hope || kim.t.h + jung.h.s

ten

Taehyung stood tall with brooding eyes in the doorway of the house, silencing his presence. He took slow, heavy steps down the hall towards Hoseok's room. He was moving slowly like a giant, and just by looking at him, you'd want to hear,  "fee fi fo fum." He looked determined and ready to squeeze answers out of Hoseok. He knew Hoseok was hiding things. He wanted answers. He wanted the truth.  He sauntered down the hall, listening tentatively to the laughing and the conversation, until he came to Hoseok's room. He flung the door open. Hoseok's and Jungkook's heads snapped towards Taehyung and stared. His hair shrouded his eyes as he stood in the doorway. He looked terrifying. Jungkook stared in utter confusion and fear as Hoseok scrambled to check his phone. Jungkook froze completely as he looked at the tall man in the doorway.

"Hoseok." he boomed.

Jungkook flinched and Hoseok flattened himself onto the bed. They looked fearful—both of them.

"Jungkook, I need to speak to him privately." Jungkook gulped and slowly walked out of the room, Taehyung closing the door behind him. He marched over to Hoseok's trembling body and plopped himself down on the bed.

"Quit lying to me." Taehyung strongly demanded. Hoseok gulped and stared at Taehyung. He felt anxious and nervous.

He was at a loss of words. "I-I-I'm not lying to you." he whimpered. Taehyung shook his head and stared at the cowering boy.

"Yes, you are. What's the matter? I'm here to listen." Taehyung's eyes soften and he brushed his hair back. Suddenly, he was less threatening and seemed more gentle. Hoseok gulped and relaxed.

"You wouldn't understand, Tae." He said, dully. Taehyung sighed and closed his eyes.

"If you explain, I would." he confirmed softly. Hoseok looked away from him and held his head in his hands.

"I'm not ready!" he whined. Taehyung grabbed one of Hoseok hands and held it tightly with his.

"Tell me what's been wrong recently. Now." he roughly demanded. However, his voice grew a little harsh. Hoseok kept his head turned and hidden in his free hand.

"No!" he stubbornly shouted. Taehyung tightened a grip on Hoseok's hand.

"Tell me!" he ordered. Hoseok whined and tried to hide his face even more.

"No!" he shouted again.

He yanked his hand away from Taehyung's and adjusted the sleeves of his sweatshirt. He pulled them down over his hands and then proceeded to hide his face again. Taehyung shook him.

"Tell me what your issue is!" he yelled. Hoseok groaned. His voice started to quiver.

"No!" he choked out. He pulled his sleeves as long as they could go. Hoseok grunted, annoyed.

"Hoseok! Tell me what is wrong, right now!" he demanded harshly. He grabbed Hoseok's body and turned him towards him.

"Now." he said slowly. Hoseok moved his hand from his eyes a bit, and looked directly at Taehyung. His fingers fumbled with his sleeves. Taehyung stared tentatively at the way he kept adjusting his sleeve. Hoseok cowered at his stare.

"No." he whispered, scared. Taehyung grunted once more, and then jerked Hoseok's left arm towards him. He then yanked his sleeve up, to see many, small, red, puffy slices going across Hoseok's wrist. Stunned, he stopped moving and stared at them. He felt a pit drop in his stomach, and his expression became grim. He went pale. Hoseok sniffled and looked away, tucking his bottom lip into his mouth. Taehyung's gaze slowly slid up to look at Hoseok's tear-streaked face, his mouth agape with surprise.

"H—Hoseok..." he muttered. Taehyung looked back down at Hoseok's aching wrist and moved his face closer to it. Slowly and gently, Taehyung began placing small, soft kisses up Hoseok's arm, being careful not to hurt him. He knew it was a childhood belief, but he wanted to belive that kisses could make it better. Hoseok started to shake and began mumbling. As he trailed his kisses up and down his arm, tears slid down his cheeks, landing on Hoseok's arm and dripping onto the blankets. Hoseok sat flustered.

"W-what are you doing?" he stammered. Taehyung pulled back from his arm and looked at him with glossy eyes. "Why did you do this to yourself?" he asked with a weak voice. Hoseok began to frown and fumbler with the hem of his shorts, trying to contain tears.

"You didn't love me." he forced out. Taehyung's eyes widened.

"Hoseok! I've always loved you!" he gasped. Hoseok turned his head and shook it gently. He tightly gripped onto his shorts, digging his nails into the cloth.

"You didn't. And you don't. You left the group for a girl, and I'm a boy. I love you, okay? I always have. You just didn't love me. I deserve to feel pain knowing I couldn't impress you. I was not, and I am still not good enough." he choked out.

His body was cold and shaking, and he broke into a nervous sweat. Taehyung sat, taken aback by his words. "H-Hoseok, I-" he began. Hoseok cut him off.

"There's no point in rejecting me. You already have." he mumbled. Taehyung vigorously shook his head.

"No! I only dated Mina because I thought you were straight!" he stammered. "Hoseok! Look at me!" he shyly commanded. Hoseok slowly and grimly turned his head towards him. Both boys were red in the face an puffy in the eyes. Their eyes burned.

"Hoseok. I love you. I want to be with you. I don't want you to hurt yourself like this anymore. You are good enough. I just didn't know you felt that way. I left Mina just for you. I wanted to try to be with you, even if I didn't think it would happen, because I love you more than words can describe. You are so handsome and so amazing. You are so talented and so bright. It's been hurting me to see you so hollow and empty. If you would've told me how you felt, I could've helped you sooner. If I would've spoken up..." he announced, sobbing. He sulked endlessly just thinking about the pain Hoseok was feeling.

Hoseok bit his lip. "I've loved you for ever." he muttered, staring at the snuffling boy. Taehyung held Hoseok's face in his hands and stared deeply into his empty eyes.

"Hoseok, I want to be with you. Right now. For as long as I can." he said sincerely. Hoseok grabbed his other hand in his and stared lovingly back at Taehyung. They sat in a comfortable silence for a little bit, staring at one another's faces. Taehyung's eyes began to drift to Hoseok's lips, and without thinking, he leaned in slowly and slightly parted his lips. Hoseok leaned in as well, meeting Taehyung's soft lips with a gentle passion. Both of the boys kept their eyes closed as they slowly and gently kissed one another, moving in sync and gradually moving their bodies closer. Hoseok wrapped his arms around Taehyung as tight as he could, and Taehyung slowly slid his hands up and down Hoseok's slim sides.

After a while, the boys pulled away to catch their breath. They stared happily at one another, despite feeling very emotional. "I'm sorry I hurt myself like this." Hoseok muttered. Taehyung shook his head and held his hands. "I'm sorry I made you hurt yourself. Just promise me you won't do it again, because you won't have to. You didn't have to in the first place. I should've spoken up." he said solemnly. Hoseok inhaled sharply and nodded, letting tears fall.

"You shouldn't harm your beautiful body like this, Hoseok. You're too perfect to look at yourself so badly." Taehyung claimed. Hoseok grew a small smile.

"I love you, Tae. I love you so much." he whimpered. Taehyung smiled and hugged Hoseok tightly, burying his face in his shoulder.

"I love you, too, Hoseok." he whispered.