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

Chapter 27

{A/N: I've decided that when there's a flashback to Tae's past, I'll post two chapters instead of one so the story can continue}

To top off the royally shitty day he was having, it was raining in the field that Taehyung landed in. You'd think the water would have softened the soil and therefore made his impact easier, but it didn't. He could practically feel the last of his magic seep out of him permanently as it dutifully worked to heal his shattered body. And even after all of his bones were fused back together, his veins and arteries were sewn up, and his internal organs were functional once more, he still lay there in the mud and rain for a few more hours, just to let it really sink in. The holes in his back burned with a vengeance, refusing to heal.

He was Fallen.

As much as he wanted to lay there and wait until he was able to die from starvation, luck wasn't on his side. The first thing he heard when the rain subsided was footsteps, and they were getting closer. He hauled himself up into a sitting position, squinting at the stranger. It was an old woman with kind, gentle eyes. He cocked his head, wondering what she was going to do about the strange boy laying in the middle of her field.

Whatever he could have guessed wouldn't have come close to what she actually did.

"It's freezing out here," she said. "Come on, let's get you inside."

Blinking in shock, Taehyung wordlessly let her pull him to his feet. She eyed the alarming pool of blood that rested where he once did, but thankfully decided against mentioning it. Instead, she hooked her arm around Taehyung's and dragged him away from the spot. He stumbled to keep up, but once he finally got his bearings, he kept pace silently.

But then he couldn't hold the questions back anymore.

"Um, excuse me, uh -" he hesitated.

"Call me Halmeonim," she supplied. "Everyone else seems to."

Okay then. "Well, uh, Halmeonim -"

"The polite thing to do is introduce yourself too," she quipped.

Right. "I'm Taehyung."

"You got a family name, Taehyung-ah?"

Taehyung bristled and she waved her hand flippantly. "I'm old, child, that means I can use whatever honorific I want and get away with it."

And he immediately decided he liked this woman. "It's Kim. Kim Taehyung."

She smiled, "Well, Kim Taehyung-ah, let's get you inside."

Smiling sheepishly, Taehyung let her drag him across the field. He stumbled, hissing as a flash of agony swept across his back, and the woman held him closer and even let him lean against her as he caught his breath again.

Her home wasn't very big, but Taehyung could instantly tell that this was a place where love flourished. Two children, a boy and a girl, ran out to greet them, shouting, "Halmeoni! Halmeoni!"

Halmeonim held up a hand and they dutifully stopped, tilting their heads at Taehyung curiously. The woman said, "Go get one of your appa's shirts and a pair of pants for our guest."

The children immediately obeyed, and Halmeonim led Taehyung inside. He gazed after the children, smiling softly. He missed Eden so, so much.

He didn't realize he had started crying until the woman came around his front to gently brush her thumbs across his cheeks. More to herself than to him, she murmured, "What happened to you, child?"

Not trusting himself to answer, Taehyung instead asked, "Why are you helping me?"

She pulled away, mouth set in a firm line. "Why shouldn't I help a stranger lying in a pool of blood in the middle of my son's field?"

He flinched, "I'm sorry."

She waved her hand, already forgetting it, and then the children returned with the clothes. Halmeonim shooed them out the door, shushing them when they started to ask about the stranger in their living room, before returning to Taehyung. "Should I clean your wounds?"

Before he could stop himself, Taehyung scrambled away, shaking his head fiercely. She smiled sadly and held out the clothes at arm's length, waiting until the boy took them before whispering, "How did you fall?"

Taehyung froze, eyes wide. How did she know? Who would she tell? Were they breaking the rules?

She chuckled - a soft, soothing sound - at his expression. "I've been around too long to insist there's no such thing as the supernatural." When he didn't respond right away, she added, "You don't have to tell me. I'm just a nosy old woman."

Overcome with gratefulness, Taehyung offered a small smile. The woman directed him to the bathroom, showing him where the towels were and how to use the shower, and then left him to clean up.

He stood in the shower for what felt like ages, watching the dried blood flake off of his naked body. He still had some scars from where bones had pierced through his skin, and he watched them slowly fade. His back screamed as the warm water washed away the blood, but he didn't really mind. He was clean - well, as clean as he could be with two massive holes in his back that were constantly leaking blood - and it made him feel almost whole.

Like maybe he could do this. Could survive here on Earth.

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{A/N: What should the kids' names be? Like, this family is supposed to emulate Tae's real family, but I don't feel comfortable using their real names. If my family member was famous, I wouldn't want my name used in fanfictions about them, especially not in fanfictions that involve smut. Comment some suggestions!}