Stuck With You [Taekook ff]

43 | Landing On a Home Base

A/N
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Taehyung had raised the living area's window just a tad. The air was thick with the smells of Chinatown fried dough from street vendors, the faint scent of fish from the markets, and the heavy aroma of incense wafting from a nearby shop. Taehyung and Jungkook had been laying low for a couple of days, hiding in plain sight in one of New York City's busiest, most crowded neighborhoods.

Jungkook leaned back against the bed's headboard in the bedroom of the small Airbnb they had secured, wincing slightly as he shifted his weight. His body still ached from the blast he had survived only a couple of days ago. There were still cuts healing on his arms, bruises covering his arms, but most of the damage now lived inside him—the echoes of the explosion, the panic of nearly losing his life in an instant.

He felt Taehyung's gaze before he saw him.

"You okay, babe?" Taehyung asked him as he entered the bedroom.

Jungkook nodded, forcing a smile. "Just a little sore. But better."

"Are you sure? You wailed in agony in your sleep this morning when you tried to roll over. If you're hurting, take more medicine."

Taehyung stood near the window, fiddling with his new iPhone. The original one had been compromised, someone managing to bug it without them realizing until Taehyung had been called by Jungkook's acquaintance, Yerin. He'd taken the saved information out of the old phone so that he could throw it away while still at the store. He used a new email account and created a new Apple ID, per Jungkook's instructions, adding yet another layer of protection.

Whoever was after them was still watching, waiting for them to slip. And it was indeed a "them" now as Yerin let them know that whoever was after Jungkook, was after Taehyung now. So, that's why Taehyung had gotten a new phone, even ditched his iPad, anything to stay one step ahead.

"I hate this," Taehyung muttered, sliding the phone into his pocket. "I'm just gonna say it, I don't trust this Yerin person. She promised to help you, but it feels like every move you make, someone knows. I think she's keeping tabs on you but not for a good reason."

Jungkook sighed, his body tensing with the familiar conversation. Yerin was the only one from his past that was still alive. He knew she would never hurt him. She had always treated Jungkook like he was her son. Yerin was someone his family always trusted. Her loyalty was proven when she helped him get to the hospital after the blast. She even made sure he kept the two bags on him.

The go-bags now weighed him down—not physically but mentally. He was carrying around so much cash—a lot of cash. He had several credit cards. Taehyung was also alarmed at how much cash Jungkook had on hand. The total was almost one million dollars. Taehyung urged Jungkook to try to bank the bulk of it as soon as they found a safe spot.

Yerin had called Jungkook and warned them to leave the country after getting Taehyung a new phone, insisting they'd be safer somewhere far away, out of sight. But Taehyung refused. He didn't trust her, not entirely. And no matter how much Jungkook argued on her behalf, Taehyung wasn't leaving without going back to Washington, D.C. first.

"There's no way I'm missing Jimin's wedding," Taehyung had said for the hundredth time.

Jungkook chose not to argue with him any further, knowing it was pointless. He only wondered what Yerin would think as he blatantly ignored her advice. This would be the first time.

And so, they remained in Chinatown until the coming Friday, balancing between the comfort of each other's company and the constant anxiety of being hunted.