Lovely | BTS ✓

6

The unfamiliar surroundings are proving to be a hindrance to Taehyung; the scent of the pillow beneath him is not the smell of home. The sounds outside the estate are not the gentle breezes that would lull him into dreams of a life where his father could walk across the room without losing his breath - dreams of a life where he didn't need to work himself to death's door to make sure his family slept with full bellies. The sounds he can hear now are the ominous creaking of the trees around him, gusts of wind causing the foundation of the house to groan in protest to the chilly autumn air.

Though as badly as he wishes he could be back home with his family, he pushes that pain to the back of his sleepless mind, the forefront of his thoughts being that he is doing this for his family. With his two older brothers enlisted in the military, he is the only one who can step up and take care of the two people who raised him with so much love and comfort.

Taehyung swings his legs out of the bed, shoving the blanket away from his warmed body as he puts his slippers on, not interested in gathering dust on the soles of his bare feet as he wanders through the house.

Sleep is not visiting him tonight; perhaps it can't find him under the twisted branches of the trees surrounding this darkened place.

His gentle footsteps guide him out of his bedroom, door creaking as he opens it and walks toward the kitchen, deciding he can tire himself out by tidying up the space.

Thankfully, the kitchen and dining room aren't as dirty as the rest of the house - seemingly, August has been taking care of the areas he tends to use most often such as the kitchen, dining room and his bedroom from the peek he had into the room across the landing from his own room - so it won't take him too much effort. Just enough to keep his mind off things and maybe tire himself out to the point where his body is too heavy to entertain the worries biting at his conscious thoughts.

Taehyung winces as the floorboards creak beneath him, his eyes squinting in the absolute darkness. He doesn't want to turn on any lights on his way downstairs just in case he wakes August; it could come off as odd for Taehyung to be aimlessly wandering around his house the first night he is there.

Taehyung's hands are stretched out in front of him, not comfortable enough with the layout of the place to be able to be confident in his ability not to run into anything.

He slows his pace when his fingertips come into contact with a cool, smooth surface, and Taehyung knows he's reached the painting just above the staircase. He knows this because the wood of the frame, accented with gold, is dust free and smells of wood polish.

August treats this as his prized possession, and Taehyung understands why. This is all he has left of his twin sister, and if Taehyung lost a member of his family, he would hold everything close to him that reminded him of who he loves most.

His head subconsciously turns toward the art hanging on the wall, not able to see it but his senses pull him to it anyway.

A gentle scent fills his nostrils, and he inhales, his eyebrows furrowing.

The painting smells like flowers; like there is a garden hidden just behind its canvas, inviting Taehyung to step right inside the world where Amelia waits with roses on her cheeks.