At first, it had been a struggle to get him moving.

"Left foot, right foot, Tae."

But he managed.

Despite aching from head to toe, throbbing pain from bruises that had not at all received proper time to heal, Jungkook pushed the mere thought of showing pain to the back of his mind so that he could help Taehyung.

Taehyung. His boyfriend - at least that's what was implied.

He didn't need to hear it. He really didn't. And that's what he told himself, but deep down Jungkook would have given everything to hear Taehyung call him just that. To call him his boyfriend.

Or 'baby'. Or both.

Now isn't the time, Jungkook, get yourself together.

It was a bit easier to snap out of his daze once he and Taehyung had neared the apartment, and out of nowhere Taehyung began to whimper like a kicked puppy and triggered Jungkook's ears. But he didn't ask what was wrong. He knew the boy hadn't fully taken his mind off the car accident, nor from that nurse informing them that Jimin would be undergoing 'further examination', as she had called it. Jungkook didn't like it either. But he was a bit less paranoid than the other.

"The door's open, Tae. Just go in and lie on the couch."

"...foot...which-"

"Left. Are you feeling dizzy? T-...Tae, no, the door's already open, what are you doing...?"

He could see how hopeless things were going and soon resorted to simply picking Taehyung up and carrying him over to the couch to lay him down there himself. And it was there Jungkook took further notice of the boy's pale complexion. Taehyung really was getting himself sick over all this. The stress, the worrying, neglecting his own condition because he was more concerned with something else.

Pretty much exactly what Jungkook was doing. Except he was a bit more skilled at managing it.

"Tae, you're really warm." With his hand resting on the other's forehead, Jungkook sighed at the sight of Taehyung, breathing deeply, sweat on his face and neck. "Look at you..."

"Kookie-"

"Don't try to talk, Tae, you're just wasting the energy you don't have. I'm gonna get you some water, okay? You need hydration."

He started to do just that, turning from the couch so that he could head over to the kitchen to get him a glass of cold water. But a weak touch of the hand stopped him in his tracks - delicately, a soft, brushing of the fingers as Taehyung attempted to grab Jungkook's hand using what little energy he had left.

"Jungkookie..."

Even uttering a mere word, he sounded breathless. Jungkook feared he would pass out any second now - at the same time, it wouldn't be such a bad thing. Taehyung needed the rest. But right now he seemed to be doing everything to fight that urge to fall asleep.

"Jungkookie, you're hurt..."

Heartbroken. Taehyung's voice quivered with emotion. His eyes did the same.

"Your bruises, you were hurt so bad, Kookie-"

"Tae, I'm alright, it's not that bad-"

"Yes, it is, don't say that."

It was as though Jungkook could hear the boy's inner voice as well, blaming himself for Jungkook's pain all over again, like he hadn't stopped doing so since the incident happened, but now it was coming back to him full-force. So much had happened. So much since just yesterday.

It was overwhelming to all of them.

Jungkook slowly lowered himself to the floor beside the couch.

A powerful urge to cry came over him in that moment, touching Taehyung's hand, running his thumb across the skin, delicate. He wished he could do more. For Taehyung, to make him smile, the way that Yoongi did so effortlessly. But he knew it was a matter of timing, a matter of patience. Tae needed him.

"With everything I've been going through lately, I need something like this...I need someone like you."

He couldn't forget how happy those words had made him. And still made him.

Jungkook pursed his lips as he felt Taehyung squeeze his hand. Demanding attention in the slightest way possible.

"Kookie, please rest..."

"You're the one who needs it," he said back immediately. "My heart hurts more than my body does. So it would help me a lot if you just took a nap, okay?"

"Take it with me."

"You're being clingy now," Jungkook forced a soft laugh at him. "It's not like you."

"I don't want you out of my sight. I'll worry. You'll worry me, Kookie."

"What do you think I'm gonna do? Go on a jog?"

"You did earlier..."

"That's not-"

He couldn't bring himself to argue. Truthfully, Taehyung had valid enough reason to worry, given Jungkook's history of reckless actions even from today alone. Not to mention his dark years in high school.

Jungkook wouldn't have been surprised if Taehyung were thinking about that, too. From their conversation early this morning.

He loved that Tae cared. Absolutely loved it, it filled a gap in his chest that he had doubted would ever be filled thanks to his insecurities fogging everything up. But right now he wanted it to be pushed towards the back of the boy's mind where it couldn't bother him.

Jungkook shifted his position so that he could lean over and plant a kiss on Taehyung's cheek.

"I'll be okay," he whispered in assurance. "I just need you to be okay."

"Please lay down..."

He's not letting up, is he? "If I do, will you rest?"

"I will."

At this point Jungkook was desperate. So with that confirmation from the boy, he scooped Taehyung up in his arms as carefully as he could and carried him all the way to the bedroom where he lay him down again. And he climbed in right beside him.

Seconds later Taehyung already had his head buried into Jungkook's chest. His arms wrapped around him, breathing unsteadily still, but he was on his way to becoming steady. It was simply a shock at first, an abrupt strike of emotions that once again nearly sent him into a panic, but he caught himself this time. Jungkook was holding him tightly. He was here, he was okay, unlike the boy Taehyung had found on that roof years ago.

"I'm here, baby..."

Despite his protruding, negative thoughts, Tae didn't miss the soft-spoken nickname the other had let slip. It brought a blush to his cheeks, an unfamiliar, but warm and pleasant feeling to him. He even began to feel himself relaxing in Jungkook's arms.

Jungkook's strong, protective arms.

"I like that."

"Hm?"

"You calling me baby..."

The blush spread to Jungkook now, but to an even greater degree. In his embarrassment, he forced yet another laugh. "Oh, you do?"

"Yeah," Taehyung breathed gently in response. "I'm your baby."

Jungkook had never felt so relieved Taehyung couldn't see his face - beet red now, he was certain.

He's my baby. My baby. My boyfriend. Taehyung.

Crap. I forgot to get him water.

"Uh, Tae?"

"Who's Tae?" The boy muttered against his chest. "I'm baby."

"...baby, can you let go of me? Just for a minute, I swear, I just wanna get you some water. You should really drink some water."

"I don't need it..."

"Tae, please..."

"Who is this 'Tae'?"

Oh, he's so stubborn when he's sick. "Baby, you need to drink water. Let go of me and I'll be right back."

"Kiss me first in case I fall asleep while you're gone."

Taehyung's grip around him gradually began to loosen once Jungkook placed another kiss atop the boy's head. Judging by the soft whine that followed, it wasn't exactly what Tae had been looking for, but he accepted it nonetheless.

"You're sick and not in your right mind," Jungkook said to him with a fond smile. "Once you've got your strength back I'd love to hear those words again."

"Kiss me, Kookie."

"I-...I said when your strength is back..."

"Where's my water?"

It's a good thing I love you.

On that note, he regrettably left Taehyung's side, walking out into the kitchen to retrieve a glass. He grabbed one from the cabinet, held it under the sink and started to fill it with tap water, then added in a few ice cubes. Halfway through his walk back to Tae's room, the muffled sound of a phone ringing interrupted him. Curious, he set the glass on the kitchen table and made his way over to the couch where the sound was coming from.

As it turned out, it was Taehyung's phone that had been buried in one of the couch cushions.

The caller ID read 'Yoongi'. Jungkook took the liberty of answering it.

"Yoongi?"

"Jungkook?"

"Yeah, it's me. Tae's in his room," he informed the other. "I told him to lie down, I was just about to get him some water when you called."

"Oh, okay. Thank you..." Yoongi gave a sigh of relief. "It's good to know you're taking care of him. It means a lot."

"Of course. Is everything okay?"

"Well, yes and no," Yoongi replied vaguely. "Jimin's fine, they're not forcing him to stay so I was actually gonna take him back to his apartment soon. I just wanted to call and let you guys know what was going on."

It was a weight lifted off his chest. Jungkook knew Taehyung would be happy to hear this, and so it made him just as happy. "That's good," he said, "but what was the 'and no' part about? Is this like a 'good news, bad news' kind of situation?"

"I wouldn't say bad news, but...certainly news."

A considerable pause took place after this, but Jungkook chose to wait it out until Yoongi decided on his own to elaborate.

"I think it's best for Tae to be present for this," he began. "I mean I could explain it to you over the phone but you'd probably be horribly confused. I mean, I'm still somewhat confused, but I'm getting there...anyway, how are you feeling? Haven't forgotten you were beaten half to death literally just last night."

"It wasn't half to death..." Jungkook insisted, sighing. "And...I don't know, I guess it hurts."

"You guess, huh?"

"I'm trying not to think about it. I'm just trying to take care of Tae."

"That's both discouraging and reassuring." Yoongi permitted himself a chuckle. "Don't neglect yourself too much, buddy. Taehyung won't be too happy with you. But also I'm glad you seem to care about him so much. Like honestly. I really do."

Jungkook unknowingly smiled at Yoongi's words. "That makes me glad, too, then."

"Mm. Hey, while we're on the phone, can I ask you something?"

"Uh, yeah. What is it?"

"You went to our high school, didn't you?"

Jungkook felt his face drain of color, worried slightly that he'd lose some of the respect Yoongi had for him after revealing his little secret. But he didn't want to lie - he had already told Taehyung anyway, and Yoongi was bound to find out soon.

"I did," he answered after a moment. "I'm sorry, I should have admitted it earlier."

"No, it's okay," Yoongi said. "I'm sure you had your reasons. You lost a lot of weight, it's no wonder I was seriously second-guessing myself. But yeah, I thought you looked familiar."

"Yeah, I've changed a lot," Jungkook said with a smile of his own starting to appear. "Because of Tae. I became encouraged to lose weight, to try harder, and...abandon my suicidal thoughts. To tell you the truth, I wouldn't be alive right now if it weren't for him."

"...holy sh*t."

Immediate regret seemed to wash over Yoongi, judging by the flustered noises and stuttering that followed these quiet words.

"Ah, sorry, I-...didn't mean to swear, or say anything stupid like that, sorry, I just-..."

"Oh, no, it's fine, you're good."

"Still, I'm stupid, sorry, uhh..." Jungkook heard Yoongi loudly clear his throat, which for some reason he found amusing. "Well, I'm...I mean it's good you've changed in that aspect. Do me a favor and marry Tae then, will you? Spouse him up real good."

"Right." A laugh spilled out of Jungkook's mouth. "So then you'll be coming back soon?"

"Oh, right. About that, can you drive?"

"Yeah, don't have a car, though."

"That's fine, you can use mine. Would you mind picking us up from the hospital?"

"Yeah, of course."

"Okay, thanks. Whenever you're ready, there's no rush. Make sure Tae gets his water and kisses and hugs or whatever."

"Mhm. I will."

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end of chapter twenty-six.