LOVE YOU TO DEATH | TAEKOOK

7. Frozen

*content warning for adult themes, reference to violence and unlawful behavior, reference to suicide*

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NYT Front Page News: Award-winning actor Park Jimin and author JJK have both been arrested for the same homicide. JJK is expected to be released on bail with a plea hearing set for this week. Law enforcement has been tight-lipped about the identity of the victim and no details have emerged about cause of death.

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When Jungkook stepped into the suite the next day, he was tired and filthy. He had sat in a cell with a dozen or so other people for way too long. All of whom had been waiting to be released, or waiting for their lawyers, or just waiting for something to happen.

He had been there for two nights, which felt like two nights too many and it had started to get to him. He wondered how much longer it would be. A day? A year? The rest of his life?

Sejin didn't even attempt to speak to him on the ride back, he only walked Jungkook to the car and sat next to him in silence, both fatigued and frazzled from the few days of waiting.

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When Jungkook dragged himself off the elevator and through the door to the suite, he was bracing himself for the inevitable onslaught of questions.

Sejin had gone to his room to shower and sleep, brushing past Jungkook with a nod and a hushed command to stay inside.

Taehyung and Soomin met him at the door almost as soon as he walked in.

He paused, looking at both of them in mild confusion, as though he didn't understand why they would be there together, but he shook it off quickly to meet Taehyung's eyes.

Jungkook's shoulders dropped as he searched the older's face for meaning before walking past him.

Taehyung's first inclination was to pull him close, stopping himself short when it seemed like Jungkook wasn't heading for him. Instead, he put a hand to the younger's arm, softly greeting him as he walked by, right into his mom.

Jungkook trudged into Soomin's arms, inhaling the comforting scent of her perfume, allowing her to squeeze him tight, "I'm really gross. You probably don't want to touch me," he whispered into her shoulder, making a quiet whimpering sound as her arms settled around him.

Soomin looked like she was trying not to cry, "Oh honey, I don't care. I've seen worse. I'm just glad to see you, baby," she murmured, unwilling to let him go.

Without another word, and without looking at either of them, Jungkook robotically righted himself and walked off.

He scrubbed every part of himself two, and then three times in the shower, washing his hair and face again and again. As he finally got out of the shower and glanced at the mirror, he couldn't help but grimace.

When Jungkook found Taehyung waiting in the adjoining office, he set his jaw and turned around to dress.

"Um, excuse me, what happened to you?" Taehyung hotly demanded, crossing his arms and raising a brow.

Jungkook pressed his tongue into his teeth and breathed through his nose, "About what it looks like," he admitted with a stiff and staticky tone.

Taehyung turned his head to one side as his imagination ran wild, "Koo, you're covered in bruises. I think you should see a doctor, that one on your side is really bad. You might've broken some ribs," he suggested, deep lines of worry on his face.