Days of Grace | vkook

°16: Broken Noses

   It was the disability one most vividly perceived during a nightmare – incredibly detailed, present, and extremely difficult to cope with – that challenged Taehyung to process the ongoing event.

The only thing he managed to register properly was a strange, vibrating sensation brushing against his ear before realizing that he had thrown himself unconsciously to the ground, with his hands placed behind his back and his face directed towards the attacker whose arm was still extended from the shot.

A moment passed, in which the piercing scream of a woman was the only perceptible sign of life, since every attendee seemed startled by the General's sudden act. Even children stopped with their games and rages, joyful screams and giggles dying down as they sensed the sharp change of atmosphere lingering in the air.

Nobody risked moving a muscle, let alone exhaling a breath.

Well, nobody expect Taehyung.

There was this growing sting occupying his ear with each passing tick until he felt some warm liquid trickling slowly into his ear canal.

Taehyung raised his hand and carefully touched the affected area, staring blankly at his reddened fingertips.

That was... close, he thought, recognizing his own blood. And as if it was some kind of a shocker, the boy finally got snapped back into reality, awareness and horror settling deep within his bones.

This time, he wouldn't let his opponent react first.

Taehyung swiftly turned around, hoisted himself up from the dusty ground, and stumbled in the opposite direction. Adrenaline surged in waves through his body, screaming at the top of its lungs that he should freaking: RUN!

"I command you to stand still, V!" the General yelled simultaneously, witnessing Taehyung's slender figure vanish into the terrified and agitated crowd. "Stop him! He's a criminal!"

But instead of following his order, he observed the scene descend into chaos: everybody scattered in different directions, running, screaming, and creating an even greater mess than the place usually was. Left with no other choice, the man threw himself into the swirling bodies and chased his prey on his own.

As Taehyung fought his way through the tumult, he noticed that the citizen unintentionally created some space. He also caught glimpses of wide-eyed astonishment and heard whispers of his infamous name like a mantra or magic spell. It made him feel uncomfortable in his own skin somehow.

"I said stop!" he could hear his pursuer's demand once again, but Taehyung ignored it and focused on the growing sound of approaching footsteps.

The General fixed his gaze on the back of V's shirt, blocking out any distractions. The mere thought of finally seizing the fabric and bringing the criminal down fueled his ambition to capture his number one enemy, infusing him with a renewed sense of power. Yoongi felt himself slip into the monster people tended to label him as. However, none of that mattered; the stakes were higher than preserving his tarnished image.

I must catch him, was the sole thought consuming his mind.

As Taehyung broke free from the larger crowd and reached the section with the traders' stands, he glanced back and realized that the black-haired demon was still too close. A single exchange of gazes was enough to ignite Taehyung's survival instinct.

He's too fast, the boy discovered, despite giving his all. The weight of his injured leg persisted in his thoughts, making it impossible for him to disregard the twinge of pain emanating from the still healing wound.

Minsu had predicted this. She had emphatically explained that it'd take time to regain full mobility. However, Taehyung knew he'd have to prolong his recovery because maintaining his head seemed more appealing than spending another few weeks with a handicap.