Taehyung sat on Jungkook's lap, leaning back on him as Jimin and Jeongguk sat in front of him. He was scared to open up about Minji to Jeongguk, afraid to say things that no one knew, terrified to tell them anything.

"I-It really doesn't matter, it's not a big deal." He tried to tell them but they insisted he open about it. Taehyung didn't want to just spill it, it was good being bottled up inside of him.

"Taehyung, you'll never feel the comfort you should if you never talk about it. It's been like, what? Three years now?" Jungkook hummed, holding his boyfriend close on his lap, his arms securely wrapped around his waist.

"Yeah," Jimin agreed. "Close your eyes and imagine you're just talking to me. Remember three years ago when you told me what he did? You left some things out when you talked to me, tell me so I can help you out," he added on.

Taehyung followed and obeyed, closing his eyes. He took in deep breaths, calming down. He listened to Jimin's voice and his voice only. "Minji claimed he loved me back, I'm sure he did,"

"How often did he tell you?" Jimin asked, taking Taehyung's hand into his own, rubbing his knuckles with his thumb.

"Nearly everyday," responded Taehyung. He tried to keep a calm composure. "I loved him too, hyung, I did, you know I did."

"I know, Tae," Jimin breathed. "Remember the day he hit you? Or, well, when he punched you for talking to other people, even if you just wanted to say hi?"

"Yeah, what about it?"

"You said he had hit you other times. Did he ever punch you like that?" Jimin hummed, tilting his head to the side beyond the fact Taehyung couldn't see it.

"H-He never punched me like that, no . . ." Taehyung shook his head, trying to disappear in Jungkook's arms, using his hands to cover his face. He didn't want to be looked at as he spoke, a common thing for Taehyung but no one would ever know that since Taehyung never opened to anyone of such things.

"But he still hit you? How? How would he hit you?" Jimin's voice was soft and delicate, gentle to Taehyung's burning red ears. "It's okay, Tae, you know I don't judge you and never will, I love you too much!"

Taehyung giggled behind his hands. He removed his hands and opened his eyes, looking at Jimin. His honey-coated eyes had tears raised into them.

He wasn't hurt physically and hated crying for mentally but he felt like he couldn't help it. Taehyung let a sob slip his lips, his smile slowly going broken, his eyes drowning in the salty, warm substance.

"H-He would j-just hit me around . . . He, M-Minji-" Taehyung hiccuped, looking at Jeongguk, to Jimin, looking up at Jungkook, he was nothing but scared and nervous.

Jeongguk looked concerned, pity showing in his eyes and in his frown. Jimin looked to be giving Taehyung a reassuring look, and Jungkook's face was too hard to read to tell what he was thinking.

"M-Minji got a little angry at times, I never blame him. Surely violence w-wasn't the answer but h-he has issues and he c-couldn't help it," Taehyung shrugged. "H-He would slap me if I-I did something stupid, o-or if I messed up."

Taehyung was trying so hard just to spill it all out of his system. "If he punched me, i-it was only in the stomach or m-maybe in the thighs, never in my face . . ." He mumbled, trying to see their reactions.

Jeongguk decided to finally open his mouth after a small pause. "You were in an abusive relationship?" Inquired the older Jeon Twin. "And you, you still loved him?"

"Yes," Taehyung was quick to answer. "Beyond Minji hitting me, he was caring." He shrugged. "He cuddled and held me and made sure I was okay, he was my first boyfriend and took my virginity. Minji may have had issues but he always apologized and would make it up to me. He bought me flowers, he gave me baths, he was still caring believe it or not,"

"But he hit you-"

"So? I was stupid to not see how harmful he was and that's on my behalf. He couldn't handle his anger and I didn't do anything to help." Taehyung cut off what Jeongguk has to say. "I didn't leave him, I didn't stop him, I wasn't strong enough to go against him, that's my fault."

"Why do you insist on blaming yourself for his behavior?" Jungkook asked, looking down at Taehyung who looked back up at him.

Taehyung had iced Jungkook's lips and he insisted he would help him with the other bruises when they got back to the Jeon Twin residents.

"I don't blame myself for his disabilities if that's what you believe. If I angered him then I did, I also didn't leave him, that's my fault. He didn't hold me against my will." Taehyung claimed.

"But he beat you, he could've left," Jimin mumbled. Taehyung looked over at him, pursing his lips.

"He didn't beat me, I wasn't cowering in fear in a corner with him holding a belt traced in my blood," The dongsaeng answered, shaking his head. "S-Sorry," He hummed. "Surely he could've taken his l-leave but . . . I don't-"

"He also loved you back." Jeongguk said with no emotion. "You said he did and if he didn't love you then he would've left for sure. If hurting you was all he cared for then he would have left and bullied you or something."

"I guess," Taehyung looked away. "It's in the past now, he can't hurt me anymore."

"What? Did he move away?" Jeongguk asked. "I would've beat his ass if he was still here. He can't hurt you the way he did-"

"He died," Jimin cut off Jeongguk before he went too far and too extreme. "He died in a car accident three years back." He added softly.

Taehyung nodded. "He passed away. He was declared dead on the spot, he had a branch- . . . Never mind. He died, that's it." Taehyung turned and buried his face gently into Jungkook's warm chest. "There, I said everything I needed to say. Let's never talk about it again, I don't want to bring it up. I don't want to remember Minji. He's gone and no longer in anyone's life." He mumbled out.

Jungkook stroked his boyfriend's back with his hand, holding him close to him. He kissed his temple gently. "I'm very proud of you, don't worry about talking about it." He whispered. "I'm so proud of you,"

Jeongguk sighed, covering his face. "I'm horrible," he uttered to himself, having little knowledge of that fact that Jimin heard him clearly.

Jeongguk felt like a horrible boyfriend for the shit he said to Taehyung, and half the readers would be able to confirm that much. He was so upset he couldn't handle his anger well enough to just shut up. He didn't want to be the next Minji.

Jeongguk didn't want to be the one that brought back all of those broken memories of the deceased teen. He didn't want to hurt Taehyung mentally more and more with each thing he said.

Taehyung didn't deserve any of that. He wanted to be able to make it up to Taehyung somehow. Jeongguk didn't know what to do for him but he wanted to do something just to show to Taehyung his heart was in his hands.

***

"I feel like shit," Jeongguk said aloud, walking down the sidewalk with a sleeping red-headed boy in his arms and Jungkook by his side. "I didn't know Taehyung was hurt like that. I fucking hate myself for it."

Jungkook hummed. "Don't get to worked up. You know now and Taehyung forgives you." He shrugged lamely, brushing Taehyung's red locks.

The aforementioned was sleeping peacefully in Jeongguk's arms. Jungkook would've carried him but he didn't want to accidentally drop him or put too much pressure on himself.

Plus, the older twin wouldn't allow him anyways.

"I didn't know he was treated like that. I made him recall the fuck." Jeongguk growled, squeezing his arms around his boyfriend, holding him close. "I'll do better and make sure he's okay. No one will ever lay a finger on him unless it's me or you."

"That sounds fair." Jungkook muttered. "We can protect him, make sure he's okay. I would suggest switching classes to be with him all day but that's doing-"

"Too much? No it isn't. We should do just that. I'm done with being thinking they can just hurt him and get away with it."

"No one has gotten away with hurting Taehyung. Me or you beat them up." Jungkook chuckled in a raspy tone, looking ahead of him.

"Minji did."

"Didn't. Rest In Peace but he died." Jungkook added on quickly. "He hurt Taehyung and died. Now we're here and won't let anyone ever hurt him again."

Jeongguk just huffed, sighing softly. "I want nothing but the best for him." He said in a soft voice. "He doesn't deserve to be hurt. He's an angel. He's so pure and innocent. Sometimes."

That last part made Jungkook choke and then burst into laughter, giving his infamous bunny smile. "Sometimes, yeah, he wasn't so innocent being fucked." He commented, still laughing.

Jeongguk slowly joined in, shaking his head. "Whatever, let's hurry to our house and get him into my bed."

"Oh hell no, he slept in your bed like seven times now. It's my turn to have him in my bed." Jungkook shot at, narrowing his brows. "That isn't fair!"

"What isn't? That he rather sleep beside me than you?"

The slightly younger gasped. "You take that back! He likes cuddling with me!"

"Aren't you crippled?"

"You bitch, I'll kill you."

"I'd like to see you try, limpy,"

_____

Author Notes:
Sorry for the wait.
MERRY CHRISTMAS.