Fire On Fire [TK]

(20) Let you know

"Listen to me now
I need to let you know
You don't have to go it alone"

❀

— V —

Jeongguk's steps echoed across the studio as he paced towards the exit.

"We'll continue the rest tomorrow," Sungdeuk nodded at them, then motioned to the staff to shut it down for the day. Taehyung, his mind already half out the door, walked out, looking around the building, going from door to door. He didn't have a large area to traverse, yet Jeongguk wasn't in any of the rooms or the studios. He tried calling him, but the line was busy until a lone door came into his peripheral vision. It was a supply closet turned into their stage clothes closet. Giving it one more shot, he strode to the door, turned the handle gently, then peered inside to find the maknae.

Jeongguk was moving from one corner to the other, walking in circles, his fingers tightly coiled in his hair.

"Jeongguk?" Taehyung called out, stepping in with light steps, a little unsure, then clicking the door shut behind him. "Jeonggukshi?"

Jeongguk turned abruptly, his hands still in his hair, his eyes wild and bright, narrowing dangerously.

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing," Jeongguk shot back, then turned around again. "Nothing at all, just–" he waved a hand, his smile taking on a manic shape. "Just taking a break."

"Are you okay?" Taehyung stepped towards him.

"I am fine." Jeongguk wavered a few steps back, his lips a thin line before he erupted. "I told you I am fine! I'll be out in a minute." And it was such an obvious lie, so thoroughly transparent, that all Taehyung could do was refrain from going over to him and calling him on it. The only thing that held him back was knowing how desperately Jeongguk wanted to believe that it was true. That everything was fine.

Except it wasn't.

His forehead was slick with sweat, and his eyes flitted from one point to the other, unable to focus.

"Jeonggukshi," Taehyung called out, keeping his voice level.

Jeongguk looked up and leaned back against the wall. He kept breathing, staring, his ebony hair falling across his forehead into his eyes, as Taehyung moved closer to him. After another minute, when Taehyung was directly in front of him, his voice came out in a croak. "Leave."

He sounded like he meant it, but his fingers betrayed him, closing around Taehyung's hoodie.

"No," Taehyung mumbled, a little helplessly. "I probably shouldn't." He couldn't leave Jeongguk here like this even if Jeongguk wanted him to, and Taehyung knew that he didn't. "I can't."

"Why?" Jeongguk's voice was pleading. "Why not? Why not leave? I'll mess up on stage and everyone—" he took a large breath, but it seemed like none of the air got into his lungs. Then he sank down against the wall on the hardwood floor. "And everyone will see what a disappointment I am!"

Taehyung looked at him, helplessly, unable to comprehend what to say. He had no idea what he was supposed to do. He stepped forward, bending his knees to kneel in front of the maknae, staring into those wide, frantic eyes, and whispered, "I'll stay." And then he was frankly taken aback by how easily those words came to him. He would stay for Jeongguk. He would do anything in a heartbeat if he asked for it.

Jeongguk rocked forward, as if he wanted to curl in on himself, and Taehyung moved without thinking, so his head leaned on Taehyung's shoulder instead. Taehyung lifted his arm to rest his palm on Jeongguk's back, and then felt Jeongguk's free hand wrap around his other arm. His fingers dug in a little too hard, but Taehyung didn't mind. He would probably let him do a lot worse than this if it meant he'd be all right.