Let Me Down Slowly - Alec Benjamin

Warm.

The house is warm when Taehyung arrives back with Jeongguk and Jimin after they decided to go into town to get drinks at a bar, nothing too big of a deal but they just wanted something to let loose since they were pretty tense earlier.

Entering the house now they're not too intoxicated, still can get around easily, but now came the difficult part.

Facing those who's hearts they broke.

And for Taehyung, it's Minho.

Well he's not sure how he'll react, but Taehyung prefers thinking that he won't be hurt by it since they're not even in a relationship to begin with.

They were just experimenting to figure out Minho's identity.

He knew better than to catch feelings either way.

Yet Taehyung's still nervous as he removes his shoes by the entrance of the house, feeling a bit grateful to how Jimin and Jeongguk waited for him until he finished so they can go inside together.

Truth is, enough was explained how this was going to work. They're together now to test out the waters, see if this experimentation will work. They know for a fact moving on has been hard, really hard, so if they're together than they just hope maybe this weird tension will slowly evaporate and this hope was all in their head.

Basically to see if they're really hopeless as a relationship, just as a reality check that they're better off on their own.

It weird, so far it's really weird but familiar at once.

They just have to give it time.

Walking further into the house now, Taehyung stops in his steps when he sees a familiar male sitting on the couch, watching the fireplace with a blanket over his body.

Taehyung couldn't move anymore, even if he wanted to.

Minho.

He waited for him, just as he said he would.

A hard tug twitches Taehyung's heart, especially when Minho turns his head to look at him upon hearing the footsteps.

And he's smiling.

He's smiling so happily to see him.

Even while looking at Jimin and Jeongguk, he still flashed a smile with a wave. However that smile twitched a little when he noticed Jeongguk and Jimin holding hands after they smiled at him and made their way to the stairs, but focuses his attention back to Taehyung.

Oh how badly Taehyung wanted to throw up right now.

"Hey! How was your walk?" Minho is to his feet now, approaching Taehyung with such an excited grin, "You look so cold, come by the fireplace."

Taehyung can't keep stalling this.

"Minho-" Taehyung's dragged to stand in front of the fire place, feeling much more warmer than earlier, yet that didn't ease down any ounce of anxiety he's feeling now.

Meanwhile the other male grabs something from the couch and holds it to his back, leaning to Taehyung's face, "Okay guess your present?"

He's so happy.

Please just stay happy.

Taehyung winces a little, gulping thickly, "Minho, I have to tell you something first, okay?"

It was actually a surprise that Minho didn't press on as Taehyung expected, but he remains quiet instead with wide eyes watching Taehyung intently to what he wanted to say.

Great that doesn't make it any better.

"Are you okay? You look worried," Minho says quietly, but suddenly flashes a wide smile, "Want me to get you some sweets to ease you up-"

"I'm taken now Minho."

That.

That right there was what Taehyung was afraid of.

No, not the way Minho stopped talking so abruptly or how the atmosphere suddenly got stiffly tense to Taehyung's outburst.

But by how Minho's once happy smile drops slowly, so slowly that looked almost as though it was in slow motion.

He looks as though he was just slapped, staying frozen from the impact of Taehyung's sudden statement before suddenly standing up straighter, clearing his throat a few times with hooded eyes.

"Taken? As in a relationship?" Slowly Taehyung nods back, "And out of a wild conclusion, with Jeongguk and Jimin?"

His voice isn't laced with anything, not even disappointment or anger, just.... Curious.

However the expression on his face and the sullen look in his eyes said it all, and Taehyung felt his heart crack a little to the sight.

Minho even had to take a step back, furrowing his eyebrows as though he's questioning himself but he never got the answers.

Taehyung felt something beyond horrible, and he doesn't even know why.

Him and Minho never had anything serious, they agreed to it.

But fuck.... It hurts.

It's hurting a lot.

"M-Minho just listen to me," Taehyung tried to not stutter, making Minho's eyes snap towards him, "We are just together to test out the waters, if this suffering we had would stop."

Oh no wrong wording.

It was clear by how Minho's face twisted, confusion flashing like bright colors, "But you told me I made you into a better person? You were suffering this whole time?"

Immediately Taehyung shakes his head, "No it's not like that! It just a way for us to realize that we aren't meant for each other, that's it."

Minho was frozen for a good moment, studying Taehyung carefully with his perplexed eyes as though he's trying to detect the truth out of him.

But it suddenly happened, from one moment to the next that Minho uses one hand to place it against Taehyung's cheek gently and clasp their lips together.

Taehyung felt that feeling again.

That same feeling he feels every time Minho kisses him, if anything much more intensifying than before. It's so addicting and just oozing with so much hidden secrets, and it was hard to resist it.

It made Taehyung's lips wobble just as Minho pulls away, his face still close to Taehyung's.

"I promised I would be on your side, always," Minho whispers softly, making Taehyung fight back a whimper when he felt a box edge to his hands, wrapping his fingers securely around it despite how badly he's shaking, "But even you can't deny what you feel for me, regardless if you're with them, little karma."

And with that Minho pulls away, letting Taehyung see his swollen eyes that are caging tears behind them much more perfectly now, shattering the remains of his heart.

He couldn't even say anything because Minho leaves, not turning back once to where Taehyung stands with his body trembling so ferociously that he couldn't even control it.

Fuck what did he do?

What is he doing?

So much doubt travels Taehyung's mind, leaving him more emotional to the point that he just wanted to scream.

No, he's doing the right decision.

With this relationship, he won't have this weight on his shoulders anymore because of this relationship. He won't have to worry so much about when his next fight will be or having an obstacle be in the way of moving on.

This is something he has to do, for himself.

Yet that didn't stop it from hurting so badly.

With wobbly lips, Taehyung fixes his gaze to the small box on his hand.

They weren't in a relationship.

Taehyung didn't feel anything for him.

It's not real.

With that push Taehyung opens the box.

And it knocked all the air out of his chest, forcing his hand to clasp his lips with now the tears glittering his eyes so quickly that he didn't even feel it when it began to burn.

Minho....

M-Minho....

In the box was a golden bracelet, printed by the center the words "Little Karma" to which followed by a note.

Right at the center.

"Can I take care of little Karma for a long time? :)"

Taehyung leans against the chimney, squeezing his eyes shut to tell himself to stop feeling but it didn't stop.

No matter what he did.

I'm so sorry Minho.

________________________
A/N:
I was going to make this more emotional but then I remembered how Minho's character is like, realizing he's more of an understanding character than one who would be desperate or anger, but still this was sad!

Ughhhhhhh

Man I don't even know which one to write next, any suggestions?

I PURPLE YOU! <333