cold feet [1]

twenty one

third person point of view

Taehyung was now lying on Jungkook's bed with his arms wrapped up in clean bandages. The blisters had spread to his chest, so they'd had to strip his shirt to treat the rest. When Jimin had heard Jungkook scream he had dropped everything. By the time he reached the younger's side Taehyung was passed out on the floor, ghost white and blood soaked with Jungkook sobbing beside him.

"Jungkook, he'll be ok, help me carry him." But Jungkook had refused, convincing himself that he was the reason Taehyung was hurt. Even if Jimin knew the blonde's stubbornness and that it most likely wasn't Jungkook's fault, he didn't push the already fragile state his friend was in. So for the next three hours whilst Jimin cared for Taehyung, Jungkook remained curled up on the floor, face pressed to his knees as he continued to sniffle and sob beneath his breath. Occasionally a louder cry would escape, but if Jimin tried to comfort him he would bury himself deeper in his grief.

---

After several hours of the same painful silence, Taehyung woke and broke that tensity with a quiet pained groan. That caused Jungkook to look up with a spark of happiness in his dull and sunken eyes.

"Taehyung." He whispered happily, shuffling himself up from the floor and settling in beside the boy with a few inches gap to make sure he didn't hurt him again. The sudden appearance of a face above his made Taehyung jump, instantly regretting the quick movement that sent waves of pain through his limbs. "You idiot." Was Jungkook's next words which made Taehyung chuckle.

"I was never known for my logic." He croaked, lifting himself slightly so that he was sitting up. Once he had gotten comfortable up against the pillows he let his gaze fix on the younger playing with the corner of his blanket. "You said you would tell me." Jungkook snapped his head up.

"Really Now? You nearly killed yourself, and you want me to tell you now?" His expression seemed pained, unable to meet the elders stare, it was like the tables had turned.

"Yes, now. I didn't try to kill myself for no reason, something is hurting you and hiding it is helping no one." Something caught in the young raven's throat as he turned away. "Please, I don't care if you cry, just tell me."

"Okay." He whispered, taking a deep breath before finally beginning to explain what had caused the cries that had stretched 'til the dawn. "I was watching the news and a story came up about a young boy. They didn't mention his name or show any photos. But then I got a call from someone."  He paused, face scrunching up as tears streamed down the dried lines on his face from the hours of misery. "It was my sister..." He covered his face as he turned away, ashamed to let anyone see him cry, shaking with each attempt to stifle any noises that might make him look weak. "My nephew was killed... at 10 years old." He finished with the broken words before standing up from the edge of the mattress and leaving without another word.

taehyung's point of view

I sat, too pained to move both physically and mentally.

Well then. That explains why he's so upset.
You are terrible in these situations.

I looked around the empty room, taking in its features. The lighting, the decoration (which was little to nothing), the furniture. The thing that stood out the most was his wall beside his desk. Pictures of family and friends stuck neatly with little notes written underneath. One space was empty though. As my eyes trailed around the room, they came to rest on the picture frame Jungkook had been holding tightly.

His nephew?
Guessing so.

I reached over, just managing to get a grip on it and bringing the picture up to my face. It was dark, making it hard for me to identify the person in the frame. How I wish I hadn't.

Please no. Don't do this.
Too late.

jimin's point of view

Jungkook eventually emerged from the room with tears still falling down his face as he tried pulling his hoodie over his head. Catching his hands before he dropped them, I pull one over my arm to pull him into a loose embrace, fingers resting against the back of his head as I felt every shudder run through his body.

"I heard." I whispered quietly before bringing him closer so that I didn't have to raise my voice any louder. "I'm sorry."

"I want to know who did it, but my sister doesn't know yet." He whispered with an animosity in his voice I had never heard before, it frightened me to hear.

"For now, there is nothing you can do. You need to rest." The younger didn't bother arguing, letting me guide him to the couch. "Sit here for now whilst I get you some water, you'll be so dehydrated." Jungkook shook his head to deny the drink, laying himself down and curling up under the blanket. Then his eyes seemed to glaze over as he stared into the black TV screen.

---

As I finished making a cherry tea that I hoped he might enjoy a bit more than plain water, I heard a dull but loud thud come from the place Jungkook was now resting. With an immediate concern for my housemate, I put down the kettle and rushed back into the room to find Jungkook on the floor cowering with Taehyung standing above him. The body language from the one towering above him was clearly filled with malice, looking like he was about to snap, or had he already?

"Taehyung! What the hell are you doing?!" He turned to face me the moment I declared my presence, eyes wild and dangerous. I'd seen that look before. "Get away from him!" I yelled, running over to Jungkook and checking him for any injuries. I was not impressed when he proceeded to push me off then turn his attention back up at Taehyung.

"What is wrong with you?" Jungkook managed to ask calmly, not currently concerned by the clear gash along his face that now had blood trickling from it. Why was Taehyung attacking him? What had he done?

"Your nephew." He snarled angrily, fists curling tighter as he took a step forward. This time Jungkook scrambled back, eyes squeezing shut and flinching away from the aggressive behaviour.

"What about him?"

"He tried to kill me." Jungkook's eyes widened at the new information. "He was one of those assholes who pushed me in the ditch and beat the shit out of me." A sudden realisation hit Jungkook as his face drained of all colour and the tears stopped falling as shock took over.

It's not his fault.

"Why are you hurting Jungkook? He didn't know!"

"I- I did..." Jungkook stammered, still clearly in shock from Taehyung's explanation. "My sister told me he hurt people... I just never knew who..." Taehyungs eyes flashed dangerously and this time he attempted to launch a punch at Jungkook. I saw that internal shift and managed to push him away, watching as his body shrivelled up at the aggravation of pain on his existing injuries.

"Get away from him!" I screamed, pulling Jungkook back as my brain seemed to switch into survival mode. All I could think about was not letting Jungkook get hurt. But I couldn't stop the hurtful words that Taehyung continued to spit, lost in insanity and anger.

"He deserved to die. He deserved to be murdered. He's a sick kid who thinks its funny to hurt others less fortunate than him. He deserved every bit of pain coming his way."

He's gone too far.

I thought and I was right. Jungkook burst into tears and curled up into his knees, body shaking with violent tremors that echoed his screamed sobs. 

"Get out of this house!" I yelled at Taehyung, standing up and stepping toward the insane boy in front of me. My proximity brought a startling laugh to his face before he snarled with a violence that I felt in every nerve of my body

"With pleasure." Then I watched him storm out of the house whilst leaving his shoes and his jacket both at the door. After he was gone I pulled Jungkook into my chest, pressing my face into his hair as I kissed the crown of his head.

"It's okay, you're okay. Don't listen to him." I tried everything to calm the crying young boy but nothing seemed to stop the continuous flow of tears that insisted on falling at a rapid pace down onto his clothes and my own. No matter how uncomfortable it was, I didn't dare pull away. I couldn't leave him.

Fuck you Kim Taehyung.

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