✔ || Save Me [[SEQUEL to DISTRACT ME]]

Chapter 11

Taehyung cocked his head at the poster. Six young men stood in a row in front of a black background, throwing what looked like gang signs. And was that one on the end wearing a mask covered in spikes? Taehyung wasn't sure if that was badass or not. The boy in the middle was cute though, with a skeleton bracelet on his hand and a pout on his lips, and Taehyung flicked his eyes away. This wasn't the first bit of merch he'd seen from the group in his wards' rooms. In fact, plenty of his female ones really enjoyed them, and even some of his males fawned over their music. It was ridiculously cute. From what Taehyung understood, they were pretty new to the scene - if he was to understand his wards, they had just "debuted" that year.

His ward entered the room and he turned, wondering what had alerted him to come pay special attention to her.

And then he knew.

She plopped down at her desk, breathing heavily. Taehyung shuffled closer, biting his lip at her quiet crying. Plenty of his wards were having a hard time - they were eighteen now, after all - but this one had always been one of those who struggled in particular. She toyed with a pair of scissors in her lap, as if amping herself up to do it.

Before she could think any further, Taehyung rested a gentle hand on her shoulder. She stiffened, hands tight around the scissors, but Taehyung didn't move. Instead, he watched the top of her head carefully. Then, seeing that it wasn't enough, he told her how amazing her strength was and how incredible it was that she had made it this far, pumping the message through his palm, promising that if she just set down the scissors, she'd be alright. That she was strong enough, even if she didn't feel like it right now.

She shook her head furiously, choking on a sob, but Taehyung didn't let up. Technically, this wasn't dangerous enough for him to really be here, but he wanted his wards to always be as happy as possible. So, he came, even if it meant he didn't get as much freetime. To him, his wards were everything, and he wished he could show each of them how truly extraordinary they were. With this mission in mind, he persisted in his message, filling the girl with peace. It wouldn't last, but hopefully it would be enough for now. At least until she could be her own peace.

Finally, she listened. Taehyung immediately released her, not wanting to verge onto overbearing, smiling softly. She might not love herself now, but he would do it until she could. She turned to look at the poster he had been admiring before her arrival, sniffling away her tears. Sometimes, when his wards thought things that were very important to their lives and future, Taehyung could hear it. And so he heard his ward think, Jimin wouldn't want me to do that, it'd make him sad.

Taehyung eyed the poster. If these boys were strong enough to make his ward think twice about hurting herself, then he wanted to know as much about them as he could.

A few hours later, Raphael found Taehyung in his office. He raised his eyebrows at the younger's back. "Are you using my tablet?"

Taehyung started and turned, pressing a hand to his chest. Raphael smiled at him and Taehyung melted on the spot, "I'm sorry, I should have asked."

"What are you looking at, little one?"

"Just this one idol group," Taehyung exited out of the browser and shut down the tablet. He went to Raphael's beckoning arms and continued sheepishly, "Well, the entire Korean Wave that the humans have been experiencing. It's very interesting."

"Tell me all about it," Raphael said.

"Come sit with me," Taehyung begged, pulling on Raphael's hand. Only when the archangel obeyed did he add, "This group I'm looking at is called BTS. They're new this year and are already pretty popular among some of my wards. They make them happy, so I wanted to know more about them, and I guess I got kind of caught up in all of it and suddenly I was learning Korean slang."

"Why?"

Taehyung frowned. "I'm not sure. I guess, I don't know - if I were a human and could have any job in the world, I'd be an idol."

"They have very hard lives, little one, especially for humans," Raphael pointed out patiently.

"I know! I don't know, uh, I -" Taehyung breathed. "Well, you know I've always loved music, and I guess, uh-"

"There you go again with the interjections. Perhaps you are spending too much time with your wards."

Taehyung's stomach fell. "N-no -"

"Are you disagreeing with me, little one?" Raphael asked sweetly.

Taehyung wetted his lips nervously. "No, sir. I'm sorry. Um, well -"

"Taehyung," Raphael warned.

His heart pounding, Taehyung forced himself to pause and gather his thoughts before continuing. "I think it's cool. Even the work they endure looks enjoyable to me, even though it's exhausting."

"Hmm," Raphael nodded and Taehyung could tell that he was done with the conversation. "Come here, little one."

Taehyung sighed and stood, and then, knowing what Raphael wanted, removed his shirt as he stepped closer. He wanted to continue talking to the archangel about idols, but Raphael wasn't someone you said no to.

"Good, little one, very good," Raphael purred.

There was something predatory in his voice that made Taehyung shudder, and not in an altogether good way.

{A/N: Ayo Raph, why don't you fuck off}