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21: feather light

Taehyung hissed a little when Jungkook applied the ointment on the cut on his lip. Jungkook was quick to blow on it, mumbling a quiet sorry.

Taehyung silently watched his mate tend to his wounds, a tender feeling enveloping his heart, which softened his gaze.

Jungkook looked up at the brunette when he felt him staring, his heart thudding at the emotions displayed on the other's face.

Taehyung closed his eyes as Jungkook reached up and held his cheek, softly caressing it. He leaned his head more into the touch.

"Why do you let her do this to you, tae?" Jungkook asked, his voice soft, not wanting to offend the other in any way.

While Taehyung just smiled, eyes numb as he stared at him, "she's my mother."

Jungkook frowned, "but-"

"I know. I know, Jungkook. But she's still my mother" He smiled bitterly, "I know I can defend myself just fine. I'm 18, I can handle an intoxicated woman in her mid 40s. But.." He gulped the bitter vile raising up his throat, eyes moistening with tears, "but...I still hope.." he reached out his hand, cuts on them that were now covered by the several bandaids, to hold the other's tshirt, "I still foolishly hope that maybe... maybe if I just take the hits and the insults obediently, she will feel pity for her own son's pain. Maybe she will start loving me as well, like everyone else's mother's does.”

He sniffled, "What did I ever do wrong? I just...I just want my mother to love me, kook, is that too much to ask? Do I not deserve it?"  Tears dripped down from his tired eyes, and Jungkook saw the broken child in it, who has only ever craved for love and nothing else. A reflection of his own self.

Jungkook pulled him in a hug, "it's the bare minimum you are asking for tae. Love is the one thing parents should always give to their kids. But not all parents understand that and we are the unfortunate one's to be born with those parents."

He stroked the other's head, voice as tender as possible, "it's not your fault— it was never your fault. Don't let your parents' inability to love their own child determine your ability to be loved. You deserve love just like anyone else."

"Jimin called me, he was worried because you didn't pick up his calls. Him and Yoongi were ready to get here in this rain because they were worried—because they love you. All of our friends, they love you so much, you know that don't you?"

"All of us care about you. Never think you are undeserving of love, tae, because you aren't." He pulled apart, leaving a feather light peck on the other's forehead and resting his own against his, "you deserve love, tae, and so much more."

And Taehyung cried against him, while Jungkook just pulled him into his embrace again, letting the other cry on his shoulder, while he holds him—his own eyes tearing up—whispering soothing words in hopes to make him feel better.

☆☆☆

"I want that ice-cream."

"No."

"Don't be so stingy. You literally have a whole tub of it in your fridge."

"Still, no."

Both of them took a warm bath and were now changed into new pair of clothes.

Taehyung kicked his legs into air, just to throw a tantrum, with a whine, from where he was sitting at the countertop. "But I want it!"

Jungkook looked up at him, just to see the other glaring at him, and chuckled, walking towards him and placing two cups of hot chocolate on the space beside Taehyung and touching his knee for a fleeting contact, "don't act so stubborn, baby."