take two | VMIN | BTS

bad blood

"I didn't expect to see you here, Taehyung."

"Good evening, Father." Taehyung acknowledged, dropping into one of the squashy armchairs, that provided comfort that his parents never would.

He was in the library of the Kim Mansion, the venue for this formal family gathering. Kim Taesung, his father, sat at the head of the old teak table his grandfather had built, waiting for the rest of the family to arrive. Taehyung sat in the armchair by the fireplace, close enough to converse, far enough to draw the invisible line between them.

The library, like the rest of the mansion, exuded an air of opulence and sophistication. Towering shelves lined the four walls, stacked with rare and antiquarian books. The scent of aged leather and polished wood mingled with the faint aroma of the delicious spread that was laid out for their meeting. Why so much food was set out for this 'high tea' when no one would be eating was anyone's guess.

He didn't think 'tea' would even be an appropriate term, as his father had stood up to go grab himself a whiskey and soda.

The Park family, minus Jimin and Grandpa Park, were hardly an impressive bunch. But still, Taehyung felt like despite how terrible they were, his family was worse. Would Jimin run away once he was forced to make their acquaintance? Could he take Taehyung with him, when he inevitably did?

"Oh wow," a voice drawled from the entrance of the library. It was his stepbrother, Jeon Jeongguk. "Our big brother returns to these hallowed halls."

He sauntered in, followed by his mother, Jeon Yoonmi, aka Taehyung's father's mistress.

"Our Taehyungie," she giggled, voice high-pitched and annoying. "What brings you here? And don't tell me you are hear to go over a guest list for a party you have no interest in attending. Cause I won't believe you." More giggles followed.

Taehyung's face was neutral, but internally he cringed. He knew Yoonmi was putting on her 'little girl' voice for his father, and beyond it being grating, it felt inappropriate too. Taehyung didn't feel the need to acknowledge the jab.

So he didn't. He didn't respond to either Jeongguk or his mother.

This act of inaction had the mask from his father's face slipping. His jovial fake smile faltered for a nanosecond. Taehyung knew he wanted to rebuke him for his rudeness, but since Taehyung hadn't actually said anything, it was difficult for the older man to correct him.

Any further standoff was put to a quick end, when the tick-tick of Taehyung's mother, Kim Mari's, signature kitten heels could be heard in the distance.

Soon she joined the circus too.

"Great, everyone's here." Her voice was clipped and clear.

Her assistant, one that Taehyung didn't recognize, followed behind with a large binder. Kim Mari went through assistants like Taehyung went through socks. The only constant in her life, in terms of assistance, was his own assistant Amber Liu. But they had their own arrangement that Taehyung preferred to stay as far away from as possible.