Trusting (KTH)

Chapter 41

Namjoon was just getting Taehyung to sit down on the bed when Clara slipped in the door behind him.

"Hey Joon, I can take care of it. I know there is a lot going on and you need your rest too." Clara tried to sound confident but she could tell Namjoon didn't fully believe her.

"Or I could stay. I've dealt with drunk members before, there is no need for you to strain yourself."

"No, I think it is best if I stay. But if you don't mind sending Dr. Park when you get a moment please."

Namjoon nodded shortly. "Ok, I'll send him over in just a bit." Namjoon moved over so Clara could position herself in front of Taehyung and take over.

Clara couldn't help but feel anxious. She just couldn't get the idea that everything she did, every interaction with Taehyung, or the twins, or her family, no matter how private, might become the next night's headline news. Right now she felt she had no choice but to take that risk. Taehyung really was in a mess and needed help.

"Tae, can you scoot up on the bed for me a bit? I'm going to take off your shoes."

Taehyung complied, collapsing backward on the bed as soon as he shifted.

Clara gently removed his shoes and then gave him a once over. His eyes were closed and his arms splayed awkwardly on the bed.

"Tae, you need to drink some water. Give me just a minute." Clara went to open the mini fridge in the room to grab a water, not wanting to take the time to grab one from the main suite. As she opened it she could see that the liquor bottles had largely been emptied out. She assumed the remnants were likely in Jimin's room as a testimony to Taehyung's rough night last night.

Returning to Tae she tried to help him sit up. While he wasn't very helpful at first, he eventually could be moved and slumped himself over on Clara who supported his balance.

"TaeTae? I need you to drink this please. Can you do that for me?" Clara tried to sooth him with a quiet voice and fingers gently running through his hair. While it took a while eventually he agreed, slowly drinking the whole bottle.

"Good job" she whispered to him. "Now how about you lay down and rest?"

Taehyung laid back but squirmed uncomfortably. She saw him trying to unbutton his shirt, eventually abandoning and moving to his belt which similarly seemed too difficult for him to get off.

Clara reached out to help him unbutton his shirt but he grabbed her wrist tightly. "No, you can't. Only my wife can undress me. But she hates me right now."

She could see the tears beginning to spill from his eyes again. She gently wiped them away while trying to shush the sad boy laying in front of her.

Taehyung continued to mumble. "Have you met Clara? She's...so good. So so so so good. Too good for me. I'm afraid she is going to leave me and find someone better. What if she does that? What will I do? I can't live without her."

Taehyung moved into mumbling incoherently while Clara returned to his shirt, slowly unbuttoning and allowing his shirt to fall open. She encouraged him to sit up so she could slide the shirt off his shoulders, caressing his skin as she did, hoping he could rest more comfortably without the constraining fabric.

As he sat up he seemed to recognize that she was his wife for the first time that morning. "Oh hey Clara, when did you get here?" She could tell he was trying to play it cool but failing miserably.

"Just relax Tae, let me help you and then you can get some rest."

Taehyung pouted but laid back and allowed her to help him remove his belt. As soon as she was done he started to wiggle around again, reaching for his pants to unhook the waist.