¿Veritas?

¿The truth?

As the elevator brought him back down from heaven to the first floor of the Professor's living area, he had his head against the wall of it, looking at the floor with an unreadable expression with his hands in his pockets. For anyone who was looking through the elevator's vigilance camera, he would just look bored and tired. Which was exactly what he wanted of course.

On the inside, however: ...snowflakes were gently falling to the ground; flower petals were flowing with the soft breeze; the steam of a hot drink was flowing in spirals from a mug; little fire flecks were detaching from a bonfire into the night; rays of sun were getting in thru the leaves; a brand new book was being started...

He felt so...

He couldn't even put a name to it. It was beautiful, lovely, and, oh, so happy. He felt safe in more ways than the physical or the emotional. He felt free, yes, he felt free, and loved, immensely loved like he's never been before.

The doors of the elevator opened and, right where his eyes were looking at the floor, he could see leather black shoes, polished and expensive, but he didn't even try to glance up at the man who wore them before passing by him towards the exit still, looking fixedly at the shiny marble floor.

But then the man spoke.

- What are you doing here so late? - The firm and low voice of the man chilled him to the bone, and, abruptly he was brought back to reality; cold and lonely reality.

He turned around, trying to keep his expression at bay, and noticed the professor was Alexander Evans... oh no... Jungkook swallowed, keeping his head just enough to act.

- I was... talking to a Professor. - His voice wasn't calm enough to be nonchalant but he couldn't relax with those blue eyes staring at him. As it once had been usual, he couldn't tell what the man was thinking. And, when the hand holding his briefcase tightened, Jungkook swallowed, his heart hammering in his chest.

- Which Professor. - It sounded more like a demand than a question as his lips turned down by the corners and his chin lifted slightly, scrutinizing Jungkook while his cold eyes looked him up and down.

Territorial...

NO. He was Taehyung's and he didn't know this man, he was Taehyung's and he didn't know this man.

This was just a professor, he didn't know this professor, this professor asked him with whom he had been, and he was supposed to be the troubling son of the headmaster. He had to be insolent.

- Why do you need to know? -

Evans' features hardened worse than his father's did when he was getting mad. And Jungkook thought of Taehyung, and how, even if he screamed, he wouldn't be able to hear.

He wanted to run, to hide...

- You'll show your superiors some respect when you talk to them. -

A chill went down Jungkook's spine, he felt in imminent danger and he hated this claustrophobic feeling. But he was playing a role.

Jungkook lifted his chin defiantly and with all the strength he could master, he spoke without his voice trembling.

- Fine, tell me when they're near, will you? - A moment of dead silence passed between them. And then Evans took a step forward. - Well, I'm leaving. As you said, it is late. -

He turned around and ran out the door, leaving as fast as he could. He only looked back when he rounded a corner and saw the clear glass doors of the students living area, and even if there was no one following him, he still ran inside, frightened beyond belief. And he ran and ran until he saw his door at the end of that corridor and he slowed into a walk.

Thinking about Jimin, Leo, Emily, and even Tom felt so strange to him, so distant, it was like he had been in another dimension all this past afternoon like it was another life completely. Coming back to the present was so harsh that it was tiring, and he was already tired both physically and mentally in both good ways and bad ways; perfect ways and terrible ways; and now, after the run he just did, he felt completely about to shut down.

He also realized dully that it was really hard to connect his beautiful and perfect time with Taehyung with this reality. They were just so different that it created a split in his reality. On the one hand, freedom and, on the other, the constant fear. So tiring it was to try and think right now, he just wanted to sleep so he could completely calm down. He just went from being in the most perfect of fairy tales to being scared for his life in the spam it took for the elevator to get from the second to the first floor, he needed to stop thinking or his head would explode.

But, of course, as he was nearing his keys to the doorknob, he could hear faint laughter from the other side. He took a deep breath, bracing himself for whatever he would have to do next, and opened the door.

- Finally... - Leo sighed in mock outrage which made Emily giggle as she shook her head, and even Jimin smiled, though his knees covered half of his face as he had his legs tight to his chest. - How was it, lover boy? - At that, Emily slapped his arm, and an unstoppable grin spread through Jungkook's face until he heard a faint scuff beside him. It was Tom, leaning beside the door and wearing a sour look on his face as he looked at the floor. - Don't look at him, Kook. Come here. - Leo said in a soft but strict tone. Jungkook turned around and headed to his drawing table to leave his bag there. He was in airplane mode by now.

- So... you're here to gossip. - Jungkook gave them a tired grin, and Leo laughed.

- Noooo. - He laughed and Jungkook neared his bed. - We're here to interrogate you. Em, where's the duct tape? - At that, Jungkook laughed softly alongside Emily, and he looked toward Jimin. He seemed fine, that's good.

Jungkook stopped to stand beside the bed, just wishing he could fall over it already.

- Well, what do you wanna know? - Jungkook asked.

- E v e r y t h i n g - Leo exaggerated for the amusement of the room. - Start with the moment we finished lunch. You went to her right away, didn't you? - Leo accused him with a grin. A pang punched Jungkook in the chest as he heard the word "her", but he had to accept that and follow it.

- I... - He thought for a second, a second a little too long. His brain was too tired but he still tried to make it remember this afternoon and how to play it out with his plan. - I didn't. - He finally decided for the incredulous looks of his friends. - I didn't. I went to take a walk to find something to paint, had an idea, and went to the main garden where I started the drawing of the Library's main door. Until it started to rain, - The rain sounded a little less hard right now. - and it got me completely soaked through. - As his friends grimaced, his brain rushed again.

He'll have to tell his friends the same story he was telling to everyone else.

- And then? - Emily asked, sounding a little too eager which made them chuckle.

- Umm... - A grin spread through his warming face at what he was about to say and Leo laughed.

- Oh my... Jungkook, are you blushing, mate? - Leo sounded completely surprised, so much so that he got up from the bed and Emily laughed, covering her mouth in surprise as well. Jungkook covered his face, embarrassed. - Come here, kid. Sit down. - Leo's commanding voice was a little less severe with the audible smile, but still, Jungkook did as he said and sat where Leo had been previously, at the head of the bed.

An electric current flowed up through him from his bum as he sat, but it went unnoticed as the other ones were still laughing, it was like the feeling of a pinch on each cheek. He knew his face was all red now, and the worst part about where he sat was that he was facing the room at large, Tom included, with a sour grin on his face that alarmingly looked like he noticed what everyone else didn't.

- Ok, Jungkook. - Emily started, softly, still with a smile and the ghost of a laugh but tenderly. - You can tell us everything, we won't laugh at you--

- Speak for yourself. - Leo said bluntly, and Jungkook lowered his head with a chuckle. - Start talking. You were soaked, then what? -

Jungkook looked up again.

- Then she found me like that. - They gasped with a smile and Leo rapidly went to sit down beside Jimin on his bed, taking his shoes off to sit just like him with the excitement of a toddler which made them all laugh, even Jimin. - And she took pity on me so she took me to her room to help me get dry. - Leo laughed hard at this.

- Yeah right, poor bloke, all wet, let me help him warm up a little bit. - Leo taunted him for the amusement of the others and the embarrassment of Jungkook.

- She shouldn't have done that, we aren't allowed to have--

- Em, do you really think anybody in these three buildings will lose an opportunity when they're free from their parent's house? Come on, a whole living wing with nothing but students and beds everywhere, no teachers, no parents, pl-ease, there are no rules in here. - Leo stated.

- Hear hear. - Jungkook cheered with him, actually feeling the spirit. To a certain limit of course.

- Boys. - She sighed, crossing her arms, but still unable to fully delete the smile on her face. Jungkook was feeling better in this atmosphere, less scared, less chilled by that... that man. That man he didn't know.

- And then what? - Leo asked, and Jungkook opened his mouth but was unable to say anything. - Who did the first move? - Leo wiggled his eyebrows, successfully guessing why he couldn't find the right words.

Jungkook thought. Who had made the first move? Well, there weren't any game moves to get to that point, it just happened so naturally... think, think, how will it sound better...

- I did. - Yes, more macho. Leo laughed in celebration, but Emily's laugh was surprised, so he looked at her, puzzled. - What, you don't think I would have the courage? - He taunted her, and she shook her head.

- No, it's not that, you're just so... respectful towards women, - Avoid them, more like. - it surprised me that you took the first move. -

- Well, I wasn't disrespectful in any way. - In no way at all, how could he? When he loved everything about Taehyung... She, she, he had to concentrate on the story.

- I'm sure you weren't, it just took me by surprise. Continue. - Emily said with a tiny smile. Jungkook thought for a moment. She looked like someone who knew too much and wasn't giving anything away, how scary that sounded, but Jungkook had to continue his act, so, with an indecisive expression, he looked towards Leo and pointed at Emily.

- Should I continue? - Conveying by that motion that the rest of the story wasn't for a lady's ears to hear. Leo slapped his hand over his mouth as he laughed with wide eyes, making Jimin jolt slightly but his tiny smile thankfully didn't disappear, and Emily scoffed beside him. He even saw Tom from the corner of his eyes getting slightly surprised.

- Jungkook. - Leo exclaimed once he could control his laughter. - Just how far did you two go? - His expression was of complete surprise.

- Define "far". - Jungkook asked him, and Leo lost it, grabbing Jimin's pillow beside him and covering his face with it to stifle a screaming laugh. Then he let go of it but held it to his chest. Jungkook couldn't help laughing at the image of his super strong, broad, and tall friend, clutching a pillow to his chest like a little girl hearing gossip.

- Let's see. - Leo calmed down enough to answer. - How naked did you two got? -

- Pfffff... - Jungkook laughed. Leo covered his face again, and even Emily had to stifle a loud laugh with her hands, even Jimin's eyes got a teensy bit wider. Maybe Tom got rigid, but who cared? Jungkook was looking down at the floor with a grin. Oh... they got naked alright, really naked, spiritually naked even. Jungkook almost pouted as he remembered him. He wanted to be in his arms again and sleep in his comfortable warm chest and hear his heartbeat... He wanted to sleep... He was so tired. - Let's finish this up quickly, I'm really tired. -

That only made them laugh even more.

- Jungkook! - Emily exclaimed with a smile and he looked at her. - Did you at least have protection? - She asked him in a near whisper, but it was unnecessary, they could all hear her plainly, and see her surprise and honest worry behind her smile.

What she said made him stammer a bit as he remembered Taehyung's words of "we don't have the necessary..." That's what he meant? A condom? Jungkook's face was on fire as he shook his head at her.

- We didn't-- Umm, we didn't need--... I mean, there wasn't--... -

Leo laughed but leaned closer from Jimin's bed, placing his feet on the floor and waiting for him to finish talking, but it was Tom who intervened.

- You didn't need a condom? - His voice sounded bored, but Jungkook picked up a sudden tone of worry or anger. He couldn't decipher it. Either way, it made Jungkook highly uncomfortable.

- You, shut it. - Leo's menacing voice chilled Jungkook even if the words weren't directed at him when he said them without looking at Tom.

- You seem to be under the delusion that I do whatever you say. - Tom's voice was calm, but it was defiant and Emily knew it.

- Leon, I'm tired, let's hear Jungkook quickly so we can go. - She didn't sound as worried as Jungkook knew she was, but it made just the thing she wanted to happen, Leo gave her all his attention and his previous frown disappeared.

- Yes, so, after... that, - Jungkook continued and Leo went back to his laughing self. - My clothes were dried, (she had a dryer so I put them there earlier, and then when I was getting out of her room)... Professor Taehyung caught me. - They gasped and he grinned. Tom scoffed in the corner.

- The fucking Nanny. He took your father's words by heart, didn't he? - Leo sounded displeased and Emily shook her head in disbelief.

- A little, yeah. - His heart fluttered and he disguised his chuckle as a mocking, sower, grin. - He took me to his office, slash, apartment-- The teachers live really well here, those apartments are big. - He sounded surprised and his friends nodded.

- Yeah, we saw the little drawings in the Map book, haven't you seen them? - Emily told him. - One apartment of theirs is six student rooms combined, that's why there are more buildings for them. It also has a meaning and a story of course, but go on, he took you there, and then what? -

"We fucked" Mh! He coughed a laugh, disguising it again as sour, and went on.

- We had a long talk. Most of it was him lecturing me or... scolding me. Apparently, I'm a "troubling young adult who needs a good influence to put him straight". - They grimaced, scoffed, and altogether looked mad at that. - And he didn't let me go until it was ten, which is the time limit for a student to be there, and while I was going out, I was stopped--... I was stopped... by another teacher. - He doubted. A chill ran down his spine, But his friends wouldn't recognize the name. - Alexander Evans. - He told them, trying to sound like he didn't care, but he failed a little.

And he had been wrong in thinking they would dismiss it.

- Oh no, you did not. - Leo sounded odd, scared even.

With a jolt, Jungkook remembered Leo could have him as his teacher. But he couldn't have done anything to Leo, right? Leo's in his first semester, he can't even have his classes.

With his heart hammering and all humor forgotten, Jungkook tried to be as nonchalantly as possible while he told them.

- He asked me what I was doing there so late. But I was... so mad with any and every teacher at that time that I was... a bit insolent. And he got mad. And I ran away. - He grimaced a watered-down reaction to what he was starting to feel again; the comfort of a safe place floated away as the fear started to creep in again.

Leo looked appalled.

- Jungkook... there's a time and a place to get a smart mouth. - Leo stood up from Jimin's bed and walked around with his hands in his hair.

- Wait, isn't he a friend of your dad? - Emily asked, remembering, out of the blue, something that had slipped out of Jungkook's mouth a very long time ago.

Jungkook rolled his eyes to the ceiling. He had hoped they had forgotten, why hadn't they forgotten?

- Jungkook! - Leo screamed into his hand, making Jungkook's previously-happy-then-terrified-then-happy-then-terrified-again brain shortcut by the fear his friend's reaction was inflicting on him.

- Why are you so scared? - Jungkook asked, harshly.

- "Why?" He's the toughest man in this whole university after your dad, he got the Doctor of Law degree which is the highest ranking title, and he looks... I mean, I'm strong and all but he does look scary. -

Tom scoffed but Leo kept looking at Jungkook.

- I knew all of that already. But you must have more reasons, you don't get easily scared anymore. - Jungkook was referring to the times he used to jump when they were seeing a movie and a scary part jumped in. He had to toughen up to become a strong criminal lawyer like his parents. But he looked scared now, and even hesitant as he looked from Emily to Jimin and then back at him.

- Leo, what is it? - Emily asked.

In the end, Leo decided on telling them, judging by how he sat back down beside Jimin. But to the surprise of the room, he talked to him.

- Jimin, this might sound frightening, are you ok with that? I can tell them later if you want. - The soft tone of voice threw Jungkook off for a second, it was so uncharacteristically of him, that even Emily looked surprised as she looked with knotted eyebrows at the pair of them on the other bed.

Jimin, clutching his folded legs to his chest and hiding his mouth behind his knees, nodded to Leo even if he looked frightened. If it had been Emily or Jungkook, they would have stopped at the clear sight of fright in his eyes, but Leo was a direct man, if he was told it was fine, then he'll continue.

- Ok. - He positioned himself on the edge of Jimin's bed, elbows on his knees, feet on the ground, looking serious as he stared at Jungkook. - When I was first told this, I didn't believe it, partly because I didn't want to, the man looked like a hero to me. But then as other first years started to talk within themselves about what they were told, I asked my roommate since he's an older Law student, and he said it was true. I started to ask around any older student I could find, and all of them said it was true. - He took some time before continuing and Jungkook frowned, looking straight at him and sitting in the same position.

- What is true? - Jungkook asked him. He knew a lot of truths even if he always tried to remind himself that he doesn't, but this scary-looking truth he did not know.

Leo took a deep breath, glancing at Emily, and then continued.

- Apparently, the guy used to beat his son. - Imperceptibly, Jimin jolted, and Jungkook... felt cold to the bone as he looked at the floor.

He had a child.

His dad's best friend used to beat his own child...

He didn't want to think about it, about what it must mean, about the consequences of such friendship in his own life, about the frightening stare and build the man has, about what would've happened if he hadn't run away when he had started to walk to him with such an enraged step...

- What happened to the boy? - Emily asked in a small voice. But Jungkook wished she hadn't.

- ...He's dead. -

Jungkook's breathing stopped in his throat, his heart froze in place for a very long second, and then he flinched when it started to beat even faster. He felt his frame shudder as fear clung to him like the hands of a killer, like before, so many times before, so much was the fear in those previous times that he felt the walls closing in as impending danger got ever nearer. But he wouldn't let that happen now, he wouldn't, he clutched at his beacon of light, at the memory of Taehyung like his life depended on it, and he breathed, trying to clear his head one breath at a time.

- How...? - Emily asked again, and Jungkook wanted to tell her to stop, but he couldn't talk, he felt too heavy to move, even to speak.

- Some say it was suicide. - "Some..."

- It couldn't have been him, no way. - Emily stated in a small but firm tone, catching on the double meaning of the "Some" - He would have gone to jail or... he wouldn't have been accepted to work in here... -

Jungkook caught the uncertainty in the last sentence and the cold in his bones was as old as memories he had of the man. Though the images were blurry, the feelings were discernible if he really tried.

- The headmaster is his best friend, do you really think he wouldn't? - Jungkook's dull tone shushed the room at large. - With a background like his? Best student in his class at Eton College private school, best friends with The Prince of England since they were in kindergarten, medal of honor when he graduated Evanthe... Beautiful wife working in the entertainment business, mansions everywhere, smart parties and celebrations with everyone who's someone... My family talked about him at home, so much so that I memorized these facts, but not once did they ever mention a child. Do you think he would care either way? If he didn't even acknowledge his existence, then his departure would mean nothing. - He finished with an angry vibrato in his tone. Unsure of whether he was talking about the unknown child or himself as his father's son.

He didn't want to think about it, to overthink until he couldn't breathe, so he was closing his feelings just enough so he wouldn't start a rampage. Concentrating on his beacon of light, on the memory of Taehyung's shiny eyes. But still, the fact remained.

He left.

He abandoned him.

And he did things that still have an impact on Jungkook though Jungkook himself can't remember what he'd done.

But he's Taehyung's now. He's Taehyung's. And he'll never be abandoned. Never again. Never.

"Don't think, don't think..."

"Forget, forget, forget everything again, please.

"I don't need to remember, I don't need to know, I don't need to see."

He tried desperately to think of Taehyung, but a wrong feeling aroused in him. A feeling of having been touched, of having been tainted. He leaned forwards, grabbing his head with his hands while his elbows rested on his knees. He had tried to forget a professor and mistakenly almost forgot how Taehyung's loving touch felt like. Like a drowning man, he tried to swim back to the surface. And started to make himself forget all over again.

It wasn't usual for him to have to force himself to forget, his brain would do it on its own. So he didn't notice when Leo and Emily left him alone until he turned around to ask her for a hug and saw that she wasn't there.

There was only Jimin resting his head on Tom's shoulder and the latter as he rubbed Jimin's back up and down.

He was alone in his cold bed with tears threatening to overflow as he looked at how Jimin was being hugged and held, comforted with care, right in front of him. And he wanted that.

Slowly, he sat on the floor, right on the corner where his bed intersected with his nightstand, and hugged his legs to his chest, resting his forehead on his knees. He had reacted the same as a guy that had been abused. That's why Jimin made him uncomfortable, they were too much alike in the parts he wanted to forget the most.

He heard a faint movement, but his head stayed glued to his knees. It was only when he felt someone sitting beside him, really close to him, that he slowly lifted his head to see who it was, expecting to see Tom.

But it was Jimin. He was looking at him with a tear sliding down his face and, even if his own eyes were cloudy with unshed tears, he could see that Jimin was looking at him with understanding. And the tears fell as he looked at the eyes of a beaten, abused, and frightened child, looking at him like an equal. And Jimin placed his head on Jungkook's shoulder while he was clutching his legs to his chest just like he was, and Jungkook, really grateful even if he still didn't want to think or accept, leaned his head over Jimin's, and there they sat, crying silently while trying to breathe in and out deeply, just the same.

Sometime later, Tom sat on the floor in front of them, comfortable with his back against the side of Jimin's bed. But his stare was hard to read as he saw not only Jimin but him too. Jungkook noticed his bruised cheek and remembered why he had punched him. Tom was so strange, but not in the rude use of the word, not anymore, as Jungkook's feelings were vulnerable while he cried, he thought of Tom as someone really strange, in the way he could look like he could kill somebody, in the way he didn't care about being close to Jungkook, even threatening him with biting his neck, his strange accent that he sometimes had when he was angry, in the way he gets enraged whenever he's called weird, but, most of all, the inexplicable need to help him.

Somehow, as they were here in this little corner of the room, illuminated by the warm light of the bedside tables lanterns, with Jimin's head on his shoulder and his over Jimin's, and Tom looking at the pair of them, Jungkook couldn't think that Tom ever intended to help him by putting him on some mad house. But this guy was still a complete mystery, his father and uncle brought him to this university and he remembers how he asked if he could have a last hug right in the middle of a crowded place, and he seems to be the only person that knew Jimin, and the only person that Jimin could talk to, and laugh with, and just now he had been hugging and comforting him. Just who was this guy?

- Tom. - Jungkook called him, his voice soft just above a whisper.

- Yes? - Tom answered, looking at him with an open expression, not hostile or sour, not taunting or mocking. Honest. Relaxed.

Jungkook straightened his head and dried his tears with the back of his hand.

- I'm sorry I punched you. - He was so emotional right now, what with everything that had happened in the length of the day this was just too much to deal with. He lowered his head, unable to look at him.

- Hey... - Tom's voice almost made him look but he closed his eyes to breathe deeply. So concentrated he was on his task that he didn't notice Tom getting nearer until he spoke again. - I forgive you. Can you forgive me for punching you too? - He was sitting with his body to the closed door, back against the bedside table Jungkook had his side against and looking at him with a soft smile. Jungkook nodded. - Good. - Tom was speaking softly. He had never seen this side of him, it was comforting, and he was feeling comfortable in this corner. With Jimin by his side and Tom in front of him, they were both surrounding him, enclosing him with their presence just how he wanted, just how he needed.

- Why were you being an asshole? - Jungkook asked, really curious but still with a frown as he finished drying his face. Tom let out a soft laugh.

- I lost. - He shook his head and looked down leaving Jungkook confused before he started to explain. - I've always wanted to be the strongest one in the room; the loudest, the bravest, and the most reckless. It's a good thing to a certain extent. But I can also be like this. - He shrugged, referring to how he was right now. - And I am smart. But yesterday... things got out of hand and I lost my footing. I was so determined to help you and you were so stubborn that it became a challenge, and I never backed away from a challenge, so when He got in and stopped me from winning I got childishly furious so... I was an asshole. - He shrugged, looking down at the floor. Not like he was apologizing or felt embarrassed by it, he was just explaining it like it was.

- Why did you want to help me so badly? - Jungkook had put his tears at bay and was concentrating on the conversation. Tom looked at him, and he was a little surprised to see the depth of the stare. It was a meaningful one, and he also seemed like he was examining Jungkook or the situation, almost like he was thinking about whether or not he should say it. But then it looked like he would.

- You're lost. That's the reason I wanted to help you. But the reason I talked to you the first day was that you're really pretty. - Those words made Jungkook forget how to exhale for a moment. Also, the stare was so meaningful, so honest, he didn't know what to do, what to feel, how to react. - I wanted to talk to you. - Tom continued; his eyes to the door. - I was so impressed with your art, and in my head there were only moments, future conversations I could have with you about each one of them, me showing you my art, us exchanging art tips and going to art museums... But, for the moment, I just tried to talk to you casually, you know, friends first and all that. And I made you laugh, which felt good, you have a pretty laugh too. - Tom chuckled softly as he remembered all of that, looking unseeingly at the door.

Is this... a confession? Jungkook didn't know if he should feel uncomfortable. He didn't know what to feel.

- You really are the prettiest boy I've ever met, I wanted to talk to you, but I got too comfortable too fast and I called Jimin by the nickname I have for him, and I knew right when I said it, that I had fucked up badly. - He shook his head with a sower grin. - But I still hoped you wouldn't have noticed, or cared... but that wasn't the case of course. So I got angry. I got angry at the world for being the way it was, for raising you the way it has, for teaching new generations the most toxic way of life as if it was the best one; and I just wanted to break you, to break that wrong perception of the world you had, to break that mold you were forced to be enclosed in and let you out, let you grow into what you were supposed to be instead of what they told you to be, I wanted to make you see, make you cry if I had to. -

- But He got there before me. - Jungkook's breath hitched for a second. - While I was looking at you at the banquet, everything was fine, you were always polite, but then his name got called and, when your eyes landed on him... - Tom shook his head. - You stopped, your clapping stopped, your breathing stopped. - He frowned. - And I got so mad, at the way you had acted with me and then gazed at another man like that; at the way, you were gazing at another before I even got a chance with you; with every fucking thing about that whole situation, but most of all, I got mad at how scared you looked around the room, scared that anyone had seen you looking at him. I got angry with the world again. I had to teach you, to help you, to... do everything I could to get you out of that life of robots I so detest it even exists. -

- So I was thinking, making plans. And then, right when I thought I had it all planned out, I fucking saw you two in the fucking encyclopedias being all cozy with each other. - He shook his head. - He got to you so fast I even thought you two must've known each other for longer. But no. You told me you two had never met each other, and how the night before you ended up... on a meadow with a white round pavilion in the middle, and he was there. - Jungkook's intrigue piqued as he heard that. Tom said he knew about the meadow before. - Yes, I was an asshole when I asked you about it, but that was the only way I could get information out of you. You would've never given it to me if I asked nicely. - He sighed. - So I didn't know what to do or what to believe. But I found out this morning when I ignored you that I couldn't do it after I had already... met you. Let's just say that I like it when you get mad. - He turned his head to look at him and grinned, his canines showing, and Jungkook wasn't sure he understood.

His tiredness was getting to him. He couldn't even remember why Leo and Emily left.

- So... - Jungkook started, slow and low, looking down at his knees when Tom looked at him. - Do you like... like me or something? - He frowned, it felt uncomfortable to ask if a guy had a crush on him, or even to think about it.

- Of all the things I said... - Tom trailed away with a chuckle. - Yes, Jungkook. You have an insufferable thick skull, you're rude, and just as asshole as me. I like that. - He winked at him. - But I'm still your friend for now, though. -

- Fuck no. - Jungkook laughed, a bit hysterically, making Tom laugh as well. - It would just feel really weird after you told me all of this. -

- That's really not for you to decide. We are friends. - He shrugged and Jungkook frowned, really confused. Ok, maybe his brain hadn't connected fully. - Or could you be scared you'll have second thoughts about him once you get to know me better... - Tom wiggled his eyebrows with a wide grin, showing off his canines, and Jungkook rolled his eyes away from him.

- Never. - He said that as sincere as his tired self could manage.

- Hey, I have a question for you. - Tom called him and he looked back at him, slightly skeptical and alarmed. - How far did you two go tonight? -

Jungkook frowned, not understanding in the slightest with his slow brain. But, little by little, it all started to click in the right places and he understood.

- Oh! - He could feel his face going red and he shook his head. - Why would you--... No, no, no. - Too tired, he was too tired and Tom knew it. - I won't talk to you about that. -

- Jungkook, tell me. It's for your own good. - Jungkook shook his head. - Jungkook. - There was a warning in Tom's voice but Jungkook shook his head again. - Fine, I'll just ask him tomorrow in front of his students so he won't be able to stop me or punch me. - Tom shrugged and Jungkook got alarmed because Tom could definitely do that.

- What if I told you we fucked? What would you do then? - Jungkook bluntly asked without a single shudder, his eyes wide. And the room silenced. Slowly an incredulous grin appeared on Tom's face.

- No way. - Tom sounded disbelieving as he shook his head. - You wouldn't be able to walk right now. -

- Who said it was me? -

The incredulous look on Tom's face was insulting, even if it will be him who'll take it, and the knowledge that he won't be able to walk right was a little frightening.

- It's obvious. - Tom rolled his eyes and Jungkook didn't know if he should take that as an insult or not. - If you had... - Tom thought, seriously. - I would probably... ask you if it hurts, and if it does then ask you if he used lube, and if he didn't then I would get worried because he could have torn up your insides, so then I would ask if he was wearing a condom and if he didn't I would hunt him down until he was dead because that is monstrous to do and he should be stopped. Does that answer your question? -

Jungkook was stunned. Lube? tear up his insides? No condom is monster behavior? What? Jungkook shook his head to clear it.

- I have too many questions. - He said this while looking down at his knees, not knowing where to begin. - But I'm too tired. - He nearly whined. He wanted answers and he knew he had a lot of questions but he couldn't come up with anything. - I just want to sleep, it's been a really long ass fucking beautiful, and traumatizing day and I just want to sleep the fuck out. - Jimin giggled silently with his head still perched on his shoulder. - So, I'll answer you and then that's it for today. I was not harmed in any way and there was no penetration because there was no condom or lube and he's not a monster. There? Is that it? We gucci? Can I die already? - Jungkook frowned, his eyes closing by themselves.

Tom chuckled.

- Yes, we gucci. - He said softly.

- Fine then. - He Just wanted to sleep and dream of his Greek God and nothing else, think of nothing more. But there was still something that bothered him. - What do you mean by... tear up my insides? - He asked in a tiny voice, uncomfortable and worried. Tom chuckled.

- Don't worry about it. If he knows what he's doing, you'll be fine. -

- What if he doesn't? 

- He doesn't? Oh boy. - He paused. - No, I don't believe that, he must know, he's too old to be realizing this just now. - He shook his head and then froze. - Talking about him being too old, isn't he too old for you? - Jungkook's brain was still processing the part about how Taehyung "must know", whatever that meant, so he had to shake his head to understand his question.

- Umm.. no? -

- Gosh, I'm not even sure you understood anything I said earlier. - He muttered. - You know what? I'll let you rest, you can't think anymore. - He got up and stretched a little bit.

- Yeiii - Jungkook celebrated in a tiny voice, he was about to get crazy with tiredness. Jimin giggled silently again and straightened his head from his shoulder.

- Come here, Jiminy. - Tom stretched his hands for Jimin to take, and he did, letting Tom pull him up until he was standing right in front of him. That left Jungkook wondering about something he had wondered about before.

- Wait, I thought you and Jimin... - He trailed off, but it was understandable what he wanted to say, yet still Tom asked.

- Me and him what? - He sounded really curious, like he really didn't understand what he meant. And to Jungkook's surprise, he hugged Jimin around the waist while Jimin hid his face in his neck. Jungkook was so confused as he tried to stand up from the floor but ended up just sitting on his bed. Tom chuckled. - Jimin has known me since we were fourteen, we've always been close. Does that answer your question? -

- I'm not sure. - He said with a grimace. Tom let go of Jimin and let him get ready for bed while he neared Jungkook and stood right in front of him.

- Go to sleep, Kooky. - He told him softly but surely and Jungkook lazily started to take off his shoes.

- Don't call me that. - Jungkook mumbled mechanically as he rolled himself under the covers and heard Tom's faint chuckle again.

- Aren't you going to change your clothes? -

- Don't tell me what to do. - He mumbled again, his eyes closed, his body relaxed and his mind going away into dreamland.

Strangely, his dream started with the feeling of a kiss on his forehead.      

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🌼Thank you for reading Chapter 21 <3 Happy 6 months with DEMOCRITUS<3<3<3

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Ela Shadow Rose 🥀

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