new heroes // jaeyong

𝑵𝑶𝑩𝑶𝑫𝒀 𝑪𝑨𝑹𝑬𝑫 𝑭𝑶𝑹 𝑴𝒀 𝑫𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑴

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The shock of seeing Jaehyun in the flesh after many years quickly wears off, anger rapidly replacing it. Taeyong now scowls at him, snapping, "What the fuck are you doing here?" His vulgar language causes everyone around him to outwardly flinch, the aforementioned male looking away.

"It's...it's nice to see you too, Hyung." Jaehyun smiles weakly, and Taeyong bites his tongue, close to drawing blood.

"Jeez, Yong, calm down." Johnny hisses, turning to face Taeyong. The shorter male faces Johnny.

"No, do not tell me to 'calm down'! He just has the audacity to show up after five years and just say, 'Hey guys'?" Taeyong crosses his arms, eyebrows furrowed. "I have a right to be pissed." He hears Yuta sigh into his scarf.

"Yong..."

"No, Yuta." He snaps snap, turning to the handsome boy before him.

Five years ago, he was stick-thin, shorter than Taeyong, with dark brown unruly hair, thin and hollow cheeks, huge innocent eyes, and skinny arms. Now, here he stands before Taeyong, pale skin glowing in the bright light of the cafe, his shoulders extremely broad, his jawline gentle but slanted, taller than Taeyong, with thick arms and a thick chest. His hair was a soft blonde and it just looks so damn fluffy. His eyes were still large, deep and brown, with his deep and cute dimples still indented into his cheeks. He really grew into himself.

Taeyong inhales shakily, running a hand through his dark hair.

"Jaehyun," he says, and Jaehyun turns his attention to Taeyong, his lips quirked up in a small smile. His dimples were barely visible, but they were there. Taeyong releases a heavy sigh. "Do you think I should forgive you?"

Jaehyun's face falls, and he stays silent. Taeyong walks around the counter to stand before Jaehyun, peering up at him. The newly found height difference wasn't great, but it made Taeyong feel small.

He continues. "You suddenly up and leave us, leave me, without saying a thing." He grits his teeth, trembling fingers tightening into a fist. "You changed your number, you deleted your Facebook, your Instagram, everything, so we had no way of contacting you." Guilt was etched into his handsome features, but Taeyong was not yet done. "I thought you were dead, Jaehyun. For five years, we heard nothing from you," he clenches his trembling fists at his sides, pinked lips curled down in anger. "And suddenly, you show up after five fucking years and expect us, expect me, to forgive you at the snap of your fingers?"

Key looks between them, the tension heavy like a weighted blanket.

"Hey, Taeyong, why don't you go take a breather?" Key says, and Taeyong clenches his eyes shut, remembering he was at work. Key places a gentle hand on Taeyong's shoulder, offering a reassuring smile. "There's plenty of staff to take care of things for the meanwhile, okay?"

Taeyong raises his gaze to eye Jaehyun warily, who has stayed silent the entire ordeal. He watches Taeyong with careful eyes, hands hidden by his hoodie's long sleeves as his fingers toy with each other.

"Fine." He brushes past Jaehyun, opening the cafe door and storming out.

─ · · ୨୧ · · ─

Loud music blasts through Taeyong's earphones, some calming songs playing on repeat. Music always calmed Taeyong down when he was angry, and this time was no exception.