Chapter Text
Taehyung comes in and out of consciousness multiple times.
The first time, he awakes to the most excruciating pain he's ever felt in his entire life. It has him gasping for breath as he tries to move, back arching, only to be held down by a hand on his broken feeling rib cage.
"He's waking up. We need to sedate him now."
He tries to blink his eyes open, but even that hurts, the feeling of his body jostling from side to side slightly. Taehyung feels like he's choking on his own breath, painful enough to have him crying, eyes spilling over as he tries to touch himself, feel what's wrong, feel what's there. But his arms are pinned.
"It's okay, Tae. It's okay. I'm here, you're gonna be okay."
Jeongguk.
Despite the pain, Taehyung forces his eyes to open and he can't see much, but he sees Jeongguk sat to the side of him, eyes wet and his nice white shirt stained red. He's no longer holding Taehyung's lilies. Where are his lilies?
He doesn't have the opportunity to ask before he's suddenly feels like he's floating on a gentle tide, a cool sensation running through his body and his eyes won't stay open anymore.
-- -- --
Next time he's aware of his surroundings, there's beeping and rushed footsteps all around him. His eyes won't open much, feel swollen shut. But he gets a glimpse of the world around him.
"Move! Fucking move! That's my brother!" Yoongi is suddenly there, pushing someone out of the way, and staring down at Taehyung with wide, terrified eyes, lights above them passing with each step. Are they moving? "Oh, god, Taehyung." His brother's voice is thick, his cheeks steaked with tears. He wants to ask Yoongi why he's crying, why he's so upset. He goes to lift his hand to reach out for him, but then he feels another all consuming stab of pain.
He blacks out again.
-- -- --
The last time Taehyung wakes up suddenly, everything is quiet aside from a continuous beeping. A heart monitor. His eyes flutter open slowly, and for a heart stopping minute, he can't feel anything. He can't feel his own heart beat, can't feel the bed beneath him, can't feel the softness of his eyelashes hitting the skin above his eyelids. It has him starting to panic, hearing the sound of the monitor pick up, his vision blurring with tears. But then he feels it. Warm fingers on his hand and he's relaxing, the monitor slowing down, his breathing levelling out, his toes giving a little curl.
He drifts off.
-- -- --
"Yoongi. You need to eat something. It's been three days."
"Don't fucking tell me its been three days. I know how long it's been," his brother spits and Taehyung's eyebrows tug together in automatic reaction.
"And why aren't you eating?" Taehyung tries to ask, but his voice is barely there. It's a croak, and it hurts to use, has him wincing as he comes to, licking at his dry and cracked lips. They taste like medicine and plastic.
No one says anything.
"Hoseok, I gave you one job. Make sure my brother looks after himself," he tsks, everything slowly coming back to him. The date, the flowers, the car that sped up, the pain, the look on Jeongguk's face in the ambulance, the look of Yoongi's face as he was rushed through the hospital. "If I open my eyes and he looks like he's lost weight, I'm gonna come over there and shove my entire foot up your ass."
He hears a wet laugh, though he can't tell who it's from. But when he feels hair tickle his fingers and hot skin pressed against them a moment later, he knows who that is. He knows by stretching his thumb and feeling the slope of Yoongi's nose. The hot tears he feels a moment later are what have him finally opening his eyes, and he still can't open them all the way, but enough to be able to see his brother's head bowed over his casted hand - did he break his wrist? - clutching it with both of his and shoulders silently shaking.
Taehyung stretches his thumb even further and brushes away one of the tears, turning his stiff neck and smiles as best he can at the sight of four different faces around him, all staring at him with the same shared looks of relief. "Hi," he greets. Before he can say anything else, his jaw is being gently cradled and he's being given kisses all over his face, all over cheeks and forehead and nose. "Hyung," he laughs brokenly, voice cracking with lack of use.
"Thank god," his brother whispers when their foreheads press together. "Thank fucking god."
"Thank you god," Taehyung mutters and smiles when he gets a little laugh out of Yoongi. When he pulls away, Taehyung tries to push himself to sit up, but it hurts, has him wincing. Still, he can't lie like this any longer, his back and neck are tight, he needs to be somewhat horizontal.
"Easy," says another voice, and Jeongguk's suddenly standing, holding his other hand. The hand that had him falling back to sleep however long ago it was. Taehyung's eyes are suddenly frenzied as he looks the man over, and aside from the scrape to his cheek, he looks okay. It makes relief burn at the back of his eyes, and then he's crying and he's got another set of lips on his forehead.
"You're okay," he croaks and Jeongguk nods.
"I'm okay. I'm okay, you don't need to cry," Jeongguk soothes, wiping the tears away, which he's grateful for because they sting his cheeks. "You made sure of that, didn't you?" He asks and Taehyung hears the crack to his voice, sees his tired looking eyes glaze over.
Taehyung doesn't want to make anyone hurt more than they obviously had been, so he clears his throat, sniffs and shuffles slightly. "Yeah, well. I didn't wanna pay the cheque for dinner," he jokes, hand going to his ribs as he sits up more, wheezing out a breath which has Jeongguk and Yoongi immediately doting on him. Taehyung doesn't miss the sharp look his brother sends his boss, and it has him reaching over and pinching his thigh, giving him a silent don't you dare. It wasn't Jeongguk's fault and Taehyung isn't going to let Yoongi blame him.
When there's a sudden sob, everyone looks over to where Jimin's standing at the end of the bed, fists curled tight in the handles. "How does he still crack jokes when he's like this?"
Taehyung can only laugh softly before the door is opening and in steps Seokjin, wearing this pristine white doctors coat. "No way do you actually work here. A criminal doctor on the side?" He whisper yells, making the elder wave his hand around. But his eyes are still soft.
"How are you feeling, Tae?" He asks as he checks Taehyung's vitals.
"Feel like I've been hit by a car."
"Didn't lose that humour, I see."
"See?" Jimin sniffs loudly, Namjoon rubbing at his back.
Seokjin shoots Jimin a look before turning his attention back to Taehyung. "You took a lot of damage, Taehyung-ah," he says a little more seriously. "On a scale of one to ten, how bad is the pain?"
Taehyung sighs but evaluates himself, and he really doesn't have much to compare it too, so he takes a shot in the dark. "Maybe like a nine?"
Seokjin nods and starts explaining to him about the special button he can press for pain killers, and another in case he needs assistance. "You obtained a very large head injury, most likely from the direct impact with the windshield. You also broke your wrist in three places and fractured six of your ribs. I need you to take it easy, okay? You're still recovering. I don't want to see you out of this bed unless it's to use the bathroom. And you'll need assistance."
"Oh come on, I--"
"Got it," Yoongi cuts him off, and Taehyung heaves a breath through his nose. Never does he want to have to be helped to the bathroom. He'll kick up a fuss. His legs are fine, just sore, he can do it on his own. He doesn't say as much, though. He doesn't want the lecture.
After that, Seokjin sends everyone out so he can give Taehyung an examination, and ends up having to call Yoongi in when he ultimately needs help to the bathroom. He's not best pleased about it, huffing through the whole thing. But at least he can stand on his own two feet. That's a blessing. Once he's back in bed, everyone's returned and he sees that it's getting late as his head hits the pillow gently, with Yoongi's help.
"You should all go and get some rest. I'm not going anywhere," he says, and when he gets protests, he speaks up again. "Yah. None of you are any good to me if you're all tired." It manages to get Namjoon, Jimin and Hoseok out, but not before they give him gentle hugs, and Hoseok holds the side of his neck.
"You better get well soon, kid. Yoongi won't listen to me for long. I need you to keep him in line," Hoseok mutters quietly to him, and when Taehyung winks, he kisses his forehead and retreats with the other two.
When the other two go to sit down, he tuts and shakes his head. "No, no, no. That includes you two. Go home. Sleep. Eat. Be merry."
"Tae, I'm not gonna leave you."
Jeongguk nods. "I'm not going anywhere."
Taehyung summons all his energy into putting on his best scathing glare, but it's not at its best when his eyes are half swollen shut from kissing the hood of the car that hit him. He needs to find out more about that, but for right now, there's been enough excitement for one day. Everyone needs sleep. Him included. "Go now. Or I'll have you removed. I actually have the ability to do that right now," he tells them matter of factly. They both hesitate. Taehyung opens his mouth to call out.
"Alright, alright. Idiot," Yoongi cuts him off, and his voice isn't as nearly as biting as it should be. It makes Taehyung's heart hurt. He doesn't want his brother to be in pain. He leans down and presses their foreheads together and thumbs at his chin. "I love you, bug."
Taehyung smiles, scrunching his nose and bumping it against Yoongi's. "Love you too. Eat something, please?" He pleads softly and knows his brother is telling the truth after he nods when he covers his eye with two fingers. With a kiss to the cheek, Yoongi trails out after giving a curt nod to Jeongguk. Then it just leaves the two of them.
His eyes narrow when Jeongguk sits back down. "You're not an exception, boss man. Go home."
"I'm not gonna--"
"When's the last time you were home, huh? For more than ten minutes?" Taehyung asks and when Jeongguk goes to dismiss it with his hand, he grabs at it and squeezes. "Go be with Junseo," he orders softly. "That car wasn't for me. It was for you, Jeongguk. Go home and be with your son. I'm fine here. I know I'm gonna wake up and find Yoongi here in about an hour," he chuckles. "Give our boy a cuddle from me."
Jeongguk inhales deeply, sees his chin give a quiver, staring at Taehyung before he forces on a smile. "Get some rest, okay? I'll bring Junseo by tomorrow if you're up for it."
Taehyung smiles, feeling another sharp spike of pain. But he won't react. Won't push the button until Jeongguk's gone. "I'm always up for anything when it involves Junseo. Now go," he insists.
Jeongguk gives a small nod, before leaning down and pressing their lips together, so soft and barely there, but it still makes Taehyung's heart monitor spike. He opens his eyes when Jeongguk doesn't pull away, and he sees it then, sees the tears clumping at the end of his eyelashes. "Tae," his voice breaks when Taehyung lifts his hand to brush his thumb over his eyelid.
"Don't cry," he whispers as he feels a hot tear hit his own cheek. "I'm okay."
Jeongguk sniffs, whines like he wants to get closer but can't. Taehyung understands the feeling. "Don't ever do anything like that ever again. Don't ever put yourself in danger for me. I don't care what the fuck happens to me, but I care what happens to you."
"I can't promise that," he answers honestly, because if he could do it again to protect Jeongguk, then he would. It's terrifying to feel that way for someone else who's not direct family, willing to lay your whole life out for them to be safe. But there it is. The raw truth.
"I knew you wouldn't," Jeongguk mutters with a pinched expression, turning his head away without breaking contact completely and Taehyung presses a kiss to the damp corner of his eye.
"Don't ask obvious requests then, idiot." Taehyung smiles when it gets a little laugh, taking hold of Jeongguk's chin between his fingers so he can press another kiss to his lips. "Go home," he whispers, gently pushing him up, sending him a reassuring smile that silently says I'll be fine.
The elder stands there for another minute before nodding and heading out, but not without looking back at him from the door, getting an obnoxious pucker of his lips from Taehyung until he smiles and leaves completely. And as soon as he's left alone, he presses down on that fucking button as hard as he can with a groan, one he's been holding back since Hoseok said goodbye. But luckily he doesn't have to wait long until he's being hit with awash of pain relief, running through his arm like cool water, his eyes already growing heavy.
"Emotional thugs," he laughs to himself, shaking his head as his eyes finally close all the way and his body grows heavy. "Gotta love 'em."
-- -- --
When Taehyung wakes up a few hours later, Yoongi's fast asleep in the chair next to him, their fingers tangled together as best as his cast will allow.
He smiles at the sight of his sleeping brother and lets his eyes close once again.
Called it.
-- -- --
True to his word, Jeongguk brings Junseo around the next day. His heart breaks when the kid bursts into tears when he sees Taehyung laying in bed with bruises all over his face and his arm wrapped up. With some assistance from his dad, Junseo manages to climb up onto the bed and fits himself into Taehyung's side.
"Hyungie," Junseo sobs into his chest, little arms wrapped around him. "You're hurt."
Taehyung's heart mends just to shatter all over again, lifting his gaze to look at Jeongguk who's rubbing at his son's back. "I'm okay, bug. Hyungie just had an accident. He'll be good as new in no time." He presses kisses into Junseo's hair as he continues to sniffle and cry into his hospital gown, both Taehyung and Jeongguk soothing him as best as they can. Eventually, though, the cries subside long enough that Taehyung suggests something he's been thinking about since he discovered it. "I've got a project for you."
Junseo lifts his puffy face and meets his eyes before they slide over to where Taehyung's holding his arm out, the white cast just begging to be graffiti'd. Junseo sits up a little more, wiping a fist over his face before he reaches out and brushes small fingers over the hard surface. "I can draw on it?"
"You can do whatever you want on it. But it needs to be a Junseo Masterpiece. Namjoon tried to draw on it earlier and I told him no," he tells him, and it gets what he wants. A smile.
Junseo sniffs, wiping at his cheeks once again before he looks up to his father pointedly. "Daddy, I need my pens right this instant."
Jeongguk nods obediently, going and grabbing the frog backpack off one of the couches and handing it to his son. "Do you need anything else?"
Junseo shakes his head as he climbs over Taehyung's legs so he's on the side with the broken wrist. "I've got everything, thank you." Fuck. Taehyung sends Jeongguk a look, a silent this kid between them, matching proud smiles before their attention shifts back to Junseo pulling out his pens and stickers, even pulls out his--
Taehyung gasps. "Not your dinosaur stickers. Those are your special ones," he pouts.
The kid nods his head, even whipping out the old birthday card glitter pens. "You're special," he says so easily that Taehyung's heart doesn't have a chance to prepare itself, and it picks up on the monitor.
Junseo's head snaps up, eyeing the green EKG's on the screen. "What was that?"
Taehyung laughs, reaching over and thumbing at Junseo's ear. "That was my heart, bug. You made it happy."
"Wow," Junseo breathes, staring at the monitor for a long time and just watching as Taehyung's heart rate reads on the screen. Eventually, though, Taehyung wants the attention back and bumps his cast against Junseo's arm with a sulk, which gets him a beam. "Sorry, TaeTae."
Over the next couple of hours, Junseo lays across the end of his bed and draws, even when Taehyung nods in and out of sleep from the medication. A lot of Jeongguk's allies stop by and bring him flowers and ask him how he's doing. His friends from school stop by, bring him balloons and teddies. His room is filled with some insanely overpriced gifts and the strong smell of pollen. But it's nice. It's nice.
He wasn't surprised to get up and go to the bathroom the night before, Yoongi dragging him across the hall and finding guys standing outside of his room, then more down at the end of the hall -
("Guys," he sighs, pausing mid step, leaning his weight into the IV he's dragging. "Come on. You're joking, right?"
They have the nerve to look sheepish, exchanging looks. "Sorry, Taehyung. Mr. Jeon's orders.")
- and when Jeongguk called him first thing, he made sure to castigate him severely for it. He's had a stream of people with him since he woke up, and as much as he appreciates it - appreciates Sung Joon planting a slobbery kiss to his lips - he's also grateful when it winds down. It was getting to be a bit too overwhelming.
Junseo's long since finished his monumental piece of art on Taehyung's cast, covered it in bright colours and stickers, and now he's fast asleep on his chest, tiny thumb secured between his lips. It's a habit him and Jeongguk have been trying to break him out of for the sake of his teeth, but they let it go for the night. The kid is emotionally exhausted, he's had a long day.
During the next few days, Hoseok and Namjoon sneak him real food because hospital food isn't enough to satisfy Taehyung, and it's hard with Seokjin always seeming to catch wind of it. But he lets it slide, as long as they don't let the nurses see. Yoongi brings him his tablet, but with Taehyung's hand out of commission, it's mostly Junseo who uses it and draws him pictures of panda's eating doughnuts and Drago wearing a bow tie. Jimin seems to tear up every time Taehyung says something remotely funny, and has to constantly step out of the room to collect himself. Jeongguk's always there by his side. Sits with him when he gets his blood taken and kisses his fingers when his ribs are examined and rubs his back when the stitches in his head are cleaned. Taehyung doesn't say it - knows he doesn't need to - but he really appreciates it. It makes everything easier.
He finds out one evening, when it's just the two of them that the car that hit him drove off before Jeongguk or Jimin could do anything, having been so caught up in calling an ambulance and making sure Taehyung didn't bleed out there in the middle of the road. Someone on the street had managed to get pictures, but the licence plates were blacked out. It terrifies Taehyung, knowing that they'd intended to kill Jeongguk right there in broad daylight. It scares him to think of what could have happened if Taehyung hadn't gotten there, if Jeongguk was left there on his own.
Taehyung makes Jeongguk promise him that he'll keep at least two men with him at all times. But he doesn't really need to promise, because it seems they're all more than happy to stick by their boss' side. It just shows how loyal they are to Jeongguk, how they want to keep him safe. Jeongguk's got good men on his side.
Once he's alone again for the night - Yoongi no longer needed for his frequent bathroom trips - Taehyung sits and admires his room, the heart shaped balloons that Momo and Jeongyeon brought him, the giant teddy bear that Jimin bought him sat on the couch, the huge arrangement of flowers everyone brought. He's got the orange lilies right by his bedside table, though. His favourite.
He drifts off to sleep feeling loved, feeling cared. And as much as Taehyung knows he can look after himself, doesn't need people doting on him, it's a nice feeling. He's only human, and humans want to be loved. And he feels a lot of love, even alone in his room.
When he wakes up later, it's not to the feeling of a full bladder or a painful twitch, it's to someone shaking his shoulders. His eyes blink open to the frantic sound of his name, looking up and seeing Sung Joon standing there, and is that blood on his face?
"Joon?" He croaks, turning his head to look at the time, feeling panic start to bubble up in his chest. "What--"
"Taehyung. We need to go. Now," the man says urgently, casting a look over his shoulder. "You're not safe here. They've found you."
Taehyung's panic burns into fear, pushing himself to sit up and ignoring the sharp pain in his ribs, yanking his IV out of his wrist with careless fingers. "Where's Jeongguk? Is he okay?"
Joon runs a shaky hand through his hair, searching the room and going to grab the wheelchair from the corner, while Taehyung reaches over and pulls on some sweats with great difficulty and wobbly hands, wide eyes still on the elder. "He's in lockdown. We're getting him to a safe house. He asked me to take you there, but we need to go now, Taehyung. I--"
Taehyung nods quickly, pushing himself off his bed as quickly as he can and lowering himself into the waiting wheelchair. "What about Yoongi? Jimin? Junseo?"
"They're with him, he needs all the protection we can supply right now. There was an attack at the house and--" Joon pauses for another breath, quickly wheeling Taehyung out of the hospital room. "But Junseo is safe, don't worry. He's with Jeongguk."
He feels sick, feels like he's going to lose the contents of his stomach, all over his lap. The hospital is pretty dead at this time, just a few nurses and doctors checking on their patients. His eyes search for one face in particular, knowing he's working tonight. "Where's Seokjin?"
Joon wheels him down the corridor and out of the back exit, checking over his shoulder every few seconds. "He's with Jeongguk too, just in case."
That sick feeling spikes up, the thought of Seokjin being on standby in case anything happens. God, the thought of Junseo being in middle of this, not knowing what's happening makes Taehyung's stomach curl violently. "Why didn't Yoongi come and get me?"
"They've got eyes on the place, Taehyung. Got eyes on the house. I wasn't at the house, so Jeongguk had me come sneak in the back. They think-- We think it could be Haejin."
Taehyung's eyes widen, looking over his shoulder at Joon as he wheels him outside, picking up speed now. "Haejin?! He wouldn't do that to--"
"Yeah, well apparently he could," Joon spits before shaking his head as they stop beside a car. "I'm sorry, I just--"
He shakes his head. "No, don't. It's my fault." Fuck, if it's Haejin, he can't imagine how Jeongguk and Joon must be feeling. Their own fucking friend. Joon always did say that Haejin was bitter about Jeongguk being in power. How he's been wanting his job. Taehyung remembers the conversation they had in the garden, Haejin telling him he was only getting in the way, and he was a weak link. Shit.
Once Taehyung's in the the back of the car, he pulls his phone out of his pocket to call Jeongguk, call Yoongi as Joon climbs in on the other side, only to grab his phone and toss it out of the window. Taehyung's mouth opens in shock to say something, but Joon beats him to it.
"Tracking, Taehyung. It's not safe, I'm sorry," Joon apologises, and he once again shakes his head. He understands.
"Why do you think it's Haejin?" Taehyung asks, shifting to try and get a little more comfortable, but he can't do that when he feels like a ball of anxiety, stomach hitting the floor.
"He's been removing himself more and more recently. The night you were hit, we couldn't get in contact with him. He had this fight with Jeongguk about moving things in the right direction. Haejin wanted to start raising prices of some of the businesses he owns in Seoul, but Jeongguk shut it down. If Jeongguk doesn't sign off on it, then changes can't be made."
Even in this dire situation, Taehyung feels his heart jump for Jeongguk. He's heard more bits and pieces about what kind of operations he runs, like owning small businesses across all of South Korea, offers protection while receiving a small fee for a business being able to set up shop in a specific district. He's confided in him about how he never wants to rob those people of the money they've earned and he can't stand when another gang tries to terrorise shop owners into coughing up more cash. It makes sense that he and Haejin would have clashed heads over that.
Taehyung lets out a shaky breath, trying to process everything. He needs to be with everyone. He needs to make sure they're all safe. He needs to make sure Junseo is safe. With a sweep of the streets, his attention turns to the driver sat up front, doing a double take as he gets a look at him. He's vaguely familiar, but Taehyung can't put a name to the face, which is unusual. He's made the effort to learn all of Jeongguk's men's names. Maybe he's one of Joon's men. But he's rarely seen Joon with his own guys inside of the house. It irks him, not being able to pick him out of the plethora of names and faces he has in his head. He keeps staring, keeps thinking. Where has he seen that face?
It dawns on him then as he feels all the blood rush out of his face and settle heavy in his stomach.
He's one of the guys that was standing outside of Junseo's school.
Taehyung's gut suddenly shrieks at him, pounding into his aching ribs, the ball of anxiety swelling like a sponge in water. His entire body goes rigid as he struggles to keep his breathing calm, keeping his head still as he looks over to Joon, who's raking fingers through his hair and staring out of the window. His eyes fixate on the smear of blood on his cheek, the one that's had no explanation. Joon didn't say anything about any fights, or anyone coming at him. The blood doesn't match up.
Fuck. It's not Haejin after Jeongguk's spot.
It's Joon.
Taehyung bites back the sudden urge to scream, fingers curling into the material of his sweats, his healing wrist twinging in protest. His eyes go to the door handle beside him, trying to assess everything he can. The car's going too fast for him to jump out, and even if he did, Taehyung's in bad shape. He wouldn't make it far before he's caught again. Joon would know he knows then, and he can't imagine that would end well.
He doesn't have his phone. He'd bet on his life that no one knows Joon came to get him. Was Jeongguk even under attack?
"Where's this safehouse?" Taehyung asks as best he can, trying to keep his tone to scared like he was moments ago and not downright terrified like he is now.
"Hongdae," Joon answers, sending him a small, nervous smile. It's fake. It's so fucking fake, Taehyung can see it now. But he doesn't let on, just gives a nod and runs shaky hands over his thighs. "Hey," he starts again, reaching over and resting one of his hands over Taehyung's. He fights the urge to yank it free. "It's gonna be okay, alright? We'll keep them safe."
Taehyung stares at him for a long moment, searching his eyes. He's a good liar, there's no twitch, no tick, no flaw that says otherwise, but Taehyung knows. It's that gut feeling again. He manages a tiny nod, and holds Joon's gaze until he pulls away.
It's not going be okay.
-- -- --
Hongdae is busy and crowded as always as they drive through the swarms of people on the street, passing all the shopping districts and markets until they hit a more secluded place. It reminds Taehyung of the time Hoseok drove him to Jeongguk's house that first night, the nerves he felt as they got further and further away from city life. Now he wants nothing more than to see the familiar neon glows of Jeongguk's house. Instead, they drive through a dirt road and towards a very sketchy looking building, bathed in dim lighting and circled by a few men that Taehyung doesn't recognise at all.
"Come on, let's get you inside. Doesn't look like Jeongguk's here yet, so I'll try find out," Joon tells him as he helps him out of the car. Just having Joon's hands on him makes him feel physically sick, wants to retch himself free and throw his weight into his fist. But with how many people are scattered around, Taehyung knows he couldn't take all of them. Fuck, he doesn't know if he could even take one of them. In the state he's in, he can barely walk, as well as having not nearly trained as much as probably all of these men have. Taehyung's an amateur in comparison. These men have probably killed with their bare hands.
As fucking terrified as he is, he lets Joon lead him up through the den, his teeth chattering with the urge to yell and kick and scream. He knows what this is. He's a fucking ruse. A ruse to get Jeongguk there.
Taehyung nods his short thanks when he's helped into an expensive looking couch which doesn't fit the interior of the rest of the place. It's dingy and dark and smells like mould and country air. The place is huge, and Taehyung feels like he's under lock and key as Joon excuses himself to go and get an update on the situation.
He can't let on. If he lets on, then he's as good as dead. Jeongguk is as good as dead.
After a few minutes, Taehyung pushes himself up on wobbly legs and pads over to one of the guys standing in the corner. "Where's the bathroom?" He asks, and he hopes the tremor to his voice just passes off with the fact that he's scared, and not because he's fearing for his life. The guy eyes him warily before pointing down the corridor, telling him to take a left at the end and then the bathroom should be right there. "Thanks."
Taehyung tries his hardest not to make it look suspicious as he follows the directions he was given, taking a left and spotting the bathroom. When he's safely out of sight, hidden by the corner, he starts poking through the rest of the rooms, doors all aged and splintered, damaged with damp. He's beginning to lose hope, until he finds a nicer looking room than the rest, though it's not hard in this place. There's a desk and a lamp and strewn papers. There's also want Taehyung needs.
A phone.
He's quiet as he closes the door behind him after checking the hallway once more, ducking in when someone steps out of the bathroom. With a new found energy, Taehyung hobbles over to the phone and quickly debates who he should call. He could call Yoongi, warn him to keep Jeongguk safe. But what if they were actually separated? Taehyung doesn't know if anyone is actually where Joon said they were. He might not be able to get the message to Jeongguk in time. He quickly tries to remember Jeongguk's number, having seen it enough after changing his contact name so many times to whatever suited his mood. He tries to stop his fingers shaking long enough to type in the number, casting a quick look over his shoulder as the automated voice on the other end tells him that the number he's called doesn't exist.
"Shit," he breathes as he tries again, counting through the numbers in his head and replacing the six with a nine, lifting the phone to his ear and sighing with relief as it rings. God, if this is wrong, then he's--
"Jeon."
Taehyung almost cries. "Jeongguk, it's Taehyung. I don't have much time, but--"
"Taehyung? Why are you calling me from an unknown--"
"--Jeongguk. It's Joon. The attacks, they were Joon, he--"
He doesn't get a chance to finish his sentence before he's being cut off with hands wrapping around his neck. Taehyung chokes as he drops the phone and reaches up to claw at the hands on his neck, squeezing and squeezing at his windpipe, making him gag on the air leaving his lungs. He kicks his weight into his legs, kicking at whoever's behind him, smacking and clawing and kicking and throwing his body into it. But then everything starts to dim and Taehyung feels his eyes start to roll back into his head and everything becomes light, his feet feeling like they're not purchased on the ground.
He faints.
-- -- --
Taehyung doesn't know how long he was out for before he starts coming too, gasping for breath and hacking up the invisible sludge in his lungs. His head hurts, his throat burns, and his ribs are killing him. He opens his heavy eyes to stare down at his own lap, his hospital gown and sweatpants are dirty. As he stares at the patterns on his gown, he feels his eyes threatening to close on him again, head filling with stones. Until he's being shocked back awake, head snapping up with a gasp as water hits his face, spluttering on it as he blinks his eyes open furiously.
He looks around, momentarily confused as he tries to find his bearings, place himself in the situation. Taehyung's gaze settles on Joon, watching him toss an empty bucket to the side, dusting off his hands. He tugs his wrists and feels that they're tied behind his back, chaff the uncasted one with each pull.
"Rise and shine, Taehyung!" Joon greets with that big smile. That smile that Taehyung's come to enjoy. But now it just makes him sick, makes his skin crawl and teeth grit. "Oh, don't look at me like that now. We're friends, aren't we?"
He doesn't say anything.
Joon tuts, pulling an apple out of the inside of his jacket and polishes it against it his jacket, other hand grabbing for a knife in the back of his slacks. "It's a shame it had to come to this. I always liked you. You have... pizzazz. Spunk. But Haejin was right. You only got in the way. Which is unfortunate. I was hoping you'd run for the hills after you saw my men outside your place. But no. You wormed your little way into it more."
"You're supposed to be Jeongguk's friend," he spits. He feels rage scorch at his insides. "You're Junseo's godfather!"
Joon hums, cutting himself a slice of apple. "Yes, that wasn't the plan. Jeongguk was never supposed to kill Sungrok. I told him to let me do it. Told him not to burden himself with that responsibility. But-- Ah, well, you know the rest. You know better than most what our Jeongguk is like, don't you?" Joon crouches down in front of him, pointing to him with his knife. "It's the same thing that's gonna get him killed. His lack of self restraint and thinking things through."
Taehyung tries to yank at his hands again, the chair he's on wobbling with the force of the tug. "You touch him and I'll--"
"You'll what, hm? Even if you could do something, what would you do? Kill me? You're not cut out for this life, Taehyung. Don't deny that a part of you hates yourself for getting into it this far," Joon tsks, tilting Taehyung's chin up with the blade. "You should have just stuck to making your little video games. "
Taehyung spits in Joon's face. "Fuck you," he growls.
Joon stands up straight, laughing as he wipes the spit from his cheek and eyes his hand. "Ah, Taehyung. That wasn't very nice," he sing-songs. He pulls his hand back and smacks Taehyung so hard across the face that his vision blurs, black spots appearing in front of his eyes. The sting of his cheek feels white hot, hot while his skin goes numb. "Now. Sit there and play nice while I give your boyfriend a call, hm?"
"Don't," he husks out, hair falling into his eyes.
"Or what? You keep making these threats to me, but what can you really do. Don't worry, Taehyung," Joon starts, reaching over and patting at the side of his face that he just smacked, Taehyung flinching away from his touch. "He's still my friend, after all. I won't make it all that painful." Joon steps back, pulling his phone out of his pocket, and a second later he has it pressed to his ear, sending a wink his way.
"Joon--"
Joon puts a finger to his own lips, then grins. "Ah, Jeongguk! Yes, seems like your little bird here beat me to the punch. Listen," he sighs. "Let's just get this over and done with, shall we? I want you dead, you want Taehyung alive, we can make the bargain--"
"Jeongguk, don't!" Taehyung yells, and is this time met with a fist against his cheek, hard enough that it has him falling backwards in the chair. He splutters on the blood oozing into his mouth, grunting at the impact his ribs just took. His whole world tilts on its axis, his head swimming with the force of the blow, ears ringing. It's nothing like the other hits he's taken over the last few months, but at least he's had some practice. He's not nearly as startled as he would have been without his training.
"Sorry? Yes! Yes, that was Taehyung. No, no, stop that language. He's fine. But if you want him to stay that way, then you need to come here and I'll let him go."
Taehyung coughs, turning his head to spit out a mouthful of blood. His tooth feels loose. "Jeon--"
"My god, shut up, Taehyung!" Joon laughs, pressing his foot right against his ribs, pressing down hard enough to have Taehyung yelling through gritted teeth. "Ah, that's a boy. It's better this way, Jeon. It's for the best." Joon pulls his foot away and trails off, slipping through the back door as he gives instructions, leaving Taehyung to lay on the floor, his whole body screaming with pain.
He's fucked. Joon's right, it's going to be the lack of looking at the bigger picture that has Jeongguk killed. Joon's going to kill him and Jeongguk will happily allow it because he thinks it'll save Taehyung. But Taehyung knows too much, he knows about Joon and what he's done. Once he's killed Jeongguk, he'll kill him next. That fucking idiot, putting him before his own life. Who would look after Junseo? What would happen to Junseo when his father is no longer around? If Jeongguk wasn't such a moron, he could have a chance at escaping with his son.
Taehyung isn't worth Jeongguk's life. Taehyung isn't worth Junseo's grief.
He doesn't know how long he's left there, lying on the cold cement floor until Joon walks back in, whistling and flipping his knife around in his fingers. "Aw, I'm sorry, Taehyung. Let me help you up." He reaches down and hauls Taehyung up by the gown, which has him groaning at the pressure of his entire weight held by just thin fabric. "My men are off to fetch lover boy, you'll see him soon. Isn't that exciting?" Joon beams.
Taehyung just glares at him, his eyes ripping him apart piece by piece.
"My. If looks could kill, wow," Joon laughs, patting at his head. After a while, Joon seems to get bored with Taehyung's lack of response and pulls up another chair, sitting backwards on it, resting his arm over the top. "Y'know, it'll be a shame if Junseo grows up without a strong authority figure in his life. Maybe I'll take him under my wing."
That has Taehyung's chest rising and falling quicker, nostrils flaring and his chaffing wrist starting to bleed with each twist and tug. "You think he'll want to stay with the man that killed his father?"
Joon grins, tucking his chin over his arm. "Accidents happen all the time. His father just happened to be in one of those accidents. Like you were in that accident, hm? See, if you hadn't played hero, then Jeongguk would be dead and we wouldn't be in this mess. Besides. Junseo's young, maybe he'll come to see me as a father."
The thought makes Taehyung sick, Junseo looking at Joon with anything other than hatred, forgetting about Jeongguk and coming to love his godfather like his actual father. "You're dead," Taehyung breathes, seemingly unable to regain his breath anymore. "Someone will get you. One day, you'll fucking die, and I wish I could see it happen." It's the coldest thing Taehyung's ever said, ever thought, but his mind is so clouded with fear, with anger, with rancour, he can't bring himself to be ashamed.
"Ooh, Taehyung. That gave me goosebumps, look," Joon breathes, pulling up the sleeve of his shirt, but Taehyung doesn't tear his eyes away from his face.
However long later, there's a pounding at the door and Joon stands up with a bright grin. "Must be the food I ordered," Joon gasps as he walks over to the door and pulls it open, and he looks directly at Taehyung as his men drag Jeongguk in, a bruise already blooming on his cheek.
Taehyung starts thrashing in his seat again as their eyes meet, because no. No, fucking no. It can't be like this, it can't end like this.
"Taehyung, fuck-- You said he wouldn't get hurt!" Jeongguk snarls as he's shoved down into the same chair Joon had just been occupying, twisted around to face Taehyung. It takes four men to hold him down long enough to get his wrists and legs tied to the chair.
Joon hums, still standing by the door, cocking his head. "They're just scratches, Guk, calm down."
Taehyung feels the corners of his eyes water, staring with wide eyes over at the other man. "You fucking idiot," he whispers, shaking his head.
Jeongguk meets his eyes, staring at him like he's scared he'll disappear into thin air. "Tae..." But Taehyung shakes his head, dropping his gaze to his lap. If he looks at Jeongguk, he's going to cry. And he's not going to give Joon the satisfaction of seeing him cry.
"Lovers spat?" The man himself pipes in, his men stepping out once Jeongguk's secured to the chair. "Now then. Should we do this Reservoir Dogs style? Put on some music, I cut off an ear?" Joon asks, giving a little sway and snap of his fingers. "Nah, bit tacky. I don't want to drag this out any longer than I have to."
Jeongguk huffs a disbelieving laugh. "Fucking liar."
"No, no, it's true, Guk! This pains me more than you can understand--"
"Yeah, I'm sure this is giving you great displeasure, you spineless rat," Jeongguk spits. "Doesn't seem like your taste at all. Killing me in a room alone. No crowd seeing you bring me to my knees? You fucking traitor."
Joon smiles, lifting his knife to press to the side of Jeongguk's face, using it to turn him towards Taehyung. "But we're not alone, are we, Jeon? A crowd would be fun, of course. But I think it's more fun to have that precious boy of yours watch as you die. More dramatic, no?"
Taehyung grits his teeth so hard that he feels the loose one in his mouth crack, frowning so hard it makes the cuts on his face split open further. "Stop!" He yells when Joon slides his knife along the side of Jeongguk's face, a hot line of blood sliced into his cheek.
It doesn't end there. It only gets worse. Taehyung's forced to watch as Sung Joon cuts, punches and kicks at Jeongguk for what feels like a lifetime, and he can do nothing but scream himself hoarse, watching Jeongguk's face and shirt blur red and his hair mat with blood. Jeongguk refuses to give more than a groans, clearly not willing to give Joon what he wants and Taehyung can see the life leaving him. Can see it spill out with the blood which stains the air, everything metallic and salty.
"Stop! Fucking stop!" Taehyung screams, his voice long gone. "You fucking coward! Stop--" He's cut off by another punch to the face, once again sent toppling in his chair, wheezing at the audible crack to his ribs.
"For the love of god, when will you shut the fuck up!" Joon snaps, kicking at the underside of his chair and knocking another wheeze out of Taehyung's lungs.
Taehyung can feel the warmth of his own blood start to seep out around his head, his stitches tearing open. The cast on his wrist has broken, no longer supporting the healing bones, and it makes Taehyung's entire arm burn in agony. He shifts and feels it loosen around his hand.
It's loose.
The cast gave a few inches between plaster and skin, and now that it's broken, Taehyung can suddenly move his hand around the ropes. He shifts his eyes over to Joon without moving his head, watching him turn his attention back to Jeongguk, who's head is permanently hung low at this point, a dribble of blood and saliva dripping from his lips. Taehyung acts quickly and quietly, a rush of adrenaline coursing through him as he pulls his hands free from the ropes. With Joon's back to him, he can double over himself, choking back a sob at the protest of his ribs as he leans towards his ankles and starts untying them, shaky, uneven fingers working quickly to untangle the knots.
He rises to his feet slowly, being sure not to move too quickly and attract Joon's attention. Taehyung picks up his chair by the back and raises it above his head, body twinging at the strain on his injuries. He pays them no fucking mind as he pulls the chair back and smashes it right over Joon's back, the wood shattering in his hands and making the man crumple to the floor with yell of pain.
Taehyung licks at the blood on his lip, swaying back on his feet as he raises his fists, eyes wild and chest heaving. When Joon looks up at him in both shock and angered amusement, he gestures for him to come closer with a wave of his fingers.
Joon laughs, pushing himself up on shaky feet. "Won't let me work in peace, huh? Might be a change of plans and I'll have to kill you first."
Taehyung doesn't say anything as Jeongguk groans in protest, just stares at him over the top of his fists and when Joon lunges for him in a punch, he blocks it and returns it with his own punch to the chest, having Joon stumbling back a few steps.
"Well this is surprising," Joon breathes, half ripping off his jacket and tossing it to the side. "Maybe you did learn something."
"Shut the fuck up," Taehyung rasps out, because he's heard too much from this asshole as is. He doesn't need to hear anymore.
Joon goes for him again and Taehyung dodges, side stepping away from the kick.
("No, no, it's good," Hoseok comes to his aid. "He's got quick reflexes. They're not the most elegant dodges, but he'll tire anyone out. Just look at Yoongi.")
He lands a blow to Joon's face, knuckles coming into contact with his nose and the crunch of bone beneath his fist is enough to tell Taehyung that he just broke his cartilage. His hand is bent at an odd angle, having him struggling to curl his fingers properly, the bone in his wrist sticking out grotesquely. It distracts him long enough to give Joon an in, punching him in the jaw and having Taehyung's vision blurring.
(His brother smirks. "What? You thought I'd go easy on you just because you're my kid brother? Come on, like I showed you. Keep your fists up, guard your face, Taehyung.")
Taehyung spits out the broken fragments of that tooth that had been barely hanging on, fists levelled with his nose.
"Look at you. You aren't so useless after all," Joon laughs bitterly from where they're circling.
He wants to look over his shoulder, check on Jeongguk, see if he's still with him. But he can't tear his eyes away from Joon again. He's already struggling, another couple of hits and Taehyung will be out cold. His ears are ringing and he's close to limping. But he's got too much to loose to care about that. He goes in for another hit, but Joon blocks it and punches him right in the gut.
(Jimin punches him again, though makes it abundantly clear that he's not happy about it. Taehyung's not too happy with it either. But he's got to learn, and this time when he gets a fist to the stomach, he's got an idea of the pain and is a little more prepared for it. He doesn't fall onto his knees this time, just stumbles back and doubles over himself.)
Taehyung sucks in a sharp breath as he hunches over himself for a second, and uses it to his advantage to charge forward and shove his entire body mass into Joon's, launching him into the closest wall. It doesn't deter Joon, who grunts but keeps aiming punches at Taehyung's ribs while he gets his arms under Joon's legs and uses everything he can to lift him up and body slam him into the ground.
The grapple with each other, trading blows and kicks and punches, trying to pin each other to the floor long enough to gain the upper hand. With a punch to the head, Taehyung sees stars, his mobility non-existent as he twitches on the floor.
Taehyung's going to die. Jeongguk is going to die.
Joon clumsily clambers to his feet, falling down once before righting himself, wiping the blood away from his eye and clutching at his stomach. He pats around his pocket and pulls out his knife, brandishing it with an unsteady hold. "Enough of this. It's time to cut out the weak link." This is it, he's going to die, Joon is twisting his knife and stepping towards him, and this is how he dies. In a dirty basement while the man he's falling for sits there and bleeds out beside him. Jeongguk's going to die. Junseo is going to be left alone. Yoongi will be alone.
Taehyung pictures his brother, pictures him crouching beside him. Come on, Tae. Don't you dare fucking die like this! I swear to god, I'll kill you if you fucking die. He can hear it so loud and clear, see the fierceness in Yoongi's eyes, see the spit flying from his mouth.
("No. Taehyung," Yoongi heaves a breath, hair pushed back with a bandanna. "How many times? Don't use your thighs, kid. Use your shins. You'll have way more momentum there, more power. Come on. Up.")
He doesn't think, just twists his upper body, braces himself and sweeps his leg all the way around, hitting the sides of Joon's ankle with his skin and lifting them off the ground, sending him falling backwards to the concrete with a smack. Taehyung heaves a breath, pushing himself up on his hands and staring over at the motionless man on the floor. He crawls over to him quickly, grabbing the knife that had slid a few feet away and quickly drags himself over to Jeongguk.
"Jeongguk. Jeongguk," he demands, gently smacking the side of the man's face, which is completely covered in blood, no pale glow of his skin visible. "Jeongguk, wake up, baby, wake up." His voice is desperate as he makes quick work of cutting the ropes with the knife, sawing through them until Jeongguk's ankles are free. His head snaps up with Jeongguk gives a low gasp, and Taehyung's eyes fill up. "Yeah, come on. Wake up, wake up." He quickly shifts around to cut the ropes at the back, eyes still flicking over to Joon knocked out on the floor. Knocked out. Not dead.
"Tae..." Jeongguk chokes in a wheeze, and Taehyung's back in front of him in a second.
"It's me. I'm here, Guk. I'm right here," he breathes, pushing blood tangled hair off Jeongguk's forehead.
"You... Called me baby."
Taehyung lets out a wet laugh, pressing his face into the man's thighs. "You're a fucking idiot," he mutters, though there's no heat, no fucking anything but relief, which only grows when he gets a light hand in his hair. But there's no time for sentiment right now, they have to get out of there. "Did you come here alone?"
Jeongguk nods, groaning as Taehyung helps him to his feet. "Told me if I told anyone, he'd kill you. They came and got me in Gangnam, took my phone." Taehyung eases his arm around his shoulders, and hisses a quiet breath at the feeling of Jeongguk's weight pressing into his side.
"Fuck," he breathes, eyeing the door. Joon's men are still out there, and neither he or Jeongguk are in any position to fight them in the state they're in. Taehyung looks around frantically, acutely aware of the man bleeding out by his side and the one out cold - for the time being - on the floor. It reminds him then that Joon had a phone. He carefully leans Jeongguk up against the wall, having to tug him back to his feet when he starts to slide down, dragging the chair over for him to hold onto.
"Taehyung," Jeongguk husks out as Taehyung tries to remember his brother's number.
"What?"
"Give me the knife."
Taehyung looks up at Jeongguk, the whites of his eyes standing out amongst all the darkening blood. He swallows thickly, looking down to Joon sprawled out by their feet. "Jeongguk..."
"It has to be done." And he can hear the pain in Jeongguk's voice. He had to kill one of his closest friends, the man who saved him, the godfather to his child, the man who betrayed him. There was no other way, Taehyung knew. If the police were involved, they'd undoubtedly charge Jeongguk too. Look for any excuse to throw him behind bars. It was the way it was in this world, and with grim acknowledgement, Taehyung hands over the knife.
He can't watch. Despite everything, he can't bear the thought of seeing it. He helps Jeongguk onto the floor by his unconscious friend and turns away, going back to typing through numbers. Until he realise that Joon must have Yoongi's number on his phone. He almost cries with relief when he sees it there, hitting the call button and not having to wait for long until his brother answers.
"I swear to christ, if you've done something to Taehyung, I'll personally--"
"Yoongi," he breathes, sagging against the wall. He really didn't think he'd hear his brother's voice again, and now he is, Taehyung can't hold back the tears that have been threatening to spill.
"Taehyung, oh my god," and he's sobbing. In the background he hears other voices. Tae?! Did you say Taehyung?! He's okay?!
"Me and Jeongguk are okay. But we can't get out, Joon's men--"
"Are dead. We're coming to get you. We saw him take you on the CCTV at the hospital. We tracked his phone, we're almost there. Just hang in there, okay? I'm fucking coming to get you."
Taehyung lets out a shaky breath, eyeing the door and hearing the sounds of yells in the distance. He quickly stumbles forward and locks the door, putting the chair under the handle for good measure. The line goes dead as someone rattles the handle.
"Sir! We need to go, they've found us. Have you done it?"
Taehyung doesn't say anything as he steps away from the door and flinches when a hand touches his side, whipping around to see it's just Jeongguk, who half collapses into him, bloody knife dropping to the floor. "I've got you," he whispers, wrapping Jeongguk's arm back around his shoulders just as there's gunfire on the other side of the door.
"Sir! Sir! We need to go now!"
Jeongguk heaves shaky breaths into Taehyung's shoulder as he struggles to support his weight, but he won't let him go. They both stand and wait, Jeongguk hunched over and Taehyung staring at the door, the sound of gunfire not stopping for a good five minutes. Eventually, there's another rattle at the door.
"Taehyung!"
He kicks the chair aside quickly and unlocks the door, meeting eyes with Yoongi who's whole body sags from the sight of him. "Where is he? I'll fucking kill--"
"He's dead," Jeongguk interrupts, standing up a little straighter, but he's still leaning into Taehyung like a stack of boxes, just ready to tip. "We need to go."
Yoongi lets out a shaky breath through his nose, looking between he and Jeongguk before he yells over his shoulder. "Jimin! Namjoon!"
They appear at his side in an instant, and there's no time for greetings, Taehyung hands Jeongguk over to them and watches as they half carry/half drag him to one of the waiting cars. He tears his eyes away from them to look back at his brother, who's glaring pointedly over his shoulder. Taehyung refuses to look, doesn't need to, just lifts a trembling hand to rest on Yoongi's shoulder.
"Hyung," he mutters and immediately has his brother's attention back on him. "Take me home."
Yoongi's eyes lose their edge promptly and he nods, reaching for Taehyung and takes his weight greedily, as if he can't stand the thought of him spending another minute supporting himself. Taehyung's grateful because he really doesn't think he could.
He's led over to the same car Jeongguk was taken to, currently being tended to by Seokjin, thank fuck.
"Check him," Jeongguk orders and Seokjin goes to do just that but Taehyung holds up a hand. "Taehyung--"
"Shut up," he silences, groaning as he leans back in the seat, holding his ribs. "Just... shut up and get fixed up. Please."
Jeongguk stares at him with determined eyes before he eventually concedes, whether it's from the pain or Taehyung's stubbornness, he really doesn't care. He relents and that's all that matters. Once Seokjin's patched and dosed them as much as he can, he goes to tend to Hoseok who's got a bullet wound to the leg, leaving the pair of them in the back as Jimin drives them to the hospital.
"Some first date," Taehyung slurs out from where his head is resting over the top of Jeongguk's.
They laugh until the pain in their body turns it into groans.