THE HIDDEN ROSE | Taekook

7. I'll Never Let Them Hurt You|

Everyone was exhausted after the mission, each member of the gang feeling the weight of the day's events. One by one, they made their way to their rooms, leaving Jungkook, Hoseok, Heejin, and Taehyung in the private living room of the mansion. This floor was reserved for just them, a space where the others were not permitted.

Taehyung settled next to Jungkook, leaning against his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. He was mostly quiet, content to listen to the easy banter between Jungkook and Hoseok. Occasionally, he would chime in, his words soft and measured, but when he spoke, it drew the attention of the room.

Jungkook glanced down at Taehyung, his heart swelling with warmth at the sight of him so close. The gentle weight of Taehyung's head against his chest brought a sense of peace that Jungkook had been missing for far too long. The atmosphere in the room was relaxed, filled with a comfortable intimacy that spoke of their shared history and unspoken understanding.

Heejin, sitting across from them, couldn't help but smile at the sight of her cousin and her Tae bear together. She felt a sense of relief that they were finally reunited, their bond evident in the way they leaned into each other.

"Long day, huh?" Hoseok said, breaking the silence as he sank into an armchair across from them. He stretched his arms and let out a tired laugh. "We should celebrate that we made it through in one piece."

Jungkook nodded, running his fingers through Taehyung's hair absentmindedly. "Yeah, but I'm just glad you're both here now. That's what matters most."

Taehyung lifted his head slightly, looking up at Jungkook with a soft smile. "I missed you," he whispered, his voice barely audible but filled with sincerity.

"I missed you too," Jungkook replied, his gaze unwavering. In that moment, surrounded by the warmth of his family and the love of his life, he felt a sense of solace that he hadn't known in a long time.

However, beneath that solace lay a twinge of concern. While he was overjoyed that Taehyung and Heejin had made it to the mansion, a slight irritation bubbled under the surface. "But you two really should have let us know you were coming," he said, his tone soft but firm. "You can't just show up here without telling anyone, especially with the state things are in right now."

Hoseok nodded in agreement, a frown crossing his face. "Exactly! We've been on high alert ever since that warehouse incident. You could have put yourselves in danger. What if something had happened to you on the way here?"

Taehyung shifted uncomfortably at their words, and Jungkook felt a pang of protectiveness rise within him. He reached out to squeeze Taehyung's hand, a gesture meant to reassure both of them. "Look, I'm just glad you're safe now. But next time, please promise us you'll let us know if you're coming. We can't protect you if we don't know where you are."

Heejin bit her lip, looking between the two men. "I understand your concerns," she said, her voice steady but apologetic. "But the decision to come here was made in haste. I received instructions from him, and we had to act quickly. It wasn't safe to stay where we were any longer. I thought it would be better to come here, where we know we'd be safe."

"Still," Hoseok interjected, "you could have at least called. We would have made arrangements to ensure your safety during the journey."

Jungkook sighed, the frustration evident on his face. He looked at Taehyung, whose expression reflected a mixture of guilt and worry. "You know how this world works. It's dangerous out there, and we can't afford to take risks, not with everything that's been happening, specially not with your safety baby. We have enemies watching our every move. I just wish you had thought about that."