"Gotta be silent darling~ maybe I should've gagged you." his voice croons, low and sultry, eyes gleaming with wicked pride as he presses me tighter against the alcove of the bathhouse; hair damp and brushing between my thighs; teeth pinching and mouth sucking as he colours the inside of my thighs with the blooming smatter of colour of his want. Hungering as his lips trail upwards, hand curling tighter around my calf to hitch it higher over his bare shoulder; eyes dark and commanding as he peers up.

Holding all the power despite how he kneels on the wet tiles, dressing gown hanging open on either side of me; back pressed to the wall as he continues his indulgent ministrations of tasting me on his tongue; fingers slow as they work themselves in and out; deep plunges paired with the crooked beckon of his fingers pressing deep inside, slowly thrusting in and out, lips drifting from my centre to my thighs; alternating between letting his teeth sink into soft flesh or letting my arousal stain his tongue and smear across his lips.

His hand presses against my hip, pushing me against the wall as he grins against skin. Pins me there, my fingers scrabble futilely in his hair; anchoring myself somehow even as my back arches off the cold tiles, legs trembling as he works me towards another peak, the pleasure entangling and merging into constant waves that slam harder into me, cry ringing out as his fingers and tongue simultaneously work their way in; a deep thrust that has my hips bucking up; thrashing under his touch.

"Next time... I really will." he groans in promise, head tilting back as my fingers tighten into his curls.

"Next time... bend me over your office desk." I shudder out, legs trembling as he continues to sink his fingers into me; knuckles deep before he adds another, working me open with slow, lingering kisses trailing inwards; tongue flicking over the bruising marks he's left behind with a gleam of pride possessiveness searing his eyes.

His teeth sink into flesh; sharper and relentless, tugging out a sharper moan. Tongue flicking over the sting slowly, unhurried as he laves over it, lips closing around it to suck, nose brushing against my hip.

The touch's both gentle and branding; scorching and possessive but tender and cherishes every moment of my body trembling as I try to hold myself upright; fingers weakly scrabbling for purchase on water-slick tiles, feet unsteady.

Feel the pleasure burn hotter with the brutal, punishing pace of his fingers and the torturously slow trace of his tongue, feel it wind tighter around my limbs; make my abdomen tighten before the pressure snaps and pleasure slams mercilessly into me.

His name is a rough cry from my lips, fingers tugging at his curls, breathless as I sag, body wrought with the endless peak that never seems to plunge downwards, a pleasure that only ebbs hotter and higher until my breaths are trembling and my body is twisting for reprieve. For momentary relief from it.

Feel his touch; that'd riled and coaxed and pushed me to pleasure now coax me down from its high, pressure easing and touches turning gentler and softer. Affectionate and grounding.

Voice rough and deep; a baritone rasp against slick skin.

"When you find yourself inevitably bent over my desk at least you'll have something to hold onto as I wreck you."

Carnal pleasured promise crooned in the quietest, almost gentle tone; but his eyes are wicked and dark. And the smirk curving his lips is dangerous and enthralling.

And time and time again I let my bandit take me apart.

--------

"Here..." a berry's nudged at my lips, the large, red strawberry teased at the seam of my mouth and proffered with a look of sweet fondness and pride.

"This farmer's market has really, really good produce. Jin introduced it to me." he says, nudging the berry against my lips again in gentle encouragement.

I let my lips part at the invite, let my teeth sink into the soft fruit; fingers drifting up to take the fruit, see his eyes warm and giddy when I hum at the taste, taking another bite and peer curiously at his basket; only half-filled, soft peaches and crisp apples and punnets of berries lie securely placed inside.

"What else are you going to buy?"

His arm wraps around me to draw me against his side, body bracketing mine as he steers me past the clusters of people; navigating his way past the bustle near the fruit stalls and down the cobblestone streets.

"Milk and bread and a dozen eggs."

"No veg or meat? What are you making for dinner?" I ask curiously, eyes drifting curiously.

I'd never been to this part of town with Jimin before but it was somewhere I knew he'd love visiting, maybe with Joon, maybe with me. Maybe we'd make a trip of it.

"I'm not. Kook's cooking at the tavern."

"I know for a fact he cooks amazing. So does Hobi... a few lessons won't go amiss Lord Kim~" I tease.

He gives the side of my waist a poke.

"I can cook... I'm alive aren't I?"

I raise my brows at him.

"I don't like those chances when I put myself into that equation." Frowning at him, laughing when he stares back, incredulous and petulant; lips jutting out in an exaggerated pout.

Lean close to brush my lips against his, kissing away the huffiness, feel his lips soften as he tilts his face to me; lets the pout melt away his nose brushes mine.

Eyes holding mine as I draw away.

"Lucky for you I won't let you die... no starving when I can teach you. Train you."

"I'm a good student." He murmurs.

My hand cups his cheek, fingers brushing against the apple of his cheek.

"I'll be the judge of that~"

---------

"Mimi!" I call, rushing forward; the tinkling of chimes already distant as I hurry towards him; watch his eyes widen, lips curving as his face lights up, quickly discarding the tray for favour of closing the distance and wrapping his arms around me tightly; spinning me in his arms as he cradles me to him, body flush to mine.

Feel his lips brush giddily, hurriedly across my cheek, my jaw, fingers sweeping hair back so he can cradle my face towards his, nose brushing against mine gently, arm a strong band of warmth keeping me tucked against him. Sets me down as he runs his eyes over me; eyes sparkling and warm as he looks at me, lets his hand skim up and down my back, head dipping to brush his lips against my collarbone; teasing softly... gently at the skin of my neck, nose brushing slowly.

Indulgent and unrushed but the puffs of breath make me squirm against him, hand curling around his nape and lips stretching wider into a giddy grin.

"Joon already got you working?" I tease, feel his hand settle on the low of my back, teeth playfully nipping the lobe of my ear; tugging slightly at the earring.

"This is new. Blue suits you... but then again so does purple." He teases in a lower croon, letting his eyes rake with the hungered impatience of a man whose waited too long, too needily, his own ears threaded with delicate silver that peek out from dark hair; free from the styling products, soft and silky against my touch when I let my fingers sink into strands; push them away from his jaw.

"Ever proud of making dark shades of purple aren't you?" I laugh, eyes flitting from his pink cheeks, to the full curve of his lips stretched wide into a smile, to the glow of contentment making his every fibre radiate with a happiness that was always withheld at the brothel.

He's happy.

And I'm happy.

"Very. It takes hours of dedication to leave marks you'll feel for days... maybe even weeks; just need the time and devotion I have." Laughing as he tugs me back for a tighter embrace, arms wrapping around me to encase me securely in his hold. Arms banded across my back and waist, head nudging against mine gently, relishing in the quiet, unspoken shared intimacy of just knowing each other... of finally having each other close. A quiet exhale brushed against his collarbone as I let my head rest, tucked under his, hands looped together on the low of his back; an entangled mess of limbs pressing close with the knowledge of just how to settle ourselves against the other.

"And lovestruck suits you. Where's the smitten physician?" I ask, voice quieter, eyes peering curiously around the apothecary. Even if I'd been here countless times over the years; seen the tormenting length of their courting and charming and entangled mix of love and lust... it already seems different.

Somehow... somehow there's a bit of Mimi in a place that was always so intrinsically to Joon.

Whether that's because of the pretty ribboned bows clustering together plants, the decorated baskets hanging overhead or the gentle light perfumed scent diffused through the air; a natural incense that makes it more so inviting, richer and enthralling. Whether it's simply just Mimi; seamlessly fitting in, loose shirt; sleeves pinned back and an apron tied over it; clothes simple, jewels tinkling subtly and the joy and happiness infectiously drawing everyone to him. A land siren.

"Feeding his... our babies. Though he doesn't trust me near them. Talking to them and telling them all about me." he shares with a fond exuberance tinging his words.

Enamoured and smitten as his head tilts towards the back part of the shop.

I pout, shaking my head as I let my fingers skim across his soft cheek.

"Raising a baby takes two." I coo.

He laughs, nose nudging against mine, breath warm and ghosting along my lips as he stares at me and nods.

Winks secretively.

"That's why I sneak over when Joon's getting ready for bed. Can't have them forever biased towards dimples."

I poke his cheek.

"These are a winner for sure."

His hand squeezes my waist.

"Just the cheeks?"

I shake my head, lean forward to peck his lips lightly.

"The whole package~"

----------

Waking in the dead of night to the sound of rustling sheets and a warm body pressing to mine quickly becomes habit. Sinking back into the bare press of skin; heat seeping through my nightgown, fingers brushing hair away from my shoulder, from my nape to press slow kisses against skin, voice a low deep hum as Tae sinks into the sheets, arm banding around me, leg sprawling over or worming between mine."

And waking during the day to the same rustles but as the warmth of his body leaves, fingers turning to try grasp at him for even moments longer, for seconds longer as I turn to him; eyes heavy with fatigue and body loose with content, sprawling over to try draw him closer, hand winding around his nape when he does.

Leaning in to brush kisses across my cheeks, curls tickling skin and head ducking to press slow open-mouthed kisses against my collar, my shoulder, fingers curling into fabric to gently tug it aside.

So its habit that when he stirs, a low discontent groan slipping past his lips as he shuffles about, sheets slipping loose against my bare thighs, his hand skimming from my hip to sleepily tug the sheets back up around me.

Eyes blinking open and frowning at the weak thin streams of sunlight pouring through the shut curtain drapes.

Far too early.

"Tae no... stay in today. It's the final night you're staying before I leave. Before I'm free... I want to spend it with you." I mumble sleepily.

It's habit that the fortnight has been soothed away, that it melted and faded when time revolved around him, became entangled with his. When time became a blurry memory that was full of excitement and nervousness and a thrilling anticipation that kept me up at night; sometimes still wide awake when he snuck in, eyes widening with surprise before softening; eagerly closing the distance for the soft shared kisses in the darkness of the night, of skin brushing against each other and whispered intimacy shared in the pleasure of trying to undo the other first. In breaking the already unravelled restraint the other was losing grasp on, muffled whimpers and moans against lips and skin, hands impatient and tugging each other close, bodies melding together.

It's a habit that Tae gladly and enthusiastically tried to enforce, trying to whisk me away as much as he could from the brothel. Trying to make the most of the two weeks left to make memories that wiped away the taint of the entire decade of imprisonment.

It didn't matter if those ten years had come with pretty clothes and trinkets and cheap sweet words because it had come with perfumed incense that did nothing to hide the tangible scent of sweat and sex or deceit and lies behind every smile.

It didn't matter that for ten years I had a shelter over my head because for six years before it I'd lived under the wings of men and women lost in lust and broken by debt; being taught what would be expected when I turned old enough.

Because since I could remember, the four walls and the roof over my head was a glorified cage, was always a place of business even if I hadn't been let loose into the fray since the moment I knew the brothel as not a home but as a shelter. A prison. But a shelter.

And Tae in these two weeks, in the months since I'd known him... since that fateful meeting when a bandit had entered my life... he'd turned it upside down.

He'd made the final chunk of my debt, my service pass by quicker and he'd sought to erase tainted memories of the brothel; of all its nooks and crannies by replacing memories of his own. By replacing phantoms of touches that seared and burned my flesh with prickling nausea and made my mind hazy with pleasure instead; until I was delirious and begging for more, the world fading save for Tae and the countless peaks he was coaxing my body mercilessly towards.

The fortnight was a blur of him in every way.

It was him curling close to sleep, messily shucking off clothes and wriggling close.

It was him in the knowing grins when he sauntered in hours later as if he hadn't spent the night unravelling me and then holding me as I shuddered.

It was him in the long winding walks around town.

It was him in the taste of fruity liquor against my lips and a burn that flared heat under my skin and had nothing to do with the alcohol making my cheeks flush.

It was him in the teasing trails of fingers against my waist and the side of my bodice, in the press of his body sandwiching mine and the ticklish brush of curls against my cheek as he leaned over my shoulder at the countless stalls and shops we frequented together.

It was him in the breathless cry of his name against his shoulder, fingers sinking into his shoulders and teeth biting down to muffle the shuddered moan against him.

It was him, wicked and dark eyes peering at me from between my thighs, tongue curling and tasting spilled arousal, thrusting deep to coax more to stain the carnal smirk as his gaze pinned mine.

It was him, skin flushed and pearled with exertion at his temples, curls loose and damp and hips bucking as he tried to take all that I had to give and still hungering for more.

It was Tae who became the world beyond the brothel, the future I'd never envisioned, and the happy end I never dared dream.

It was Tae, at the end of it all it was Tae.

And I'd do anything and everything for him.

And I couldn't wait to wake tomorrow and now that freedom was finally in my grasp and so was he.

That he and freedom were one and the same for me.

That the unliberated liberation now came in a shape and form.

Came in the prettiest trinkets, signature heeled boots and a wicked smirk and dark eyes that could be seen even behind the dark mask.

He came into my life as a bandit and yet he'd been the very gift, the very key to my freedom.

Fourteen days; an infinity and no time at all simultaneously.

And fourteen days had been a steadily trickling hourglass; days slipping away from reach and yet ones I didn't realise I would want to cling onto.

But how Tae makes those days pass; in a blur and endless sea of memories between the two of us, of a world shared only by us, of a world cut off from the harsh one I'd been trapped in... they became fourteen days I cherished.

And I wanted to enjoy the final morning to waking with him and knowing that the next day would bring freedom, would bring liberation.

But he's gentle and persuasive, coaxing me to lie down, a grin just as giddy as the rapid pulse of my heartbeat as I peer up at him; his eyes bright and glowing with exuberance, lips pecking and brushing kiss after kiss to skin.

"Don't worry sweetheart~ this time tomorrow I'll be waiting to whisk you away for good." He murmurs, promise curling around me, eyes bright and eager and more alert than I've ever seen him this time of day.

I tilt my head, let it sink back against pillows.

"You're glowing Kim... why are you glowing?" I muse, eyeing the bright excitement that seems to imbue his body with a radiance, with a delighted satisfaction that makes the wide boxy grin even more endearing, the loose curls tickling as he hovers over me.

"Don't you know a man in love is radiant?" he murmurs, though there's something more, something unspoken still in the gleam of his eyes.

"I mean Mimi is very radiant but I thought that was his default... what are you hiding?" I laugh, squirming when his fingers poke in retaliation, a playful glare on his face, though his lips twitch, delighted with me twisting under his touch.

"You're just going to have trust me and let me have my secrets darling."

I stare up at him, hands winding around his forearms, body tilting up as I lean upwards towards him.

"Only at the promise I can have them spilled later... whatever means I want to use to get them out."

He grins.

"Deal."

And I sink back into the bed, watch him slowly draw himself away and redress.

Layers taken off during the night once again readorned; slipping back into bandit and lord, teasing lilt to his lips as he watches my eyes track him; drinking in every movement, cheek smooshed against a pillow I encircle with my arms.

"Don't be tardy, I'll be waiting~" I mumble.

Two days. Two days and this was all over and what we had... would be permanent, would be shared and I could tug him back down without the fear of a horror beyond the bed chamber's door.

He smiles, brushes back his curls; ties back the wild black strands with a ribbon; deftly pinning them away from his face, revealing the sharp angular line of his jaw and the unbuttoned gaping collar; revealing his throat, his collarbones, hints of his chest in its unmarked glory.

I'd have to remedy that soon.

"Wouldn't dream of wasting a single moment in whisking you away from here."

I smile.

"Right into the arms of my waiting beloved Mimi... awfully nice of you to agree~" I tease, watch his expression startle before gleaming dark eyes narrow, his lips quirk at the corner.

"Bold of you to assume that beyond the dinner two nights from now we'll be leaving the house for days. I intend to thoroughly welcome you in every corner, nook and cranny and on every surface."

My eyes keep his, let my fingers drift over the loose laces of the nightgown; let my fingers wind around them and tug absently, let it fall open as I tilt back against the sheets and pillows.

"I look forward to it~"

Hear his low groan of both dwindling resolve and frustration; eyes dark when I lazily let mine trail back.

"You're doing this on purpose!" he says incredulous and voice tinged with laughter.

"I'm showing you what you have to look for... a glimpse. Of what tomorrow could be~"

Smiling against the pillow, face half shielded by it.

"And two days... and two days... then you're free." He murmurs, crossing the distance to press his lips to my temple, whispering against the shell of my ear, words leaving me suddenly much more awake and alert; lips parted in surprise as I turn to face him.

And this time it's him whose sporting the victorious grin as he draws back, winking before he slips out of the door.

Two days.

My life would start in two days.

---------

Madame Lim's face is curved in a red garish smile, eyes bright even if there's that hungering wish for more.

"Freedom... how does it taste little bird?"

I stand in front of her, eyes holding hers. Trying to will myself to keep them held there, to not look away.

"It's new... but I'll get used to the taste. I've hungered and starved for it long enough."

Her fingers brush over the sheath of papers in front of her.

"An impressive amount you're paying off. All those appointments and a benevolent client. You've always attracted pretty jewels for me little bird."

I bite back the scathing tone as I speak.

"You made me into little bird... you made me sing to call and capture clients. You seem... disappointed that I'm free."

Though there's no doubt she is, no doubt hunger and greed and gluttony makes her want me to be here longer; miffed and furious that she has to let go sooner than she expected. That she can't milk me for longer and let her body bathe with the luxuries she affords from cutting off extortionate amounts off every payment I've earned and paid for with my body.

"It's a pity that two nights from now I won't have a little bird song to lure in more customers. Pity that these two days I can't make you work because you've arranged the entire sum. Impressive."

It's a pity that I'm not labouring for another decade, that she can't sell and barter my body anymore.

It's a pity for her.

"I'll give you the sum tonight. And begin packing... I can assume that I have the courtesy of spending my time alone in my quarter."

She dips her head in mock politeness; nails tapping the parchment.

"Give me my payment and you're free. Fly little bird, finally spread your wings."

Yet the tone is a crooning drawl; slow and lilted and dragged out.

Mocking.

Taunting me to try. Try find a life after the taint of a label that even after I got it scoured from skin; reminding me that the label would still remain. Invisible but bearing its weight regardless. Bearing its years of dishonourable repute.

"I look forward to it. Finally... finally I'll be able to see the heights I can reach."

Turning to step out of the small officed space, to move away from her with her sickly perfumes and garish makeup and dresses far beyond the age of a woman well aged to be a grandmother.

And just before I step through the door, to move out of sight and start packing, her voice rings out in one final scathing remark.

"If you never know how to fly, you go plummeting down. Remember that little bird."

The breath shudders out my lungs as I let the door close behind me, a twisted grimace curling my lips, leaning against it briefly.

Lim was a monster.

And she would forever remain so.

"Now that isn't the look of a woman on her way to getting out." A voice calls a small distance away and when my head turns to track it I smile at the sight of Jin bearing a basket of oils; redirecting his path towards me instead.

"And this isn't how I expected a rich lord to spend his time but... here we are~"

See the amusement sear across his features, the inviting curve of full lips parted with laughter as his eyes flash, tilting his head.

"Touché... but why do you look you've swallowed something bitter?"

I push away from the door, lips curved coy as I approach; hand skimming across his arm as I peer at the assortment of oils in his basket; eyeing them curiously.

"Wouldn't be the first time. Lim is... hell's incarnate."

His face twists into a frown; sharper and more bitter than I've seen it whenever she's dragged into mention. Now he looks like he's swallowed something sharp and poisonous.

"Filthy hag. I can't wait for the day she finally totters off to her grave." Voice full of contempt and steadies the basket with one hand and unfurls an arm to wrap around my waist and steer me towards the backrooms.

"Never quite heard you this... agreeable. Dare I say it's attractive?" I wonder, head tilting back to peer at him, see some of the hardness immediately dissolve. See his eyes glint with playfulness.

"Now what would your pretty boy say~ more than worthy competitor that I am for wooing." He teases, walking down the same corridor we've both walked for years.

"I think... he wouldn't be threatened. Not when a tavern owner holds your heart so dearly... not when you're so intoxicated and taken already..." feeling his smile widen before a quick glance confirms it, see him set the basket down and move to draw an apron over his clothes.

Moving to filter through the products.

"Mhm... true~ but from what I remember... before we were committed I haven't forgotten a certain minx offering to take shots of liquor off our bodies... with friendly intent of course~ that's what we'll tell your bandit." He divulges, teasing and playful.

Purposely choosing to word the story that way.

Wording it as if I had gotten the chance to when Hobi had already been drawing himself up onto the counter; eyes dark and penetrating; smile wicked and pressed against skin; keeping the opened shirt pushed aside as he let teeth trail down his torso. Tongue flicking against skin.

All I'd done.... All I'd gotten to do was offer.

Shame really.

"Whilst I offered it to you.... I'd be more than happy to oblige my bandit. And put on a show."

He snorts with laughter, shaking his head at the offer lingering in my eyes, breaking the teasing tension with a bubble of amusement slipping past pressed lips.

"I'll decline. You are stunning but I don't want to witness your private life any more than I need to. Especially not with my brother."

My face still startles; morphing briefly into surprise before melting.

Smiling wider.

It'd been a surprise to learn but just made me impossibly fonder for the man who'd taken care of me and Mimi for years; had been the reason the two of us had survived the atrocities we'd been forced to endure and experience.

Jin had always been there on the other end of it; soothing away the aches and physical wounds and words and presence and affection giving comfort that slowly healed repulsion.

Without Jin neither of us would've survived.

And knowing that this would extend not only as a friend I knew I'd cherish and love forever but as family; as my own got a newer, deeper meaning.

My Jin.

And his arm recircles around me, draws me into a hug as he slots himself against me from behind. Presses a kiss to the back of my head.

"Can I take you on a stroll sweetheart?"

I tilt my head to peer back at him.

"Only if you promise to whisk me off my feet."

He laughs, the sound warm and rich.

"As if there's any other way."

----------

The town seems to be buzzing. Electric with an undercurrent of excitement that makes the voices of countless townspeople as we navigate our way past unnecessary clusters of people; heads bent close and eyes alight with shocked delight that comes from relishing in gossip.

"Something's got the town in a tizzy." Jin observes; my hand looped through his arm.

Disguised and hidden in the deep pockets of my dress is the large pouch of coins and jewels that'll pay off my debt. Shielded carefully by the extra layered petticoats to hide the weight of my freedom pressed against my thigh. Jin's body brackets mine intentionally on that side, adding a layer of protection beyond the dagger sheathed at his belt, tucked under his jacket.

"Something that's extended past the taverns..." I murmur, peering curiously. Body tilting to take in the clustered crowds.

And even though we don't gravitate to them, the gossip seeps through the air; permeating the hushed murmurs. And the air fuels the crackling embers into a searing inferno; gaining strength and heat and spreading wildly.

And the words I do hear makes my body freeze; makes the heat scald my frozen limbs.

"....the bastard son..."

"...the disowned Kim..."

"....guess it was only a matter of time..."

"Lord Kim's illegitimate impure son... locked up. Dragged away and beaten I heard..."

My fingers curl tighter around Jin's arms; body stilling as I look at them. Heart in my throat, pulse racketing up, nausea twisting my stomach into vicious, relentless knots; a pressure banding across my lungs, constricting tightly; air punctured out of me as I still.

"Jin... Tae... something's happened to Tae." my voice shakes and my grip tightens on him.

Feel his hand tighten around my waist; a fierce, bruising pressure.

"....such a shame too. But I doubt he'll be let out..."

"He's a pretty face but he's as wicked and damned as they come."

The whispers; giddy with glee and mirth and shocked delight only make the breaths harder to slip past my lips, body trembling.

"Tae... Taehyung... Jin I have to..." I mutter, hand slipping away from him, body twisting from his stilled figure, nausea and terror scours at me from the inside; claws at me and makes my head swim with the panic that Tae... something had happened to Tae.

I needed to get him back.

I needed to get him out.

I needed to get Tae back.

And I'd do it.

Whatever the cost. Whatever means necessary.

I don't stop for the yell of my name, don't stop to wait for a path to clear as I hurry past people; impatient and nauseous as I gather my skirts, hurry to get to Tae. Hurry to get to him and get him back.

And with every breath that shudders past my lungs, I wonder how harried and painful Tae's own ones were.

And prayed with every fibre of my being that he was okay.

TAE POV:

"Pretty boy Kim's luck finally ran out." An officer jeers, recognition clear in his face as he peers through the bars, lips curved in an ugly sneer. Looks at me with an unnecessary amount of pride as if he's put me there.

I glare back, sneering at him as his face looms closer, rattling the bars mockingly, reminding me that for once. For once I was on the other side of it.

"You're lucky you had officers to hold me back or that ugly mess of a face would've been ruined further." I snarl, eyes flashing with vicious pride at the bruises slowly darkening across skin and the slashes at his forearms that are proof and validation of his own skills. His poorly defence. Had he not had officers to hold me back, to keep me pinned as he vented his own shortcomings... the stakes would've been entirely different. And the bars wouldn't be standing between me and him.

"Think you're so high and mighty bastard? The sins of the father seem to have finally caught up to punish his dirty, sinful offspring." He goads, taunting and mocking now that he has the protection of the cell keeping me from lunging for his throat and pressing a dagger to it.

I grit my teeth, taste the copper on my tongue. Feel the cut on my lip widen and split; blood spilling afresh from it; trickling down the corner of my mouth as I bare my teeth; fingers curled around the bars.

"And you'd know all about it wouldn't you? When your own son's a bastard... let's see how long it is till his father's sins catch up." I hiss, watching with pleasure as anger contorts his face, see the same pinched repulsed look that I know I sport.

But unlike my long since dead father, renounced the moment he turned his back on me, he looks feral at the thought; looming closer, hand darting out to yank me by my collar, tugging me until my body's flush against the bars.

Wrong choice.

"My son has a father who gives tuppence about him. Who cares if he'll end up a commonplace thief that parades himself on the streets."

I silently slip the dagger out the small loop at my back, lips curling when the punctured gasp of pain as I manage to slash across his abdomen has his grip tightening and a hissed curse slipping past his lips.

It's worth the slam of pain against my face and the noose the fabric forms around my neck as he yanks me forward; face colliding with the bars, laughing even as pain and heat pulses on the left side of my face.

"Commonplace? That's you. An officer on a meagre pay... but even so far too much money for a man who spends the day lounged about stuffing his face and reeking from alcohol." I laugh, breath shuddery and groaning but relishing in goading, in making the prickly officer's face twist with hatred.

Watch as another hand pins my wrist and wrenches the dagger from my hand; sends it clattering across the floor and a hand fists into my hair and yanks it back; wrenched through the bars to angle my throat whilst a gun is tugged out his holster.

Barrel pressed to my temple.

"If a dog barks too much, it's put down to end our misery. So... tell me Kim... should I?"

Hear the mocking laughs of the officers watching; the jeers and wicked, crooked smirks and the revelling of power; of one instance of power they hold. Of a group of animals cornering a knocked down man.

"Is that it? You need a cage and a group of cowards to fight against one? And I'm on the other side of the bars." I growl out, the roaring rage makes the back of my head throb and pulse with fresh waves of pain; dirty fingers fisted into my hair; pressing painfully against where a bottle had smashed against the back of my head; glass splintering and blood matts my hair; dries against my nape.

I grit my teeth against the pain, refusing to let them see any satisfaction.

Refuse to let them see that they hold all the cards; that my hand was deceptively empty, for the cards I held amounted to nothing. I didn't know how to get out.

And I didn't think I could.

How could everything go so wrong?

How could it have ended this way?

With me behind bars and not knowing if I'd even be let out again... when (Y/N) was waiting, depending... relying on me.

And despite doing everything... trying to make her break from the brothel as clean and permanent as possible, I'd left her... alone.

She was alone when I was trapped behind bars and with a gun pressed to skin and not even knowing if I was going to be alive in the following minutes.

The gun slips from my temple to nudge my chin up; presses to skin and another officer looms closer, a wicked, greedy grin alight on his face.

"When a dog's about to die he whines... and that's what I'm hearing. Pitiful stalling... maybe you'd rot here forever; father dearest certainly isn't going to rise from his grave to drag you out. So why not join him?"

I stare back.

Because I have too much to live for. Because I have (Y/N) to live for and share my entire life with.

"I'll give you what you want. What price would satisfy you?"

Hating having to beg but to get back to (Y/N) I would.

The laughter is mocking and rings out.

"There we go... but... I'm not sure I want to let you go. I want to see the bastard Kim broken, want to see him grovel for days on end to realise one day... he's not leaving. He's dying here."

No.

No.

"All that name and repute gone. Wasted. And this... this is how the forgotten Kim's story ends. Forgotten once more."

And the next instant terror scours through me, agonising and unbearable and crushes the air in my lungs, every bone in my body, every drop of blood, every inch of me shrieks and writhes in protest and torment at the next word.

"Tae!"

----------

The Wild Boar is thriving in its filthy masses; bodies clustered close together with the stench of sweat and ale. Heat makes the smell cluster into a thick penetrating fog that's nauseating to breathe in too much.

And Chul.

Chul sits at a table; head thrown back with pleasure and eyes hazy with drink, plied with it from bartenders; an anonymous admirer, pouring the strongest liquors down his throat and pushing them one after the one into his hands. his lips part to down another gulp of liquor, eyes fluttering as he groans; hand fisted into elaborate curls; tugging the woman's mouth further down around him; clothes only slightly askew as he spreads his legs wider, forcing the woman's head down, pleasuring him out in the open.

He makes for a sight of debauchery and excess; drowning in lust and drink, inebriated and out of his senses and holds an audience for the carnal act, the woman on her knees is silent and for one horrifying moment I wonder... wonder whether she caters to his particular taste.

And is a young girl, inexperienced and being broken into.

Feel my blood freeze for an instant when passing by to reach for the backdoors of the tavern; to slip past into his living quarters I see a face I recognise briefly.

One of the women from the brothel.

Older.

Mature.

And she wears that proudly; eyes indicating she holds the power despite the brutal thrusts that has oxygen punctured out of her lungs.

And silently... I slip away from the scene of depravity, turn to pick the lock of the backdoor; tucked away behind the storage of drinks, quietly slipping into shadows and out of sight.

Knowing full well Chul is plied with pleasure and attention and drink.

He won't be leaving the spotlight for a while.

And with the aid of time on my side, I let myself quietly into his living quarters; eyes scanning quickly, briefly over the rooms; skimming across the kitchen and drawing room. The stench of uncleaned dishes and dirty laundry seeps into the crevices of the space, worms into the nooks and crannies and corners and clings to the air with a musty fog.

It's a smell I quickly move to avoid, feet noiseless across the ground; knowing full well after weeks of observation and surveillance that he lives here alone.

That his flavour of the hour, of the day is never extended board at his home, that the tavern is his vice, his pleasure den and one he doesn't wish to share with anyone.

But seeing that woman... seeing and knowing exactly which brothel she comes from only further cements the concrete belief that Chul's connection to Lim remains, that he still holds some sort of link to the hellhole.

It makes my pace hasten as I head to his office quarters; knowing from carefully placed informants... knowing from some digging myself that he manages the documentation himself regarding the tavern.

Knowing from sight and validation of my own eyes that his father not two days prior had stormed into the tavern; wrecked with a dangerous mix of anger and grief. Contempt as he stared at his son flanked by two women with a girl straddled across his lap.

Saw the lack of recognition as he looked at his son and tried to place him to the man he thought he knew.

Saw the same inebriation that pleasure, drugs and alcohol made Chul unable to place the man devastated before him; uncaring as he wound his arm around the girl to tug her closer.

I saw, positioned away from the central tables, tucked away and face hidden.

There was no need for Chul to recognise me, to be able to place me before he needed to. Before I wanted to make myself known.

That day would come.

Just not now.

It'd come when his world came crashing down around him and I was there to see it crumble and disintegrate.

And silently I slipped away.

And as I rifle through documents; I sift through, eyes long since astutely learnt in picking apart discrepancies, in hidden compartments in shelves and older documents tucked away between new.

Eyes scanning for familiar names, for receipts of purchase for the countless girls he'd bought, their virginities bought and taken, the continued taste for the young and inexperienced was something that defined Chul.

And so his choice of a seasoned women; an experienced taste means he doesn't have the time and patience to relish his usual pleasures. It means he wants immediate gratification.

It means he wants to be receiving all the relief and giving very little.

But the liquor, the busy crowd, the woman... all of these factor in to a longer period of time for me to search.

And slowly... slowly discrepancies appear.

Triumphant as I tug out a sheath of papers under the documents for the tavern's purchase.

Find that tucked between the papers for the tavern, for the drinks, for the recent company there's papers dating back years for countless payments made to the brothel, made to a Madam Lim; details of young girls all barely into their early adulthood; still underage when hefty sums of money were paid, redirected from the family business that his parents toiled away at.

I quickly draw them out; scanning the dates and the names, slowly amassing a small sheath of papers that dated years of buying underage girls to use for days and nights; to break and mould for his pleasure. Nausea welling up stronger and anger searing through my veins as I continue to rifle through the documents; eyes desperately searching for one name.

For the one name that matters the most to me.

For the one name for who I'm doing this all for. For my (Y/N), for my jewel. My person. My happy end but my new beginning first.

And the primal urge to hurt Chul mounts and spirals into something poisonous and vengeful, eyes zeroing onto the price, onto her name, her age, her inexperience because she had yet to reach sixteen and Chul put a bounty on her head.

One that damned her for the rest of her life.

One that made her reputation renowned for pleasure that people would beg a chance to taste, to glimpse, to see.

One that made her Lim's little bird and her song preceded her, became a siren song, a curse, a noose, shackles and her imprisonment.

It was why... that despite the fortune Chul had paid for her first night... despite the fees and rates that Lim charged me... charged other people. Despite the small fortunes she charged... (Y/N) was still captive. Still trapped in the vicious cycle of selling her body over and over.

Because if I looked at payments alone, if I looked at them alone and the large wedger I'd gathered and entrusted safely... based on them, she should've been freed a long time back.

She should've been free of that place years ago based on how much she was paid.

But it was clear all that money, a large majority of it poured right into Lim's pockets rather than (Y/N)'s. She was being extorted.

And she wasn't the only one.

But she was one of the most exploited. Most manipulated, forced into more higher clientele appointments whether or not she wanted to. And got little in return.

I roll the parchments up; put them into a pouch and hide it within the disclosed pockets of my shirt; smoothen it over before I begin putting the room to rights.

But it's my disadvantage, my shortcoming... my mistake that in searching I'd forgotten to close the door behind me.

A rookie mistake because in the time taken to open and step through precious seconds are given to hurry.

And the rookie mistake costs me.

Comes accompanied with a low grunt of surprise and a curse loud and angry.

And the swinging smash of a bottle slamming into the back of my head; body crashing into the desk in front of me, a sharp gasp of pain slipping past my lips at the surprise and the momentum of the drunken man's aim.

Feel the throb of my head as the bottle clatters to the floor and spills liquor over it.

And I stumble forward, staggering upright and twisting, lurching back as I see the drunken haze in his eyes but the primal anger that makes him stagger forward at a stranger infringing his place.

"Who are you? What are you doing in my home?" voice a slurred demand, staggering after me, voice pitched with a volume that makes me wince, hiss as I scan the room trying to find an out.

But intoxication makes him slow and uncoordinated and I manage to gain the upper hand, hurrying down the hallways; noiseless and drawing the hood back over my head to meld with the crowd to be lost into it.

To be unnoticed as I slip away.

But luck... luck is a fickle friend. And one that comes to backstab you when you need them most.

For his drunken yells ring out and follow me out and the rush of footsteps follow me out into the alley as I slip away; trying to weave away from the people hurrying after me. Chasing me.

I know these streets like my own; know the crisscrossing interweaved pattern of them like the veins on the back of my hand and don't hesitate to quickly ditch the cloak; let it flutter away as I hurry to find someone... anyone.

Who can get the papers taken safely for the right price. Hurry to the stable I'd left my horse at... had always entrusted with my steed.

Find the stableboy who'd been charged with my horse, with looking after him.

See his eyes widen and rush to speak before anyone comes. Shoving coins into his hand, body hunched to hide the pouch I push into his grip.

"Kim Seokjin. Get these to Kim Seokjin as fast as you can and don't stop until they're in his hands."

Panic shooting through me at the approaching yells... knowing I have mere moments as I watch the stableboy nod, slipping away with the coins and sheaths of paper.

See him nod as he slips away into the shadows; melting from sight as he slips into a stable and hides; knowing the papers are urgent, eyes flickering with alertness and alarm as the voices approach.

So when the first press of a blade comes to my nape... I expect it.

When the first swing comes that knocks me to my knees... I know it was coming.

And when my hands are wrenched behind my back and body twisted to face the officers... I knew... knew luck was a bastard.

And it'd showed me no kinship.

And betrayed me.

----------

"Tae!" the cry of my name comes with crippling fear and horror, hurrying forward as she rushes towards my cell, uncaring of everything else... unaware of the officers posing as an obstacle until she's forced to come to a standstill. Anxiously fretting as she tries to peer past them to get to me, tries to move her hand through the bar of the cell to curl around mine.

"(Y/N)... what are you doing here?" aghast and horrified as I look at her, her eyes gleaming with terror and worried tears, fingers trembling as she reaches for my wrist; curls her hand around a torn cuff.

Force myself upright; fighting the pain throbbing through my body; the injuries hidden under clothes as I tilt to her.

Terror drowning her features as they harden, turn desperate as she takes in the gun keeping my head tilted back; the mess of bruises and cuts and blood ruining my face, my clothes; torn shreds of fabric where they'd yanked and the cage itself. The cage that separates her from me.

That keeps her on the same side as the monsters sneering and taking her in, eyes raking with curiosity; drifting over her simple gown; the well-worn cloak over it.

But they're assessing. Assessing her worth, her connection to me, her presence; fuelled by desperation as she presses close to the bars and looks at me, lips trembling.

(Y/N) GO. LEAVE.

"Whose the wench come to save her shackled dog?" an officer laughs, mirth and taunt ringing out in his voice but she doesn't even flinch. Uncaring as her eyes rake over me, take me in, eyes gleaming with distress, head shaking to try dispel the image before her eyes out of her mind.

"(Y/N)... what... why are you here?" I whisper, voice hushed and quiet; ignoring the exulted relief of home. Of safety. Of love and warmth in front of my eyes. Ignore the way hope blooms at the mere sight of her, bolstered and strengthened by her presence just as much as it terrifies me... hurts to see her... on the other side of the bars where I can't rake my dagger across the faces leering at her; lingering on her.

At the lust clouding their eyes; diffusing the anger and glee to saturate it with desire and carnal want instead.

Sickened by it.

"Tae... baby are you okay?" voice shaky and quiet; fingers brushing tenderly against my wrist; a bracelet of warmth where her hand clings to me.

Skin gleaming with perspiration and breaths ragged as she tilts closer.

I let my lips curve up wide; let them stretch into a disarming grin as I meet her eyes; lean forward and ache to press my lips to her temple, to her glassy eyes.

Tilt my head and ignore the gun hovering close as I shrug.

"Never better sweetheart."

The mirthful laughs and jeers threaten to shatter the confidence, the bravado... but she cannot see me broken, she cannot be here.

"A beau... how... adorable Kim. Perfect timing lady... you can see your beloved fall."

Her eyes widen, other hand curling around the bar as she twists; eyes flashing as she looks at the officers. Faces them despite the caged front they pose.

"Let. Him. Go. Whatever he's done... just let him go. Pardon him." a plea and command entangled with misery and futile desperation.

"And why should we? The bastard's finally going to pay."

"With his life? What crime is costly enough?"

"Maybe he shouldn't have been stealing from a gent when his own lineage has forsaken him. He's paying the price of his birth and his thievery-he's damned and he deserves to pay the price of his sins with his life. Not like anyone will mourn the forgotten Kim."

The nausea his words drive in have the loose grin tightening; eyes darkening as I stare at them, fingers moving to entangle with her hand, tugging to get her attention back to me, to draw her eyes back to mine.

"Baby go... get out of here. I'll be out in no time... no lock can keep me in remember?" voice desperately attempting for lightness, heart clenching painfully at the horror stricken expression that makes her complexion pale. Blanch with anguish.

With disbelief.

And her name tears past my lips when she tugs her hand out of my hold and turns back to face them.

Puts her back to me and tilts her head back to stare them in the eyes.

"Name your price."

"Listen... love. I don't know what foolish dreams you let yourself be lost in, what pretty words he must've guiled you with. But. What can a commoner like you do? How can you afford the salvation of the damned?"

And her body tightens, every limb turns taut and she draws herself upright.

"Name your price officers for his freedom. For my Kim."

And as their faces express nothing but scathing dismissal and humour.

Turning away from the cell; eyes shooting gleeful looks to me, both mocking and faux-despaired and delighted in the misery that clings to (Y/N).

Relishing in ignoring her, my teeth grind at the sight, pleas gone unheard for (Y/N) to turn back, watch helplessly as she moves to the officers; stands in front of their sprawled figures setting into chairs; dismissing her.

And the feigned grin on my face slides off when she reaches inside her skirts and tugs out a pouch; laden from the heavy slam it makes on the desk, yanking it open and lets the jewels and coins spill out from it; scattering across the wooden desk.

The immediate difference in their demeanours is infinitely different.

Watch the amusement fade and morph into greed; wicked satisfaction as their postures straighten and the feeling of a noose tightens around my throat; breaths shuddering out my lungs as I look at her, hands curling tight against the bars; body pressed to it.

"(Y/N) DON'T!"

But my cry goes unheard, focused entirely driven to the money she tosses in front of them, voice wavering and trembling with anger.

"Now let him go!" voice shaking as she cries the demand, body trembling and tears trickling down her cheeks, angry as she stares at them, furious and imploring all in one.

And nothing. Nothing can fully capture the shattering grief that wracks my body, that has my bones feeling like lead dragging me downwards, body crumpling as I fall to my knees, shaking my head, sobbing, screaming, thrashing as I beg her no... not this. Don't do this. Don't pay for my freedom at the cost of yours. Nauseated and sickened by the sight of the coins and jewels she paid for her with her body countless times spilled carelessly for the officers to take as payment, a dull numbness entangled with the crackling inferno burning through my blood, battering at my skin, pulsing so viscerally as the pain drives itself inwards; shards embedding deep.

A hollowness threatens to overwhelm everything else but my throat is raw as I scream and cry out, yelling at her to go, to take the money and leave.

She was meant to be free in two days... she was meant to be celebrating her new life... not. Not this.

Not paying for my stupidity, for my shortcoming, for me letting my guard down.

I should've been careful... I shouldn't have let vengeance, resentment and the ache of trying to make (Y/N)'s life better... cost the both of us our happy ending.

But I had.

And I couldn't live if she sold her freedom. Sold herself right back into the slavery of selling herself until she broke.

And yet she doesn't turn back, shoves the pouch and the wealth that spills forward is carelessly thrown away, discarded. She does it without a thought. She does it because she's just as deep, she's just in love. But no... (Y/N) no... let me die but don't do this.

Bruises; purple, mottled and viciously branded into her skin, shaped by hands that mercilessly took flash in front of my eyes, quiet whimpers of pain, shuddered breaths measured and contained because too deep of a breath hurt her. Remember how heavy exhaustion settles after a long day; makes the curves outline of her body slump against the sheets, how it lingers in her eyes; the haunts of touches turned phantom yet linger with a heavier weight that refuses to leave immediately. I've seen the marks that take time to fade, I've heard her voice laden with exhaustion and depreciation, I know how hard she tries to dissociate from the memories of countless touches that plague her mind. I know what life she was trapped in and I won't be the one to damn her to it again. Never. Over my dead body. I won't let her be trapped in that life again.

"Don't... (Y/N) turn around and leave... don't do this. Please... please don't do this." I beg, voice hoarse and eyes stinging, tears blurring the sight of her. I shake my head to diffuse the fog, shake my head to remove the nightmare, the hell clear in front of my eyes. Willing it to vanish.

She sobs, shaking her head as her body curls inwards. But... still... still she doesn't break. doesn't crumple.

"I can't... I won't leave you here. Now. Let him go. I told you... anything. I'll pay anything for his freedom."

There's mockery in the officer's eyes as he slowly gathers the spilled coins and jewels, the others scrabbling for the spilled wealth that rolls across the floors; carelessly thrown, unhesitant given as she stares at him, a face hardened with grief and rage and desperation. Holds the head officer's eyes as he weighs the pouch, face frowning as if even a handful of coins wouldn't have bought him. And how he uses the desperation, the plea scoured deep into her face, as she looks at him imploringly.

"Will this be enough to save your dirty thief... I wonder..." he drawls, carelessly handling the pouch that contains a lifetime of debt finally cleared, a lifetime of blood, sweat and tears poured into endless service of selling her body over and over again. And he holds it like it's nothing. As if his eyes aren't drowning in greed and disbelief, those same filthy eyes are submerged in lust as he looks her up and down; calculating and insinuating.

No. Not her. Never her. She wasn't going to pay a price for my doing. Never again.

She trembles; eyes glassy with tears and futility. She has nothing left and still he's bargaining, wagering for my life with carnal want, drowning out humanity from his gaze.

"Just how much did you say you'd be willing to pay for his life? He's committed quite the crimes..."

Watch as her lips part with disbelief, hands desperately scrabbling over her skirts; trying to see if anything of value remains. Unhesitant to tug the delicate earrings looped through her ears; reaches to unclasp the necklace encircling her throat.

Shoves it into his hands without thought.

And still... still he scoffs.

"Is that all your dirty thief means to you? Your commonplace bandit is just a handful of trinkets?" dismayed and disappointed.

Toying with her.

It's clear what he's doing, what brink he's pushing her to.

And I want to murder him for it.

"Please... I don't have anything else." (Y/N) sobs.

Instead of answering her, his eyes flicker to me, cruel and vicious as they hold mine. Taunting now that all the cards are in his hands. And he manipulates the use of them; she's overplayed her hand and now he's using that.

Anger lances through my body; pushes every discomfort, every throb, every pulse of pain to recede to the numbed abyss of my mind.

"I think a pretty isn't enough to free you thief... not when she can pay with her pretty body too..." voice and expression a dirty, filthy leer, eyes raking over her with primal hunger.

The combined weight of horror and grief that strikes her is... numb. Accepting. Body stilling under his gaze, meeting his stare head on. And burns itself into mind.

"...you'll let him go?"

"(Y/N) NO!" I yell, tugging at the bars, rattling and yanking at them and eyes prickling with failure and despair, at the futility because tug as I might; fingers scrabbling for escape; the metal doesn't give way.

"It's the only way... then you can take your useless thief and be free." taunting and drawling.

And he saunters over; loosely clutching the pouch that he holds so, so dear to him. The vicious shared pleasure of their riches newly obtained as the officers shove coins and jewels deep into their pockets, eyes lit with a matching glee.

Despicable monsters.

"Maybe I need to pin her to the bars and take her in front of you- show you what price is paid for a common bandit like you." he goads. Eyes flashing with monstrous want.

I growl... tugging and yanking at the bars; thrashing as I snarl at him and when he looms closer; face hovering close.

"You touch her and I'll gut you... if I need to rot in these cells it'll be for skinning you for touching her." I growl, hissing as I lean closer, swallowing the bark of pain when he yanks my hair and slams my face against the bars, breath hot against my skin. Drags me upright from my knees only to yank me against the bars.

An enemies' messy clash than a lovers' embrace with this closeness.

And my heart shatters... mind falls apart at the seams, no solution, nothing but a wild vicious protectiveness and helplessness overcomes me.

She won't pay the price.

She won't. I'll die before I let that happen. And I'll slaughter anyone who lays a hand on her.

Breaths ragged as I watch the tears silently trickle down her cheeks as shaking hands reach for her bodice laces, to undo her corset and let... surrender to the price.

The feral snap makes my voice rough and animalistic; a growled command that sears through my body with an unquenchable inferno.

"(Y/N) you paid once with your body for my doing... you will not do it again."

Her eyes beg me, tell me to quieten. That she won't leave. Won't walk out without me.

And holds the weight of our world over her shoulders. And it's going to crush her and suffocates me.

"If he doesn't take the money- then leave. But don't for one instance think about paying with your body. They can't touch a hair on your body unless they want their carcasses to be strung up in public to tear them apart."

The man falters for an instant.

Tilts his head contemplatively.

"And you're going to teach me law? The just ways of our town?"

"You know as well as I do... you harm her, and somehow... somehow I die. You know I don't leave loose ends. Never have."

Nothing is going to harm her. No-one... no-one is going to touch her and her hand has stilled; shocked into stillness by my voice. Stilled where my growled command has stilled her.

And even though I can't reach her... can't hold her. I promise it with every breath, every beat, every fibre of my being.

No-one.

No-one will ever make her give up her body again. Her body, her consent, her wish. Without it... I'll bring down hell over myself at the cost of that price never being unleashed on her, never held over her like that.

The officer holds my stare; compels me to hold his and I stare back unhesitant.

I will rip your throat out if you touch her. I will make a slaughterhouse out of this station if any of you try. I might die but I'll drag you all to the depths of hell with me and leave your rotten carcasses there.

I dare you.

Then he sighs, disgruntled and disgusted, face contorted with distaste.

Hand falling away and shoving me back, lips curled with mirth as he turns away, watches me stagger back, feet unsteady.

"His dirty whore paid the price, let the thief go... if I had such loyalty in my wife... and he got it in a commonplace harlot."

An officer moves forward; lets his boot kick the few coins forward; watches them roll and skitter across the ground, smirks as it comes near the bars of my cell.

"What a noble deed to pay charity to let out the town's rabble. How benevolently you must worship your whore afterwards. And here... consider this a donation. A payment for your two-bit prostitute." Kicking the coin forward, skittering across the floor to clatter near me.

Within hand's reach.

I grit my teeth as the keys are taken out, jangling mockingly as he slowly unlocks the door.

And he barely gets the door open before (Y/N) rushes forward; darts past him to get to me, arm curling around my waist to steady me.

"Tae..." my name's sobbed out with relief; shaky and overwhelmed. Tears trickling down her cheeks as she steadies me, keeps herself pressed against me.

"(Y/N)... sorry, I'm so, so sorry. Sorry... I'm so sorry it cost you this... I'm so, so sorry." I sob, head bent and arm trembling as it curves around her to tug her close, burrowing against her, whispering apologies into her skin.

But they won't be enough. Not when I've condemned her.

"Tae... Tae you're okay. Baby it's okay..." voice shaky as she soothes me.

But you're not.

"You should've left me for dead than condemn yourself." I sob.

But she doesn't hear... doesn't choose to, fingers shaking as they curl over my bent head, head turning to brush her lips against my temple.

"...we'll get you treated... you need to get those wounds checked over right away..." her fingers brush gently over my hair; almost to soothe the brutal force of the officer before her and flinches when her hand stills against bloodied locks; when I jerk slightly under the gentle touch and her hand drifts lower; soft apology shakily muttered.

I clutch at her, tears seeping against her skin and hers on mine as my lungs shudder for breaths I don't deserve to be breathing.

"(Y/N)... I... why did you pay?" I shake.

Her breath trembles, curls against skin. A featherlight touch.

And her voice is steely under the trembles; firm and resolute.

"And leave you for dead?" "You'll be fine... and... and I will too."

And I don't know whether she's convincing herself or soothing me.

For trapping her in the place I only ever wanted to break her free from.

(WHEW!! CHAPTER DONE! MAJOR, MAJOR ANGST HERE AND IT HURT MY HEART TO WRITE AND MADE ME CRY! BUT!! BUT HOPE IT WAS WORTH IT AND YOU FELT THE SAME ANGUISH AND PAIN TAE AND (Y/N) ARE TOO! HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN SO CLOSE TO THEIR HAPPY ENDING?!!? ASK @Midiiplier! THIS IS ALLLL ON HER~ THAT BEING SAID, LOVE YOU DARLING AND HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY! LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS AND SHARE YOUR PAIN! TAKE CARE!)

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3