love me (me) [vkook/taegguk]

[part ten] chapter thirty eight - terrified

"Taehyungie, come on," Vantae pleads, clasping his hands together desperately. "It'll only be for a few weeks."

Taehyung doesn't bother turning his attention away from the drama that he's currently watching. "You're a psychopath, and I don't know how we're related," he grumbles, getting more comfortable on his pillow. "Wouldn't it be easier to just tell the truth?" He drawls in a bored tone.

His twin petulantly juts his bottom lip out. "No, I don't really see how me telling the rapper from Disney's Let It Shine anything about this situation would help," he answers seriously, earning him a thump on the forehead.

They're back at Taehyung's after a long and exciting day– exciting for all the wrong reasons, of course, since most of said excitement came from watching Vantae try to skate at the roller rink with all the grace of baby impala learning to walk for the first time, which, when paired with his amazing ability to space out any and everywhere, caused him to slip and nastily twist his ankle and have to be rushed to the emergency room with a wailing Jimin, a freaked out Hoseok, and a Namjoon in full-on Dad mode.

His hyungie whines as he drops his head onto his shoulder. "I'm sorry, but you know that I use weak attempts at humor as a deflection tactic," he pouts.

Tae switches the TV off to finally give V his full attention and arches an eyebrow at him. "And what exactly are you trying to deflect from right now, Van-ah?"

His brother doesn't answer straight away, taking a minute to fiddle with the rings on his fingers, seemingly nervous, before he eventually quietly replies, "The fact that I'm terrified?"

Taehyung wasn't expecting that. He shifts on the bed so that he can take a look at his face. "Of what?"

"Of EE deciding that I'm not worth the wait?" Vantae refuses to meet his eyes. Tae's eyebrows immediately furrow in bewilderment.

"I mean, I don't– I don't think that Jinnie-hyung would, as mad as he'll probably be at me if he finds out," V rushes out, his lips catching between his teeth, "but he's not the only one who can make that choice, you know?" He swallows harshly. "The choice to let me go? To ultimately not let me debut?"

"I mean, there are so many people who would do anything to be in my place, Bear, and here I am, potentially fucking this incredible opportunity up by being so careless," his twin shakes his head as he glares at the cast wrapped around his ankle, but he seems more angry at himself than anything, "and I– I'm nothing special, Tae. I'm completely replaceable. What if they finally realise that?" He exhales shakily. "What if they don't want me anymore?"

Taehyung can't believe what he's hearing. "What? You are not replaceable, V," he protests in incredulity, "and you're the specialest."

"That's not a word." Vantae rolls his eyes. "Also, no you." He playfully pokes Tae's stomach, but he sounds so, so dejected.

"Shut up," Taehyung grabs his finger and tugs on it, "and stop talking shit about my favourite person," he scolds. "You are worth the wait. They'd be stupid to let you go, and you're going to debut."

"You don't know that," V insists.

"Yes, I do," he promises firmly. "Because you've worked so hard for this for so long, and you deserve it, Tiger, and this is meant for you." He grasps both his twin's hands and holds them within his own, kneading them in reassurance.

"It just feels like I'm so close, Tae, and I can't imagine..." Vantae breaks off, squeezing his eyes shut.

And Taehyung would fight the world for him, so, "Okay," he declares before his brother can say anything else.

V's eyes flutter back open, only for them to be swimming in confusion. "Okay?" He asks.

"Okay," Tae repeats with a nod, squeezing his hyungie's hands once more. "How are we going to do this?"