Vengeance Is Mine | Kim Taehyung x Reader

chapter 18. dish

Ian watched Ellie storm out of the room, frustration in every step. His own chest was tight, weighed down with the same need to escape, to breathe, to forget. But instead of chasing after her, he dragged himself downstairs to the one place he usually avoided—the gym.

Pulling his hood low, he slipped on the gloves lying beside the sandbag. His fists met the leather with weak, distracted punches. One. Two. Three. His body was moving, but his mind wasn't in it.

A soft chuckle behind him made him glance over his shoulder. Jungkook leaned lazily against the glass door, arms folded, watching him.

"Ian," Jungkook said lightly, though his eyes were sharp.

"I want to be alone," Ian muttered coldly, turning back to the bag.

Jungkook hummed, unfazed. He didn't move. "Alright. I'll leave. But... at least show me what you've got before I go."

It wasn't a request—it was a challenge.

A smirk tugged at Ian's lips, but it was humorless. He might not live in the gym like Jungkook did, but his brothers trained him well. He drove a punch into the bag, harder than before. The impact startled Jungkook, who stumbled a little holding the bag steady.

"Oh?" Jungkook raised a brow. "That's more like it."

Ian's jaw clenched. He punched again. And again. Each strike harder than the last, anger bleeding through his veins. Images of their parents' grave, the cruel news broadcast, and Ellie's broken expression flashed in his mind. His teeth ground together as he kept punching, ignoring the sting, ignoring the way his gloves tore, ignoring the way his knuckles screamed in protest.

Jungkook called his name, voice growing urgent. But Ian was somewhere else—eyes glassy, breath ragged, trapped in his pain. His fists turned purple, raw.

In a split-second decision, Jungkook released the bag, slipped behind Ian, and wrapped his arms firmly around his waist. He dragged him back, both of them collapsing to the cold floor, Jungkook's back hitting hard. Ian struggled, thrashing, still reaching for the bag—until the sobs broke free.

Jungkook tightened his hold, pulling him against his chest. "It's okay, hon... it's okay. I've got you," he whispered against Ian's ear, voice low and steady.

Something inside Ian snapped. He turned into Jungkook's embrace, burying his face in his chest, his body trembling as sobs ripped through him. Jungkook held him tighter, rubbing soothing circles into his back.

"Let it all out," Jungkook murmured, over and over, like a mantra.

Ian's breathing was uneven, his body drenched in sweat. He gasped for air. "A-air..."

Immediately, Jungkook loosened his hold, steadying him while still keeping close. Gradually, Ian's sobs quieted, exhaustion taking over. When he finally pulled back, shame flickered across his face. Jungkook only smiled softly, taking his bruised hands gently into his own.

His heart clenched at the sight of Ian's battered knuckles. Without hesitation, Jungkook lifted them to his lips, pressing the gentlest kiss against the torn skin.

Ian froze, tingles running through his body. His breath caught as their eyes met—pain and vulnerability staring back at him. Jungkook didn't look away. Instead, he pulled Ian into another embrace, whispering against his forehead, "You'll be fine."

And for a moment, Ian let himself believe it.

Meanwhile, Jimin drove as fast as he could, knuckles white around the steering wheel. In the back seat, Taehyung held Ellie tightly against him. Her hands were bloodied, her breaths shallow and erratic. The screen on Jarvis displayed her vitals—rapid heartbeat, unstable rhythm. Anxiety attack.