Just a heads up, this is not a short chapter.

Jungkook sat in the park in one of the swings at the playground. He swung softly, like the breeze that would occasionally float by. The swing next to him was empty. He sighed. His parents weren't here. He'd come without them. He'd told them where he was going though, no need to fret. I mean he hadn't gone anywhere other than school for the past couple months. The fresh air was nice. The cold winter air that stung your lungs when you took a breath of it, but it was still air. Air that wasn't stale from the windows never being open anymore.

The playground was empty. Maybe that was better. No one to interrupt him thinking. Maybe that was what he needed though. Someone to take his mind off of these thoughts. Someone to help him move on from the empty swing next to him. From the tie that strangled him and kept him inept, unable to prevent the men in black suits from lowering his best friend into the hole. He needs to move on but found himself unable to do so. Not alone and everyone seemed to want to leave him that way. Alone with a swirl of emotions and guilt. So much guilt. No one to understand what he was going through and how it felt to see someone at such a weak point where life seemed to be slowly draining from their body. How it felt to be ten years of age and plagued with the knowledge of what death does to a person and those around them.

"Mom, can I play?" A voice said, somewhere near the edge of the park. A young boy's, older than him, perhaps.

"Are you sure you want to play here? It's quite cold out." The boy's mother, Jungkook assumed, said.

"Please?"

"Sure, sweetheart."

"Thank you!" The boy said before running into the park.

He was a dark haired boy, slightly taller than Jungkook but not by much. He did look slightly older and he was dressed in a dark blue winter coat with a red scarf tied around his neck. He had a large box smile adorning his face as he ran for the jungle gym. He reminded Jungkook of Wonwoo. Wonwoo had always been so happy, so carefree. He didn't care if it was the dead of winter with three feet of snow on the ground, he'd gladly go the park or anywhere fun for that matter. He always kept a smile on his face and never let it fall. Jungkook turned to the swing next to him.

"You promised.." He whispered.

"Promised what?" Jungkook turned his head back to find blue coat boy's face right up in his.

Jungkook gasped and fell out of his swing, his back hitting the dirt underneath it.

"Oh, sorry! Didn't mean to scare you." He said, before holding his hand out.

Jungkook looked at it before hesitantly taking it and standing up.

The boy smiled and shook Jungkook's hand lightly, "I'm Taehyung."

"J-Jungkook."

"It's nice to meet you, Jungkook." Taehyung turned to the empty swing, "Can I use this swing?"

Jungkook nodded and sat back down on his own swing.

"How old are you?" Taehyung asked, swinging back and forth slowly.

"I'm ten."

"Oh! I'm twelve! That makes me your hyung! I've never had anyone call me hyung before!"

Jungkook nodded, a straight line still sitting on his lips.

Taehyung sat down, "So, why are you here alone?"

Jungkook shrugged, shivering slightly, "I don't have very many friends."

Taehyung looked at his lap before untying his scarf and handing it to the younger, "Take it, you're colder than me. Why did you come out here without a coat?"

Jungkook shrugged and took the scarf.

"You know," Taehyung started, "I can be your friend."

"Really?"

"Yeah. You seem really cool." Taehyung smiled a boxy smile.

Jungkook couldn't help but smile back, "T-That would be awesome."

"Friends?" Taehyung asked, holding out his hand.

Jungkook took Taehyung's hand and shook it lightly. "Friends."

--------------------

Jungkook ran down the sidewalk towards home. He was so excited. He'd made a friend. He'd made a friend! It had been months since he made a friend. Someone he could properly talk to and be around. Someone to cover Wonwoo's tracks and help Jungkook start fresh. He ran up the cement path and onto the porch, dashing through the front door and throwing his shoes off in the foyer.

"Mom! Dad! You'll never believe it! I made a friend! I made a friend!" Jungkook shouted up the stairs.

His father was the first to respond, stumbling, somewhat oddly into the room, "You did what?"

"I made a friend." Jungkook said, excitedly.

His father laughed slightly, "I bet you forced him into it, didn't you?"

"No, he thought I was cool."

"You? Cool? How could anyone think that? You are everything but cool."

Jungkook looked down at the ground.

His father's eyes traveled to the red scarf around Jungkook's neck, "What the hell is that?" He tugged slightly at the end of it, a hot breath full of some weird smell hit the little boy's face.

"M-My friend gave it to me."

"So you stole that off of him, huh? Man, you must've really pressured him."

Jungkook shook his head lightly.

"Don't lie. You did, didn't you?"

Jungkook shook his head again.

"You did! You aren't anything but a pig who can't admit what he's done!" His father pointed up the stairs, "You're lucky I haven't hit you. Go to your room and don't come down."

Jungkook dashed up the stairs, fear swelling in his chest, tears glistening in his eyes. He threw himself on his bed and hid under the covers. He could hear his father talking with Jungkook's mother downstairs.

"He's starting to lie to us, Jisun. He's been beating up and threatening other kids at the park and getting things from them. He came home with another boy's scarf around his neck." His father spoke.

"What do you suggest we do?" His mother said.

"We show him what it's like on the receiving end. We'll discourage the behavior by doing so."

"Are you sure it's best?"

"Absolutely. It'll teach him for hurting other kids."

"I don't know, Jungil. It sounds harsh."

"It's what Wonwoo would want. He'd want us to do what it takes to make his brother a good person. That's what we'll be doing. I promise you, my love."

A short silence, "Alright. I don't want any part in this though."

"You'll be my cheerleader instead?"

A warm laugh, "Sure."

Jungkook buried his head into his pillow. This was the first of many bad, horrible, days.

--------------------------

Jungkook slid out from under his blanket before the sun had even peeked through his bedroom curtains. His eyes were a bright red from the night prior and his stomach was still aching with fear. He sat on the edge of his bed for a minute or two, listening to the groans of his house. It was only him who was awake. 

Had last night really happened? It had to have been a nightmare. It couldn't have been anything but that. His father would never shout at him or threaten to hurt him. He wouldn't. It was all just a bad dream. If he were to get his parents now, his Mom would hug him and tell him that it was alright, he was okay and it had never happened. His Dad would be slightly off to the side but he would make his way in near the end when he knew that soft words were no longer effective and offer to play some form of game with the boy when dawn broke. They'd walk him back to bed and tuck him in, give him a kiss on the forehead and tell him that when he sleeps, there won't be anything to haunt him. That in the morning, whatever it was that was bothering him the night prior will be nothing at all. Nothing at all.

One glance at the red scarf on his nightstand told him that all his rationalization was to cover the truth. It had happened. His father did shout at him. His father did threaten to hurt him. His mother did do nothing. His parents did discuss that all of this was the right thing to do. That hurting their only alive child was the only reasonable thing to do at this point. It was the only reasonable punishment for the thing he had done so many months ago. The thing that he was struggling to live with.

It hurt that instead of comforting the boy that had watched death win the battle against his best friend, they were convinced that hurting him further was right. After the trauma of watching life leave the eyes of the person that he cherished, the boy now sat in a position where his mind could easily be swayed into believing anything. He already believed that his death was the younger's fault and needed someone to say and assure that it wasn't. 

He needed that someone he knew and loved in his life to look into his eyes and take his hand and promise that it wasn't him at fault. It had been a mistake and that the older boy would agree and want nothing more than for Jungkook to live the life that he saved instead of wasting it away by believing that the blood was on his hands. The older would want nothing more than for his brother to understand that he made the sacrifice so Jungkook could grow and become the amazing person that he knew he would be.

No one, however, seemed to want to do so. They all seemed so content to leave Jungkook drowning in his misery. Unable to grab hold and pull himself out of the murky depths that filled his lungs and engulfed him in guilt and disgust. There seemed to be only one escape, and that was how Jungkook found himself climbing out of his bedroom window with red scarf in hand.

He took a deep breath and slid off of the roof and to the ground below. The landing had been rough and the boy could feel warm tears welling in his eyes as he ran a hand over his scraped shins. He couldn't make any noise, he couldn't alert them that he was awake and had taken a trip out of his window and was planning to run as far as he could. He stood up and stumbled his way to the gate, still slightly shaken up from the tumble off the roof.

The gate squealed upon opening and Jungkook squeezed his eyes shut and and awaited some form of acknowledgement. None came and the boy slowly relaxed. He walked out onto the sidewalk and sniffled slightly, still trying not to cry over his hurt shins. He wasn't sure what his plan was. He just knew that he had to get away from the smothering atmosphere, which he had now done and had nowhere to go. A slight shift in the wind made the young brunette realize that he not only had no place to go, but was without proper winter clothes. He wrapped the red scarf around his neck and hugged his arms to his chest, he wasn't going back.

There was only one place he could go where no one would really question why he was there alone. The park, and that's where Jungkook found himself as the sun rose into the tree's branches. His feet scraped against some uneven pavement and the boy tripped, causing the tears he had been skillfully hiding to roll down his cheeks. He let out a low groan and pushed himself off of the walkway and towards the safety of a nearby tree. He sat down against the rough tree bark and let his tears roll down his face. No one would be here to be suspicious of his crying, it was too early for that, so he let loose while he could.

Everything hurt too much. He wanted it to all go away. There was no point in living anymore. He lost his best friend. He lost his loving parents. No one wanted to talk to him anymore. His teachers only looked at him with pity. His friends seemed to only grow away from him and made no effort to fix the broken bond. His life had ended the day that car sped towards him. He should just go and-

"Jungkook?"

Jungkook looked up to see the boy from yesterday looking down at him with concern.

"What are you doing here? Are you okay?" Taehyung asked, kneeling down so he was on Jungkook's level.

Jungkook shook his head and coughed from crying too much.

Taehyung looked at the ground, "What's going on?"

"M-My Mom and Dad.." Jungkook said, stumbling on his words.

"It's okay. I'm here for you." Taehyung said, taking Jungkook's hand in his, "How long have you been out here?"

Jungkook shrugged.

"You're freezing, Jungkook." Taehyung stood up, the younger boy's hand still in his, "C'mon, you're coming with me to my house. My Mom can make us some cookies and you can warm up and tell me what's going on."

Jungkook hesitantly nodded and stood up before slowly following the older. The walk wasn't too far, just a few blocks away from the park and the brunette found himself outside of a cream house with a tan roof and blue door. The garden surrounding the house was filled with all kinds of sleeping flowers, awaiting the arrival of the spring, and bushes, giving the dull colors of the actual house some form of life and vibrance.

Taehyung pulled on his hand slightly and took him through the front door. The interior held so much color that it was hard to see how it belonged to such an exterior. The walls of the foyer were a medium pink and the living room through a door off to the side showed a mint living room. The foyer had a table pushed up against the wall on the left side with a light blue vase full of multicolored roses sitting on it. The entire house smelled sweet, much like the garden outside. 

The living room was visible through an arch type door. There was a couch near the center of the room with light purple and lavender stripes running up and down it. Two light pink armchairs with white swirls sat on either side of the couch. A rug sat under the pieces of furniture with a blue background and flowers adorning the edges. A brick fireplace was against the wall in front of the couch with a TV sitting on its mantle. Bookshelves lined the wall behind the couch and in the middle was a door that led to either a dining room or a kitchen.

Taehyung took off his coat and threw it on the floor near the door and did the same with his shoes, "Follow me."

Jungkook took his shoes off wearily and followed Taehyung into the living room.

Taehyung sat down on one of the armchairs and Jungkook sat down on the end of the couch closest to the older.

"Are you still cold?"

Jungkook nodded slightly.

"Wait here." Taehyung leapt out of the armchair and dashed back into the foyer.

Jungkook rubbed his arm awkwardly and hoped that Taehyung's parents wouldn't walk in before the young boy. Jungkook looked around the room as he waited. The mantle was covered in photos and had a vase of daisies on the right edge. The photos showed a smiling Taehyung throughout his younger years with a woman, presumably his mother. She had a similar smile and seemed to give off a youthfulness despite the age and responsibilities that had affected her over the years. There never seemed to be a father amidst all the photos other than the one perched against the vase of daisies. He seemed slightly frail for being a man who appeared to be in his thirties. He was sitting in a chair leaning into his wife's side, her hand resting on his shoulder and her other arm around a baby Taehyung, his face was pale but still able to show how much he loved the two others in the photo.

"Here." Taehyung said, handing Jungkook a red sweater, "It'll be a bit big on you, but it'll warm you up nonetheless."

"Thank you." Jungkook murmured quietly, sliding the sweater on.

"My Mom will be awake in a little bit. She'll make us cookies when she does." Taehyung returned to his seat.

Jungkook nodded.

Taehyung fidgeted with his fingers on his lap, "So, what was going on at the park?"

"N-Nothing. Don't w-worry."

"I know it's not nothing. Please tell me why you were crying, Kookie."

"My Mom and Dad." Jungkook started, the tears coming back to his eyes.

Taehyung leaned forward, "You can trust me. I won't tell if you don't want me to."

"My Dad shouted at m-me. He told me that I was n-nothing and w-worthless. He threatened to hit me, h-hyung."

"Why would he do that?" Taehyung asked, anger laced in his words.

"I-I killed my hy-hyung."

"What?"

"My hyung and I w-were playing tag a-and I ran out in the r-road and the c-car was going too fast and he p-pushed me and, and-"

Taehyung grabbed Jungkook's hand, "That wasn't your fault. You couldn't have known that that was going to happen. Don't blame yourself."

"B-But, my Dad-"

"Your Dad doesn't know what he's saying. It wasn't your fault and they should never tell you that. Believe me, Kookie, your hyung wouldn't want you to blame yourself."

"R-Really?"

Taehyung nodded, "Absolutely."

"Taehyung?" A woman's voice said from somewhere on the far side of the house.

"I'm in the living room, Mom!" Taehyung shouted, "Mom's up! We can get you something to eat."

The woman from the pictures walked into the room rubbing her eyes, "Tae- Oh. I didn't know you were having a friend over."

"He was alone at the park, Mom. I couldn't just leave him there in the cold."

His Mom smiled, "You did the right thing, kid." She messed with her hair a bit before looking at Jungkook, "So, what's your name, little one?"

"Jungkook, and I'm not little! I'm ten!" Jungkook said, frustrated by the nickname. Everyone always called him little.

Ms. Kim laughed a little, "Alright, Jungkook."

"Mom, can you make Jungkook some of your cookies?" Taehyung asked.

"After I get dressed."

"Okay."

"Keep your guest entertained." She said as she turned into the foyer.

"Alright!" He shouted back, "So what do you want to do?"

Jungkook shrugged.

"Hm," Taehyung tapped his chin lightly, "Oh! Would you like to see my room?"

"Okay." Jungkook responded.

Taehyung slid out of his chair and Jungkook followed. The older boy led him through the foyer into an orange hallway. Paintings covered the walls. Several were abstracts, a mix of different shades of green splattered against the canvas, and the rest were impressionisms of fruit. Odd choice, Jungkook thought, but pretty nonetheless. 

The hall ended with an alcove with three rooms spread out around it. A light was on under the first door of the boys' right, meaning it had to be Ms. Kim's. The room on the far left had its door open and inside was a bathroom. The final door, the one in the center, was the one Taehyung went to right away. He opened the door and revealed a slightly messy, but still cleaner than most, bedroom.

The walls were painted with a dark purple, so dark that it was nearly on the verge of indigo. The bed was pushed against the right wall and had a red bed cover with jazz instruments spotting it. An instrument case was leaned up against the foot of the bed. Beatles and The Backstreet Boys posters were taped somewhat sloppily all over the walls and corresponding CDs were littered all over the top of the dresser by a stereo. The dresser was a mid mod design and was placed by the wall next to the bed. A desk covered in papers and books with a backpack leaning up against it was by the left wall. A ladybug type circular rug sat under most of the room's contents. The door to the closet was on the wall opposite from where the head of the bed was.

"Sorry for the mess," Taehyung said as he kicked some form of clothing up under the dresser.

Jungkook hummed as an okay as he looked around.

"I have toys in here if you'd like to play." Taehyung said as he opened the closet door and revealed a bin of toys, "Um, I've got some board games," The boxes hit the floor, "We could play Super Friends," Some action figures followed the games, "Oh! Or we could build a city." Some blocks came flying out. "We could-"

Jungkook sat down on the rug against the older's bed, beginning to block the suggestions out. He missed his hyung. It wouldn't matter what they did. They always found a way to enjoy it. They could've been playing with literal dirt and would've been able to come up with some creative backstory to the game. If his hyung were here, he would've picked up one of Taehyung's books and said that it contained the only spell that could turn the prince from a stick to himself and that they had to keep it away from the evil wizard that did such a thing to the prince in the first place, all while trying to find where the wizard hid the prince.

Taehyung would've enjoyed Jungkook's hyung. He wished he'd met Taehyung long before any of this happened. Maybe Taehyung would've been able to keep the younger's hyung from going after him. Maybe there would've been that much trust that Taehyung would know what the then nine year old boy would've wanted him to do in such a case. He would've wanted his hyung to live. To keep living and move on. Maybe if Taehyung were there to explain that it was Jungkook's exact words that he wanted it all to happen to him instead, it would be easier to do as said: Move on.

"Jungkook?" Taehyung said, crawling over to where Jungkook was, "Are you okay?"

"Y-Yeah. I just, I miss my hyung."

Taehyung sat down next to the boy, "I know you do. I miss my Dad, too."

Jungkook looked at the boy curiously, "What happened to your Dad?"

"Well," Taehyung looked up towards the ceiling, "He got sick when I was younger. He kept telling us that it was nothing, that he was okay. He never went to the doctors. Mom made him though. He went and the doctor told him that he was really sick. Like really, really sick. He kept pretending things were okay but he just kept getting sicker and sicker. He had to go and stay at the hospital as things got worse. He stopped getting worse for a while. They thought he'd be okay. 

"Then, he was gone. I blamed myself because I promised to protect him and apparently I hadn't done it well enough. But my Mom, she told me that Dad wouldn't have wanted me to think that. That he would've wanted me to be happy and keep going." Taehyung sniffled slightly, "That's what your hyung would want for you too, Jungkook. Never doubt that."

Jungkook took Taehyung's hand, "Thank you, Taehyung hyung."

Taehyung put his other hand over Jungkook's and turned his gaze to Jungkook's face.

"Boys!" Ms. Kim shouted, surprising the two out of their previous position, "The cookies are ready!"

Taehyung rubbed his nose with his sleeve before standing up, "C'mon, Mom's cookies are ready!"

Jungkook followed and took a seat in the dining room where Ms. Kim had set three glasses of milk and a plate of cookies.

"I hope you two don't mind me joining you." She said as she sat down in one of the chairs.

"Not at all!" Taehyung smiled. He had a nice smile.

Ms. Kim smiled warmly at Jungkook, "Is that your sweater, Taehyung?"

Taehyung nodded, "He was cold."

She hummed and dunked her cookie in the milk, "It looks good on you, Jungkook."

"Thank you, Ms. Kim." Jungkook said, bowing slightly.

"There's no need to be so formal, you can call me Sunmi."

"Thank you, Sunmi."

Silence enveloped the table before Taehyung cleared his throat and said, "Jungkookie and I were looking for something to play when you called."

"Oh really? What were you thinking of?"

"I was thinking that we could build a city and play superheroes or something." Taehyung's eyes traveled to Jungkook's.

Jungkook smiled, "As long as there's a monster for us to defeat."

"Of course there will be. What city is complete without a monster attack or two?"

Jungkook laughed.

Sunmi had a warm smile on her face as she watched the two boys. By the look on her face, Jungkook could tell that it had been a while since Taehyung had spoken or acted like this. Like he had a friend that he could be excited about being around. It had been a while since Jungkook could say he'd been like this, too. They were what each other needed. Someone who understood the loss they faced and the emotions after. The struggle to accept that it wasn't your fault and that the deceased will always love and support you. The frustration of the fact that you could've done more and didn't. The fear of how your family members will treat you after. 

It was almost as if they were supposed to stumble upon each other. Like life was giving them what they wanted, needed, the most. Someone to listen and understand. Someone who would never judge, because, hey, it happened to them too. And for the first time since the accident, Jungkook felt really, truly happy.

--------------------------

Jungkook ran down the porch steps and onto the snow covered path to the sidewalk. He was trying hard not to cry. If he cried, he feared the tears would freeze against his cheeks. It had been five years. Five years, one month, twenty-two days, to be precise, since the first time it had happened. The first time his father had shouted. It happened again and again and again and again- So many times. It had started with two or three insults being thrown at the young boy and then turned into so much more. 

His own father, the man he had grown up with, the man he cherished the most, had hit him. Socked him right in the jaw. The small boy's body fell into a massive heap on the floor. It had bruised. Believe him, it was more than just your average bruise. It was a thick purple rimmed with soft green. There was no way he'd be able to say that he'd just taken a fall somewhere. His mother had thrown a bag at him and simply said, "cover it up". That's what Jungkook did. The bag contained concealers and other products of the same use. To hide the ugly. It had been years since that first bag had come, so many more had traveled into his possession and then out as fast as they came. Taehyung was the only one who knew that concealer coated most of his upper body rather than actual, unbruised skin. Taehyung was the only one he could trust. Especially right now.

He was running there, hoping not to slip on the snow covered sidewalks or run into anyone he knew. His father had hit him today. More than once. He said so many things. It was the usual until suddenly, Wonwoo flew into the whole mess. His name was said and Jungkook broke apart. He never liked Wonwoo being brought into all of this. His name didn't deserve to even be associated with such a thing. He never would've wanted this. That's what Taehyung said. 

Jungkook wanted to believe that. He really did. But it was getting harder, so much harder than before. His goal of not crying was simply shredded as warm tears slid down his cold, red cheeks. His leg ached. His father had kicked it attempting to make the fifteen year old smaller than him. It had worked. Jungkook had lost his footing and was now stumbling carelessly down the street with a bruised upper right cheek and shattered mental state.

Jungkook's knuckles knocked the door frantically, hoping for an answer. The boy sniffled, trying his best to look somewhat okay before whoever came to the door would pull it open. He was failing miserably. A tired look Taehyung in a white t-shirt and pajama bottoms opened the door. His eyes widened upon the sight of the brunette.

"Hyung.." Jungkook mumbled, a soft sob escaping his throat.

"Oh, Kookie." Taehyung said, opening his arms to the distraught boy who ran into them.

He pressed his lower face into the older boy's shoulder, his red, puffy eyes and wind tousled hair being the only thing you could see of it. Taehyung nuzzled his head close to the brunette's, his hand rubbing in a soothing circular motion on the boy's back. Jungkook released a sob, his eyes crinkling slightly as warm tears gathered in his eyes. His breaths became short and quick and his tears began to come even faster. Too fast, he couldn't keep up. He felt like the only thing holding him to the ground and up right was Taehyung's arms which were wrapped around him tightly. His lungs ached as they screamed for air, desperate for him to just calm down. He couldn't he didn't know why, but he couldn't. His father's words still sat in his ears like they were fresh. His hands were still on him, still hurting him. His shoe was still firmly striking the boy as if he were nothing. It wouldn't leave him alone. It wouldn't stop.

"It's okay, breathe for me. Please breathe for Tae hyungie." Taehyung whispered softly into the younger's ear, "Can you count to ten for Hyungie? I'll count too. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven-"

Eight, nine, ten. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten. One, two, three, four-

"There you go. Calm and steady. Just take a couple of deep breaths for me. You're okay, you're safe, you're away from him. You're with me, not them. You're okay." Taehyung said, his hands still going in clockwise circles.

Jungkook took a deep breath, taking in the older's cologne mixed with the smell of freshly fallen snow. Another. He felt Taehyung's t-shirt's fabric, soft and slightly worn. Another. The sound of car's wheels slowly making their way down the roads, trying not to crash from all the ice and a soft clock ticking from inside Taehyung's house filled his ears. One last one. His eyes opened and glanced around to see the familiar inside of the older's house and blond, the older's new hair color, hair brushing against his cheek.

Jungkook sniffled slightly and loosened his grip on the blond boy.

"It's okay. You're okay. You're safe." Taehyung repeated.

"Thank you." Jungkook weakly mumbled.

Taehyung hummed and pulled away from the hug, "Come inside and tell me what's wrong?"

Jungkook nodded.

Taehyung turned and led him into the house and back towards the blonde's room. Jungkook sat down on the grey comforter that had replaced the old saxophone one from years prior. The older shut the door and sat down next to him, his eyes trained on the younger's as if to say, "go ahead, I'm listening".

"H-He was upset that my grade dropped. It was a really high B, I could easily have fixed it but he wasn't listening. He said that my h-hyung would never have even let it drop. He k-kicked my leg and I fell and h-he looked down at me and said that my hyung would be disappointed and ashamed of me for what I've become. He kept saying that and then punched me to finish. But I deserve it, hyungie. I'm n-nothing but a worthless whore who has no purpose-"

"Don't say that. Don't ever say that, Kookie. You are not a whore. You are way more than that. You are an amazing human being who doesn't deserve to ever think or be told that." Taehyung interjected.

"But-"

"No buts. This is your Dad getting into your head. He wants you to think like this. You can't let him win."

"But I'm weak, hyung." Jungkook mumbled, his voice slightly altered by the return of his tears.

"You aren't weak, I promise you that. You are the strongest person I know." Taehyung smiled softly, "I know your hyung would think so too."

Jungkook sniffled, "You think so?"

"Think so? I know so. He would be so proud, Kookie."

"Thank you, Hyung." Jungkook smiled lightly.

"Of course." Taehyung's smile seemed to falter, as if he was considering something. Making a life changing decision at that.

Jungkook wasn't oblivious to this change, "Are you okay?"

Taehyung seemed to shake himself away from his thoughts, "Yeah. I was thinking that it would be best if you stayed the night here."

"Are you sure? Would Sunmi mind?"

"Mom would love to have you stay." Taehyung took Jungkook's hand in his, "I just really don't want you to be going back to those people. The thought makes me sick."

"Alright, I don't have anything to wear though."

"That's fine, you can wear some of mine."

Jungkook smiled.

"Thank you, Taehyungie."

"Anything for you, Kookie."

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"Alright, your homework assignment for tonight will be to read pages one hundred and twenty through one hundred and fifty-seven. I'll see you all Monday." Their teacher waved as the bell rang and the class began to disperse.

Jungkook gathered his things, which wasn't much. His book, a pencil or two, an eraser, and some worksheets and stuffed them into his backpack. One week had passed and Jungkook hadn't had much room to have any kind of contact with his parents, not that he wanted to. Taehyung had been awfully clingy of him, refusing to let him anywhere out of his sight. He'd go home for maybe twenty minutes before Taehyung would call him and tell him to come to his house. It was almost as if something was going on. Something the older wouldn't tell him.

Jungkook slung his black backpack over his shoulder and headed for the door. The halls were pretty cleared out at this point, most wanting to go home and enjoy their Friday. The brunette started for the door out but someone tapped his shoulder, causing the boy to turn around. Two men in blue uniforms with police badges stood there, looking down on the fifteen year old. His parents had trained him to be scared of the police. If they got involved, everything would be much worse for him. For them. He didn't want that. Jungkook could feel his body begin to tremble. The police were looking down at him with sympathy, with pity. They knew. Someone had told. Who-

Taehyung joined the men.

So they really did know.

"Jeon Jungkook?" One of them asked.

Jungkook hesitantly nodded.

"We're here because this boy," The police officer gestured to Taehyung, "has filed a domestic abuse claim and we're here to check it out."

Jungkook gulped.

The other officer pulled a file from under his arm and opened it, revealing pictures of the bruises on Jungkook's face and arms, pictures he hadn't known about. He didn't even know that they'd be taken.

"Is that you?" The first officer pointed at the picture.

Jungkook nodded, "The-They were accidents. Not my parents."

"Son, these injuries could not be mere accidents. The intensity of the bruising is far too great." The second officer said before looking Jungkook in the eye, "Son, do you feel safe at home?"

"I-I.." Jungkook didn't want to leave his parents. He didn't. He loved them. He knew they loved him too. Where would he go if he did leave? Taehyung would get annoyed by him eventually if he were to stay there. He didn't want to leave Taehyung. He couldn't leave Taehyung. What would happen to his parents? They would go to jail, wouldn't they? He didn't want that either. It was his fault he was a screw up and a whore. His fault that Wonwoo died. They shouldn't have to suffer because of him. Scratch that, they shouldn't have to suffer more because of him. He can't tell the truth. Yeah, that'll do it. He won't tell the truth. It's the only way. "Nothing's happening." He murmured. Taehyung's eyes seemed to widen at the response.

"My parents don't do anything to me." He tried to remain calm and not think about his father being above him as he balled his fist, "I lied about everything. The injuries were all make up. I watched tutorials on YouTube. The stories were all made up. I apologize for wasting your time, officers."

"But the bruises. I washed them for you." Taehyung interjected before the officers could speak.

"I-It was waterproof makeup."

"You looked so hurt when I touched them."

"Acting, it was acting."

"But, but-" Taehyung stuttered, "Why? Why would you do that?"

Jungkook looked at the floor, "I did it for attention. I didn't know how else to become your friend. I'm sorry, hyung."

The officers stepped away from the two and closed the file, "Well, thank you for being worried, Taehyung. It was responsible of you to come to us." Their eyes turned to Jungkook, "Never do this again. It's not the way to make friends."

"Yes, sir." Jungkook said, head lowered towards the ground.

The officers left, leaving Jungkook alone with an upset Taehyung.

"How could you?" Taehyung started, "How could you lie to me?"

"I'm sorry, hyung." Jungkook murmured.

Taehyung's eyebrows furrowed out of anger, "How could you lie about something like that? Do you know how sick that is? You are a horrible human being."

Jungkook didn't speak.

"Was your brother's death a lie too? Did you lie about that to reel me in further?"

Jungkook remained quiet.

The older scoffed, "I can't even look at you. I can't believe that I've believed your bullshit for five years. Five years! God, you're horrible."

"I'm sorry, hyung."

"Don't call me hyung. Don't talk to me either. Stay away from me Monday. I don't want to see you ever again." Taehyung pushed past him, going to the door.

Jungkook felt tears bubbling up in his eyes, a choked sob erupted from his throat. He didn't want to think about it. He didn't want to think at all. He wanted to go home. His room was his only comfort. He'd go there. He burst out running, running in the opposite direction of Taehyung and to another exit. He ran down the sidewalk, not caring about the people he'd run into. He ran with the idea of escaping all of this. Even for just a little while.

He burst through the yellow door and bolted up the stairs before either of his parents could comment on his lateness. He dashed up the stairs and through the door into his room where he slung his bag on the ground and closed the door before throwing himself onto the bed. His tears were muffled by his pillow. He didn't want to think. He didn't want to deal with the consequences of what happened today, they were far too great. He didn't want to go to school Monday and know that Taehyung hated him. He didn't want to lose him, but he had. It was too late. Too late to wish he'd told the truth. Too late to wish he didn't care about those people downstairs. Too late to wish that he could've ceased breathing long before any of this could've happened. How great would that have been?

His breathing dropped slightly as he felt his eyelids begin to get heavy. It's okay, Kookie. A distant voice said. It almost sounded familiar. We're almost there. You'll be okay, I promise. He wanted to believe that. That he'd be okay. There was too much going for his doubts though. After this, Hyungie will spoil you with whatever you want and he'll make sure you know how loved you are. Him? Loved what a joke. He wanted that though, even though he was certain whoever was speaking was crazy. I'm sure Namjoon hyungie will do the same. Namjoon? That name sounded familiar like this man's voice. Who were they? We love you, Jeon Jungkook. Jungkook closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

Word Count: 6859

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Me when everyone's looking forward to seeing how the story ends, but I know it's crap:

In other news, I'm super proud of this chapter. First time I've ever written above 3,500. I love little Taehyung and Jungkook. Wish things didn't have to go the way they did.
Thank you for reading and I'll see you all next week!