𝐞-𝐛𝐨𝐲. ↬ k. taehyung

-. .xxxii.

"I'm... sorry to hear that," Jungkook's words came out unsure and slow, his gaze darting between Taehyung and Hoseok, trying to piece together the parts he had missed, "What... uh, what can I do for you?"

"This doesn't end here," Hoseok announced, "He told me himself, this doesn't end until Taehyung's blood covers his hands. It'll end where it began. His words," Licking his lips from the trepidation that still tremored in his limbs, he etched towards Jungkook's bed, "I can't let her go like this, not after everything she did to save me. I won't."

"Hoseok," Taehyung's voice was softer, "I don't want it to be like this either, but we need to think clearly. What can we do for her right now? None of us know where he's taken her and even if we did, are any of us in the right state to fight against him?"

Hoseok's eyes narrowed, his lips parting and brows pinching as he scoffed incredulously, his hands balled into tight fists at his sides, "How can you even say that? If it wasn't for her, you wouldn't be here right now. Despite everything that you've done, Kim Taehyung, after all the girls you've helped murder, she still thought your sorry ass was worth saving."

"Hey," Jungkook snapped, though his voice rattled, it held a strength he didn't possess moments before as he shuffled up in his bed, "That's not fair. He did what he thought he had to, to keep both of us alive. To think we even took pleasure in what we did is--"

"It's fine," Taehyung interrupted, baritone. His expression was clouded, unreadable as he dragged his gaze backwards, towards his best friend, "It's not like it isn't deserved."

"Look, I'm not asking you to put on a cape and run into fire with me," Hoseok emitted a soft sigh, "I just want to know if there are any locations you'd think he'd go back to."

Taehyung scratched the back of his head thoughtfully. Days, months, even years slipped by him when he was locked in the vacant apartment, his days blurred into one, a never-ending drag of time. As hard as he tried, it felt like his memories distorted, glitching like an old cassette tape.

"Yoongi was always smart when he took us to new locations," Taehyung sighed, shoulders drooping with defeat, "We never got to see the outside."

"What about the inside? Could you hear anything where you were?"

"Wait," Jungkook's eyes widened, his lips parting at a startling revelation, "Our school."

Hoseok watched as the color suddenly drained from Taehyung's face, his eyes widening a fraction, "That... why would he go there?"

"It closed down a while back, there was a major fire in the science lab. Think about it," Jungkook's voice turned into a sharp whisper as he leaned forward, wincing slightly at the pull on his bandages, "That's where it all began. That's where Jaehee was supposed to meet you to talk over your breakup before she got hit."

Taehyung blanched, "It's the only tie he has left to Jaehee," He swallowed thickly as he looked up, vacant stare directed towards Hoseok, "It will end where it began... That's what he meant when he said that."

"Then that's where we have to go," Not burdened by the lingering emotions from years ago, Hoseok was the only one who stood tall in that room, despite the crutch, his tone dripping with the determination that ignited his veins. He wasn't about to lose Soojin that easy.

"I don't know," Jungkook murmured, his hands clenching and unclenching on the hospital bed, his breathing suddenly becoming more shallow, "I think that's what he wants. This feels too easy, what if it's a trap?"

"Even better," Hoseok didn't miss a beat, "If this is what he wanted, then that means there's hope for Soojin. He wouldn't kill off his bait before he caught his fish. And we have leverage now, we know what to expect."

"There's no saying he is there, though." Jungkook argued, his brows pinching together.

"It's worth a try, and it's the best we have right now," Taehyung exhaled slowly, gnawing on the inside of his cheek as he looked down at his best friend. He wanted to do nothing more than to sit beside Jungkook and not leave. After everything Yoongi had done to them, after all the torture and pain they had endured over the years, seeing his face again in this lifetime would have been too soon for the both of them.

But he couldn't leave her.

"If we're going there, we need to tell your friend." Taehyung held onto his bravado as he straightened his shoulders, extending to his full height.

"Yoonmin? We don't have time for that, he has warrants and policies to follow, there's no saying how much time we have to find Soojin," Hoseok countered, his brows scrunching tight in defiance.

"It was impatience that got Soojin in the position she's in now," The younger male pointed out, "Tell him on our way there if it makes you feel better, but we're going to need him."

Reluctantly, Hoseok deadpanned, "Fine."