His Darkest Desire ||Taekook||

chapter three

Taehyung rushes down the stairs, barely bothering to slip on his shoes properly—he's too excited to even notice the chance to peek outside. The thought of meeting his tutor has him buzzing. Sunlight filters through the Kwon's living room curtains, casting a warm glow over the walls and lighting up his face. A big, boxy smile spreads across him as he spins toward the hallway. The quiet, almost eerie atmosphere fades into the background; he's got bigger things to focus on.

Just as he's about to head out the door, Mrs. Kwon steps out of the kitchen, her sharp eyes locking onto him. She crosses her arms firmly across her chest.

"Where do you think you're rushing off to?" she asks, her calm voice carrying an unmistakable edge.

Taehyung freezes mid-shoe, glancing back with a sheepish grin. He tries to charm his way out with an exaggerated pout, but Mrs. Kwon isn't fooled—she lifts her chin, clearly expecting an honest answer.
No luck. Taehyung sighs, his shoulders slumping in defeat. There's no escaping this. And no amount of aegyo is going to help.

"I'm meeting Hoseok Hyung. I'll be back soon," he admits.

Before she can reply, Taehyung bolts past her, shooting a cheeky grin at the disbelief frozen on her face. Dodging her watchful eye was never easy—she's always been overprotective—but somehow, he managed to pull it off.
***
Taehyung strolls down his neighborhood street, soaking up the warm morning sun as the breeze gently tousles his hair. He exhales slowly through parted lips, savoring the fresh air. Today, he's on his way to meet Hoseok, his personal combat tutor. Hoseok's skills are top-notch, almost professional, while Taehyung is just a beginner. He's nowhere near Hoseok's level, but he enjoys the company—and it's a good excuse to escape his stepmother's relentless questioning.

The street is quiet; most people have already headed to work. Since the tragedy seventeen years ago, when his parents passed away, Taehyung's life has been anything but peaceful. Nightmares haunt his sleep, leaving him to cry silently in the dark. Only Hoseok and Mina, his step-sister, know the full story of his past.

Suddenly, Taehyung stops, eyebrows knitting together as a group of people emerge from an open garage. They move stiffly in a straight line, almost like zombies. Curiosity piqued, Taehyung ducks behind a car, watching them from a distance. Zombie apocalypse? He snickers quietly to himself. How stupid of you, Taehyung.

Just as he's about to sneak a look from the other side of the street, footsteps approach behind him. He spins around, ready to run, when a rough voice calls out:

"Hey kid, what are you doing here?"

Taehyung lets out a startled squeak, whipping his head around at the sudden voice—only to freeze as a large man hoists him clean off the ground. His limbs flail uselessly in the air, panic written all over his face.

"Let me go, bastard!" he yells, thrashing in the man's grip.

He kicks with all the strength he has, but the guy is built like a wall, barely flinching under Taehyung's efforts. After a few desperate seconds of struggling, the sound of approaching footsteps echoes nearby. The man abruptly drops him with a grunt, and Taehyung hits the ground hard, landing on his butt with an undignified "oof."

Before he can scramble away, the man grabs his arms and twists them behind his back, locking him in place. Taehyung squirms, but it's no use—he can't break free.

Damn it. Now he's pinned by some hulking brute, completely outmatched. He curses himself for skipping those combat lessons. If he'd paid attention, maybe he wouldn't be in this mess.
A new voice cuts through the chaos.

"What the hell is going on?"

A sharp, high-pitched voice slices through the heavy silence, making Taehyung look up and fix his gaze on a short man—probably in his twenties—who's steadily making his way toward him. Taehyung can't help but stare at the guy's height, but what really throws him off is how effortlessly he moves.