hostage || jaeyong

four,

How did you get that?"

Jooheon examined his bruised shoulder.

"I got into a fight with some Wanderers," Taeyong mumbled, while trying hard not to wince as his brother poked his arm.

"No shit. I bet the others look worse," his brother's face lit up with a smile.

Taeyong fell silent.

He wasn't going to tell Jooheon he got saved by a gorgeous man named Jaehyun who had jerked him off and made him see heaven for the first time in his 21 years of life.

"So," Jooheon insisted. "Did you beat them up?"

"No," Taeyong said softly while pulling his t-shirt over his head. "I ran away."

"You did what?"

His brother's voice sounded flat and dangerous.

"An MonstX does not fucking run away!"

Jooheon slammed his palm against the table, making even the old china in the single cabinet in the kitchen rattle.

"They were five, I was one. What the hell could I have done?!"

Taeyong yelled back, his hands curled into fists.

"I don't care how fucking many they were! We stand our ground! How about we all run away, huh? How about we all leave the city and go live in the woods, like monkeys? How would you like that?"

His brother pushed him back into the chair, while looking him square in the eye.

Of course his brother was right.

And even if he wasn't right, and Taeyong had been entitled to save his ass, there was no way he could tell Jooheon otherwise.

"Sorry, hyung," he murmured while looking down.

He had never been tough like his brother.

He could not take five guys and live to tell the story.

"I taught you how to fight, didn't I? For fuck's sake!"

Taeyong let his brother scold him, casting his eyes down like a kid.

What was he to do?

Jooheon moved and fiddled with something outside his field of view.

Taeyong didn't dare to look up.

A plate filled with food was soon slammed on the table in front of him. A smack upside the head followed.

Ah, well, that was to be expected, but Taeyong felt relieved.

It meant the scolding was over.

"Eat up, puss,"

His brother spoke with something between affection and disappointment in his voice.

Taeyong knew that.

He knew he wasn't how Jooheon wanted him to be. And his older brother didn't even know the half of it.

"We're going to meet someone," Jooheon added, and Taeyong didn't question it.

His brother knew best when it came to business.

Taeyong had to be present, just because he was family, and family was one of the values Jooheon held in high esteem.

🏴🏴🏴