viridity. kth x jjk / vkook

final

KTH | 1:04 p.m. | apt. 07

"can taehyung stay with us?"

jungkook's voice came timid and unsure, his eyes hopeful as he looked from seokjin to namjoon to hoseok.

"stay with us?"

"yeah. like," jungkook paused. "like... live with us."

taehyung didn't even look up from the table, too afraid that the answer would be no.

"i'll pay part of the rent, i have a job," he said. "and i don't mind sleeping on the couch."

"did something happen at home?" seokjin asked.

and taehyung hesitated.

he didn't want to open up to the other boys just yet. it wasn't like he knew them all that well, and he didn't want to worry them with his own problems. so taehyung took a breath of relief when jungkook answered first.

"yeah, just some issues with his dad."

and taehyung could tell that the words felt heavy in jungkook's throat; could tell that jungkook wanted nothing more than to explain the full weight of the 'issues' and not reduce it to something so vague and simple.

but he also knew that jungkook understood that taehyung wasn't ready yet, so he knew it would be alright.

it also didn't take much to convince seokjin, namjoon, and hoseok to let taehyung stay with them for the time being, and lunch went by quickly after that. they ate, cleaned up, and then separated to attend to their own things, the three boys each disappearing into their own rooms leaving taehyung and jungkook curled up together on the couch.

"jungkook?"

"hm?"

"can we stop by my place?"

jungkook's face fell and was instantly etched with worry and something taehyung could vaguely make out as fear.

"why?"

"i need to get some things," taehyung said. "my dad probably isn't home right now. i'll be in and out in five minutes."

jungkook took a few breaths as he played with the hem of his shirt. "are... are you sure?"

JJK | 2:35 p.m. | apartment 263

"if i'm not back in half an hour, call the police and wait right here, okay?"

"tae-"

"don't come in. promise me jungkook."

jungkook had tried reasoning with taehyung, and then turned to begging him to let him come too. he felt worried letting taehyung go alone, knowing how defenseless the boy would be left if his father was home for whatever reason.

but taehyung had refused, sending a not-so-reassuring smile jungkook's way before walking off, and jungkook felt a lump in his throat that seemed to not go away.

it had been twenty minutes since taehyung had left, and jungkook rubbed his eyes, heart beating rapidly because if taehyung was alright, he would have been back by now.

it was right then that his phone rang, and jungkook sensed that it was something urgent. a sickening feeling filled his stomach as he picked up his phone.

"taehyung?"

"jungkook..."

his breathing was heavy, raspy, and there were distant noises in the background of a man shouting curse words and profanities.