body count | taekook

36| you were never supposed to leave

It was nice, everyone back together. Jungkook settling in with his group of friends once again, laughing loudly at the jokes Seokjin cracked, giggling when Yoongi threatened him with tickles and smiling fondly whenever he caught Taehyung's gaze.

Hoseok passed around a selection of crisps, everyone dipping their hands in, Taehyung taking a little more than a handful, Jungkook giggling as Yoongi scolded him, practically ripping the crisps out his hands only to take them for himself.

Bogum was there too, Seokjin practically sat in his lap, arms slung around him, cuddling deeply into his side. Bogum was rejected by his soulmate a few months back, Seokjin helping him fight off the dark wave of depression, before Bogum confessed his feelings towards the older, Seokjin instantly lighting up and accepting him.

"You should talk to him." Yoongi mumbled to Taehyung, the older gazing over at Jungkook, the way he scrunched up his nose with laughter, Seokjin's own squeaky laughter overpowering the room. "He missed you a lot."

Taehyung chuckled, shaking his head gently. "I'm sure he's got some American boy waiting for him back in New York."

Yoongi snorted, rolling his eyes. "You two are so infuriating sometimes. You clearly love him yet you're gazing over at him like he's your high school crush you're too afraid to talk too."

"I just want to go back." The younger spoke quietly, picking at the frays at the cuffs of his jeans, nibbling his bottom lip. "I shouldn't of let him go."

"We all regret some things Tae." Yoongi smiled sadly. "It's just what we do after we feel that regret that counts."

Taehyung nodded, still not convinced. Even as his eyes dragged over the room, landing on Jungkook's smiling face, he still felt a pang of guilt. Like he could've done more. "He looks happy."

"He would be happier with you." The older pointed out, smiling when Hoseok dropped down beside him, releasing a large sigh. He cuddle into his soulmates side, Yoongi running his fingers gently through his hair.

As the night came, most people left, Namjoon having physiotherapy early in the morning and Bogum and Seokjin wanting some alone time before they went to work in the morning. Yoongi and Hoseok stayed, snuggling up together on the sofa, Jungkook perched next to them as Taehyung anxiously rubbed his sweaty plans against his jeans.

"Tae?" A soft gentle voice that Taehyung turned too, meeting Jungkook's soft doe eyes, mouth slightly wide as he gazed up at him. "Are you okay?"

Taehyung bit his lip before breathing out his nose and shaking his head. "No, princess. I'm really not." Yoongi glanced over at him, giving a subtle thumbs up. "Can I talk to you? Privately?"

Jungkook hesitated before nodding a little, following Taehyung out of the living room and to the small balcony, the night air cold and fresh but the warmth of Taehyung was tempting enough for Jungkook to cuddle into.

"Is everything alright? Honestly you look like you're going to combust." Jungkook giggled, Taehyung smiling a little before swallowing harshly.

"I'm sorry." He mumbled, leaning back against the railing. "I'm sorry for letting you go and making you suffer. I'm sorry for not stopping you when you left for America. I'm sorry for ruining our last four months together before I go to Japan. And I'm sorry that I didn't even try and see what was wrong. I was selfish and that's not okay."

"Kim Taehyung!" Jungkook hissed, the older's eyes snapping up, noticing the fire burning behind the younger's eyes, tears streaming down his face. "How dare you apologise? What are you even apologising for? Making the right decision that I wasn't strong enough to make? Yeah, I hate the fact that I look back at those four months and I have no memories with you. But I love it, because I healed. Which is what we both needed."