Taehyung was the last awake out of the three, fluttering his eyes open to find Seokjin sitting across from him with his nose in a book. His large, round glasses sat on the bridge of his nose as his hair fell loosely over the frames. The younger blinked a few times to wake himself up a bit more before he scanned his surroundings for the youngest who was nowhere to be seen. A soft voice caused the boy to move his attention quickly back to Seokjin, tilting his head slightly as he sat up.
"He's not here, Jiminnie asked Kookie to go shopping with him since Yoongi was busy." he stated calmly, lifting his gaze from his book momentarily before looking back over the off-white pages again.
"Ah." Taehyung nodded slowly, standing from the couch before walking to the bathroom to relieve himself. Once finished, he paused in front of the mirror and stared at himself. He looked better than before. The dark circles were disappearing and his cheeks weren't as sunken in. Though he looked better, he felt somewhat empty. It was something he couldn't explain fully. He felt like something was missing, something was still.. broken.
--
Jungkook was out all day, and had called to tell the two that he wouldn't be home until late due to he and Jimin joining Hoseok for dinner. Taehyung sighed internally, missing the younger's company already. The day passed by too slow, making the boy anxious. The sun had begun setting, and Taehyung had enough of sitting around. He went to look through the clothes Jungkook had set aside for him to borrow, picking out some black skinny jeans and a black hoodie which he placed over a smaller white t-shirt that he found, unlike the baggy ones the younger preferred to wear. He slipped his shoes on and went back out into the main room, stopping in his tracks when he heard footsteps behind him. "Taehyung-ah? Where are you going?" Seokjin asked, stepping closer to get a better view of the younger's face.
"Out. I won't be long, don't worry hyung." he reassured, giving him a slight grin.
"Don't do anything I wouldn't do." the older sighed, patting his shoulder. Taehyung gave a slight glare and pout before quirking his eyebrows to his hyung and giving a pouted smile. "Yah, I won't. I can handle myself just fine, hyung.."
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The older simply chuckled, shaking his head. "Go, and don't stay out too late."
"I won't, eomma." he waved his hand to the older before turning to leave the house.
--
He didn't know where, exactly, he was going. He needed fresh air. After being cooped up in a hospital, and then in the house, he was done. Being anywhere but there helped his anxiety, to some degree. Taehyung walked down the quiet streets, watching as the sun faded completely from sight. The air grew colder, causing the boy to shiver slightly. His jacket wasn't warm enough, but he would deal with it. His hands ached, making him pick at the bandages slightly before he let out a groan when he couldn't rub the pain out. Finding a nearby bench, he sat and pulled the sleeve of his jacket back. He tugged on the hem of his bandage, slowly unraveling to reveal the soft, sensitive skin beneath. He continued removing the wrap until it got to the point of his scar, making him wince at the pain of the cold air hitting the wound.
Inhaling deeply, he continued and removed the bandage on the opposite arm, which gave him the same shivers and pain. Trying his best to ignore it, he pulled his sleeves down again and stood. As his walk continued, the muffled beat of loud music caught his attention and lured him in, along with the brightly colored neon sign above a large door. He walked closer, pulling the door open to a rush of warmth and the smell of sweat mixed with alcohol. It was a club, and he knew that. Shrugging off his own gut instincts which were practically screaming at him to leave the vile place, he trudged through the crowds until he found an empty seat at the bar, sitting down as the bar tender neared him. "Water." he stated simply, not wanting anything strong on any level. The man gave him an odd look before he walked off and returned shortly after with a small, clear glass filled with the cool liquid.
Lifting the glass to his lips, he drank it swiftly and set the glass down. It was refreshing, yet the dark room that was only illuminated by flashing lights and a spotlight on stage made him feel slightly uneasy. He glanced around, seeing the couples dancing in ways he wished he could unsee, cringing internally at the images that replayed to taunt his memories. He groaned, rubbing his forehead before wincing at the pain on his wrists again. After a few moments, the song ended and a well dressed man walked up on the stage after the woman who had just stepped down. He grabbed the mic, clearing his throat before speaking.
"Now, who will be our next entertainer for the night?" he hummed blissfully into the mic, grinning at the crowd that began shouting out random names and pointing to different people. The spotlight went over the group of people, circling a few times until it landed on him. Taehyung gulped, his lips becoming chapped as he began to frantically shake his head no.
"You! Young man in the back, come up here and show us what you've got. Unless you're too afraid to show it?" He taunted, a smirk crossing his lips as he spoke.
Unable to refuse when he was taunted, he frowned and stood. Pushing through the crowd, he made his way to the stairs that led up to the stage. The man set the mic down while Taehyung went to the DJ to inform him of what song to play. Walking past the announcer, he shot him a glare before glancing over the crowd with slight anxiety creeping back up on him. He was nervous, yet thrilled.
The music began playing, revealing the slow yet meaningful and emotional song he had chosen. Closing his eyes, he parted his lips and let the music overtake him. He put all of his feelings, all his penned up emotions into the lyrics. He poured himself into each and every word, gripping the mic in one hand as his other trailed up through his hair, tugging at the tufts lightly.
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"I've been hiding it. I tell you something, just to leave it buried. Now I can't endure it anymore.." he uttered the words softly, yet with such passion. Every single line gave him chills. He meant everything he said, and he knew who it was directed to. Jeon Jungkook.
"Now cry, please dry my eyes~" he sang, letting his voice reach a higher, slightly stronger note before continuing with the softer lyrics.
"Deeper, deeper. The wound just gets deeper, like pieces of broken glass that I can't reverse." he held back the tears that brimmed his eyes, remembering the first time he hurt himself. He couldn't handle this. His heart was beating out of his chest from all the emotions he was pouring into this one song. After it ended, the crowd slowly began to clap until nearly everyone in the room was cheering for the boy. He wiped away a stray tear with the back of his hand, quickly making his way off stage.
Nearing the bottom of the stairs, someone grabbed his arm and began pulling him through the crowd. He tried to free himself, but to no avail. The figure continued to pull him until they were outside, Taehyung now getting a better view of the man's face. "Wha-" he stared, still blinking the tears away that remained from his performance. The figure simply glared at him, his head shaking slightly before he grabbed the boy's arm again and led him away.
