Ten years later

Jungkook glares at the man across the table from him. He's been interrogating the man for the last 4 hours, and the bastard's smug smile is really starting to piss him off. His wife was currently struggling to survive in the hospital after having her throat slashed and skull fractured by her piece-of-sh!t husband, but you'd never know it from the unbothered look in the man's cold eyes.

"I'm asking one more time; why did you try to kill your wife?" He grits his teeth as he speaks, struggling to restrain his frustration.

The vile man shrugs, "I'm not sure what you mean, Detective. Why do you assume it's me?"

The raven haired cop scoffs, tossing multiple photos on the table from previous times he'd beaten the poor woman, along with the witness statements. "Maybe because you have a history of abusing her, and several witnesses saw you attacking her."

The cuffed man rolls his eyes, looking bored, "And? What does she have to say about who attacked her? I doubt she's accused me of anything."

Jungkook's chair goes flying as he shoves to his feet, looming over the suspect, "That's because she's in the hospital fighting for her life you piece of-"

The door to the interview room opens, his captain's voice cutting him off, "I need to talk with you for a minute Detective Jeon."

Shooting a venomous glare at the man in cuffs, he reluctantly follows his boss out of the room. Once they're in the captain's office, the older man turns to face him, his expression serious, "I think it might be best if you let me take over the interview. You've been at it for hours and you looked like you were about to tear him to pieces."

Jungkook scowls, "I don't need anyone to take over Captain, I'm fine. I just hate seeing people like that; people who abuse others just because they're weaker."

Namjoon sighs, his voice filled with concern, "Jeon, I get it, I do. We all have certain types of cases that get to us. But you need a break, you look exhausted. This case will be easy to solve with all the evidence we have. Go home; I don't want to see you around here for a week. Got it?"

The younger opens his mouth to argue, but seeing the stubborn set in his senior's face, he exhales,"Alright."

Driving home, Jungkook finds himself stopping by the familiar cafe he always eats his dinner at. Walking inside, the scent of food greets him, along with the soft hum of conversation. The atmosphere is welcoming, with friendly faces and good food.

"Kook! How you doing?" Kim Seokjin sends him a warm smile as he wipes puts a plate down on the counter. Seokjin is the owner of the small but busy cafe. He's also been a friend for as long as Jungkook could remember, and happens to be married to his captain, Kim Namjoon. And one more thing-he is also Taehyung's older brother.

The younger gives a tired smile as he sits at a spot at the counter and greets the older man, "Hi Jin-hyung. I'm fine. Your husband seems to think I need a break though. He ordered me to take a week off."

Seokjin nods, his eyes concerned, "You have been looking kinda tired Kook. Maybe the break will help? You've been working nonstop, even a super-cop like you needs to rest sometimes."

Jungkook shrugs, his eyes wandering over the framed photos covering the walls behind the counter. He stops on a familiar picture, of a pretty brunette boy, beaming his boxy smile at the camera. Swallowing, he remembers taking that picture, only a few months before Taehyung had died. They'd gone bowling, and Tae had been thrilled to get a spare.

The ravenette had almost kissed him, because he'd looked so adorable as he grinned and clapped his hands. But he was still hiding his sexuality at the time, afraid to face his classmates scorn the way Tae was. So he'd kept his feelings for his best friend buried, locked away.

Taehyung never complained about being bullied for his small size, dorky personality, and homosexuality. He had acted fine on the surface, even when his own parents insulted him. In the last weeks of his life, his brother, the only family member who supported him, had been forced to move away, leaving him with no support. That was something Jungkook hadn't known about until after Tae was gone, since he had ignored his friend's calls and texts. So the boy had been left with no one on his side.

Jungkook swallowed roughly, his chest still aching with pain and regret as he admired that boxy smile. "Jin-hyung?"

The elder looks up from some receipts he's looking over, "Hmm?"

"Do you ever think about how you would do things differently? If we could go back?"

Jin looks at the picture Jungkook is staring at, a dull ache striking him as he looks at the image of his baby brother. Like Jungkook, he has his own regrets. What if he'd asked Tae to come with him when he left their parents' house? What if he'd checked in on him daily to make sure he was holding up ok? What if he'd recognized the pressure the younger boy had been facing?

Heaving a heavy sigh, he shakes his head, "Of course I do Kook. There are a dozen things I'd do differently. But Tae wouldn't want us to torture ourselves. You need to move on, it's been ten years."

Patting the younger's hand, he gives a small smile, "I'm gonna go get you some dinner. I'll be right out." With that he walks quickly into the kitchen, the door shutting behind him.

Jungkook continues to gaze at the photograph, lost in his regrets, until a sudden movement outside the large window catches his attention. Turning his head, the breath is knocked from his lungs as he sees the streetlight outside shining down on a petite brunette teenage boy. The boy turns his face, and chocolate, almond shaped eyes meet wide jet ones. The boy gives a playful grin, before he turns and runs. Jungkook doesn't hesitate, and doesn't question how Taehyung could possibly be here, alive, and the same age he was when he died. He doesn't let any of that stop him from running out the door to the cafe, and following the slim figure down the road.

Seeing the boy turn into a dark alleyway, he follows, side-stepping piles of trash along the way. Peering through the shadows, he makes out the figure of the boy. He's standing in front of a door, the sign above says, 'No Exit'. As he opens the door, he turns his head back to look at Jungkook. The light from the open door spills over him, shining on his features. If the other boy had doubted his sight before, or questioned whether he had imagined things, he can't now. The light makes it easy to identify his almond shaped eyes, sparkling with mischief, his unique smile, his golden skin...there's no doubt in the man's mind-this is Taehyung.

Shooting a grin at the pursuing older, the boy steps through the door, disappearing from his sight. Jungkook's chest is rising and falling as he pants from the chase, his legs feel shaky from the shock of seeing Tae again. He hesitates as he looks at the light shining from the doorway; some instinct is screaming at him that once he follows Taehyung through that door, there will be no going back. He doesn't understand what's happening here, and he doesn't really care. He just knows he can't turn back and go back to the life he's lead, filled with emptiness and regret. Without a second thought, he runs forward, following Taehyung wherever he may take him.