Alone (Taekook) ✅

Twenty Three

“Remember. Everything will be fine. Recovery takes time.” Jungkook whispered. Taehyung nodded slowly, looking at the doors in front of him.

Two months had passed and his knee was almost 100% better. There were still some aches and pains, but it was running at 98% in his mind. Enough for him to start learning choreographies from a representative from his old company again.

He’d gotten vocal surgery just last week, and today was his first day of therapy.

Taehyung had told Jungkook that he wanted to do this alone. He wanted to make it special, the first time Jungkook heard his voice again.

So with one reassuring kiss on the lips (as they’d gotten rather affectionate these past months as well), Jungkook sent Taehyung off and then drove away, promising to come and pick him up in an hour.

Jungkook was more nervous than Taehyung was, but that was only because Jungkook felt like he had more to lose. Taehyung’s hopes and dreams were his as well. He wanted Taehyung to succeed, wanted him to sing and dance again, hold the world in his hands.

But if Taehyung, by some cruel twist of fate, could not do that for himself, then Jungkook would not only lose the hope of Taehyung fulfilling his dreams, but he would lose Taehyung, too. He would lose the love of his life, the only man he’ll ever love, the only man he’d ever get down on his knees and beg for.

After two hours, Jungkook pulled up to the facility, waiting patiently for Taehyung on the curb. The man came out a few moments later and skipped right over to Jungkook, smiling brightly. “Was it good?” Taehyung nodded enthusiastically, still under the orders not to use his voice unless he had to.

Jungkook smiled back at the man and nodded. “Good.” He said quietly. “I’m glad. Just a few more weeks, and then you can start heading to the company again and get into a full schedule.” Taehyung seemed to beam at that, and Jungkook couldn’t be more happy for him.

They both wanted this. Jungkook didn’t care if Taehyung jumping into an idol life again would take his time away from him, he didn’t care if Taehyung was constantly gone, he didn’t care if Taehyung eventually found someone else, no matter how much it hurt, he didn’t care.

Because Taehyung would be happy.

He would be happy, living his life, the way he should have lived his life. He would have everything he deserved. He wouldn’t suffer anymore, he wouldn’t feel the pain Jungkook knew he felt.

And that’s all Jungkook wanted for him. And if he himself wasn’t a part of that future plan, then he didn’t care. He’d fight for it, Yes, and he would be deeply pained if one day Taehyung walked away, but he wouldn’t force him to stay, he would never be the one to clip his wings. Too many had already done that, and Taehyung deserved to fly. To touch the sky and taste the wind and feel the sun on his feathers.

-

Therapy was almost fully over and Jungkook was excited. Taehyung was happy everyday, smiling brightly at him and nodding that therapy was good if his voice was a little too sore, or animatedly telling him what happened.

He would get into the car, smile, maybe laugh. He would talk about a song he tried, What notes he could now reach, how good it felt to be able to sing again, without worrying if he would go permanently mute.

Jungkook would give him words of encouragement for his next session, give him a kiss on the lips and then drive to knee therapy. And then they would go home and spend the day together.

Today was no different.

Except Taehyung’s smile was small.

Not bright at all.

“Hey...is something wrong?”

“N-no.” Taehyung rasped out, his voice obviously sore.

“Taehyung.”

“I just...tried to hit some notes today. Tried to sing...an old song of mine. And I couldn’t hit the notes.” Jungkook sighed and pulled a Taehyung close to him, giving him a hug.

“It takes time, you’ll get there eventually, Tae. I believe in you. I know you will get there.” Jungkook pulled away and gave him a small kid on the lips before turning and starting the drive to the other therapist.

But the next day Taehyung didn’t even smile at all.