Strike A Match ✓

SEVENTEEN

"Taehyung! I need your help."

At the sound of a well-known voice, the aforementioned turns around to face the owner of it.

"Namjoon-hyung! Hi. Of course, what do you need?" Taehyung smiles, pausing with what he was doing.

"You know how I asked you for your help last time, right? And when I said I owed you one?" He starts, and the younger hesitantly nods.

"Well.." The man clears his throat.

"Sadly, I got notified that when we went to retrieve those previous two people, we forgot someone.. meaning they've been in there and getting tortured for something they never did." He looks down with guilt.

Taehyung frowns, eyes slightly widening in worry.

"Oh no.."

"As you've probably already suspected, I have to go back there. I simply can't leave them there for so many reasons.. Will you come with me? Please? I know what I'm going to say next sounds bad, but I promise you I don't mean it as rough as it sounds─ truth to be told you've already dropped so many ranks, this one more time wouldn't exactly matter anymore anyway." Namjoon mutters, and Taehyung shrugs at that.

In fact, a laugh escapes his throat and he nods in agreement.

"Yeah, you're right. I've already dropped so many ranks, it genuinely doesn't matter anymore." He said, coming to realise it.

Actually, it's almost as if a weight lifts from his shoulders─ no longer suffocating him.

The elder furrows his brows, for some reason not being able to help but feel as if his words have a double meaning, his tone oddly light.

Still, he brushes it off.

"I'll help you, hyung. When do you want to leave? As quick as possible?" He responds, earning a strong nod from him.

"Yeah, if that's alright with you. I kind of want to hurry since I don't want any demons to harm the individual any longer."

"Alright, I'll be there. You can go ahead and wait at the gate for me, there's something I have to do first." Taehyung says, and without another word he dashes away in search of two faces.

In the end he finds them in front of the board, talking to each other in hushed whispers.

"Seokjin, Jimin!" He greets, running towards them with a small smile.

Before they get to process what's going on, they are engulfed in a giant hug.

"Remember I love you guys. Bye now!" He giggles, releasing them and ignoring the wierd stares he got in return combined with questioning glances.

He halts for a second, turning his head towards the ranking and laughing to himself seeing he is one rank removed from the dead zone─ probably what his friends were whispering about.

He proceeds to rush away, but before he exits the hall he turns around one last time.

"You guys wanted to know what's happening to me, right?" He smiles at Seokjin and Jimin.

"The devil is happening to me," He giggles. "And I don't want to waste any more time any longer."

With that he speed-walks towards a small golden gate, his wings fluttering behind him in excitement.

He feels nervous and somewhat doubtful whether this is the right decision or not, but his thoughts come to a halt when Namjoon speaks up,

"There you are! I was already wondering what was taking so long." And the angel couldn't help but get a flashback to the very first time he came along.

"Shall we go on?" He asks, and the elder hums in agreement.

This time he's the first one to step through the gate. He refrains his halo and white eyes from showing but like always, he keeps his wings securely in place.

He cascades downwards, embracing the warmth he's slowly starting to feel.

Within two minutes both of the angels are walking through the red hue, and Namjoon couldn't help but chuckle out,

"Let's just be straightforward about what we're coming to do this time."

Taehyung giggles, remembering what happened last time and nods his head.

"Yes, let's do that. That certainly sounds like a better plan."

The moment actual Hell comes in view, they both glance around to search for two certain faces.

"Not again.." Hoseok grumbles, annoyed and pissed off and he sighs in desperation.

"What now?" Yoongi mutters through gritted teeth, and Namjoon clears his throat.

"We've come to─"

"To retrieve? That's a first," Hoseok rolls his eyes, adding to his sarcasm. "Follow me."

The elder angel immediately trails after him, however Taehyung stays put to face Yoongi.

The demon squints his eyes.

"What?"

"I.. I actually came to see Jeongguk." He shyly admits.

"Jeongguk? Who's that? Never heard of him." Yoongi boredly looks at his hands, an almost invisible little grin tugging at his lips.

"Will you please take me to him?" Taehyung asks again, and this time the demon gives in.

"Fine, then.." He grumbles, starting to walk ahead.

The angel quickly dashes after him, having to refrain himself from laughing when he passes by Namjoon who looks at him as if he has gone mental.

Yoongi signs at him to wait around a corner, and only now do Taehyung's nerves peak.

"Sir, you have a guest." The demon announces, waiting for permission to bring him in.

"And who might that be?" A longed for voice reaches the angel's eardrums.

"Well.." The demon sighs, steps around the corner and yanks Taehyung forward, walking away immediately after.

"Little angel?" Jeongguk hurries to stand up, clearing his throat in surprise.

"What are you doing here?" He recomposes himself, tilting his head to the side.

"I.." Taehyung takes a deep breath in, locks his eyes with the devil and his heart makes the final decision for him.

"I came to do something I should've done way earlier." He confidently puts, watching as the male's eyebrow raises up, a smirk slowly appearing on his lips.

"And what would that be, pretty?" He mutters, taking a few steps closer to him.

"This."

And with that, Taehyung crashes into him, wraps his arms around his head and locks their mouths together─ finally caving in entirely.