'Til We Meet Again | Taekook AU

Chapter 9

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What is he doing? Jungkook thought for the third time in his quest to discover the secret Kim Taehyung was trying to hide.

He had bragged to Jimin about following Taehyung and finding out his truth. But here he was, hiding behind a tree in a park that Jungkook hadn't got the name of, and watching Taehyung play with kids – sweet, adorable kids that knew nothing of dangers in life. In their presence, Taehyung appeared like any other human being, comfortable and utterly harmless.

Still, Jungkook knew to believe in Jimin.

His friend had warned him that Taehyung was anything but human, and he was here, watching the group with hawk eyes, to find out just how far inhuman this Taehyung was.

From the looks of it, these were homeless kids. He had followed Taehyung walk to a nearby convenience store and buy food, and head to this park. The kids had been overjoyed to see him, if as waiting for him to come to the park and hand over the food.

Maybe they had, Jungkook concluded. Taehyung seemed to know their names from whatever snippets of conversation Jungkook had caught while eavesdropping on them.

He felt guilty for spying on Taehyung like this, but with everything that had been going on he was left with no choice. Taehyung's reaction to his touch, and the way he had found Taehyung crying over a mirror and saying he couldn't lose Jungkook again – it had raised many questions in front of Jungkook. He didn't have answers to any, and going by his nature, he wouldn't have pursued this far if it wasn't for the sadness that seemed to Taehyung's constant companion.

Somehow, this sadness, this quiet pain, had affected Jungkook in ways he didn't know it would.

The helpless feeling in his chest had been abrupt and fierce, and his need to find the reason behind this unspeakable pain that Taehyung suffered from grew with each minute. He had raced to the elevator, leaving Jimin behind with only one sentence in mind.

He had to find out the object or person causing Taehyung such misery.

Jungkook followed the motto of being happy and trying his best to keep others around him happy as well. If Jimin was ever sad, he made it a point to cheer him up. And in doing so, his heart felt lighter, merrier and it left Jungkook in peace.

But now...

Now, Taehyung's defeated frame, that dark tragedy in his eyes, the quivering of his lips, everything pointed to some drastic change of events in his life that had snatched away his smile.

How would he look like with a smile – Jungkook wondered, and then stumbled in his steps. The thought had flashed by, catching him off guard. Where was this coming from?

He stared at Taehyung's figure, playing alongside the kids, jumping and racing around as the little ones squealed with delight and tried to catch his lanky figure. Of course, the kids were participating in a losing game, but they didn't mind and neither did Taehyung. They continued, minutes turning to hour and then another hour. Just when Jungkook was about to give up his following spree, an abrupt laugh erupted from Taehyung and he sat down, panting with the kids toppling over him.

"That's it for now. I'm tired." He whined in a cute voice, and the kids giggled.

Jungkook felt his mouth drop open and he didn't care if he looked like a dumbstruck creep to his bodyguard who still hadn't uttered a word after running after him, to this park.

A second ago, he had the thought and now he had seen the reality.

There was such a stark difference between the image in his head and the actual boxy smile on Taehyung's face that Jungkook couldn't help but shake his head. He hadn't done justice to the Taehyung smiling in his head. He was much more than just a pretty smile. That look of delight on his face, directed at the kids was pure, joy and everything good. And Jungkook wouldn't have dreamed of Taehyung being capable of it, if he hadn't witnessed it himself.

"Mr. Jeon?" His bodyguard called, tapping on his shoulder.

"What?" Jungkook didn't turn but paid attention to the guy next to him.

"Mr. Park called me, asking for the address to this park. He's on his way now, as we speak."

"What?" This time Jungkook faced his bodyguard, noting the tense posture of his body. "Why would you do that?"

"He insisted on knowing where you were." The man shrugged and waved a hand in the general direction of Taehyung. "He didn't mention that this person might be dangerous, and you need to stay away from him. I can't allow any harm to come your way, if it is the case."

"He's not dangerous." Jungkook felt the sudden need to defend Taehyung, though it wasn't as if the bodyguard was at fault or wrong about Taehyung.

If whatever Jimin had said was true, then Taehyung was a dangerous being.

"We don't know yet." His bodyguard was saying. "It's possible, this-" he pointed to the children, now getting up along with Taehyung and waving him goodbye. "This might be his cover and he might be trying to throw us off his trail."

The explanation sounded too drama-like in Jungkook's head and he had to chuckle. "Do you like watching crime related dramas? You sound like one?"

The bodyguard didn't take offense and stayed silent – a permanent shadow by his side. How did Jimin tolerate him? Jungkook wondered. He had made it a point to keep a bodyguard who could strike up an actual conversation with him, unlike this guy, Jimin's bodyguard, who was a bore as far as Jungkook was concerned.

"He's leaving." The bodyguard noted, and Jungkook turned back just in time to get a glimpse of another one of Taehyung's boxy smile as he disappeared around the corner of the park, leaving the kids to play amongst themselves some time more.

"C'mon." Jungkook beckoned to him. "Let's follow the guy, before he slips away."

"But, Mr. Park is making his way to the park right now."

Jungkook dismissed his worry with a wave of his hand. "Just keep him updated of our movements. He'll catch up soon enough."

They kept to the shadows, mirroring Taehyung's steps, and Jungkook hoped he hadn't discovered them yet.

Taehyung led them down the main road, a few blocks from the park, before he stopped at a cafe.

"You're kidding me right?" Jungkook muttered as he watched Taehyung buy coffee and some bagels, and walk out. He didn't eat it. Instead he turned to the alley next to it.

Jungkook was hesitant to follow him, but his bodyguard took a step forward, shielding his body from the view.

"I'll take a look first." He said, and Jungkook gave a slow nod.

Sure, he was all for acting detective, but the shadowy alley reminded him too much about Jimin's recent experience and he didn't want to be frozen in time, if whatever Jimin described as being Taehyung's power, was true.

"Oh -"

"What?" Jungkook's head snapped up, seeing the surprised look on the bodyguard's face. "What happened?"

He peered over his shoulder to see Taehyung hand the food to a beggar sitting at the mouth of the alley.

Jungkook sighed.

What was he hoping to see? Jungkook asked himself. It wasn't like Taehyung would expose his powers to just anybody. As far as his wild guesses go, he believed that Taehyung knew Jimin and had decided to expose his powers because of it.

But the kids and now this beggar, were still strangers. They were people who had witnessed his kindness but not his inhuman powers, if there were any.

Maybe he would only get to see Taehyung use his powers when he dimmed it fit, or when someone near or dear to him was in harm. Was Jimin the only one on that list?

Or was there someone else that Taehyung had in his life? Someone dear to him as Jimin?

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