Lovely | BTS ✓

5

Taehyung takes a bite of the soup, grateful for a warm meal while the autumn air chills their dark corner of the world.

"Is it okay?" August asks, his own spoon in his hand as he watches Taehyung with gentle eyes.

"Delicious," Taehyung says, nodding gratefully. "Where did you learn how to cook?"

"My parents took great pride in being the best in everything," he says. "Having the most beautiful home, having the most accomplished children and things of that nature. Amelia and I spent years learning to play instruments, play sports and learn skills such as cooking and painting."

Taehyung hums. "Did you paint the picture at the top of the stairs?"

August laughs, and for some reason, it makes Taehyung's muscles tense for a moment before relaxing. "No. While my sister could paint beautifully, I never could quite figure it out. Cooking became my forte while my sister found hobbies in everything. She was very talented, in every sense."

"Where are your parents now?" Taehyung asks, and August sighs.

"They died alongside my sister in a horrible accident six months ago," he says, his voice soft. "All at once, I lost my entire family. My sister - she was my best friend, my other half. Being her twin, it felt like I lost a part of myself that was essential to surviving. Now, I just feel like an incomplete painting, like the painter forgot to finish my canvas and left me to waste away."

"I'm so sorry," Taehyung says. "I can't imagine losing family like that. I wouldn't be able to live without them."

"Tell me about your family," he says, his spoon mindlessly stirring his soup. "What are they like?"

Taehyung smiles, an ache in his chest. "My dad works a lot, his hands calloused and bruised to make sure we had food on the table; admittedly, my mother would burn the food on accident a lot, which is why I taught myself how to cook so we wouldn't have to force down any more overcooked chicken."

August smiles, spooning a mouthful of broth into his mouth.

"I have two older brothers who found a hobby in using me for their wrestling practice," Taehyung says, his lips quirking upwards. "Now that I'm more grown up, it's much for fun for me than it was when I was younger."

"It sounds like you have quite the perfect life," he says, and Taehyung's smile drops.

"Right," he says, turning his attention to his soup bowl.

"What is it?" August asks.

Taehyung sighs. "My dad got sick. Pneumonia, to the point where he nearly died. Now, his body is different; he can't work as much as he used to and my family is finding it harder to live comfortably because so much less money is being brought home."

"Which is why you're here," August concludes and Taehyung nods.

"If I do this, I can find a way to take care of my family for the rest of their lives," he says, resting his chin in his hand.

"That's a wonderful thing to do for your family, Taehyung," August says. "They're lucky to have you."

Taehyung smiles, the faces of his family burning in the back of his mind as he finishes eating his dinner.