Hustlers || Taekook

Chapter 22

Jungkook woke to the sound of Taehyung crying softly.

It was still pitch black, but Jungkook could sense Taehyung had sat up and pushed back the covers. Perhaps it was around five in the morning. Time for Taehyung to get ready to go to work.

Jungkook lay there listening to Taehyung's quiet, subtle sniffs and shaky breaths with his eyes closed, not moving. He wondered what Taehyung was crying about. He wondered what he was thinking. He was sitting right beside Jungkook on that bed, close enough that Jungkook could sense his body heat ever so faintly, but far enough that he felt like he was worlds away, both in body and soul. Taehyung inhaled deeply, steadily, before breathing out slowly, as if he was anchoring himself.

"I know you're awake. Your breathing changed." Taehyung murmured quietly, something resigned and defeated in his despondent tone, and Jungkook tensed, but didn't acknowledge him. Of course Taehyung could tell. Taehyung sighed, taking in a breath and holding it, as if he was deciding if he should say something. When he spoke, it was a tight mutter. "I... Sorry for waking you. I'm going to work now. You know where everything is."

Jungkook didn't open his eyes or turn towards him as he heard Taehyung shift and stand from the bed quietly.

~

Jungkook dumped the day's winnings down on the kitchen table with a groan. 300,000. Not bad. He staggered into Taehyung's room, swinging the door shut behind him and stumbling over to the bed. It was some time after midnight now... probably. He clutched his side as he collapsed onto the bed, gritting his teeth against the throbbing, pulsing pain. Fuck. At least the other guy was worse off. The problem of shady cheaters and sore losers at low profile casinos and gambling dens was a big one. He was tired of fighting his way out of the doors every time. But he couldn't go to any of the "respectable" establishments as he had Bangtan on his tail, and they would expect him to show up at those places. It'd be suicide. Bunch of fuckers with too much time on their hands. Jungkook swore, jumping as he only just noticed Taehyung in the room sitting on the bed. Taehyung started in surprise at seeing Jungkook's state and quickly crawled down the huge bed over to him seemingly instinctively. He reached out but froze just before he touched Jungkook, as if remembering himself.

"What happened?" Taehyung exclaimed worriedly, hands twitching as they hovered over Jungkook's shoulders, and conflict flashed in his wide eyes as he bit his lip. Jungkook spared him a glance, before turning his body away, unwelcoming. Taehyung twitched but didn't move away. Taehyung's alarm and severe urge to touch Jungkook and make sure he was alright was painfully obvious, etched into every inch of his worried face and blaring out obnoxiously at Jungkook, who had to look away.

"Won some games. Pissed some people off." Jungkook replied shortly and Taehyung's eyes only widened as he reached out to where Jungkook gripped his stomach. Jungkook hissed and straightened, glaring at him in warning.

"Don't touch me."

"Y-You're clearly hurt. Let me have a look." Taehyung pleaded softly and Jungkook cursed under his breath, irritation creeping beneath his skin. He still couldn't say no to those wide, imploring eyes, even now. He clicked his tongue in annoyance and sat up straighter, lifting his shirt to show the myriad of bruises that nameless fucker had punched all over his stomach. Taehyung's breath hitched and pain flickered in his horrified eyes as he froze for a second. Jungkook clicked his tongue again, glancing away, impatient as Taehyung's warm fingers grabbed ahold of his wrist lightly to hold it in place. This was nothing. He'd gotten beaten up a lot worse before landing in hospital. He could deal with this type of ache all too easily now. There was no reason for Taehyung's white-faced reaction. There was no reason but... Jungkook couldn't make himself say so, when Taehyung stared at his bruised skin so intently.