Still The Same | taekook ✔️

p r o l o g u e

"T-tae?" Jeongguk gasped, eyes shining with worry as he stretched his arms out towards the boy.

Taehyung just stared at him, tears streaming steadily down his face as he was embraced. He felt sick, the feeling worsening when he caught a glimpse of his father standing at the end of the block, leaning casually against the stone-slab wall and swallowed up by the shadows. He couldn't see his face, but he knew his father was glaring. He had to be.

"Jeongguk." Taehyung refrained from using baby, afraid that in the dead of night his father could hear them somehow. He always had a way of finding out everything.

"What's wrong?" His baby asked, hands flying up to cup Taehyung's cheeks. "Why did you want to meet here? And at this hour? Why are you crying?"

With great effort, Taehyung grabbed his wrists and held them down, away from his face. He gritted his teeth. It was taking everything in him not to show any trace of affection to his favorite person.

"You know I would never willingly hurt you, right?" He rasped.

Jeongguk's eyes widened. Taehyung was acting so strange and he knew it, but he was running out of time.

"You're scaring me, Tae." The younger whispered, hands fidgety in Taehyung's grip.

The older boy screwed his eyes shut, trying to find a clear thought to hold on to, something to keep him sane.

"We..." Suddenly Taehyung had lost the ability to speak. He opened his eyes again, fresh tears falling, and Jeongguk was holding his breath. "We can't do this anymore."

The heavy rock of guilt weighing down on his chest suddenly became a boulder at the sight of Jeongguk's expression. So full of hurt and confusion.

"What?" The younger choked.

"We can't see each other anymore."

Jeongguk fought against Taehyung's clutches, wanting to touch him so badly. But it's a useless attempt. "W-why?"

"I'm sorry."

And Jeongguk believed him. Because everything on his face screamed I'm sorry.

"Did I do something, Tae?" Jeongguk practically pleaded.

"You did nothing wrong." Taehyung squeezed his wrists as a sort of reassurance but it just made the younger jolt with fright. "I have to go. Promise me you'll take care of yourself."

"But—"

Taehyung turned his back in the direction of his father, hoping the expanse of his body could cover the shaking boy in front of him. And he leaned down subtly, pressing a delicate kiss on Jeongguk's forehead. A second longer than it should be, trying to engrave the feeling of his milky skin into his brain. And he sobbed even harder, because what if that was the closest he'll ever get to those lips he never got to taste?

"Taehyungie, please. Talk to me."

But Taehyung tore himself away, the air lingering with strong distaste, trying not to think of the helpless boy he left behind. And he ducked under an ally, his feet walking among the shattered pieces of whatever's left in his aching heart.

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