Us, Against The World | Taekook

14. Safe place.

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"Jiminie! Let's go and get some Butter Chips!" Taehyung whined eagerly as soon as their practice ended for the day, hoping to unwind with his friend.

Jimin looked at him apologetically, wiping sweat from his brow as he downed a bottle of water. "Sorry, Taehyung-ah, I have to shoot the vlog."

The smile on Taehyung's face barely wavered, though a flicker of disappointment crossed his eyes. "Oh, it's okay. We can go tomorrow," he replied, brushing it off with a casual wave.

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During their break one day, Taehyung approached Jin, phone in hand. "Jin hyung! Let's play a game!"

"Sorry, Taehyung-ah, I have to shoot the vlog," Jin said, giving him a quick wave as he walked out of the room. "Let's play tonight!"

Taehyung stared at the door Jin had exited, his phone still clutched in his hand. The room felt a little emptier without the company he sought.

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"Hoseokie hyung, help me with this step, naa!" he pleaded, referring to a part of the choreography he wasn't quite sure about.

Hoseok glanced at him, a tinge of regret in his expression. "I have to film the vlog, Taehyungie," he said, before calling out to Jimin, "Jimin-ah, please help Taehyung!" With that, he was gone too.

Taehyung took a deep breath, his hand brushing his hair away from his eyes. He tried to push down the knot forming in his stomach, the one that came with feeling a bit...left out.
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"Jungkookie, where are you going?" he asked, seeing the youngest heading in the opposite direction just as they were about to start their release.

"You go on ahead, I'll be back after recording the vlog!" Jungkook shouted over his shoulder, already running off.

Taehyung stood there for a moment, his hands clenching tightly at his sides. He didn't like the way his heart ached, the sharp, stinging sensation of being sidelined.

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Inside studio, the lively voices of his bandmates echoed as Yoongi enthusiastically began the vlog. "Hello, everyone! This is Bangtan's vlog! Yay!" The others joined in, their voices blending in a cheerful chorus.

Taehyung was there, but he wasn't part of it. He had promised to remain silent, unseen, just a quiet observer in the background. The only reason he was even in the room was because he vowed not to make a sound, not to disrupt the flow of their filming.

As he stood at the doorway, watching them through the camera's lens, he felt an invisible barrier between him and the others. They were all there, sharing a moment, capturing memories. And he was...outside.

It was perfect, or at least it seemed that way on the surface. The camaraderie, the laughter, the smiles-it all looked flawless. But to Taehyung, something crucial was missing. He was missing.

Why was he the one relegated to the doorway? Why did it feel like the spotlight, which he had worked so hard to share, never quite reached him? Why did it seem like no one knew "V" as well as they knew the others? There were no messages for him, no moments dedicated to acknowledging his efforts, his presence.

He knew he wasn't jealous. How could he be, when these were his brothers, his family? But the ache was real. The emptiness of being overlooked, of being a shadow in the bright lights meant for everyone else, gnawed at him.