Shinigami (vkook)

19: The past

TP POV:

Jeongguk and Taehyung walk along the green lush grass. The flowers shining lightly in the moonlight. The slow breeze hitting their faces softly.

It was a serene night. But the turmoil inside Taehyung's heart was definitely not.

"I was a shy child growing up" Jeongguk suddenly spoke. Taehyung looking at him questioningly. It was supposed to be Taehyung's time to talk about his past, then why was Jeongguk doing it instead.

The raven smiled at him, something he rarely does. "You're having a hard time opening up Taehyung. I don't want to force you but you seem determined to tell me. Why don't you listen to my past while you prepare yourself to tell me yours?" The raven suggested.

Something about that suggestion made the brunette feel a lot lighter than before. So he smiled and nodded. He really needed the time to conjure up the courage. This wasn't easy to do.

Jeongguk hummed and continued then. "I was smart and sweet, giggling at everything. A joy of the house, at least that's how the maids described me before" he began. Taehyung couldn't even imagine such a carefree baby Jeongguk, the man before him was so different from that image.

"I know it's hard to believe. But I was. And you see, the mafia world has no place for a sweet innocent child. I had to learn that the hard way" his voice got lower, darker. The pretty picture he drew for Taehyung became ink black within seconds.

"I was probably eight, closer to nine. I found out my mother died. They told me she committed suicide" he whispered, his voice slightly pained, almost unnoticeable. Taehyung looked at him concerned.

The raven breathed deep, his eyes cloudy. "My mom was an amazing woman. She loved me to death. I can gladly say she loved me more than my older brother. He was an asshole just like my dad, following him like a pet mutt" he spat, eyes dark and words venom.

"My mom didn't commit suicide Taehyung. She couldn't. She was a kind woman full of love. So much so that my dad's darkness could never reach her. She told me she would get me out of that hell before she died. She'd never abandon me. And I found out later that my dad killed her. That's why she's not here or else I'd meet her." if Jeongguk was capable of crying now he would. But he can't. His tears dried long ago.

Taehyung squeezed their hands together for a gesture of comfort. "After she died my father started abusing me. Beating me up every chance he got, he didn't even need excuses. It almost felt like he'd beat me even if I breathed wrong.

And of course, Junghyun, my brother, loved seeing me in pain. That fuckface." Jeongguk held so much resentment in him, it was poisonous. Taehyung's hold on him tightening.

"He shaped me into this insane monster that he wanted me to be. I was abused in so many ways that I became numb. I don't feel anything anymore. The horrors he put me through only appear in people's nightmares" he took in a shaky breath.

"He pulled out my nails with pliers, cut the skin under those nails with a knife after. That was just only a part of the things he did to me. One of my first punishments ever" he said remembering his horrible past. He looked at his nails now, they had healed when he turned into a grim reaper. Now not a trace of that abuse remained.

Taehyung literally winced at the description. His eyes prickling with tears. "H-how old were you?" He asked shakily. Jeongguk look at him and smiled though it didn't reach his eyes.

"Ten" Jeongguk felt the air knocked out of him when Taehyung lunged forward and embraced him in a bone crushing hug. He could hear sobs coming from the other so he patted his back lightly.

It was far too long ago so the raven pretty much didn't feel anything anymore. But he understood that something like this would be painful for someone else to hear as well.

"It's alright darling, that monster isn't alive anymore. I killed him. His corpse wasn't even recognizable when I was done. Then I became the mafia boss everyone feared" he gave a menacing chuckle. His eyes crazed as he relished the time where he skinned his father alive.

Taehyung's sobs subsided soon but he refused to let go. His face still squished against Jeongguk's chest, "I was the son of a court official." He began. Jeongguk swaying them as he continued.

"I had a loving family. My mother was a sweetheart. My dad was amazing. I knew I could do everything and be anything and my parents would support me. My dad was highly respected in the king's court. Even the king valued him" Taehyung's eyes were cloudy as he reminisced.

"But the minister, he was one greedy man. The king was young and foolish so the minister controlled him like a marionette. And at that time the one who controlled the king controlled them all. It didn't take long for our demise to come" Taehyung shuddered just remembering the day his life went to hell. Jeongguk who was still tightly holding onto him felt him shiver.

"My dad was killed by the minister's assassins and it was framed as the work of the enemy continent. My mother was frail from birth. She couldn't handle the shock and died soon after due to heart attack. And I was left alone" Taehyung was now crying again. Jeongguk's jaw clenched in anger.

"T-they soon found out that I was capable of giving birth and the minister convinced the king to sell me off as the minister's son-in-law. Mingyuk is his son" Taehyung's tone was gradually going dark, you could feel his rage growing.

"That asshole" the raven seethed. "Mhm. They did whatever they could to try and break me. He went out of his way to make my life miserable. Simply because he wanted to. They would lock me up for days and feed me barely enough to survive. They'd beat me up, say some traumatizing things. It was horrible. Staying in that dark room all by myself" the brunette was shaking as he described his torture days.

"The last straw was the day Mingyuk tried to force himself on me. He wanted to use me then let him men have a go. That disgusting pig" Taehyung's voice was almost demonic, his eyes glowing blue from the sheer rage and despise.

Jeongguk didn't even realize he was clenching his fist so hard that it started to bleed.

"That moment I remember I thought, what was the point of all this? What did I do to deserve this? I almost thought of giving up. All the years that I prayed never brought me any sort of hope that I'd be saved. I thought.... should I just let them have their way? Will they leave me alone if I did?" Taehyung let out a strangled breath, his voice shaky and form trembling.

Jeongguk soon realized that he was trembling too. Such deep hatred in his gut that he never felt before.

"But then I heard his disgusting laughter Ggukie. And I was repulsed. There was no way I going to give that lowlife insect the satisfaction of getting what he wants. I thought, I'd rather die than give in. So I bit my own tongue and I choked on my own blood" Taehyung had a manic glint in his eyes as he held a steady gaze into the abyss.

Jeongguk shuddered at how unemotional that confession sounded. "Tae..." The raven whispered astonished. The boy in his arms was so tough, so strong that even the three realms would bow down. Such power deserved the greatest respect.

Taehyung was a warrior who fought till death and is still fighting beyond it.

"I swore during my last breath Ggukie. I'll make them pay. I'll make them all pay" the fire in his eyes could burn hell down, the determination in his heart could shake the heavens.

"You truly are the greatest Kim Taehyung" Jeongguk whispered as he embraced him closer if possible, his chest swelling up with pride because he called this respectable man his boyfriend.

Little did he know the latter thought the same.

💀💀💀💀💀

He stalks like a hungry raven,
His eyes ablaze with the fire of vengeance.

Beware beware he comes for you,
Waiting for his grand entrance.

- Marsalien