A hard slap silences Taehyung. Because of the force of it, he staggers and almost falls to the ground.

"Tell me who it is!!"

"Dude, are you fucking serious?"

Taehyung cups his throbbing cheek and turns his face. His eyes are welling up as he recognizes Jungkook's fake boyfriend from the company outing two weeks ago. Yugyeom approaches them.

"Mind your own business!" Minho snarls, but then he opens his mouth in surprise. "Wait, I know you. Aren't you Junkook's boyfriend?"

"So? Aren't you Taehyung's boyfriend? What are you doing here, slapping him in the middle of the road?"

"Fuck off!" Minho scoffs. "I said this is not your business."

"It is my business. You slapped him so hard that he almost flew against
the tree." Yugyeom reaches out and takes Taehyung's arm, pulling him behind himself. "Leave him alone."

"What the fuck are you doing right now? He is my boyfriend. You leave him alone! Or did you fucked this bitch as well?"

"What?" Yugyeom shakes his head. "You are crazy, dude. You better leave. Now!"

Taehyung wants to say something. Anything. But he can't. His whole body is shaking and he feels like it's getting hard to breathe- his memory of his father coming back full force. He feels a panic attack coming.

"I wasn't done talking to my boyfriend. I shouldn't have slapped him- fine. You played the hero. Congratulations. You can fuck off now," Minho snaps and steps closer.

Taehyung flinches again and hides behind Yugyeom's body. He whimpers.

"No. You fuck off right now!"

Minho curses. Other people stop walking to watch them curiously. "I am leaving for now- but we are not done talking to each other, Taehyung."

"Fucker." Yugyeom hisses and watches Minho walk away. He then turns around and faces Taehyung. "Hey- are you alright? Your cheek is-"

"Please, do-dont touch m-me," Taehyung manages to stutter. A sob escapes him.

"I wont. Don't worry." Yugyeom turns his head and stares at a couple, watching them shamelessly. "Yah, the show is over. You can leave."

Taehyung tries to take slow, deep breaths- but it's hard to do so. Another sob forces its way out and he tries to shake away the memory of his father- shaming and humilitating him.

"Hey, where do you live?"

"Next to the station."

Yugyeom curses and runs a hand through his hair. "Thats too far from here. And I don't have a car."

Taehyung reaches out and wipes his eyes with the back of his hand.

"Okay- you know what? Let me make a call real quick," Yugyeom says and pulls out his phone.

Taehyung nods and wraps his arms around himself. He is cold and he is still shaking.

Yugyeom steps aside and talks to someone on the phone. He hangs up real quick and comes back to Taehyung. "Okay, I called Jungkook. He lives closeby. He will pick you up and bring you home."

"Jungkook?" Taehyung sniffs, fresh tears are rolling down his cheeks.

"Yes." Yugyeom studies Taehyung's face. He looks overwhelmed. "Okay, I really don't know what to do. Are you hurt somewhere? Do you need something?"

"You- you did enough. Thank you." Taehyung tries to smile at him, but fails. More tears well up in his eyes. "I will be fine. I just need some time."

"Okay. Jungkook should be here in a bit. His apartment is just two blocks away."

The familiar Mercedes comes in sight a moment later and stops with a quick screech at the side of the road. The door whips open and Jungkook comes rushing towards them- wearing house slippers. His hair is tousled.

Seeing the worried expression on Jungkook's face makes Taehyung tear up again. He wants to pull himself together, but he is still too emotional, too overwhelmed.

"Hey." Jungkook reaches them and stops right in front of Taehyung. He gives him a once-over. "Are you, are you okay?"

Taehyung bites his bottom lip and shakes his head mutely.

"Just don't touch him. He doesn't want to be touched," Yugyeom informs Jungkook, standing behind him.

"Hey, are you hurt? Do you need some-"

Taehyung throws himself into Jungkook's arms and wraps his hands tightly around his neck, hiding his face into Jungkook's neck. And suddenly Taehyung feels safe. Warm. His breathing begins to even out, the panic slowly subsiding.

"Okay, looks like he just doesn't want me to touch him," Yugyeom mumbles, sounding offended. "It's okay. You two just ignore me."

Jungkook brings his arms around Taehyung's waist, holding him close.

Taehyung breaths in Jungkook's familiar aftershave. His body shudders and he hugs him tighter.

"What happened?" Jungkook asks in a soft voice. "Are you okay?"

Taehyung doesn't answer, but hides his face in Jungkook's neck instead.

"I saw Minho yelling at him and then he slapped Taehyung so hard, that he almost fell to the ground. He is a sick, violent fuck," Yugyeom explains. "He needs a good beating."

Jungkook curses and tightens his hold around Taehyung's body. "Hey, let me get you home, okay? You are shaking," Jungkook says and pulls away.

Taehyung lifts his hand to wipe his cheek, but Jungkook beats him to it and cups his face- brushing the tears with his thumbs. "Okay."

Yugyeom clears his throat. "I am out of here now."

"Do you want me to get you home, too?" Jungkook asks and eyes him.

"No, I am meeting a friend. See you, buddy."

"Alright. Thank you for helping Taehyung."

"Sure."

"Come on." Jungkook wraps an arm around Taehyung shoulder. "Let's go to my car. It's warm in there." Jungkook opens the door for Taehyung and lets him get inside first. He then rounds the car and sits inside as well, turning his face to look at Taehyung. Jungkook's eyes fall on his cheek. "Fuck. I am going to loose my job."

"What?" Taehyung stares back at him in confusion. "What are you saying?"

Jungkook reaches out and gently brushes his thumb across Taehyung's cheek. "I will lose my fucking job because I will kill Minho next time I see him."

"Don't say that." Taehyung shakes his head. He can't help it. Fresh tears begin to roll down his face again. "Just- don't do anything stupid. Not for me."

Jungkook leans in and cups Taehyung's face, places a sweet kiss on his cheek.

Taehyung shivers. He wants to tell Jungkook everything, but he feels like he won't be able to stop crying then.

"You are still shaking," Jungkook mumbles and reaches to the back seat, grabs his coat. He covers Taehyung carefully with it. "Here. Let's warm you up."

"I am not shaking because of the cold."

Jungkook stills and locks eyes with Taehyung. He seems to hesitate. He then sighs. "You don't need to tell me anything. I am just here to get you home safely."

Taehyung lowers his eyes to Jungkook's feet. He smiles. "You are wearing your house slippers."

"I do." Jungkook chuckles. "Be glad that I am not naked. I was about to take a shower when Yugyeom called me."

Taehyung leans his head against the head rest and watches Jungkook starting the engine. "Yugyeom is a good guy. He must be a good friend. "

"He is." Jungkook steers the car on the road. "I am glad that he was there."

Taehyung turns his head and looks out of the window. He takes a deep breath- his heart finally calming down again. He tries not to think about what has happened. He is glad that Jungkook is here. "Thank you for picking me up."

"Don't mention it."

Taehyung faces Jungkook again. He stares at the veins on his arm, at his white knuckles gripping the steering wheel. Something seems to bother him. "Are you alright?"

"God, Taehyung. Why are you asking me that? All I care about is you right now."

His words warm Taehyung's heart. He reaches out and places his hand on Jungkook's lap- feeling the need to touch him, feel his warmth.

"Yah." Jungkook tenses for a moment and glances at Taehyung. "If you want to do something, please, tell me beforehand, so I can stop the car."

Taehyung smiles. It feels good to smile again. He studies Jungkook's handsome side profile. "You know, I never let anyone touch me when- when I panic. I normally push everyone and everything away from me."

Jungkook glances at Taehyung. His eyes soften. "But you hugged me."

"I did."

"Why?"

Taehyung squeezes Jungkook's thigh. "I don't know."

They fall into a comfortable silence for the remainder of the drive to Taehyung's place. Jungkook parks the car in front of his apartment. He turns in his seat and looks at Taehyung, smiling sweetly.

"I don't want to go home."

"You don't want to go- okay."

"It's just-" Taehyung lowers his eyes and starts fiddling with his sweater. "I don't want to be alone tonight- and Hobi is out of town."

Jungkook hums. He reaches out and puts a finger under Taehyung's chin, raising his eyes to meet his. "Do you want to come to my place then?"

Taehyung's heart starts racing again- but for a different reason than before. He bites his bottom lip and nods. "Yes."