"Hello, Taehyung," Namjoon's smooth voice broke through the hazy veil covering his ears, "You've been unresponsive for an hour," something warm was pushed into his hands and he could smell something sickeningly sweet. It took him a few seconds to realise that there was a steaming cup of hot chocolate between his fingers, he focused on the warmth, allowing himself to feel it travel from the tips of his fingers to his heart and then spread throughout his entire being.

"Thank you," he gazed up at Namjoon and brought the ceramic to his lips, the liquid burnt his tongue slightly, he took no notice; his eyes surveyed the room, "where's Jeongguk?" the male's absence worried him, made him feel like there was still danger lurking in the shadows.

"In his office, he's... working," the hesitance was clear, but Taehyung didn't have the heart or mind to query it. Namjoon told him the heir would be finished in no more than ten minutes; his phone rang, signalling the end of their interaction so with a curt bow Namjoon stalked out of the room. His face gave no hints as to the nature of the phone call, Taehyung didn't care, to be frank, he was glad. He'd had enough gang affairs to last him a lifetime; unfortunately, he knew this would only be the beginning of the horrors that came with being around Jeongguk.

Sighing he took another sip of the warm beverage cradled in his palms and lost himself in the sugariness that coated his mouth and the comfort it brought. Sadly, his little moment of ecstasy came crashing down when he entered Taehyung's bedroom, immediately his muscles tensed, knuckles going white around the mug. He now realised the small tigers painted on it; in any other circumstance, he would have cooed at the sight.

"How're you feeling?" Jeongguk's hand came up to scratch awkwardly at the nape of his neck, he stood fidgeting in front of Taehyung as if trying to work out whether to sit with him or not.

"Still shaky," Taehyung's head was screaming at him for opening up, but his heart was yearning for the security only Jeongguk could provide. It was irrational but he just needed to be held; he could vaguely remember Jeongguk holding him after the incident but most things after that final slash of metal were a blur.

"I'm sorry you had to see that," he took a deep breath and moved closer, "but I have to discipline my men, that man today had... history... and I couldn't let him look at you in that way, not knowing who he is,"

"I was there to flirt with them,"

"No," the sharpness took Taehyung off guard and he scooted away slightly, "you were there to test them, Jwa failed," the seriousness carved into Jeongguk's face sent shivers down his spine. Taehyung still didn't quite understand the necessity to be so violent, but he didn't know if he should ask at this moment.

After a moment of contemplation, he gathered the courage to voice his thoughts,

"But why-"

"He raped children, Tae!" Silence. In his mind and his surroundings, there was only silence. His brain hadn't fully caught up with what he just learnt but his heart had, tears formed in his eyes and his hands shook, thankfully not spilling any of the hot chocolate that had gone cold now.

~

Jeongguk watched Taehyung start to unravel again. There were a few seconds where Jeongguk merely stood blinking at him uncertainly before he pulled him close and lay back on the bed with arms wrapped snug around his lithe body. Humming a lullaby into the boy's hair, he gave Taehyung time to process, hoping that his presence reminded him that he wasn't alone. He was safe. Reaching down he found a blanket that was lying on the floor next to Taehyung's bed and curled it around them, he watched Taehyung nose at his chest in contentment, he had stopped shaking although his breathing remained weak. A small smile played on his lips as Taehyung brought a hand to rest over his heart and the other clutched at his shirt. Something pleasant washed over him, it felt the same as his mother's hugs from when he was a child though more intimate. It confused Jeongguk, not familiar with the sensation but not necessarily opposed to it.

Twenty minutes later, Taehyung sat up reluctantly, seemingly already missing Jeongguk's warmth. The latter smiled at the boy's hesitation before climbing off the bed and extending a hand towards him, "Come on, you need a drink," Taehyung scoffed but followed regardless. His movements were lethargic in the aftermath of his shock and there was a vulnerability in his eyes that made Jeongguk want to scoop him up and never let go. The sudden urge gave Jeongguk pause, he looked down at his hands, they'd been the cause of so much death, seen blood so many times and yet those same hands wished to bring comfort and love to another. Jeongguk continued to stare when Taehyung held his hand tightly as they climbed the stairs to Jeongguk's main floor. It took Taehyung a moment to let go when they reached the sofa.

Jeongguk could feel how the tension had shifted slightly in his and Taehyung's relationship, Taehyung would no longer flinch whenever Jeongguk touched him fleetingly; he would graciously accept food and drink rather than stare suspiciously; he was a lot more comfortable moving around the penthouse and started to develop his own routine without deliberately avoiding the other and he no longer looked at Jeongguk like he was the Devil incarnate, it wasn't quite affection swimming in those azure orbs but it definitely wasn't loathing. It was a progress that Jeongguk was happy with, he revelled in the rare sight of Taehyung's smile or how he would find him at peace on the balcony with a book in his hand and his nose tucked into a thick sweater, though there was still a cautiousness about the elder whenever Jeongguk would get too close for too long.

Taehyung's relationships with Seokjin and Namjoon were growing too, frequently the two would arrive early just to spend time with him before meeting with Jeongguk, they would bring gifts like new books or a new brand of hot chocolate and sit and talk with him. It was pleasing to see Taehyung have these interactions, he wasn't completely isolated and even seemed happy when with them but Jeongguk knew that Taehyung still longed to be allowed outside and he wished he could grant that, but with the ever-growing strain in Geom-Eun Neugdae it was too dangerous for the time being, too many were willing to destroy anything Jeongguk had the slightest attachment to in order to throw him off course. While the need to protect was new territory to him, he knew he couldn't risk it. Not Taehyung.

~

"Here," Taehyung's fingers wrapped delicately around the thin champagne flute that was pushed into his grasp, it fizzed beautifully and had a slight pink tint that alluded to its sweet taste. The pair had already enjoyed a fair few of these glasses but neither were keeping count with the buzz flowing through their veins, Taehyung giggled into Jeongguk's shoulder once the younger sat down and slung an arm around his shoulders; somewhere in the back of his mind he was scolding himself for allowing himself for being so comfortable in Jeongguk's embrace but at that moment he didn't have it in him to care. He felt safe with Jeongguk's stare on him, it was gentle and sent tingles down Taehyung's spine, he hadn't even realised just how close they were until his legs were lifted and placed on Jeongguk's lap; still, he didn't mind.

"Do you know how beautiful you are?" Jeongguk leant over to whisper in the other's ear, a pink tinge gracing his cheeks and his words slurred slightly, Taehyung flushed down his neck as the words fell against his skin. He shivered slightly before he turned to cock his head in question, "You're an angel Taehyung," Jeongguk had moved even further into Taehyung's space, "my angel." He brought two fingers up to his chin so that their eyes locked together, the brown orbs swirled with alcohol but there was something deeper alongside it; something so genuine Taehyung felt tears prick the corners of his eyes which he promptly blinked away. The sincerity behind his words was as clear as day and it blew Taehyung so far away that he didn't notice how close their faces were, whenever Jeongguk spoke their lips would ghost each other as if testing this new feeling.

"Jeongguk..."

"Shh, don't talk, just feel," confused, Taehyung opened his mouth again to speak but his words were swallowed by a sudden heat enveloping them. Squeaking quietly in the back of his throat as plush lips pushed against his, they moved gently but with a fiery determination that made Taehyung eagerly move his in sync.

Jeongguk's lips were rougher than his own a product of his habit of chewing his lower lip in deep thought, however, the passion they conveyed shoved any thought other than Jeongguk far from Taehyung's mind. He felt the cool leather of the couch comfort his back as Jeongguk pushed him carefully to lie down, the warmth of his muscular body blanketing the young stripper as he felt himself melt under his touch. Hot hands caressed his waist, slowly pushing his thin grey sweater up to his chest, Taehyung could vaguely remember someone wrapping him in the piece of clothing earlier in the evening.

One hand held Taehyung's waist in a bruising grip while the other slowly circled his left nipple before flicking it now and then. Their tongues clashed, Jeongguk easily winning the fight for dominance, he licked around the other's mouth exploring it with ferocity but also a gentleness behind his actions. He was intense but also soft and passionate with every roll of his tongue and it had Taehyung losing his mind.

It was a hand on his buttock that woke him up, strong fingers gripping the flesh and Taehyung's eyes snapped open immediately. He pushed Jeongguk off him with the little strength he still possessed, an obvious blush covered his body, but he ignored the embarrassment and bolted from the couch back down the stairs and raced into his room slamming the door behind him. Breathing heavily, he sunk to the floor with his head in his hands trying to calm his erratic heartbeat; his mind rushed with the hazy feeling of drunken pleasure and the cautiousness Jeongguk had treated him with that made him feel so safe in his arms despite who he was. The room was dark but he made no effort to change that as he sat there with his back against the door, half hoping Jeongguk would come after him but he was pleased that he had been given this moment of solitude. He'd never in his life been so at war with his heart and brain, both fighting for power and settling into a painful tug of war.

It was obvious to him that he was attracted to Jeongguk, he had been for a while now, but he promised himself that he would never allow any sort of relationship between them to evolve. So why was he here? Why couldn't his heart understand that Jeongguk was not good for him?