{Apples} • Vkook |DISCONTINUED|

{5}

It was the next day, the autumn air filling Jungkook's lungs as he made his way to Taehyung, who once again stood at the corner of his street. He ran as fast as he could, smiling from ear to ear.

He wouldn't admit it out loud, but he did really miss the boy.

"Taehyung!"

The older turned around, feeling quite relieved at who was running to him. Jungkook finally made it, panting and breathing heavily.

"Taehyung! I-"

Jungkook stopped abruptly.

Something's wrong.

Taehyung looked at him blankly, as if he had no emotion left. But, he could tell his eyes tried to hold back tears.

He stepped closer to Tae, examining his face. He stepped away, afraid to let Jungkook too close.

Jungkook's eyes widened when he saw a faint bruise on the boy's cheek.

Jungkook stared into the older's eyes, noticing tears staining his flushed cheeks. The older had his arms wrapped around his stomach, as if he was trying to hide something. Jungkook had a feeling of what he was hiding.

The younger furrowed his eyebrows, and swiftly lifted up Tae's shirt before he could protest.

He really didn't want to be right.

But, sadly, he was.

Jungkook was terrified at the sight.

Scars, old and new. Gashes of blood and bruises cover his whole stomach. You could see Tae's ribs poke through due to how dangerously skinny he was.

Jungkook could feel tears in his eyes, now.

He looked back up to Tae, who seemed frozen, petrified.

"Tae...."

After hearing Jungkook's heartbroken voice, Tae broke. Hot tears wouldn't stop falling down his face. He looked down, refusing to look Jungkook in the eyes.

He flinched when he felt Jungkook place his hands on his shoulders.

"Tae, look at me."

Taehyung refused, keeping his eyes on the sidewalk they were standing on.

Jungkook suddenly grabbed the older's chin, moving his face up to meet his own.

"Tae...Who...Who did this to you?"

Taehyung eyes then widened.

Jungkook triggered a memory...

________________________

He grabbed him by the collar, and threw him against the wall. He trapped the boy with his arms, forcing him to smell the alcohol.

"What a pathetic faggot you are. You go out to get us some money, only to bring back five fucking cents?! You're  a waste of my time!"

He gave his son a kick in the stomach, causing the boy to cry out in pain.

"You're a mistake,

Slap.

And that's all

Kick.

you'll ever be!"

Punch.

His father then left him where he always left him.

At the front door.

The boy couldn't even walk into the house without his father giving him a swift punch anywhere he pleased.

"Why...."

The boy mumbled, before meeting with darkness.

Darkness he was all too familiar with.

________________________

Taehyung then crouched into a ball in front of Jungkook, crying and shaking.

"P-Please, don't hurt me!"

Jungkook didn't know what to do. He met this boy only yesterday. He didn't know what happened in his past, but it's certainly effecting him now.

He did only what he could do.

He crouched down next to the boy, engulfing him in a warm hug.

Warmth Taehyung never really felt before.

Until now.

And Tae wanted that warmth to stay forever.

He returned the hug, tugging slightly on Jungkook's shirt, which now had tear stains all over the front of it. Jungkook whispered softly into the older's ear.

"Don't worry. Whoever did this to you will never. do. it. again."

Tae really wanted Jungkook to be right...

Here they were, two troubled boys hugging each other along the sidewalk of Ashbury Street. One clinging onto the other like he depended on it, which he did. The other holding him in his arms, wanting to protect him from every evil.

This might have looked strange to most people.

But, they didn't care one bit.

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