Jungkook felt like all the air vanished with Taehyung's horrible reveal. There were no words that could describe the horror he was feeling, the pure ice that had been poured inside his veins, the pure agony and anger drenching him and forbidding him to move.

Everything made so much more sense, the last puzzle piece formed a horrifying picture. And Jungkook understood, understood everything about Taehyung's behaviour, why he shied away from human contact, had to face the doors at all times, would flinch every time a loud noise appeared, always ready to run away, always cautious.

Why it had been so hard to trust Jungkook and his intentions. Why he couldn't interact with people who weren't familiar or his friends.

"Sweetheart," Jungkook breathed out, his arms tightening around Taehyung as if he wanted to hide him away. And maybe he wanted to, protect Taehyung from the entire world. This precious little angel... god, Taehyung did not deserve that. No one did but especially not the kindest soul, the sweetest little prince.

Jungkook met eyes with Jimin, Jimin, Taehyung's best friend, of course he had known. The pain on his face, the anger in his eyes told Jungkook as much and he suddenly understood Jimin and his antics, his overprotectiveness. Because Taehyung had been put to hell and Jimin wasn't there to protect him.

"That's not all," Jimin growled. Seeing Jungkook with the same emotions when Taehyung had told him under heartbreaking sobs, seeing the jock as affected as he had felt, still felt, caused a surprising bond between the two: both wanted to protect the little blonde in their middle, who was hiding in Jungkook's chest, sobbing silently.

"Tae, do you want me to tell Jungkook? If you don't have the energy, that's totally fine."

"Yes Sweetheart," Jungkook joined, gentle hands carefully rubbing Taehyung's back that seemed so much more fragile now, "don't force yourself to tell. You've been so strong and I'm so proud of you. This fucking asshole doesn't deserve to have any effect on you."

And maybe it was the last sentence, growled lowly and menacingly, that Taehyung lifted his head and looked at Jungkook. Looked at him throughout for the first time and wondering why Jungkook was so kind to him. He felt the sudden urge to kiss the jock, press close and never let go.

He contained himself. Because Jimin was in the room and Taehyung wanted to feel confident and strong If he ever were to confess his feelings. If he ever were ready to maneuver himself into a vulnerable position again.

"Please, Jiminie," Taehyung whispered, silently asking Jungkook for forgiveness for not being able to tell him himself but the blue-haired shook his head as an answer to Taehyung's silent plea, assuring the blonde that it was okay. Again, Jungkook gave Taehyung so much security and didn't ask for anything in return. Truly a miracle, that boy was. Jeon Jungkook was so unlike everyone Taehyung had ever encountered.

"Okay, bub. As long as you're comfortable with it."

"I am, Jiminie. I trust him," Taehyung whispered before he rested his head back against Jungkook's sturdy chest. The blue-haired felt giddy, trying not to squeal because his crush was currently cuddling close to his chest and Taehyung said he trusted him! Best. Day. Ever! Well. Despite the fact that his crush, gorgeous, pure angel Taehyungie told him the worst you could imagine.

"I wasn't there when it went down but Taehyungie's story was filled with details by Joohyuk. That's Tae's Dad," Jimin began and Jungkook nodded, remembering Taehyung's father to be a kind man with a talent for baking.

"Many tried to woo Tae but he didn't want anyone close. Joshua had tried to be friends with Tae but when he told me about him and that he seemed scary, I proposed Tae to test him. It was then revealed that Josh harbored a crush on Taehyungie. Joshua was the only one who couldn't deal with rejection and he developed... nasty behaviors. Following Tae home, making fake accounts to oversee his social media, threaten his friends... Joshua soon became obsessive."

Taehyung's eyes glistened with tears and only Jungkook's soothing touch help to stay in the present.

"He was stalking me. Always watching from a distance. It was so scary because the first months, I didn't even notice because he was so discreet. But then... he got obsessive and violent towards me when he saw me go out to the movies with a close friend."

Taehyung shuddered at the memory. He and his good friend Seojoon had wanted to go to the movies together, they have talked for days about the movie they wanted to watch and Taehyung only wanted to have a good time. It wasn't even a date to begin with, they went as friends.

But it all took a dark turn when they stood in line for snacks. Where Joshua approached them, started yelling profanities at both Taehyung and Seojoon, accusing the poor, frightened blonde of being a whore before lunching at Seojoon. Joshua was a big guy and he ended up breaking poor Seojoon's nose.

Police were called but Joshua managed to get away. He was caught afterwards because he had followed Taehyung home again, knife in his hand as he got closer. It was only thanks to Joohyuk already opening the door to his son that he saw it. Joshua had wanted to kidnap Taehyung and hurt him.

Taehyung barely got away, a scar evident on his side because Joshua had flung himself onto the petite male and pressed him to the ground, holding him down. They have gotten a restraining order against Joshua, the man fuming in court and glaring daggers at a frightened Taehyung.

But it all got worse the last day before vacation. The reason why they moved out of America in such a hurry: Taehyung had been home alone, his father still in his office and his mother... as Taehyung found out later, she had been with her affair.

He had watched TV when he heard the doorknob to the entrance door jiggling. Thinking nothing of it, he had continued watching TV. Until he realized how unnatural that was.

Taehyung would never forget the horror he felt when he saw the silhouette of Joshua Pierce standing threateningly in the entrance.

"You cannot escape me, Taehyung! You think running away like a coward will save you? I will fucking find you!" Joshua had yelled as Taehyung had quietly tried to ascend the stairs because his phone was upstairs and he had to call the police.

"Taehyuuung? Where are youuu? Don't hide from me! Or else I will hurt you! Come out now!" Taehyung had hidden himself in the wardrobe of his parents, speaking lowly with the 911 operator, staying on the line and begging to any god out there that Joshua wouldn't find him.

"You think calling the police scares me? They will get here in 10 minutes. Do you fucking know what I can do to you in 10 minutes? Screaming isn't going to help you."

The same moment Joshua found him was when the police arrived. They barely got upstairs in time before Joshua could end what he had started.

Taehyung had laid on the ground, crying, with torn clothes and laying in a small puddle of his own blood. Joshua had stabbed him in the side, because "If I can't fucking have you then no one else will! You're either mine or you're dead!"

Joohyuk arrived to police cars outside his property, to blue and red lights illuminating the terrified features of his son whose eyes were different now, clouded with pain and darkness. Taehyung changed that day and he never returned to his usual self.

Joshua was arrested and the Kim family never heard of him again. Still, the scars on Taehyung's body and soul remained.

Being stalked for months, almost a year left traces. That was why Taehyung was so afraid of everyone and everything, that was why he couldn't stand loud noises or yelling. That was why he couldn't stand eyes on him.

Because eyes had always followed him around, with malicious intent, with the desire to hurt him once he let his guard down.

"Oh Tae," Jungkook breathed out after Jimin and Taehyung finished telling the story to Jungkook and the jock hugged the blonde tightly to his chest.

In this moment, Jungkook promised to himself that he would make Taehyung happy and free again. No matter the cost. He wanted Taehyung to be happy again, to feel safe.

"He cannot hurt you, ever again. You're so strong, you're not weak, you never were. You're a warrior."

Taehyung released a broken sob, shaking his head softly, because Jungkook was so good, so kind to him.

"Now that you know, you can understand why I act the way I do, right? I wanted to tell you but I was afraid— But we're friends now. I haven't told many people, it's still hard to talk about." Taehyung looked at Jimin who stroked his hand with a pained expression.

"I'm so proud of you," Jimin told his best friend. After recovering from all the anger, hurt on Taehyung's behalf, fury, and sadness he felt, Jungkook chimed in. He wanted to prove his good intentions to Taehyung, after the blonde had been so open with him. Jungkook felt honored to be given this level of trust. And he swore to himself that he would make Taehyung smile again.

"Whatever you need, I'm here for you. You're not getting rid of me, Sweetheart, I'll stay by your side as long as you want. I will support and protect you. When you're with me, I wish for you to feel relaxed and safe."

Taehyung stared at Jungkook for a long moment before hesitantly wrapping his arms around the jock who had looked at him with sincere doe eyes.

In that moment, Taehyung realized that he already felt safe when he was with Jungkook.

~

I'm proud of you as well, Tae!

Elaboratae