Lovely | BTS ✓

13

A gentle knock pulls Taehyung from his nap, his face buried into his pillow as the covers entangle around his limbs.

"Yeah?" he mumbles into the pillow, his hand moving to massage his burning eyes as he forces himself to sit up. He runs his fingers through his hair, trying to tame the shaggy mess just as his bedroom door opens and August peeks his head in.

"Can we talk?" he asks, his voice back to the gentle tone Taehyung has grown to know instead of the harshness he used earlier.

"Sure," Taehyung says, and August moves into the room, sitting down next to him on the bed.

"I'm really sorry for earlier," he says. "I took a walk around the woods for a while to collect myself, and I realized I took out my anger on you for no reason. I understand you didn't know about sunlight on the painting. It's my fault for not letting you know that's why I keep the curtains pulled closed."

Taehyung nods. "It's okay, really. I'm sorry if I caused any damages."

"It's still just as lovely as she was," August says, sending Taehyung a small smile. "I just really miss her. And that painting is all I have left of her when she was alive and so beautiful, so I take special care in making sure it stays as perfect as she was. If I lose that painting, it would feel like I've lost her all over again."

"I understand," Taehyung says. "I promise I'll be more careful. It's really beautiful; I'd hate to be the reason for it to be less so."

August smiles, reaching his hand up to pat Taehyung's shoulder. "How about I make us some lunch? I've worked up quite an appetite after walking for so long."

"Sounds good," Taehyung says, and August stands, moving to the door as he turns to look over his shoulder.

"I really am sorry for how I acted," August says.

Taehyung smiles. "It's okay."

August starts to walk away toward the stairs, but the question nagging Taehyung in the back of his mind slips from his lips, halting August in his tracks.

"Do you ever hear any weird noises around here?" he asks. "Like, aside from the normal groans of the foundation."

August stands completely still, his head turned away from Taehyung as his body tenses.

"No," August finally says after an uncomfortable silence.

Without another word, August walks away, his footsteps echoing in Taehyung's ears as he goes to the kitchen.