* slightly on the mature side. includes abuse and attempted rape. read at your discretion*

Ruby groaned, the sunlight's warm rays enveloping her face, bringing her hands to her face in attempts to cover her eyes, which felt sensitive towards the light. She sat up, a light pounding in her head. When her eyes finally adjusted, she looked around her surroundings, immediately tensing.

This wasn't her room.

She looked down at her wrist, disappointed to find it bare. She didn't have her earpiece anymore either. She got up from the bed she was laid in, looking around more to attempt to figure out her surroundings. She looked outside, disappointment welling in her when it provided her no help.

"You're awake."

Her head whipped towards the sound, anger flaring in her. Taehyung stood at the edge of the room, his lean frame leaning against the wall. He offered her a small smile, gesturing her to sit back down. He looked at her unsurprised when she opted to stand, walking closer to her instead. Her immediate response was to back away from him, an action that caused Taehyung's seemingly kind demeanor to rupture, a flicker of annoyance in his expression.

"Calm down Aaliyah." Taehyung said tightly."Stop making this difficult for the both of us. We both know what I'm capable of."

"Don't call me Aaliyah." Ruby snapped."That's not my name. I go by Ruby now."

Taehyung hummed."Makes sense. you were always fascinated by the color red. I should have known that you would choose a name based on your preferences. Still, your actual name is Aaliyah. Why abandon the name that was given to you by your parents?"

"You mean the parents you killed?" she retorted, smirking internally at Taehyung's reaction. he'd struck a nerve. Good.

She wasn't going to make it easy for him.

"You should be thanking me you know." Taehyung responded."If I had wanted you to, you could have been in chains. I'm letting you walk freely. Hell, look at what you're wearing. Everything you have here, just like when you used to live back in the mansion."

"Doesn't change the fact that I'm being held captive here. Where am I?"

Taehyung smiled ruefully. "Our home. At least, what was supposed to be our home after the Perfect Match system matched us together."

At the response, she scoffed, crossing her arms. "What's this? Your attempt at redemption? Just kill me already. My answer is a resounding no."

"Stop being so difficult." Taehyung groaned."Look, I know I've fucked up in my life, alright?"

"You killed Yoongi!" Ruby screamed."You killed him, you killed my parents, you killed your sister! You tried killing me multiple times! How am I being difficult?" She easily ripped the silk gown she had on, pointing to her chest."You did this to our mark!" 

Taehyung's eyes darkened at the sight."Don't act so innocent. You act like you've done nothing wrong. You know for a damn fact your mark wouldn't be dark if you hadn't tried to kill me first!" 

The room silenced, Ruby staring at him with wide eyes. As much as she hated to admit it, she broke at the sight of Taehyung's expression, no longer friendly. Instead, it was one of hurt, one of pain, and one of betrayal. She bit her lip, looking away, unable to stand the sight of him. Strangely enough, she could feel tears welling up in her eyes, feelings of remorse and guilt beginning to inflict her system. He stopped himself for a few moments, assessing Ruby before continuing.

"Why do you still blame me for the death of Miyeon?" he asked incredulously."Honestly, Aaliyah, did you convince yourself that Miyeon's death was my fault only?"

Ruby remained silent, feeling the truth of his words. Unwanted memories began coming to light, ones that Ruby couldn't stop from surfacing.

Miyeon's hazel eyes stared at Aaliyah's seemingly mundane brown eyes. She smiled at Aaliyah, taking her hands, her expression brimming of false happiness, happiness that masked the anger and envy in her demeanor. Aaliyah, of course, was too naive to see it. She could only see Miyeon for who she was to her.

Her first love.

"Aaliyah, I'm so happy for you," Miyeon said, bitterness underlying her words."I know that Taehyung will treat you well. He's a good kid."

"I didn't want him," Aaliyah responded, a frown making its way onto her lips. Miyeon let go of Aaliyah's hands and cupped her face, using her fingers to forcibly change the frown Aaliyah had put on into a smile. "I wanted you. Why couldn't we be like Seokjin and Namjoon? We were perfect for each other." 

"Don't say that," Miyeon whispered."It's not fair to Taehyung. He loves you, you know. He has for the longest time. Since he was a kid."

"That's his fault, not mine." Aaliyah sneered."I don't care about him. I don't want him. Miyeon, I want you. My heart belongs to you."

Miyeon's eyes turned conflicted. She glanced at the still-closed door of her bedroom before finally placing her lips on Aaliyah's, an action that Aaliyah immediately returned. The taste of passion laced with desperation fell on the both of them as Aaliyah's hands immediately made their way under Miyeon's shirt. She relished the feel of Miyeon's soft and tender skin, her hands already moving its way to unclasp her bra.

Miyeon's hands were tangled in Aaliyah's then brown hair, fingers slowly trailing down Aaliyah's neck before making its way to the front of her blouse, hastily unbuttoning it. Miyeon sucked on Aaliyah's lips, Aaliyah humming in pleasure. Before things could progress further, Miyeon stopped, pulling away. Aaliyah looked at her in confusion, before noticing that her blouse was now fully undone, her Perfect Match mark glowing visibly against her skin. Miyeon's jaw tightened and she looked at Aaliyah in scorn.

"You have already initiated the process with him," she said flatly, tracing the mark on Aaliyah's skin, an action that caused her to jerk with pain. At the flinch, Miyeon's gaze darkened and she pressed harder, knowing what would happen. The mark glowed red at her touch, sending pain throughout Aaliyah's body, rejecting Miyeon's touch, which only made her continue her assault on Aaliyah's skin."You liar."

"Miyeon, stop!" Aaliyah pleaded, crying out in pain. Miyeon only chuckled, removing her hand from Aaliyah's burning mark, using her arms to restrain Aaliyah's wrists. She forcefully pushed Aaliyah to her bed, climbing on top of her. She bit Aaliyah's neck harshly, leaving angry purple bites as she made her way down to Aaliyah's mark, with the intent of making her suffer. 

Aaliyah writhed in pain, unable to do anything. Red spots producing in her vision. Tears had already welled up in her eyes and she couldn't help but beg that Taehyung would burst into the room and save her from his sister. She wanted Miyeon, but not like this. This Miyeon scared her. Her Miyeon was inflicting pain on her, punishing her for what she had accidentally started with Taehyung. 

Miyeon paused slightly, her face completely etched in anger."You tell me you want me but look at you. Your mark glows proudly against your skin. You don't want me. Stop lying to me. You'd rather have my brother's dick inside you than have me. Admit it!" 

Her nails dug into Aaliyah's wrists, drawing blood. Aaliyah looked at her frightened. Miyeon had a crazed look in her face, a look that she had brought out. Aaliyah could feel her tears streaming down her cheeks and she found herself Taehyung's name, an action that only further infuriated Miyeon. She removed a hand from Aaliyah's wrist, slapping her in the face.

"Call on your Perfect Match!" she spat."That's all you seem to be able to do anyhow."  

The door burst open, a panting Taehyung emerging, his eyes widened, expression worried. His demeanor quickly shifted into anger at the scene in front of him.

"Your lucky day." Miyeon scoffed at Aaliyah.

"Get off of her!" Taehyung yelled, forcing Miyeon off of Aaliyah."What the hell is wrong with you?"

Miyeon grinned at Taehyung."She started it. I did nothing but accept her token of love. Can't say the same for you though. All she said was that she didn't want you."

Taehyung's jaw clenched."Shut up!" 

Aaliyah watched as Taehyung punched Miyeon, sending her staggering back into the open doors of the balcony. He immediately rushed to her side, his expression softening at her gaze. "Are you okay?" he asked softly, pressing his hands lightly against her mark. Instantly, the red of the mark dissolved, going back to its natural state. He gently put her blouse back on, buttoning it before pulling her into his embrace."I told you to stay away from her. You didn't listen to me."

"I know. I-i'm sorry." Aaliyah whispered."It was going fine. And then she saw the glow of the mark and she lost it."

"Taehyung, she's mine!" Miyeon launched herself at Taehyung, ripping Taehyung off of Aaliyah. Taehyung landed on the balcony floor with a thud, feeling Miyeon's slender fingers around his throat. He attempted to get her off of him to no avail."She was mine before she ever was yours. You had no right to take her from me!"

Taehyung's eyes locked with Aaliyah's, pleading at her. She looked back conflicted, not knowing what she should do. At her hesitancy, Miyeon cackled, strengthening her hold on Taehyung not caring that it was her brother. She was too far into her mind to care for who she was hurting.

"She doesn't even want to save you." Miyeon laughed harder, forcing a disoriented, lightheaded Taehyung up. She pushed him towards the railings of the balcony."What do you think she'll do if I was to throw you over?"

"Miyeon, stop." Aaliyah walked closer, taking small steps."He's your little brother. Why would you kill him?"

"He took me away from you!" Miyeon snapped."It will only be a matter of time before you completely fall for him. And then what's left of me? Nothing except his useless seconds. But if he's gone, you can be with me. Wouldn't you love that?"

Aaliyah stopped. Would she? She swallowed, unable to respond. Miyeon scoffed."Typical. You're falling for him already. Look at you. Pathetic."

"It doesn't have to end this way." Aaliyah said, softly."You don't have to kill him."

"You're supposed to be on my side!" she roared."Not on his! Not on compromise!"

Aaliyah's hands wrapped around a vase. Before Miyeon could react, Aaliyah smashed the vase against Miyeon's head, doing so causing her fingers to release Taehyung. He gasped for air, grabbing himself tightly by the rails and succeeding in hitting Miyeon once more. Miyeon completely lost her footing, going over the railing. She grabbed herself tightly, her body dangling dangerously over the floor. 

"Aaliyah!" Miyeon screamed."Help me!"

Instinctively, Aaliyah went to grab her hand. Miyeon's gaze darkened once more and as soon as she grabbed Aaliyah's hand, she pulled her forward, forcing Aaliyah to go over the edge with her. Before she could go over completely, Taehyung wrapped his arms around her body.

"Liyah, let go." Taehyung whispered."Let her go. She's past the point of saving. You'll go over with her. Please."

"You're asking me to kill my first love." Aaliyah's voice broke, bursting into tears."I can't Taehyung."

His gaze turned stern."I'm not losing you." 

Taehyung pulled her harshly, causing Aaliyah to let go of Miyeon's hand. He kicked Miyeon's remaining hand off the rail. She watched in horror as Miyeon's figure receded until she hit the pavement.

"You killed her." Aaliyah said numbly."You killed her."

"Aaliyah—"

"I loved her!" she screamed."You took her away from me!"

"You would have died with her!" Taehyung's eyes became fierce."It was her or you. I would choose you any day."

"I hate you, Kim Taehyung." she seethed, slapping Taehyung in the face."I hate you!"

"Aaliyah?"

Taehyung watched as she blanked out, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her eyes widening in horror and fright, her hands wrapping around her throat, before trailing down to her neck and to her mark.  She fell to her knees, a sob escaping her. 

Instincts took over him and he rushed to her side, pulling her to him. She let him, leaning on his chest, dampening his shirt with her never-ending tears. He murmured sweet nothings into her ear, running his hand over her hair in attempts to comfort her, which seemed to calm her down a bit. Her gaze was still far away. It was as if she was immersed in the past to notice what was happening in the present.

"Liyah, I would never hurt you." Taehyung murmured."I've done a lot of bad things in my time, I know, but you know I wouldn't have hurt you if you hadn't hurt me first. I let you hurt me, remember? Not once did I hit you back. It wasn't until you almost killed me that I retaliated against you." 

They descended into silence, neither of them realizing the glowing sliver emerging from their blackened, grotesque marks.

a/n: people have mixed feelings about aaliyah/ruby and i'm just like well. some people hate her, some don't. nothing wrong with it, it's amusing honestly but wow. yeah, aaliyah is pretty sus at times though so i don't really blame people for having mixed feelings for her.