His Buried Past| Taekook

Chapter 37

Gradually, V felt himself rising to consciousness, becoming aware of the feel of a soft pillow beneath his head. Frowning, he blinks his heavy eyelids, fighting against the urge to sink back into sleep. His eyes finally open, he squints at the blurry, shadowed figure sitting next to him. As his vision clears, he finally recognizes Jungkook's familiar raven hair, his dark eyes fixed on the phone in his hand. As he shifts his position, the older snaps his head up, a relieved smile brightening his face. The younger chuckles, "The big, bad mafia boss looks like a bunny," his voice is still thick from the effects of the sedation.

Jungkook snorts, "Good to know I can still amuse you. How are you feeling?"

V shrugs, unsuccessfully attempting to hide a wince at the motion, "I've been worse."

The older's eyes darken, face hardening, "You could've died. Do you have any idea how worried everyone was? What the hell were you thinking leaving without telling me??"

The silver-haired groaned as he pushed himself to a sitting position before sighing, "I know, ok? I was just bored and tired of doing nothing."

Jungkook shoved his fingers through his dark hair, sighing in exasperation, "Well, you don't have to sit around doing nothing anymore. We found out who put the hit out on you, both now and 6 years ago."

The younger tenses and sits forward, eyes sharpening, "Who? And when can I kill him?"

The ravenette shakes his head, "She's already dead. And it was Baekhyun's mother."

V stares, his eyes wide and mouth falling open in shock. Why would Baeki-hyung's mother want him dead? He didn't realize he'd spoken aloud until Jungkook answered him, "Apparently she saw you as a threat to her son and his position."

The younger sits quietly for a moment as he remembers the time the woman had briefly seen him without his mask. "And...she's already dead? How?"

The older man hesitates before softly answering, "Baekhyun did it."

"What??", V gasps, "He killed his mother? Over me? Why would he do that?"

"He loves you, and he knew his mother had enough connections that she could keep coming after you no matter how he tried to isolate her or protect you. Killing her was the only way."

The younger swallows, feeling tears gathering in his eyes, "But why him? He shouldn't have had to kill his own mother!"

Jungkook leans forward, holding V's slender fingers in his own, "Baby, he felt she was his responsibility. And he believed he was the only one who should handle it."

The silver haired boy takes a deep breath, "Where is he?"

"Chanyeol took him away for a short vacation to help him cope with everything. He'll be alright though baby. He has his husband with him to support him."

V reluctantly nods, guilt swirling within him. If it weren't for him, Baekhyun wouldn't have had to kill his own mother. And if it weren't for him, Suga wouldn't have been shot that time. And Jimin wouldn't have been hurt in the grocery store.

The ravenette watches as emotion moves behind the younger's chocolate eyes. Squeezing V's slender fingers in his own, he uses his other hand to gently guide the other's face towards him until their eyes meet. "Hey, it's going to be okay. Trust me baby, hmm?"

The silver haired swallows and nods, forcing a smile to his face in an attempt to assure Jungkook he's alright. But hidden beneath the smile, a confusing mass of emotions swirl through the injured boy.

Later

V stares out the window, lost in his thoughts as he reclines in his bed. Jungkook had been dragged away by Namjoon earlier to tend to business, with the mafia leader spouting promises to check on him often and threats about punishments if the younger exerts himself. Guilt and doubt still tug at the assassin, a quiet voice whispering, 'All of this was because of you. Suga got hurt protecting you, then Jimin got hurt because of you, and now Baekhyun had to kill his own mother because of you.' His hands fist in the sheets, a weight settling in his chest as his inner voice berates him, 'How are you ever going to make that up to your brother? He's done so much to keep you safe over the years, and now you cost him his mother.'

The click of the door yanks him from his thoughts, his head turning to face the man who's quietly settling into the chair by his bed. His chocolate eyes flick over the older man, an eyebrow arching as he takes in the newly-dyed white hair. "You changed your hair color hyung. Did you get tired of green?"

Suga chuckles, "Felt like a change. How you holding up?"

V forces a smile, "I'm doing okay hyung." He pauses a moment before softly querying, "How's Baeki-hyung?"

The older leans forward, knowing the boy well enough to see he's not really as okay as he's pretending to be. V may be violent and sadistic, but when it comes to the people he cares about, his heart is fragile. "He'll be alright V."

The other boy nods, swallowing, "Does...does he blame me?"

"No!", immediately the white-haired man sits forward, his face serious, "Baekhyun does not blame you at all. And do you know why not? Because it's NOT your fault. You are NOT responsible for the fact his mother was a psychotic bitch. You are his baby brother, and he loves you and I know for a fact he'd do it again if he had to with no regrets. Got that?"

V fights back tears at the impassioned response of the older. Nodding he reaches out to hold the normally stoic man's hand. "Thank you Yoongi-bear."

The gruff assassin nods and squeezes his donsaeng's hand. "I'm actually here to talk about something else though kid."

The younger frowns, his gaze questioning, "What is it hyungie?"

Yoongi hesitates, before sighing, "With Baekhyun and Chanyeol taking a break for a while, it's left some important business unattended to. And now that the threat to you has been eliminated, and with you being Baekhyun's only sibling...he really needs you to step in and help him now."

Suga sees how the chocolate, doe eyes of the younger widen with shock. He knows that V has never expected to do more than be Baekhyun's assassin and bodyguard, but now, it's time for him to be the mafia leader's younger brother. "It's time for us to leave here, kid."

AN: I'm so, so, so, incredibly sorry for the long wait everyone! I'm so overwhelmed with school that writing just hasn't been feasible. But I still see all your kind and supportive comments, as well as the hilarious reactions in the comments, and you all make me smile and laugh so much! And since I've had so many requests from you all for me to adopt you, I'm hereby adopting each of you. You're all my babies now!
💜💜💜💜💜(づ｡◕‿‿◕｡)づ💜💜💜💜💜

Side note: I got tickets to take my 10 year old to "Burn The Stage: The Movie" in theaters for next weekend. She squealed, she was so excited. I wish I could have taken her to see BTS when they were in the US, but sadly they've never made it to my corner of the country, and I can't afford to travel 1,000 miles to see them. But maybe someday they'll do a location in the southeast US!

I love and appreciate all of you so much! Please be patient with the long updates, as school is taking up so much of my time and attention! I 💜 you!