We can form a single united body, while the enemy must split up into fractions. Hence there will be a whole pitted against separate parts of a whole, which means that we shall be many to the enemy’s few.
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The Art of War
Sun Tzu

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Someone rather philosophical and wise once speculated that time would heal all wounds.

It was a pretty sentiment, one aimed at sparking hope and providing reassurance for a brighter future. Especially in those dark days after enduring a certain trauma, those suffering wanted to receive promises that the pain of the past would eventually fade. And in its place, only resilience and courage would remain.

It was a comforting and inspiring thought, though the saying wasn't necessarily true.

Sure, maybe the wounds would heal with time. Maybe the jagged edges would soften into something more tolerable, slowly eliminating those sharp bursts of pain that arose from the slightest of contact. But that didn't mean the wounds would disappear entirely; time did not have the power to erase the hardships from existence. Life wouldn't effortlessly revert to a state of ease and contentment.

No, scars would inevitably form in the place of those wounds, which were immune from the effects of time. They would remain no matter the days, months, or years that passed, serving as a constant reminder that something terrible did occur. But the beauty of bearing scars was that they signaled the end of the physical pain; they indicated that the wound did not destroy the person.

And over the last few days in particular, that was what Taehyung attempted to work towards: healing his wounds so that he could ultimately - and proudly - wear his scars.

Immediately following the murders, he didn't try to reconcile his past whatsoever. On the contrary, he did everything in his power to avoid thinking about what happened, to shield his mind from the visions of his trauma. The smallest hint of all he faced was enough to send him into a full-body panic attack, and quite honestly, Taehyung didn't know how to cope. So he ran in the opposite direction and let his wounds fester.

And they did.

Those wounds became infected, inflicting more misery and slowly poisoning his life. It wasn't healthy and Taehyung knew it.

Taehyung's mindset had shifted, however, when he first allowed himself to grieve. No longer did he want the senseless tragedy and suffering he experienced to constrict his future. He wanted to mend his wounds and do all he could to move on, all while knowing that he'd never be able to forget. But that was okay; he realized it took more strength to form scars than to persist as a victim with open wounds.

In order to see that process through, he knew what needed to be done: Taehyung had to return to this safe house to acknowledge his past, bury his ghosts, and fully absolve himself from his guilt.

But when this understanding dawned on him, the timing just wasn't right. He knew it wasn't safe to visit this house, and truthfully, he wasn't anywhere near ready to return. So he wisely decided to stay away, to work on rebuilding the broken pieces of his soul so one day that scar tissue could adequately develop. And one day, flaws and all, he'd recover and move forward.

It would take time, but Taehyung would get there.

But all of his progress came to a stop when he failed to consider one vital question: what would happen if the same wound - the one that was attempting to heal but not quite there - experienced more trauma before a scar had formed?

The answer was quite clear - the damage would become exponentially worse.

And now it was too late.

Taehyung never contemplated how he would cope if forced into a similar situation where he risked losing a loved one. He never deliberated whether or not he could handle that type of stress. It was only at this moment that he realized he couldn't cope or handle the stress. Forget scars forming; his initial wounds had barely started to knit themselves together. Being back at this place and having his love in the hands of his faceless enemies . . .

It was too much too soon.

Fuck.

A tightness slowly began to constrict his throat and lungs and heart until gasping for air was the only way for Taehyung to breathe. He panted heavily, doing all he could to look away from this godforsaken house, to remove his gaze from the very spot where he witnessed two murders. But he was sucked in too deep, unable to resist the tumultuous waves of anguish readying to crash down on him. And despite knowing that he needed to stay in the moment, to figure out a way to rescue Jungkook, the glimpses of the past anticipated his weakness.

And they swept Taehyung into a powerful current and pushed him down into the icy waters.

Each memory tied to this house flooded Taehyung's mind, invading every bit of consciousness he possessed until it was impossible to distinguish recollection from reality. Agonized pleas echoed across the hushed woods, setting a chilling chant of don't do this, don't do this, don't do this. Deafening gunshots pierced the air, the sound propagating outward before decaying into nothing more than a figment of imagination. And muffled sobs whispered through the trees almost as silently as the wind, detailing unspeakable heartbreak and unimaginable despair.

And even though Taehyung knew these noises weren't real - that they only existed in the confines of his battered mind - that didn't stop the physical reactions from overpowering his body. A familiar shakiness worked its way through his fingers, causing his gun to tremble pitifully just as it had all those weeks ago. The faint remembrance of tears tickled at his cheeks even though his eyes remained dry. And his muscles locked into place, anticipating a battle but becoming too strained to move.

Fuck, the claws of his past refused to let him go; they just dug deeper into those original wounds. And as the pain grew more and more, he remembered yet again how far away he was from becoming healed.

No . . . he was still in so much agony.

And for all Taehyung knew, Jungkook might be experiencing agony from the monsters inside of that house, the very place his brother died.

Fuck.

They took his love, hid him somewhere within those four walls, and were potentially hurting him. They took his sweetheart like he was nothing but cheap bait to lure in Taehyung, knowing full well he'd come no matter the dangers.

And just thinking about what was happening to his other half inside of that hellhole scared the shit out of Taehyung; thinking about the implications of his failure terrified him into immobility. The fear . . .

It was worse than anything he experienced before.

When Taehyung first realized their attackers took Jungkook, a single-minded focus overpowered his rational senses. All he cared about was saving his love, so much so that he was prepared to make stupid and risky decisions. Fuck, as he neared closer and closer to this house, he was ready to barter his own captivity in exchange for his love's freedom.

That level of recklessness quickly dissolved as he finally took in the nearly darkened safe house, falling prey to the haunting flashbacks and suffocating emotions. Panic and terror introduced themselves along with the pre-existing mix of guilt, grief, and anguish, and it was all Taehyung could do not to think about what might be happening to Jungkook. Because if he allowed those images to manifest, to team up with his prior suffering, he'd have no power at all . . . He would be useless, just like he was all those weeks ago.

Taehyung ran his clammy hands over his face, losing his staring contest with that house. He had to snap out of this daze, to clear his head so he could make wise decisions fast. Holding himself as a prisoner of his shame and culpability would do nothing to save Jungkook; focusing on his open wounds would only weaken him further. The only solution that would preserve Taehyung's sanity at the moment was to ignore his excruciating pain and to fixate on one thing alone:

Jungkook.

So he temporarily pushed aside his sorrows and fears, knowing he needed to become a fierce force that did not bend to anyone's will but his own. Once he rescued Jungkook, he could fall apart all he wanted. But for now, he would solely focus on bursting into that house like a devastating storm, rescuing his love before leaving the place to go up in flames.

And fuck, he wanted that house to burn with the fires of his rage. He wanted his enemies to be swept up into the uncontrollable blaze of his inferno, melting under the heat of their sins. And when they were reduced to nothing but ashes, he'd gladly watch as they scattered with the wind, powerless to hurt anyone ever again.

And while some would argue that Taehyung himself would burn in this process, he'd counter that he had already burned for weeks. Hell, he let his pain almost destroy him from the inside out; he allowed the flames just underneath his skin to live wildly and unchecked. And because of that, the person he used to be slowly melted away, eliminating all he had once been.

But then something changed.

Taehyung met someone who braved the fires of his soul, never once fearing the risk of getting burned. Taehyung met a man who promised love after loss, who proved there was life after destruction. Taehyung met Jungkook, who taught him that one could rise from among the ashes and be reborn again.

And they took him.

The whirlwind of emotions slowly died down, leaving Taehyung in a state void of feeling. A deadly calm settled over his mind and body instead, allowing him to take a step back and view what he knew objectively:

One, he had yet to determine who was behind these attacks.

Two, he was not aware of how many assailants waited for him inside.

Three, he did not confidently know where in the house these people brought Jungkook.

So, in short, Taehyung knew nothing. But he would not let his lack of knowledge prevent him from saving the life of the one person he loved more than anything.

Carefully creeping behind another tree, he scrupulously studied the place he lived in for over two and a half years. Not much had changed since the last time he was here - the only noticeable difference was the thick tape warning POLICE LINE DO NOT CROSS stuck on almost every surface.

Clearly, that had been an ineffective method of keeping intruders out.

The understated exterior provided no hint at who once lived within these walls, and the tightly drawn curtains on the first floor gave no insight as to who lurked inside now. Everything was entirely blocked off and dark, with the exception of one room - Taehyung's old bedroom on the second floor. Warm light leaked out of the window, showcasing parted curtains and shadowy shapes. No one came anywhere near the glass, but judging by the constant movement, they were quite active in the space.

If Taehyung had to guess, he'd say that the attackers fully expected him to charge that specific room in the hopes that Jungkook was kept in the one lit area of the entire house.

If that really was their logic, then they were stupid for assuming that Taehyung was so gullible.

But lucky for him - and not so lucky for these amateurs - he wasn't gullible at all. No, he lost much of his naivete long ago, back when the attacks started and when he received training from his very strategic and cunningly tactical bodyguard-slash-brother. It used to bore him to no end, but Namjoon loved to drone on and on about looking through obvious tricks and taking the time to circumvent traps like this. If he were here now, he'd suggest finding another way inside that did not require use of the front door, and he'd order Taehyung to avoid the lit areas at all costs.

So, that was precisely what he was going to do.

For security reasons, the house only had two official entryways - one in the front and another in the back. It was a smart move to limit the number of entrances to a self-proclaimed safe house, and both doors required extensive coding to gain access. Well, that or sheer force. Outside of those two doors, however, four concealed exits existed throughout the space: one in the downstairs closet and one in each of the three bedrooms. It was highly unlikely that these attackers had the time - or ingenuity - to locate them, so Taehyung determined they were his best shot.

But the question of which tunnel to take remained.

He immediately vetoed using the tunnel that went to his old bedroom - he could literally see the outlines of people throwing a fucking rager in that room. The path that led to the downstairs closet was also out of the question since the attackers could be waiting for him by the front door. So that left the concealed exits in either his mother's or Namjoon's room.

Both would be equally difficult for him to see firsthand; he didn't exactly think he was ready to be back in the personal space of his deceased family.

Taehyung pushed those thoughts from his head as he weighed his options. In the end, it probably didn't make much of a difference as to which tunnel he took. He couldn't distinguish anything valuable from looking up at the windows now, and neither room offered an advantage over the other. Really, it was a coin-toss decision.

So, crossing his fingers and hoping for the best, he settled on entering through Namjoon's room. After all, that man was the common link between Taehyung and Jungkook, so it just felt right to use his secret tunnel.

It also didn't hurt that the former bodyguard's closet was notoriously overstuffed with clothing and various belongings, making the spacious storage nook seem cramped. Surprisingly enough, that wasn't a calculated move whatsoever; Namjoon never had a knack for organization. But tonight, that disorderly trait would greatly help Taehyung. He would keep hidden as he came out of the closet, giving him precious moments to survey his surroundings.

Despite the circumstances, Taehyung choked on a laugh. Coming out of the closet. It was a joke Jungkook would chuckle at.

Making his way to the tunnel would be relatively uncomplicated. The entrance was located in the small barn that neighbored the property, protected by a padlocked storm door. The barn - hell, it was so small that it should just be called a shed - belonged to a short-staffed but successful strawberry farm, which was owned by kind people who had no idea about the private path. It would be imperative for Taehyung to tread quietly and carefully once there, but he shouldn't run into any issues.

Both conveniently and deliberately, the trail to the barn was covered by thick woods with leafy trees. Even with the faint moonlight, no one would be able to see him heading towards that area. That eliminated one critical hurdle, though what wasn't yet clarified was whether or not more attackers lingered around the house. If they did, they would easily spot his position.

And because nothing was ever easy, the only way Taehyung could ensure his safe passage to the barn - and his return trek with Jungkook - was to create a distraction.

Fun.

Taehyung possessed finite resources and limited ideas on how exactly to accomplish said distraction. Besides the clothing on his back and Namjoon's Glock in his hands, he had nothing. And until he knew Jungkook's location, he would not risk firing anywhere near that house.

Too bad he just couldn't get his enemies to shoot each other.

Wait . . .

Could he?

If he could lure a person or two outside, would he be able to orchestrate the perfect scenario where these idiots opened fire? Probably not, but it was the only idea he had at the moment.

Taehyung scanned the forest floor, using the moon's pale light to search for any useful supplies. Outside of the innumerable fallen leaves and broken twigs, there wasn't much else besides fallen branches and various sized rocks. These options were admittedly restricted; however, he recalled a few other informative lessons Namjoon once taught: always utilize your unique talents and never discount the power of creative thinking.

After taking a few moments to plan his next steps, he collected a handful of rocks and shoved them in his pockets. He had no idea if this would work - if it could work - but didn't stop to think about what failure meant. No, that sort of attitude wouldn't accomplish anything, so he solely focused on the task at hand.

Nearing as close to the house as possible, he removed one of the rocks and smoothed it over in his hands. It was small and light, perfect for throwing at a door and hoping someone would be curious enough to open it. And if that worked, well . . .

Baby steps.

Without wasting any additional time, Taehyung chucked the rock as hard as he could at the house. A satisfying smack disturbed the otherwise silent night, signaling that he had hit home. But, much to his annoyance, no one came outside.

Well, fuck.

Taehyung repeated the action three more times, growing more and more frustrated as nothing happened. Shit. Should he abandon this plan and chance that no one would spot him heading towards the barn? Should he try again or maybe -?

The sound of wood breaking pricked at Taehyung's ears, coming directly from his left. He pressed his chest against a tree trunk, all but blending into the bark as he held his breath and waited. A short series of cracks and snaps grew closer, followed by heavy footsteps and shallow breaths.

Someone was out here with him.

Ignoring the pounding of his heart against his ribcage, Taehyung incrementally moved his hand into his pocket, clutching yet another rock in his palm. This time, he threw the rock towards the side of the house, feigning movement around the perimeter. It somewhat worked; whoever was stalking around in the woods paused, the crunching noises temporarily quieted as they listened for any added sounds.

And Taehyung, being the kind and generous person that he was, decided to give this person plenty more sounds.

He threw two more rocks in the same direction, exhaling a breath of relief once the person began to backtrack. This was good, really good. If he kept this up for a few more seconds - kept sending these rocks flying through the air - he could begin the second part of the plan. All he had to do was hurl a couple more in that general direction and -

"Ow," a low, pissed-off voice called out. It belonged to a man. "What the fuck?"

Unfortunately for Taehyung, those words didn't register until he threw his very last rock . . . Which, judging by a pained grunt, hit the person once again.

The guy didn't waste time asking who was out there. A roaring gunshot rang through the air seconds later, barely providing a warning before a bullet splintered the tree next to Taehyung's head.

Shit.

Taehyung clearly had the attacker's attention now, and if he so much as breathed, another bullet could be headed his way. This wasn't what he had anticipated.

But then, by some stroke of dumb luck, the very thing he wanted to happen fell into place. Another gunshot rang out - the sound still uncomfortably close yet farther away than the first - but it wasn't aimed at Taehyung . . . It was aimed at the person in the woods.

"What the fuck!" The outdoor attacker screamed, a mixture of indignation and bewilderment coloring his tone.

Another shot rang out, and this time, Taehyung witnessed someone shooting from his old bedroom window. Even though things hadn't gone exactly to plan, this outcome was even better.

Using the cover of the gunfire, he raced through the trees as quickly as possible, not daring to stop even when a sharp cramp stabbed at his stomach. The sweat forming at his hairline trickled over his forehead, making his skin itch before the whoosh of the wind swept it away. He was exhausted and uncomfortable, though it didn't matter.

All that mattered was Jungkook.

Taehyung was at the barn just a couple of moments later, pushing open the heavy door before closing it once more. He rushed to the storm door, his fingers quivering as he maneuvered the dials of the padlock. He was close - so fucking close - and he couldn't afford to mess up now. It took two tries to get the numbers exact, but soon enough, he had ripped the lock off and slipped into the tunnel.

And for some reason, he completely forgot how dark it was going to be.

Unlike the bunker tunnel, there were no ropes of lights charged by solar power to help guide him into the house. The only things he had to assist with his journey were his hands gliding against the narrow walls and his feet shuffling on the dirt floor. Even still, he moved as quickly as possible, nervous that the shooting near the house would endanger Jungkook.

Taehyung speculated that he was more than halfway to Namjoon's closet when a distinct bang echoed through the tunnel. The sound came from in front of him and was reminiscent of a door slamming against a wall. And if that was the case . . .

Someone would be coming down the tunnel at any moment.

Pushing aside his hesitation and fear, Taehyung started running towards the end of the path at lightning speed. He wasn't trying to outpace his enemies; no, he hoped to take them by force and use the surprise to his advantage. And while that was a great plan, he had wholly miscalculated how close he was to the house. His feet tripped over stairs, and he just barely managed to catch himself on the steps before making an even louder noise.

After taking a couple of shaky breaths, Taehyung slowly rose and began climbing the stairs. Soft, muffled voices leaked in from the top, making him believe the door was open. And when he finally got close enough, he was able to pick up on a frantic conversation.

"- you have to go now," a voice pleaded, the lilting inflection vaguely familiar.

After a brief pause, a new voice responded . . . one that caused Taehyung's heart to swell against his lungs. Jungkook. "Okay. Alright, I'll go."

Taehyung moved up the stairs quickly, hovering just beyond the opening of the closet. If he was reading the situation correctly, whoever was in the room with Jungkook had opened the hidden door and was urging him to leave. But he wasn't positive, so he held his breath as he waited for something to happen.

Someone sighed before issuing an order, one that seemed part panic-stricken and part scathing. "Give me the Sig."

"What? No," Jungkook let out in refusal, attempting to come off as foreboding. But Taehyung could pick up on the undertones of unease and apprehension. "This was Joonie's. It's mine now."

Alarm bells went off in Taehyung's head as he raised his own weapon, setting a foot into the closet. He didn't trust this person at all; for all he knew, the guy would shoot Jungkook as soon as he turned his back. And just the thought of being so close to his love and inevitably failing him was enough to veil Taehyung's vision in red.

Not again.

This would not happen again.

"I know it was Namjoon's," the other guy retorted in evident frustration, "now give it -"

Taehyung would not hesitate - would not be useless - any longer. He flew out of the closet, gun aimed at a person he recognized from Namjoon's old photos. Kim Seokjin. He didn't even have to try to make his voice deadly and threatening as he ordered, "Step away from him."

"Tae," Jungkook breathed, the word barely audible amidst the active gunfire outside.

"Behind me," Taehyung responded a little more softly, feeling slightly more composed once he saw his sweetheart move closer. But he didn't turn to scan over his love just yet; he kept his eyes trained on Jin. "What do you want?"

"Nothing," the taller man said, his hands weaponless and raised in the air. "Both of you need to leave now."

Keeping the Glock pointed at the older male, Taehyung blindly reached for Jungkook and pulled him behind his back. He gained courage and resilience from his body heat. "I don't trust that you won't open fire. I don't trust that this isn't another trap."

Instead of providing false reassurances, Jin's eyes widened as they focused on the gun. "That's Namjoon's Glock."

Out of his peripheral vision, Taehyung could see that Jungkook had the bulletless Sig Sauer raised, aimed at his brother-in-law. "You're not taking Joon's guns from us. I already told you -"

"Give me the guns," Jin begged in growing urgency. "Please. I'll give them right back -"

"Why do you want them?" Taehyung interrupted, taking a fraction of a step closer to adjust his aim. "So you can leave us weaponless as you shoot us down?"

"Because they have fucking GPS tracking chips on them," Jin argued, sticking out one of his hands expectantly. "These were Namjoon's guns. He used to misplace them all the time and bought the chips so he could easily find them. Bogum and his team tapped into the app that tracks and pinpoints their location."

A couple of things hit Taehyung all at once.

One, that's how the attackers continuously managed to find them. They were inadvertently carrying tracking devices this whole fucking time.

And two, his spiteful, vindictive ex really was involved in all of this.

"Fuck," Jungkook muttered, emitting a tiny gasp that blew over the back of Taehyung's neck.

Fuck was right. Taehyung had so many questions and yet no time at all to ask them. So he settled on the most important thing at the moment. "Where are they?"

"Glued to the side of the front sight," Jin answered promptly, jutting his chin at the Glock. When a series of gunfire erupted even closer to the house, he flinched. "Hurry."

Taehyung had no reason at all to trust this man, not after learning of his connection with the attacks and Bogum. But there was a tiny feeling at the pit of his stomach that told him to listen, to let his guard drop for a fraction of a second to inspect the gun. So he did. And when his eyes flitted to the front sight, he saw it - a flat, black and gold chip that was about the size of a pea.

Fucking shit.

"Do you - do they - know where we've been the last few days?" Taehyung asked as he worked on prying the chip from his gun. The thing was glued on pretty well, but after sliding his nail underneath a corner, it began to lift up.

"Not specifically," the elder shook his head as he diligently watched the process. "The app only gives a thirty-meter radius."

While that was better than showing an exact location, that would still take Bogum and his gang to the orchard and position them uncomfortably close to the bunker.

"What should we do with the trackers?" Jungkook asked from beside Taehyung, the dislodged chip from the Sig sticking to his finger.

"I'll plant them on people here. There are a few heading back to Seoul in the morning, so hopefully the others will follow." Jin tentatively approached, stretching his hand in a silent request for the chips. "I promise I will do everything I can to buy you both time."

Taehyung didn't like this one bit. Putting his life - putting Jungkook's life - in the hands of a person who was clearly linked to whatever the hell was going on here would certainly not have been his first choice. There were too many doubts and missing pieces for him just blindly to rely upon Jin. But even though he didn't trust the guy, he did trust one person.

"Kook," he called out, wanting so desperately to put his eyes on his love but unable to take this risk just yet. "Do you trust him? Should we listen to him?"

A tense silence filled the room as Jungkook thought over his decision. And in those brief seconds, Taehyung allowed himself to look at Jin . . . to really look at him. Dark undereye shadows were visible even in the low lighting, adding to the puffy bags that spoke of fatigue. Unkempt hair messily tangled over his forehead, and stooped shoulders tilted his frame forward. Even his simple clothes came off as untidy and creased.

Taehyung understood this appearance . . . It was one both he and Jungkook wore over the last couple of weeks.

It was the look of grief.

"I trust him," Jungkook said right after Taehyung mentally reached the same conclusion. "I think he is trying to help us."

"Okay," Taehyung nodded, but kept his gun raised all the same. "Jin . . . Is there anything else we need to be aware of before we leave this room?"

A thousand thoughts flickered across the elder's face, but Taehyung couldn't decipher a single one of them.

Finally, a bitter laugh broke through Jin's lips. "Yes, but there's no time for any of it. I'll keep them busy for as long as I can, but do whatever possible to get out of Daegu. I don't know what he'll plan next."

With one final glance in the elder's direction, Taehyung dipped his chin. He prayed to anyone and anything that was listening that he'd be able to make it back to the bunker safely. If he could just get them there, he'd be able to figure out their next move.

Once they pressed the chips into Jin's palm, Taehyung spun around to take hold of Jungkook's hand. "Are you ready?"

The younger, who sported wide and troubled eyes, smiled weakly at him. "We'll be okay. It's just like a James Bond movie, right?"

"Exactly. No one can catch us," Taehyung affirmed tenderly, squeezing their interjoined hands before pointing towards the closet. "You first. Just be careful, it's a bit dark."

Jungkook disappeared through the closet, his footsteps almost soundless. Taehyung waited a few moments to ensure he wouldn't run over the younger, then took a step forward. The sound of Jin's voice, however, made him look back.

"Taehyung . . . I'm sorry about your mom."

Chills erupted over Taehyung's skin as his heart stuttered. There was something within that admission that made his stomach twist, almost like he was missing something important here.

He turned back, knowing he was wasting precious moments but figuring he wouldn't get another opportunity like this. "Why?"

Jin seemed to understand that the question wasn't why he was sorry, but more along the lines of why everything happened in the first place. "No one was supposed to die. That shooter . . . He wasn't supposed to be there. That wasn't a part of the plan."

"What were your plans? Did you just want money? Power?"

"We all had different intentions." Jin's voice broke, and based on the faint sniffling, it appeared he was crying. "But what happened to your mom . . . that was no one's intention."

The implications of that confession weren't lost to Taehyung, but he couldn't process anything just yet. So rather than ask more questions, he retreated a step into the closet's hidden doorway. "And your husband?"

With the moonlight shining on Jin's cheeks, it was easy to spot the shiny tears gleaming against his skin. "What happened to Namjoon isn't something I'd wish on anyone. Now go."

Taehyung listened without delay. He rapidly descended the stairs, once again suppressing his mix of emotions and thoughts and feelings in exchange for focusing on the current moment. There would be a lot to unpack later, but first, he had to make it to later.

Just ahead, a hushed voice called out. "Angel?"

"Right here," he responded, reaching his hands forward until his fingertips swiped over the younger's shirt. "Are you hurt? Will you be able to run?"

"I'm okay now," Jungkook attempted to reassure, a slight swing of confidence to his tone.

But Taehyung picked up on the word now. Did that mean someone hurt him before . . .?

A recognizable fire lit beneath his skin, and instead of dousing its searing flames, Taehyung embraced them. His rage . . . his fury . . . was the only thing he allowed himself to feel; that alone would give him the power and energy he needed to get them out of here. And when they were back in the fleeting safety of the bunker, then he could give into everything else.

A minute or so later and the ground below their feet started to rise; they reached the storm door. Taehyung tugged on Jungkook's elbow, beckoning him to stop so that they could trade spots.

"As soon as we're out, we run," Taehyung explained, pressing his ear to the thin metal once they arrived. "You hold my hand no matter what, okay? I'm not letting you out of my sight. I'm not letting go of you again."

A warm hand wrapped around his waist, the heat seeping into his skin. "Tae? Are we going to make it?"

The truth was that Taehyung didn't know. He hoped they would - he hoped the attackers were still distracted and hoped that Jin was helping their cause somehow. But he couldn't confidently say that this would be a breeze, that there would be no difficulties at all.

He just didn't know.

And because of that scary realization, he had to amend his previous set of instructions. His number one priority was the younger's safety; if Taehyung got hurt, he didn't want Jungkook to stick around and wait for their enemies to find them.

So turning around, he fumbled in the dark until his hands were cupped around the younger's face. "I'm changing my mind. If something goes wrong, keep running. Move in zigzag patterns and head towards a more populated area. Hopefully, you won't need to let go of my hand, but if you do . . . It's okay. I love you so much, Kookie. If something happens to me out there, promise you'll keep going without me."

"I can't promise you that -"

"Kook."

"No," Jungkook continued, his fingers digging harshly into Taehyung's sides. "If something goes wrong, I'm there for you. You didn't abandon me earlier, and I won't abandon you now. I love you, Kim Taehyung. And that means we stick together no matter what."

Fuck, there really was no time -

"I'm not arguing about this," Jungkook said, silencing them both as he brutally crushed his lips against Taehyung's.

The kiss was short, fast, and mildly uncomfortable with their teeth clacking together, but it gave Taehyung an added surge of strength regardless. They pulled away panting, the utter danger and urgency not lost on either of them. But at this moment, holding each other and not letting go, they were reminded of the power that their love held.

And they'd use that love to make it out of all this shit alive.

"Together," The younger breathed, the word raspy as it fanned over Taehyung's mouth. "No matter what."

After repeating the words and pressing a final kiss to Jungkook's lips, Taehyung pushed open the door. He stuck his head out and scanned for movement, but there was no indication of anyone in the barn with them. So they stepped out of the tunnel, their fingers automatically linking, and moved towards the exit.

Before they threw open that door, however, Taehyung brought his mouth to the younger's ear and spoke as softly as possible. "We need to follow the woods back towards the house, and then we'll go to the bunker."

Jungkook squeezed his hand in acknowledgment. "Let's do this."

Like horses coming out of the gate, they burst through the barn door at a taxing pace. Taehyung's senses were on high alert, tuning out the sounds of Jungkook's breathing and their heavy footfalls to focus on any warning of trouble. There was nothing as they neared the house, but that didn't mean they were safe. If anything, that meant more people were waiting in the shadows.

But then, just as they started sinking into the woods in front of that house, a clear and authoritative voice boomed into the otherwise quiet night air.

That voice belonged to Jin.

"Taehyung has Jungkook!" The elder cried out, his tone rich with rancor and hostility.

"No," Jungkook said under his breath, a lament of betrayal.

In an instant, Taehyung forced the younger back against a tree, shielding his body with his own. He had his gun raised and ready, and he looked everywhere for hidden attackers. When a gunshot rang out from behind the house, he flinched, but he didn't duck down. He remained blocking his love with his own life.

"They're headed towards town!" Jin yelled again, another gunshot punctuating the direness of his words. "Fucking move!"

Taehyung sucked in a breath as it hit him . . . the town was in the opposite direction from where they were going. That meant Jin was -

"On our side," he voiced the revelation aloud for Jungkook's benefit. "Jin . . . He's on our side."

A flurry of activity danced around the house and woods, with one person creeping out from behind a tree just ten meters away. There were more gunshots, more running, and more yelling.

But none of it came from around Taehyung and Jungkook.

So they ran, tearing through the woods with their fingers locked. Both boys sucked in heavy and labored breaths, clearly struggling but not daring to slow down even as they tripped and stumbled. They ran and ran and ran for fifteen tense and strained minutes, until the telltale rows of the apple orchard came into view.

With a renewed vigor, Taehyung led them to the camouflaged door and hastily punched in the twelve-digit code. And then he was throwing the door open, pushing Jungkook inside, and slamming it closed behind them. The lock clicked into place, and then they were running down the dim path, entering one final code, and stumbling into the warmly lit bunker.

They made it.

Taehyung collapsed to the floor, his weak muscles finally giving out. Jungkook wasn't far behind, falling to his knees and cradling his head in his hands. They were both inhaling in shallow spurts, trying to regain a calm breathing rate above all else. And even though they were in this safe and familiar space, it didn't feel real. It didn't feel like they had really made it.

After giving himself thirty more seconds to collect himself, Taehyung rolled onto his side and hovered over Jungkook. At long last, he was able to examine his every feature, checking for signs of injury or harm. Thankfully, there weren't any physical traces of damage, to which he blew out another deep breath.

"What did they do to you?" He asked gingerly, sweeping his fingertips over the younger's matted hair. An evident quivering made his touch weak, so it took a few moments extra to properly brush the strands aside.

Jungkook's eyes roamed around Taehyung's face, seemingly searching for any bruises, scratches, or cuts. "Just your run-of-the-mill action movie stuff. You know, knocking me unconscious and then chloroforming me."

Taehyung's hand froze as his eyes widened in alarm. "They what?"

"I'm okay," the younger reassured, rolling his head around for emphasis. "No nausea, blurry vision, or headaches. No concussion."

The effects of Taehyung's will-power - his sheer self-control - were beginning to wear off, and the anxiety over Jungkook's wellbeing returned full force. "Did they lay their hands on you -?"

"Tae," Jungkook interrupted, his big, dark eyes leaking love and warmth and fear alike. "Besides getting me into that house, they didn't touch me. After that, there was a lot of bark and no bite from Bogum and his guys. Actually, I nearly decked that prick when he started talking about you, but sadly I didn't get a chance to see that through."

Taehyung felt that he was nodding his head, though it was an absentminded gesture. All he could think about was Bogum's involvement, Bogum taking and threatening his love, Bogum murdering his mother and half-brother. All he could feel was his appreciation for Jungkook's safety, his gratitude for Jungkook's health, and his worry for Jungkook's future. His mind was overworked, his heart utterly taxed, and the desire to fall apart was intense.

But if he gave into his emotions now, if he truly let himself feel and experience everything he went through tonight alone, he wasn't sure of what he'd become. And now especially, when they were nowhere near out of the line of fire, he had to maintain his composure and focus.

"I want you to tell me everything that happened, but let me get Yoongi on the phone. You can tell us at the same time," Taehyung said following another perusal of the younger's face. He knew that was the wisest thing to do; even though he longed to curl into his sweetheart, he had to be logical.

Jungkook agreed, rising to his feet before helping to pull Taehyung up as well. And like they shared the same thoughts, they wrapped their arms around each other and held on tightly. Heads buried in the other's neck, nails dug into the other's back, and hearts pounded against the other's chest.

They didn't speak.

This simple action was far louder and more transparent than words could ever be.

Five minutes later, Taehyung and Jungkook sat on the floor in their bedroom, knee to knee as they waited for Yoongi to answer their call. They drowsily laughed over how this was their third call to the Chief tonight, and at this point, they could safely guess his opening remarks.

They weren't disappointed.

"What happened? What did you do?" Yoongi said in place of a greeting, his voice sleepy around the edges.

Without fanfare, Taehyung kicked off the recounting of their events. He paused once he got up to the part where Jungkook was taken, listening intently to the difficulties the younger underwent. His hands balled into fists as he learned more about Bogum tormenting the younger and then relaxed once more after hearing of Jin's apparent change of heart. None of it made sense - there were no evident epiphanies - and attempting to mull it over just hurt Taehyung's head.

So he didn't think at all. He strictly absorbed everything happening around him, filing away the bits and pieces of information for later.

At this point, there wasn't anything else he could do.

"I'm coming to get you two. It's not safe for you to remain there any longer," Yoongi announced after both boys finished sharing their takes on the night. "It's almost three in the morning now . . . I should be in your part of Daegu right around seven."

"You don't want us to start driving?" Jungkook questioned, his eyebrows scrunched together. "Shouldn't we get the hell out of here?"

Taehyung hadn't known what to expect of the Chief's decision. On the one hand, he agreed with Jungkook and thought fleeing Daegu was the smart move. On the other, he acknowledged how exhausted they both were and how dangerous it would be to drive under those conditions.

Honestly, at this point, he just wanted someone else to call the shots. He was too drained to plan out strategic moves or to make smart calls. As long as he could do something productive - something that brought Jungkook and him closer to safety - he didn't care about the particulars.

"No fucking way are either of you driving right now," Yoongi declared with force. "One of you was hit in the head and drugged, while the other is purely running off of fumes and adrenaline. Neither of those scenarios makes me confident about placing either of you behind the wheel."

It was a fair point. And honestly, after that command was issued, all tension eased from Taehyung's body. He would gladly take a few hours of reprieve.

"Deal. Call when you're close, and I can direct you to our location," Taehyung offered, cracking his neck and sighing once more of the tightness faded.

"Good. Pack your things and try to remain alert," Yoongi said, faint rustling sounds accompanying his lecture. "It doesn't sound like these guys know where you are, but let's not risk it. Keep your ears open for any signs of trouble."

They hung up after promising the Chief that they'd lay low until he arrived, swearing over and over they wouldn't do anything stupid like last time. Yoongi was obviously upset that they left the bunker in the first place - his tone was simultaneously irritated and eerily calm - though he refrained from spending time berating them. He seemed to understand that what was done was done, and all they had control over was the path forward.

Taehyung set the phone on the bed, pressing his face against the mattress as he stared ahead unblinkingly. A very small, incremental part of him felt content. They had a plan in place and someone was coming to help. Soon enough, they'd be far away from their enemies and on the road towards refuge.

But a larger part of him started to feel everything else. The anguish and grief over seeing that house again, the blinding worry over Jungkook, the impassioned anger towards the attackers. It was a lot to withstand in one night, and while he knew he had to start processing these emotions before they could do any lasting damage, he lacked the capacity for that at the moment.

It would have to wait.

"Hey," Jungkook murmured gently, his knuckles grazing up and down Taehyung's calf. "How are you feeling?"

"I don't even know anymore," Taehyung admitted with a chuckle, lifting his head so he could meet the younger's gaze. "I'm having a hard time believing everything we've been through in the last couple of hours."

Scooting closer, Jungkook ran his hands up and down Taehyung's thighs in a soothing gesture. The corners of his mouth lifted, though the smile he shared was not as bright as usual. "Let's recap: the most romantic date I've ever been on, the best sex in my entire life, finding the birth certificate, getting kidnapped, you rescuing me and us running . . . Fuck."

It certainly was a lot, to say the least. But rather than focusing on it all, Taehyung yet again compressed his emotions into a manageable box that he could unpack later.

"Seems like I really didn't need to rescue you," he commented on instead, placing his hands over the younger's knees. "You were doing a pretty good job at rescuing yourself."

Taehyung expected a witty remark, but received wistful eyes and a downturned mouth instead.

"I didn't want you coming into that house, Tae. After everything that happened there, I just . . . I just wanted to protect you from any more pain."

"And that's the exact reason why I went inside, sweetheart."

Jungkook squeezed his sides, almost like he had to prove to himself that Taehyung really was here, that they really were together. He rolled back his shoulders, clearly doing his best to lighten the mood. "I think you just love proving that you're my guardian angel."

Taehyung's lips twitched upwards, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Obviously."

"And I'll prove that I'm your sweetheart. How about this: I'll start packing while you shower. Does that sound good?" The younger volunteered, his thumbs tracing idle patterns over Taehyung's skin. "Or if there's anything else you want to do, we can do that, too."

"No, I like the sound of that. A shower would be great."

Taehyung let himself be pulled to his feet by the younger, who promptly ushered him into the bathroom. The water was set to a steaming temperature, which quickly fogged up the mirror and allowed water particles to drift through the air. Jungkook made sure he had everything he needed, living up to his pet name by fluffing a couple of towels and laying out a bathmat. Following those ministrations, Taehyung received a soft kiss to his forehead and then was left alone.

And besides the rhythmic melody of the shower spray, it was quiet.

So fucking quiet.

Everything Taehyung spent much of the night suppressing - everything he still wanted to suppress - decided that now was the perfect time to creep out of the tidy box he forced them into. The terror and the guilt and the grief and the anguish and the anger exploded, leaving him hunched over the bathroom counter as he desperately attempted to reign everything back in. He just wanted to be tenacious, to be the anchor for both Jungkook and himself so they could make it out of this mess with their sanity intact.

But he couldn't be that strong right now. Not on his own, at least.

Not with all he'd been through.

A soft knock rapped against the door, opening marginally so that Jungkook's voice could trail in. "Hey, angel, I'm putting fresh clothes on the counter so that . . . Tae?"

Before Taehyung even had the chance to look up, he heard a pile of clothing fall to the floor and soft footsteps heading his way. Warm, comforting arms wrapped around his waist, holding him tight and sure and steady. Careful lips lovingly kissed him on the neck, compelling Taehyung to fully melt into the embrace.

It was only then - with a powerful body pressed against his own - did he realize how badly he was shaking.

"I got you," Jungkook whispered into his ear, his hair tickling Taehyung's cheek. "I'm right here."

The younger didn't ask if he was okay or question what could be done - he seemed to already know the answers because of how well he'd come to know Taehyung. Jungkook understood that he couldn't really be okay in this situation and that not much actually could be done. But he also understood the power of his presence, the weight of his words. So he continued to murmur tender affirmations, to share sweet I love yous, and to keep his body firmly against Taehyung's.

Jungkook became Taehyung's anchor.

"Thank you," Taehyung murmured, tilting his head back to rest on the younger's shoulder. "I think everything just caught up to me. It was overwhelming and . . ."

When he failed to elaborate, the younger nuzzled deeper into his neck. "Know why I came in here?"

Taehyung's eyebrows knitted together. "To give me clean clothes?"

Jungkook chuckled airly, his lips dancing over the exposed skin. "Honestly? No. I just wanted an excuse to come in here. I needed you, too."

Spinning in Jungkook's arms, Taehyung linked his hands behind the boy's neck. A wide array of emotions was evident in his eyes, that usual spark of brattiness nowhere to be found. "Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Being with you is more than enough."

"If I was in the shower, were you going to come in with me?"

"Yeah."

Taehyung's fingers slipped into the hair at the nape of the younger's neck, relishing in the silky slide and thickness. "Then shower with me now."

A playful flash gleamed in Jungkook's eyes as he started playing with the hem of Taehyung's shirt. "So we can save the planet?"

"So we can save each other," Taehyung finished saying with a whisper, his hands meeting the end of Jungkook's own shirt and tugging up.

The younger obediently raised his arms, sighing as the damp air met his bare skin. He let Taehyung deftly unbutton and unzip his jeans, lifting his legs to aid in the removal process. Once he stood in nothing but fitted briefs, he took the lead and peeled off Taehyung's top before helping him to push down his pants. And without pausing, he finished undressing them both before leading them towards the shower.

Taehyung's eyes naturally lingered over Jungkook's body, appreciating the beauty of his sculpted back and the chiseled muscles of his thick thighs. His mouth popped open as he watched water droplets languidly dribble down his torso, creating enticing paths that traveled beneath his navel and between his legs.

"Fuck, you're beautiful," he said without thinking, the words somehow just slipping out.

"Says the gorgeous naked man in front of me," Jungkook giggled, carefully pulling Taehyung into the shower with him. "You're the most handsome man in the world, angel."

The hot water sprayed over Taehyung's skin, causing him to jump as he adjusted to the temperature. And while there was a slightly uncomfortable stinging, he couldn't deny the relaxing effects it had on his muscles.

Like they were in sync, both boys reached for the soap at the same time, smiling as their fingers bumped.

"Let me," the younger urged, plucking the bottle out of Taehyung's grip and adding an ample amount to his palm.

A contented murmur pushed through Taehyung's lips as practiced hands massaged the shampoo into his hair. The touches were light and gentle - no hair pulling like earlier in the night - and helped wash away the negative thoughts he harbored along with the dirt and grime.

He repaid the favor after Jungkook rinsed the soap from his hair, having the boy bend down a little so he had a better standpoint. As he worked the soap into the strands, a sudden warmth bloomed in his chest. "Kookie . . . Can you grow out your hair again?"

"What's this?" The younger laughed, wiping away some suds that gathered on his forehead. "Does a certain someone regret cutting it in the first place?"

"Yeah. You looked good with it long. I think I'd like to see you with a man bun, too."

"I rock man buns."

"I have no doubt that you do." Taehyung directed the boy under the stream of water, carefully running it over his soapy head. "Maybe I'll grow my hair out as well."

That brought a smile to Jungkook's face. "Oh, god. Now I'm going to fantasize about pulling on it."

He didn't admit it out loud, but Taehyung was going to, too.

Once he was satisfied with the condition of Jungkook's hair, Taehyung lathered body wash into his hands and smoothed them over the boy's chest. Much to his chagrin, they shook as he mapped out every inch of his skin, doing all he could to commit the feel to memory.

Jungkook noticed his unsteady touch. "Tae?"

As much as Taehyung wanted to shield the younger from his stifling fears, he couldn't hold them back any longer. "They . . . They took you from me. They brought you in that house and fuck, Kook, I didn't know if you were coming out of there or not."

"I thought the same thing when Bogum told me he had you," Jungkook said, scooping the excess soap into his hands and washing Taehyung's arms. "I never thought I'd see you again. And when he . . . when he talked about you, when he talked about how he used to be with you . . . Fuck, I never wanted to punch someone more. I was just so fucking worried he was going to hurt you, Tae."

Resting his forehead against the younger's, Taehyung closed his eyes and inhaled his clean scent. "I want this to be over with. I'm so tired of running and looking over my shoulder. I just . . . I'm so tired."

Jungkook's frothy hands had never stopped moving, grazing over Taehyung's arms, chest, stomach, and back. But once he heard those words, he shifted them upwards to hold his face. "I know, angel. You've been so brave and so strong for so long now. And you'll get to rest soon. I know it. We learned a ton of information over the last couple of days, so hopefully Yoongi and his team will be able to make some progress. But Tae . . . It's okay to not be okay. I'm not. But that's why we have each other. You'll always be my strength and I'll always be yours."

Taehyung's heart swelled again at that loving reminder, and soon he was angling his lips to brush over his boyfriend's. "I love you."

"And I love you," Jungkook spoke into his mouth. "Always."

They both leaned into the kiss more, letting their puckered lips carefully mold and slide together. The gesture was both slow and sweet; the intention behind it meant to be more benevolent than provocative. But as Taehyung's hands started dancing over his love's shoulders, appreciating their strength while simultaneously spreading the soap, he wanted more.

So he parted his mouth, trapping the younger's plump lower lip between his own. A low hum of satisfaction rumbled in his throat, and it was getting increasingly difficult to ignore the growing heat in his stomach.

Jungkook broke away, his nose resting alongside Taehyung's instead of turning the kiss deeper. "Tae?"

"Please," Taehyung said, his nails dragging down Jungkook's back. He needed more - to savor the younger under his hands, to merge their minds, bodies, hearts, and souls. He craved the connection.

A loosely controlled breath pushed through the younger's mouth as he hesitantly stepped even closer, fusing their hips so that no space remained between their bodies. "Tell me what you want, angel. I'll give you anything you need."

"You. I want you." The words came out muffled as Taehyung's lips trailed over Jungkook's cheek. "I need you, sweetheart. I just need to . . . to feel you right now."

Jungkook's fingertips pushed into Taehyung's hair, the caress reverent as he gradually tightened his grip. He pulled on the wet strands to better angle his head, readjusting their positioning until only a couple of millimeters separated their mouths. "I need you, too, angel."

That was all the encouragement Taehyung needed. He reclaimed the younger's lips, unceremoniously nipping at that plump tissue and capturing it between his teeth. He pulled backward, his eyes fixated on the erotic sight.

A noise that was a cross between a groan and a whimper met Taehyung's ears, traveling through his body and igniting his veins. They hadn't done much of anything and he already felt like he could combust.

Water drizzled all over their bodies, rinsing off the body wash and making their skin slippery smooth. As Taehyung bent down to plant a kiss against Jungkook's throat, he inadvertently took in a stream of water through his nose. Coughing, he pulled back to clear his airways, sending the showerhead a death glare.

"No one really talks about the water part of shower sex," Jungkook chuckled, skimming his knuckles over Taehyung's back as he continued coughing. "Let me dry you off, okay?"

Taehyung gladly shut the water, grabbing a towel and patting it against Jungkook's skin. "My turn first."

He took the time to wipe away each drop, smoothing the fluffy fabric over every part of the younger's body. Up his arms, down his stomach, across his legs . . . everything was dried except for Jungkook's semi hard-on. Taehyung was saving that area for last.

When Taehyung reached Jungkook's thighs, he lowered onto his knees and swiped the towel over his calves. There was something to be said about caring for your lover this way; it was a combination of domestic and arousing all in one. If his boyfriend gave him the opportunity, he'd very much like to do this for the rest of his life.

Once he was finished with the younger's legs, he tossed the towel at the boy's dripping head. "Dry your hair."

"Why can't you do it?" Jungkook retorted, a glimmer of his bratty ways making an appearance.

Taehyung gripped his ankles before letting his fingers tip-toe up his shins and over his knees. "I'm a bit busy down here."

To demonstrate, he pressed a soft kiss against the inside of Jungkook's right thigh. When he received a tiny gasp, he ran his lips higher and higher, passing the younger's arousal and traveling towards his navel. He smiled in an unvoiced challenge, poking his tongue out of his mouth and running it along that faint trail of hair.

"Oh, fuck," Jungkook let out, gripping into the towel more tightly.

"Dry your hair, sweetheart."

Taehyung dipped his tongue into the younger's bellybutton as he waited, loving the feel of soft skin against his sensitive flesh. His fingers fluttered up the backs of Jungkook's legs, stopping mid-thigh to knead the muscles there. Fuck, he could probably get off by just touching the younger's muscles alone.

Bringing the towel to his head, Jungkook kept his gaze locked on everything Taehyung was doing to his body. His lips smacked together when he felt hands graze just under the curve of his athletic butt. A breathy moan filled the air as fingertips ran up and over him a little more intimately. And a surprised hiss escaped his mouth as a confident smack landed across his ass.

Taehyung's mouth fought back a smile as he puckered his lips, kissing farther and farther south. Riling Jungkook was just as fun as giving in to his every single whim, and even though they had had several intimate experiences together by now, he still learned more and more every time.

Stopping just before his mouth reached the base of the younger's dick, he sat back onto his heels. "Done drying your hair?"

Jungkook, whose teeth were lodged into his lower lip, nodded. "Yeah."

"Good. Your turn to dry me."

An impatient groan rolled in Jungkook's throat as he realized he wasn't going to get touched in the way he wanted just yet. "Tease. You're lucky that I love you."

"I'm the luckiest man in the world because you love me."

"Sap."

The younger toweled off the water clinging to Taehyung's hair before moving on to the rest of his body. The touches were tender and lingered over some of his most sensitive places; along his neck, over the small of his back, behind his knees, and on the bottom of his feet. Taehyung felt cherished in every single way, and he couldn't help but wrap his arms around Jungkook's neck and pull him in for another deep, unhurried kiss.

"I want to make love to you beneath the sunrise," Jungkook murmured as he held onto Taehyung's hips, clearly thinking of the LED ceiling in the sitting room. "But I know that was your mom's special place, so if you don't want to -"

"I want to," Taehyung affirmed, thinking of how gorgeous his boyfriend would look painted in a swirl of pinks, purples, and reds from the ascending sun. "Carry me?"

Jungkook hopped out of the shower and wiped his feet on the mat. "Do you like me lifting you?"

Taehyung followed him out, drying his own feet before moving closer. "I'm kind of obsessed with your muscles if you haven't noticed."

"Now that you mention it, I might have noticed you drooling over me a few times," the younger giggled, waiting for Taehyung to hold onto his neck before lifting. "Wrap your legs around me, angel."

A strangled moan left Taehyung's mouth as he was carried, partly because of his obvious muscle kink and partly because his arousal strained against Jungkook's stomach. He buried his face into his neck, pressing open-mouthed kisses as they headed out of the bedroom. "Wait. Get the lube."

The younger quickly turned back and approached the bed, bending down so Taehyung could pick up the bottle. But instead of rising again and heading towards the sitting room, he set Taehyung down on the bed and kneeled on the floor in front of him.

"There's no sunrise in here," Taehyung commented, flicking a hand under the younger's chin. "Why the pitstop?"

"I want to make love to you, Tae."

"Then make love to me."

"I want to make love to you properly," Jungkook amended, smoothing over Taehyung's thighs. "And only now am I remembering that the couch in the sitting room isn't that big."

With a little laugh, Taehyung gripped the younger's biceps and squeezed. "There's always the floor."

"I'm not making love to you on the floor," Jungkook pouted, looking completely adorable.

Taehyung fought back another laugh as he cooed over his boyfriend's perplexed expression. "We don't always need to stick to a bed, you know. I want us to be adventurous."

"I know. But right now, I want to worship you."

Before Taehyung could even release a pleasured moan over those words, Jungkook rose up and silenced him with his mouth. He effortlessly molded their lips together, planting a series of soft kisses before playfully nibbling on his lower lip. The bites were mild, though the muted sting still sent shocks of warmth to Taehyung's core.

At one particularly harsh bite, Taehyung yelped in surprise, though the sound in his mouth was quickly replaced by Jungkook's insistent tongue. He immediately stroked his own along the younger's hot flesh, knotting his fingers into his hair as their kiss grew messier and wetter.

An urgent need to feel Jungkook in every way possible overtook each one of his senses, and soon he was falling onto his back and pulling the boy on top of him. And even though he wanted to reconnect their mouths, tangle their limbs, and join their bodies, he simply looked up at his love in awe.

Jeon Jungkook was his everything. His sweetheart, his love, his other half. And looking into his eyes, Taehyung could see that the younger felt the same exact way about him.

It was miraculous that through the shitstorm that was both of their lives, they found each other.

They saved each other.

"Worship me," Taehyung said softly after the need to touch and be touched consumed him.

Jungkook straddled his hips and lowered back down, moving directly to Taehyung's neck. He licked a warm path over his Adam's apple before tracing over some of the marks created just hours before. His mouth suctioned onto one of those pre-existing hickeys, causing Taehyung to gasp at the small hurt.

But in a way, it felt good.

The moans tumbled out freely as the younger added a new mark to his collection, signing his handiwork with a swipe of his tongue. "You have no idea how beautiful you are."

Taehyung keened at the murmured praise, arching his back as Jungkook wrapped his lips around one of his peaked nipples. He tried pushing himself up into the boy's mouth, striving to receive more, more, more, but he was pushed down by strong hands.

"Patience, angel," Jungkook chided lightly, moving his mouth to Taehyung's untouched nipple while using his thumb and index finger to pinch and pull at the other. "Let me take care of you. Let me show you how much I love you."

And while Taehyung wanted to take charge, to grind his exposed and fully hardened length against the younger's thigh, he kept still as his chest was pleasured.

"Good boy," Jungkook said proudly, slowly working his way down Taehyung's chest. Fuck, his mouth felt positively heavenly.

Or sinful - Taehyung wasn't exactly able to differentiate at the moment.

"I like when you talk like that," Taehyung said as his nails dug into the younger's shoulders. "That mouth of yours is so fucking good."

"My mouth, huh?" Jungkook questioned, hands spreading apart Taehyung's thighs as he nestled in between. Wet, teasing lips nipped at the ticklish flesh of his inner thigh.

"I like that, too," Taehyung admitted, delighting in the slight prick of pain.

Jungkook tapped the area with his fingers. "Bend your legs for me, Tae."

Taehyung complied instantly, grinning when a hushed oh, fuck added to the otherwise quiet bedroom. "Like what you see?"

"I don't know what I want to do first." The sheets rustled as Jungkook shimmed back, his forearms locked under Taehyung's legs and his breath fanning over his balls. "There are just too many options."

"Do anything you want."

"Anything? Are you sure about that, angel?"

"Stop being a brat," Taehyung pouted, though he knew the younger was well aware of how much he loved this bratty side.

🔥

Jungkook's nose traced up his thigh, edging higher and higher to the spot where Taehyung's leg turned into his pelvic bone. "Think I'm going to leave a mark right here. Remember when you did that to me?"

Taehyung groaned as he felt those cushiony lips suck greedily at his skin. "I loved marking you that way. You looked so sexy like that."

A hum vibrated against his body, a sign of acknowledgment as Jungkook finished creating the spot. "I did look sexy, didn't I?"

Another mark was added to Taehyung's other leg, the stinging sensation soon joined by the heat of Jungkook's hand palming his cock. His hips stuttered at the sudden contact, not anticipating that subtle tease of pleasure.

"Feel good, Taehyungie?" Jungkook asked coyly, his fingertips drawing a squiggly line along Taehyung's length.

The touch was so faint that it really shouldn't have had that big of an effect on Taehyung, though his body was electrified by all of the kisses and previous touches. So he nodded his head in jerky motions, the words of confirmation refusing to form on his tongue.

"I'm going to take care of you, angel. Just close your eyes and relax."

Taehyung listened.

He let his eyes fall shut as he gave into the blinding pleasure of Jungkook's hand wrapped around his cock. The grip was firm, gradually running up his length from base to tip at a glacial pace. But he savored the slow build-up, anticipating each additional movement with tiny gasps and muted murmurs.

Gently rocking his hips in rhythm with the younger's strokes, Taehyung carded his fingers through his own hair. He tugged on the damp strands, rejoicing in the strikes of pleasure that seared through his body.

"Pulling your own hair now?" Jungkook noticed, a hint of amusement coloring his huskier-than-normal voice.

Taehyung hummed, not bothering to open his eyes or verbally respond.

Apparently, the younger took that as a challenge. He cupped Taehyung's balls as his tongue licked wet paths up his cock, covering every millimeter of his skin in saliva. His silky mouth concentrated on his now leaking tip, lightly suckling on it in a teasing manner.

"Kookie," Taehyung murmured, getting lost in the provoking licks and swirls. He was trying so damn hard not to take control, not to violently thrust his cock to the back of his boyfriend's throat. He truly wanted to be leisurely worshiped and lazily brought closer and closer to the edge.

Jungkook took mercy on him, gripping the base of Taehyung's cock with one hand as he kneaded the flesh of his thigh with the other. And once he was well-positioned, he fully pushed Taehyung between his lips and sunk down.

Crying out, Taehyung's hands wove into Jungkook's hair to hold him in place. The molten slide was almost unbearable, the velvety suction practically enough to make him explode. And when he dipped into the younger's throat - when the boy fucking swallowed - he could no longer restrain himself. He pushed himself deeper into Jungkook's throat, arching his back in pure bliss.

But what really drove him wild was the sight he saw when he finally opened his eyes. Jungkook was already staring at him, his mouth stretched open with saliva trickling out of the corners. A redness adorned his cheeks as he swallowed once more, a muffled gurgling noise adding to Taehyung's breathy pants. And the way he was situated - up on his knees so his swollen and leaking length couldn't even rub against the bed - proved that this was all about Taehyung's pleasure.

Taehyung's eyes squeezed shut once more as Jungkook rose, concentrating on his tip and lapping up the bit of pre-cum there. The moans were nonstop now - unrestrained and needy - and he sounded wanton to even his own ears. He was so loud, in fact, that he completely missed the distinct click of a lid opening, the squelch of liquid drizzling out, and the thud of a bottle hitting the bed.

He inhaled sharply as a slippery, insistent finger grazed over his rim, moving in small circles around the delicate area. He tightened in response, eagerly anticipating what was to come.

Lifting off of Taehyung's cock, Jungkook ran his lube-free hand over his hip. "Angel, let me see you."

Taehyung opened his eyes and nearly clenched as he took in the younger's hungry gaze. "Fuck."

Jungkook let out a gravelly chuckle as he leaned over Taehyung's body, settling between his legs as he kissed at his jaw. The pad of his finger continued rubbing at his entrance, toying with him but not yet pushing in.

"Sweetheart, please," Taehyung whimpered, opening his legs further and tilting his pelvis up. "I'm ready."

"Okay," the younger acquiesced, kissing his lips as his finger finally slid past that taut ring of muscles.

Taehyung gasped into Jungkook's mouth, welcoming the familiar burn and stretch. He concentrated on running his tongue behind the younger's teeth as his body adjusted, doing all he could not to thrust back or beg for more.

He failed on both accounts.

"Kook, another," he begged after a minute, swiveling his hips to feel Jungkook's finger along his inner walls. "Please, I need more."

Instead of adding a second finger as Taehyung fully expected, Jungkook pulled out completely and planted a tender kiss on the tip of his nose. The younger rolled onto his back so they were shoulder to shoulder - side by side - and nuzzled into Taehyung's neck.

"Look at me," Jungkook ordered lightly, taking hold of one of Taehyung's legs and pulling it over his body.

Before meeting his gaze, Taehyung studied the way his soft thigh was pressed against the younger's sculpted abdomen. It was a contradicting sight - supple flesh and hard muscle - and it somehow made him even needier. He opened his legs more, sighing as Jungkook's fingers reached back down towards his hole.

"Tae," Jungkook reminded, now pushing two fingers into his heat, "look at me."

Taehyung lifted his gaze once he wrapped his own fingers around Jungkook's cock. "Fuck, you're so hard for me."

A moan rumbled deep in Jungkook's chest as he thrusted into Taehyung, scissoring his fingers, stretching his walls, and brushing over his prostate. "Thank you for coming back for me. Thank you for proving over and over that you love me. Thank you for keeping me by your side, for holding my hand throughout all of this. I just . . . fuck . . . I love you so much, angel."

At those sentimental words, Taehyung slowed the bucking of his hips but increased the speed of his hand on Jungkook. "I don't think I'll ever be able to properly say how much I love you. If I didn't meet you when I did . . . I don't even want to think about what might have happened to me. But I meant what I said earlier, Kook. We save each other. You saved me."

Jungkook kissed him hard, slipping his tongue into Taheyung's mouth as he added a third finger to his hole. And despite the urgency between them, they didn't try to rush their lovemaking along; they continued riling the other up so they were fully prepared for their union.

A few minutes later, however, they were both ready. Taehyung had a small pool of pre-cum on his stomach, Jungkook's pre-cum smeared all over his hand, and the stretch of his walls had finally given way to pleasure. He gently let go of the younger's cock, bringing his sticky fingers up to his mouth and licking off the remnants.

Jungkook swore under his breath, eyes glued to Taehyung's lips wrapped around his fingers. "Taste good?"

"You tell me," Taehyung responded, dipping his fingers into the substance on his tummy and gathering as much as possible. He presented them to Jungkook, who willingly parted his lips and sucked off what was there.

"Delicious," the younger practically growled, leaning up on his elbow and looking down at Taehyung. "Tell me how you want me."

"I want you to make love to me slow and deep," Taehyung admitted, trailing his hands down his boyfriend's chest and back up again. "Put me in whatever position gives me slow and deep."

"On your side," was the younger's answer, who sat on his heels while he waited for Taehyung to roll over.

Taehyung did as was asked, turning onto his side and gathering a pillow beneath his head. He felt the heat rolling off of Jungkook before he felt the press of his chest against his back, and he moaned in anticipation as his cock brushed in between his ass.

This time, when Jungkook opened the bottle of lube and poured the liquid onto his hands, Taehyung heard it. He also heard the younger's pleasured murmur as he coated himself and the devious chuckle when he applied more to Taehyung's entrance.

"I've never spooned anyone quite like this," Jungkook admitted as he wiggled one of his arms beneath Taehyung, wrapping around his waist. "But, I heard that it's really intimate and will supposedly feel really good for you."

"It's going to be intimate and feel really good any way we have sex," Taehyung said, chuckling before the sound broke off into a sigh. The head of the younger's cock ran over his hole a few times, circling and teasing, driving him crazy just like the bratty owner it was attached to.

A muted whimper resonated from behind him, followed by a grunt as Jungkook finally - finally - pushed his cock inside. He slid just deep enough to get his tip past Taehyung's opening, waiting for a few moments for them both to adjust to the sensations. As the seconds ticked by, he took hold of Taehyung's hip with his free hand and tucked his head into his neck.

"Fuck, I'll never get used to the way you feel," the younger breathed into Taehyung's ear, experimentally sliding deeper.

Taehyung placed his hand over the one Jungkook had on his waist, reaching up and behind with the other to grip the back of the younger's head. "Diddo."

"Diddo? That's all you have to say?"

"You can't expect me to be eloquent right now," Taehyung laughed, gingerly pushing back to take more of Jungkook's cock. The movement was not void of pain - he still needed to relax around the younger - but he was greedy. He wanted more.

Jungkook made shallow thrusts forward, slowly working his way towards bottoming out. "I love that you openly admit how speechless my massive cock makes you."

"You're . . . fuck . . . such a brat."

"Yeah, but you love it."

And Taehyung did. He loved every part of who Jungkook was, every side of his personality. He loved that they could lean on each other, play together, disagree and work out their differences. He loved how they continuously invested in their love, how they never took what they had for granted. And even though they were handed endless sadness and suffering, they only found happiness and strength in the other.

Jungkook's hips met Taehyung's ass in one final stoke, where he quieted his movements in exchange for pressing sweet kisses to the back of his neck. They didn't say anything else; there really was nothing more that needed to be said at the moment. They were together - safe in the other's arms - and that alone spoke volumes.

When Taehyung's body lost all traces of tension, he tilted his head back onto the younger's shoulder, angling his face so their mouths were just centimeters apart. He leaned in, claiming his sweetheart's lips between his own, all while swaying his hips and arching his back. The full, hot weight of Jungkook's cock made him delirious, as did the dragging of skin against skin, the slippery slide of lube making it all the easier.

Jungkook started working his own hips more, drawing back until his tip was poised right at Taehyung's hole. He pushed back in bit by bit, moving deep and sure until he was repeating that motion again and again.

Drawn out moans and labored pants filled the space between them, all while their tongues tangled in an uncoordinated dance. Their fingers eventually knitted together, squeezing for dear life as the unhurried push and pull of their bodies lulled them deeper into ecstasy. And as the younger changed his angle, allowing his cock to hit more at an upwards slant, Taehyung cried out at the burst of pleasure.

"Kook," he sobbed, pricks of tears forming in his eyes. "Just like that, Kookie."

Jungkook moved his lips back to Taehyung's ear, whispering praises as he thrusted more forcefully into his prostate. "My strong boy, my brave boy. So beautiful. Fuck, I love you so much, Tae."

Taehyung's head lolled back once again, his body unable to much of anything but receive the blinding jolts of pleasure. "I want to see you. Need to see your face."

"Okay, hold on."

Jungkook's hips slowly stopped their continuous strokes, and he carefully pulled out of Taehyung. "Can you sit up for me?"

Nodding his head, Taehyung propped himself onto his knees and searched the younger's face. What he saw there - insatiable need, eternal love - caused every muscle in his body to tighten.

"I'm going to show you a new position," the younger said, tossing the pillows onto the floor before he leaned back against the headboard. "It's called the lotus. I know I said spooning was really intimate, but the lotus is regarded as the most intimate and romantic position of all time.

Taehyung nodded along, admiring the way Jungkook's thighs flexed as he sat crossed-legged. "Teach me."

"You're going to ride me, kind of. Come straddle my hips and sit in my lap."

Crawling over to his boyfriend, Taehyung scooted closer so he could hold onto his shoulders. They both adjusted their legs so he could properly align himself to Jungkook's cock, and once the tip was pushed in just enough, he lowered.

"Now . . . now wrap your legs around my waist," the younger said through a moan, hugging Taehyung's body closer to his chest. "Ah, perfect."

They were flush against each other's bodies now, with Taehyung fully seated in Jungkook's lap. With their arms protectively circled and noses just centimeters apart, they had effectively created their own little bubble. And as they started moving together - grinding, leaning back and forth, rocking - they felt more connected than ever before. Making love like this truly seemed to unite their souls.

And by gazing into each other's eyes the entire time, they not only felt their love, but they saw it as well.

"I love you," Taehyung whispered, his lips dragging over the younger's.

Jungkook smiled, repeating the words before moving a hand down between Taehyung's legs. He stroked him in time with their languid thrusts, steadily working him back up until he was crying out. And when he twisted his hips in just the right way, he was once again grazing right against Taehyung's prostate.

"I can't last much longer," Taehyung lamented, almost disappointed. Being with Jungkook this way, keeping things slow and deep, was perhaps their most exquisite experience together yet. He didn't want it to end.

"It's okay, angel. We'll test that infamous six-hour stamina of yours another time."

Taehyung wanted to laugh - or make a sarcastic retort - but his senses were soon overwhelmed with all things Jungkook. Jungkook thrusting inside of him, Jungkook whispering praises, Jungkook pressing their lips together so they could breathe each other's air. He was utterly consumed with the love of his life, and he wouldn't want to have it any other way.

When the younger's finger dug into his slit, Taehyung's hips lurched and he knew he was close, so fucking close. He grinded in deeper and broader circles, guiding Jungkook's free hand up into his hair. And when he was rewarded with a sharp tug, he finally let go of that control.

"Kook," he cried out, spilling all over Jungkook's hand and their stomachs as he continued moving, trying to milk out everything he could. The younger licked into his mouth like he was trying to swallow all his sounds, and gave another couple of pulls to his hair for good measure.

"So good, angel," Jungkook moaned, bringing his hand to a stop as Taehyung came down from that high. "You did so fucking well."

Taehyung leaned back, still rolling his body for Jungkook's benefit. He purposely tightened around his cock, doing all he could to help his love reach his own climax.

Jungkook brought his cum-covered hand to his mouth, and just when Taehyung didn't think he'd do it, he did. He started licking away all of Taehyung's release, all while slamming his cock harder and deeper and faster.

"Look at you," Taehyung cooed at the erotic sight before him, clenching involuntarily as he watched that pink tongue scoop up his release and swallow it down. "So fucking beautiful."

"I'm going to come," Jungkook whispered, licking his fingers one last time before pulling Taehyung closer to his body. "Is that okay?"

"You can come, Kookie. You didn't have to ask."

"I think I like asking."

Taehyung groaned at that admission, dragging his nails down Jungkook's back as he felt the boy's thrusts lose their rhythm altogether. He ignored his oversensitivity and bounced as fast as he could. "Next time. We'll try orgasm control next time, I promise. But for now . . . Come sweetheart. Come for me."

And Jungkook did.

A loud moan ripped out of his chest as he spilled inside of Taehyung, his release hot and slippery and abundant. His chest rose and fell rapidly as he bared his neck, eyes closed as he gave into the pleasure. Taehyung leaned forward, pressing soft kisses to his neck, licking over the hickeys he'd created earlier in the night.

"Gorgeous, sweetheart," he murmured under his breath, loving the way Jungkook felt inside him with his sticky cum and slowly softening cock. He felt so thoroughly loved and taken care of, and despite the horrors of their night, he was okay. With Jungkook by his side, he could endure anything.

🔥

They remained locked in the other's embrace for a while, enjoying the stillness of the room and the temporary peace that had settled around them. They both knew that the real world would come back into play as soon as they separated their bodies. They'd have to wash up - again - before packing their belongings and waiting for Yoongi to arrive.

As soon as they moved, their bubble would pop.

So to prolong the moment, Taehyung tucked his head into Jungkook's neck and giggled.

"What are you laughing about?" Jungkook asked, the start of a giggle forming around the edges of his own voice. Taehyung noticed that a lot - whenever one of them laughed, the other would follow suit even if they had no clue what was so funny. Their happiness was just so contagious.

"I came out of the closet tonight," Taehyung said gleefully, his laugh growing in his chest until he was hiccuping aloud in merriment.

Jungkook wiggled his hips suggestively. "Yeah, well, look how that ended up for you."

They laughed for a while longer, continuing to forget the outside world and remain in that bubble for as long as they could manage. Because this - their love and connection - was what they needed to endure.

That love was the most powerful thing in the world . . .

That love managed to heal all of Taehyung's wounds.

▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎

》 V A L E N W R I T I N G 《

Honestly, the most difficult part of this chapter was properly depicting Tae's feelings in the beginning. He experienced so much at once - symptoms of PTSD, fear, and anger - and it took me a while to capture the whirlwind of those emotions.

Anyway, another crazy and record-breaking chapter, but I hope you guys enjoyed it! Tell me what your favorite part was!!

Also, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR 4K FOLLOWERS! I seriously don't know what I did to deserve your love and support, but know it means the absolute world to me. I'll keep working hard to bring you all better content!!

Borahae always.