pastel [3]

two

jimin's point of view

Why the hell is he back?!

It felt like my mind was playing tricks on me when I opened the door to see not only Jungkook's nephew held in the arms of an adult, but that the adult in question was none other than Kim Taehyung. The moment my eyes met his a dread filled my body with a strange mix of feeling like I was going to puke and never breathe again.

Then Jungkook called out to me from the lounge room, asking who it was. I felt frozen in time, staring at his golden hair and caramel skin, now significantly thinner and worn down. His physical features had not aged a day since the moment we watched him fall from the balcony. But there was a dullness in his once powerful presence that I noticed; a decay of the soul within a body frozen in time.

How could I tell Jungkook this? How could I walk back in and say "Hey the guy you have mourned for ten years and only just gotten over is at the door, want to come say hi?"

So I didn't, I tore his nephew from Taehyung's arms and slammed the door shut, falling back to the wall with the five year old still clinging to my shirt.

"Jiminie that was mean! We don't slam doors," he mocked his mother's voice, with a comical wagging of his finger.

"We also don't talk to strangers Tae," I gritted out the name of the child with a sudden spite towards Jungkook for insisting Areum call her son that.

"But his name is TaeTae too!" I shushed him and placed a finger to his lips, silencing him with a pout.

"Just... no more walking home from kindergarten okay? We will pick you up from now on." The little boy huffed, cheeks puffing out in annoyance.

"I like walking," he complained as I placed him back down on the floor, glancing toward the hallway where Jungkook was just metres out of ear shot.

"I know you do, but there are some scary strangers that I don't want you getting involved with." I ended the conversation at that, letting the boy go to do his homework at his mini desk in the dining room. He began to hum whilst he coloured in the words, seeming content and already moving on from the whole debacle. So I left him to it, walking back into the lounge to see Jungkook laid back on the couch with his tongue between his teeth, tactically weaving in between citizens in his game in attempt to spy on an npc.

Watching him be so concentrated on the game, determination in his eyes, it made me sick. Because what would happen if I did tell him Taehyung was at our door? If I didn't it would be a terrible lie, a secret that shouldn't be kept from him. If I did tell him I knew it would break him, it had only been about six months of him actually being stable, finally letting go of his remaining grief. So instead of saying anything I sat back down beside him, bringing a hand up to brush through his hair so that he smiled into that competitive grin of his.

"Tae home from kindergarten?" I nodded slightly, fingers grazing his scalp as he bit his tongue in frustration upon being spotted by the npc and being returned to the starting point.

"Mhmm, I think we should pick him up for awhile, I know it's close by, but just to be safe."

"Areum says its fine," he responded distractedly. "It's good for him and the streets are safe around this area, I would know," he added the last part with a smugness that made me chuckle.

"I know, it's just-"

"Jiminie!!!" The screeching voice of the five year old brought my hand away from my housemate, looking over to see Tae running into the room with a pleading stare. "Come help me and big T-"

"Tae shush!" I repeated desperately, turning back to see Jungkook give a subtle side eye before returning to his main focus. Thank gods for this videogame making him oblivious. I darted to my feet and pulled the boy out toward the door, now back open for me to see Taehyung curled up in the front garden with a face scrunched up in discomfort. "Please Tae, I don't want to."

"Grab your booboo bag! I promised you would help," I groaned, my efforts at trying to tug the five year old back inside failing miserably. So I grabbed my satchel off the hooks at the entrance and stepped toward the figure that was going to send me into a complete breakdown.

---

I couldn't work out if the sickness in my stomach as I walked back inside was shock or guilt. It was all too much to sit and stare at him for any longer, so I left the injured blonde on the garden path with a set of bandages and pain killers before turning and slamming the door shut behind little Taehyung and me. For extra measure I twisted the lock and pulled the security chain to hook it in place.

For awhile I just stood in front of the door, unsure of what to do. It felt like someone had climbed inside of me and was slowly twisting my insides, mind racing around all the possibilities of what Taehyung had endured in his ten years of death. He had quite literally been to hell and back, and a part of me wanted to know more. But life was easier without all of Taehyung's complex Roman shit, it had been ten years of no curses, no violence, no gods... and no Taehyung. The last one pulled me toward the door for a moment, only to fight against the urge until I stumbled back into the five year old I hadn't realised was still waiting patiently behind me.

"Uncle Jimin! You hurt my toe!" He wailed loudly, stamping his feet as he began to sob violently even though I had barely caught the end of his slippers. I crouched down with a sweet smile and pressed a kiss to his nose, wiping his tears with my sleeve.

"You're so strong Tae, I think even with a sore toe we could beat uncle Jungkookie"

"Ooo yes! Help me beat Kookie!" I smiled, letting the young boy drag me into the lounge room finding Jungkook now sprawled out on the couch with his controller smushed against his forehesd as he grumbled child-friendly curses towards the game that was clearly much harder than he had expected. For a moment, I paused, watching how relaxed and trivial it all was. What I had just experienced could send that all out the window.

"I hear I'm your new challenger." I called to break my own tension, earning a playful grin from the upside down raven as Tae jumped up onto his lap and settled in between his legs.

"Oh please. Challenge?" He laughed, making me clench my fists. I shoved him over, sitting down and picking up the player two controller.

"Wanna bet?"

"Sure." I stared at him, his stare not once quivering.

This is gonna end badly.

"Loser takes Taehyung to kinder for a week."

That's it?

I almost laughed. "And! Has to make the other food for the same time!"

Always more.

"Fine. Challenge accepted."

---

"Get me something to eat Jimin ah!" I groaned, slamming the controller down on the couch as loser flashed on my screen.

"I hate you."

"You love me." He teased back, with an emboldened sense of pride. I poked my tongue out at him, walking into the kitchen with his nephew clinging onto me from behind. Something that I had noticed change after the year spent with the original Taehyung was Jungkook's ability to actually feel love. Whilst it may have been a side effect to the curse forcing his feelings, it now meant he could genuinely love his family and be able to show it.

"Have a rematch uncle Jimin!" I untangled myself from the boy's grip and poked his side, earning a loud shriek of surprise.

"No, it's all good. Now I get to spend more time with you." I replied, pulling out a loaf of bread from the cupboard and getting out two slices. Taehyung climbed up the bench stool and sat on the surface, watching intently as I made a sandwich. "Would you like one?" He bit his lip as he thought deeply.

"Hmmm. No thanks." I smiled, gripping his cheek and squashing it as I walked past. The act earnt a whine from the younger who hated being cooed at. No matter what his reaction was, I'd always say,

"You're so cute."

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