to make him feel better, often leaving behind comforting adages.

Today was no different. Today, his father said one thing that Taehyung had not been able to let go of yet.

Follow your heart.

And if Taehyung listened to this piece of advice, if he chose to follow his heart, he'd undeniably be letting the man down.

But he had already made his choice. It was stupid - he was stupid - for coming up with the idea and now for choosing to act on it. But he didn't want to look back and regret not acting on this opportunity.

He didn't want to regret his inaction.

Taehyung could learn from his past; he learned that fear and hesitancy could destroy the most precious things in his life. So today, he would abandon his fear. Today, he would not hesitate. Today, he would be stupid and reckless and brash.

He didn't care what was written in the damn stars anymore. Today, he was going to make his own fate.

He pocketed the burner phone, eyes sweeping the tiny office for anything useful. When he found nothing, he started opening and closing the desk drawers, a slight sense of guilt clouding his mind. He didn't have any malicious intent by snooping through Hoseok's belongings; if he found anything helpful, he'd be sure to bring it back.

Just as he reached the final desk drawer, Taehyung came across an old GPS. It was one of those dated technologies that directly linked up to a satellite for directions. And with no wifi capabilities, it couldn't be tracked in real-time.

It was perfect.

Wedging the device into his waistband, Taehyung schooled a neutral look over his features. This desperate plan would only work if no one suspected him of anything. He needed to appear completely unsuspicious.

Opening the office door, he wasn't at all shocked to find Yoongi hanging around outside. Before the Chief could ask Taehyung of anything - details about the call, whether or not he left the phone inside - Taehyung cleared his throat.

"So . . . You said I have time to sleep and bathe before we go?"

Yoongi nodded as he started heading into the office. "Of course."

Taehyung pursed his lips in poorly suppressed agitation. He needed more than that from the Chief; he needed to know he had a few hours before anyone came looking for him.

"Well . . .?"

"Well, what?" The Chief asked, looking impatiently between the office and Taehyung.

"Don't you need to watch my every move? I thought maybe you'd want to guard me as I slept, then maybe wash my back while I took a bath." Taehyung smiled as innocently as possible, though he knew the expression came off as challenging.

Yoongi stalked into Hoseok's office. "I trust you can manage on your own for a couple of hours while I wrap up here. Just lock your door."

Taehyung thanked him politely before walking away as calmly as possible. Even though his muscles begged him to run, he refrained so he wouldn't look too suspicious.

Two minutes later, he was back in his room and packing some essential items. While he'd only be gone for a couple of hours, he had to be prepared just in case. So he pulled out his Glock, Sig Sauer, and ammo, wondering how to carry the rounds of bullets on his body.

After trying to wear all of his weaponry and failing, Taehyung ended up shoving everything into a backpack Jungkook left behind. It still had a couple of sweatpants, sweatshirts, and books in it, which provided excellent camouflage for his equipment. He then threw in the cash and corporate cards, thinking it was smart to take money as well.

Years on the run taught him to plan for the unexpected.

When Taehyung had everything he needed, he departed his room and walked towards a hidden wing on the second floor. This first mission was critical. If he failed here, the rest of his plan would instantly crash and burn. But he didn't focus on the nerves; instead, he tried to craft up the perfect argument, to pick out the right words to make his case.

Everything depended on Taehyung convincing Jimin to hand over those car keys.

There were only two bedrooms in this secret wing - Jimin's and Hoseok's. When Taehyung spent the evening getting drunk with Jimin, the elder had told him about this sectioned off area. He also mentioned how Hoseok gave him the better room, the one with the most natural light.

So that was how Taehyung chose the right door; he knew which side of the building was exposed to the most sunlight. He knocked a couple of times, practically bouncing on his feet with anticipation as he waited.

But after a few moments passed, there was still no answer. Taehyung knocked again, a sense of foreboding flooding his system. He hadn't considered what would happen if Jimin wasn't in his room. He didn't know where else to look.

Just as he was about to freak out, a door opened from behind him.

"Tae?"

Taehyung spun around, so relieved to see Jimin that he didn't bother to ask why he was in Hoseok's room.

"I heard someone knocking," the elder explained, straightening out his clothing. "Is everything okay?"

"I need the car keys," Taehyung responded, not wasting any of his time on pleasantries or subtlety. "Do you mind?"

Jimin arched a brow as he stared back at him, his facial expressions otherwise unreadable. "Why do you need them?"

It was a struggle to remain still, to not sigh in exasperation. "Jungkook left his bag behind. I was just going to put it in the trunk."

A quiet moment stretched between the two - tense and uncomfortable to Taehyung - before Jimin broke out into a knowing smile. "You're not actually going to go load up the car, are you?"

"No," Taehyung said, not bothering to craft additional lies. "But if anyone were to ask, that's what I told you."

"Are you coming back?" The elder questioned, hand already sliding down to his pocket.

Taehyung noticed the movement and felt like pulling Jimin into a big hug. He managed to control himself, however, and nodded his head instead. "Yes. I'll only be gone for a couple of hours. I promise."

And Jimin nodded, fishing out the car keys and tossing them in Taehyung's direction. "Tell Kook I'm sorry, okay?"

Taehyung gripped the keys in his fist, the bite of the metal against his skin reassuring. "I will."

"Hoseok and I will distract your cranky ass Chief if it comes to it," the elder waved him off, an even bigger smile brightening his face. "And we'll have fun doing it, too."

Taehyung flashed him a returning grin before heading down the stairs, making sure Yoongi wasn't in sight as he slipped outside. A pumping adrenaline urged him onwards, giving him a renewed sense of energy and purpose.

This was him following his heart.

This was him rewriting his fate.

This was him owning his life.

He doubted that this was what his father meant when encouraging him earlier, but Taehyung decided it was better to ask for forgiveness rather than permission in this case. Because if this was his last chance at seeing the person he cared about for god knows how long, he wasn't about to pass it up.

He didn't care about the deep shit he'd be in if he was caught. He didn't care about the fury Yoongi - and maybe even his father - would unleash on him. All he cared about was finding his way back to the one person his mind, heart, body, and soul craved.

After booting up the GPS and spending three whole minutes figuring out how to enter Jungkook's address, Taehyung was finally on his way. He tried to calm his breathing the entire twenty-five-minute drive, though he felt like he could throw up at any moment. The combination of anticipation and excitement completely obliterated his already frayed nerves, and he was a shaking mess.

It felt like years later when the GPS announced that he arrived at his destination. There weren't any suitable places to park, so he had to backtrack and leave the car a block away. He didn't mind though; he felt so relieved to finally be here.

So he shoved everything into the backpack, locking the car and running for Jungkook's house. He pulled out the postcard, checking the address every few seconds to confirm he was heading in the right direction. And while his muscles burned and there was an uncomfortable stabbing sensation in his abdomen, Taehyung welcomed it all.

After just a few more seconds of huffing and running, Taehyung had finally arrived at the right house. He didn't even bother scanning his surroundings as he strode up to the door, knocking loudly and incessantly. He had to see his Jungkook, he had to hold him and kiss him and -

The door opened, revealing the one person his heart called out for.

Jungkook.

"Tae?"

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》 V A L E N W R I T I N G 《

I felt like there was this frantic energy in the last bit, which hopefully mirrored what Tae felt as he decided to seek out JK. Maybe it was just my overindulgence of coffee this morning, but my heart was racing haha.

I really enjoyed all of the interactions in this chapter - the drama with Yoonminseok and the conversation between Tae and his dad. It was fun to explore some of these dynamics further.

And I have to say, I had SO MUCH FUN talking to you guys and answering your questions on Instagram. I want to do more of that in the future. If there's anything you want to see from me, feel free to let me know here! My insta is the same as my Wattpad username, in case anyone was wondering!

And last, LAST, thing - Taekook calling the other the most romantic in that Japan interview . . . I can't 😭😭