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"I don't feel comfortable with this," said Jeongguk anxiously, fiddling with his fingers. Taehyung watched Namjoon holster his gun. They were preparing to go to the group Doctor. Jeongguk was afraid that Taehyung might be killed.

"He just needs a checkup. Something to prove he's still human."

Taehyung looked up from his lap at that word - human. Could he still be called that? He told Namjoon and Jeongguk his thoughts after getting bit. That he could hear the zombie's thoughts and that Taehyung's own echoed their worst thoughts. Namjoon was worried. He was worried that Taehyung would bare malice to Jeongguk and risk the cure. However, Taehyung hastily explained that none of his inhuman thoughts were directed towards Jeongguk. They were aimed at the others. Still, Taehyung did not wish to risk it. He contemplated about leaving in the middle of the night. Seeing as he did not sleep anymore.

"Tae." said a disembodied voice. Said male turned towards the boy who uttered his name. Jeongguk stood right in front of him, holding Taehyung's large hands in his. They were all alone. "What are you thinking?" queried Jeongguk innocently. Taehyung sighed. He needed to be honest.

"I was ... what if I left?" Jeongguk's eyes sprawl wide, he shook his head frantically.

"Please don't think that. I just got you back. I just found you," he beseeched, resting his forehead against Taehyung's, his hands resting on Taehyung's broad shoulders. "I don't care what you are. I don't care what you do. You're still the same man who took care of me all those years ago. No matter if your eyes are red or you want to bite people," laughed Jeongguk at his impartial jester and Taehyung could not refuse to join in.

"Gguk..." Taehyung's hand reached out to caress Jeongguk's chin.

"We still need to know what's going on. And Dr. Jeong can help us. Even if it's to tell us there's nothing wrong." Taehyung chuckled humorously at the last statement.

"Nothing wrong?" said Taehyung pushing Jeongguk away and began to pace. "I don't fucking bleed, I don't feel any pain, I can see and hear everything - I fucking thought about taking a bite out of a man yesterday. There's something. I shouldn't be alive."

"Don't say that," Jeongguk came to grab Taehyung's arm.

"No!" Taehyung moved away. "I'm an abomination. I'm one of them yet still retained my human thoughts, my feelings, just like they have when they're not blinded by hunger. What happens when I'm hungry? What if I can't stomach normal food? I'll just become a walking, talking zombie." Taehyung blinked ferociously, hot tears cascading his well-defined features.

"If you're an abomination, then so am I," said Jeongguk, wiping Taehyung's tears with his sleeve. "We both shouldn't be alive and we are. Taehyung, I'm happy you're not dead. I'm happy you're not infected, because you're here, with me." He moved closer looking up at Taehyung through his long lashes, his rosy lips only inches from Taehyung's. Jeongguk was nervous. Taehyung tilted his head downwards and connected their lips. It felt really nice to kiss Jeongguk. It made Taehyung feel relaxed. The sound of someone clearing their throat broke the couple apart. Taehyung looked at Namjoon in the doorway.

"We got an appointment with the Doctor." Taehyung nodded. It was the only thing he could do. He did not know how to react to this set of information. Namjoon was like a father to Jeongguk. And they both believed in the roll that they had together.

"Jeongguk, did you get hurt again?" teased the Doctor as Namjoon, Jeongguk, and Taehyung emerged through the door. Taehyung noticed Hoseok in the corner of the room. It seemed as though he was preparing a meal. Hoseok smiled over at Taehyung. This means ... this was his husband. The short, mint-haired man with unbelievable ivory skin laughed at his own joke.

"Not me. Taehyung needs a checkup." The Doctor held out his hand for Taehyung to shake. Taehyung accepted it although quiet hesitant.

"I'm not going to bite," he joked. Taehyung did not laugh. He could not even force himself to. "I'm Yoongi, by the way."

"Taehyung," replied Taehyung monotonous. How was he still so happy? "Well, let's get you checked up."

"Do you think this is something you would rather do in private?" asked Namjoon. Yoongi's smile dropped.

"This is the man I'm spending the rest of the apocalypse with and hopefully once it's over, he'll know as soon as you leave."

"What happened to Doctor-patient confidentiality?" Taehyung attempted a joke. Thankfully, Yoongi understood what he meant. He laughed.

"That doesn't apply to a spouse. Once somebody becomes important, you go out of your way to tell the truth."

Taehyung glanced over at Jeongguk. The latter looked down at his feet, cheeks heating up. Taehyung cleared his throat.

So, tell me about yourself, Taehyung."

"There's nothing really to say. It's the apocalypse. Have you heard the dead are rising?"

"Is this breaking news?" Taehyung watched intensively as Yoongi checked his pulse. There was no unusual reaction received from the doctor. Yoongi pulled out a stethoscope. "Can I ask you to lift your shirt or just take it off?"

"In front of your husband?" asked Taehyung. He heard Hoseok's laughter from behind him. Yoongi shook his head. Taehyung removed his shirt, jumping at the cold piece of medical equipment.

"Nice healthy heartbeat, now for just a simple blood test."

Taehyung saw Jeongguk chewing on his nails anxiously. Namjoon crossed his arms. Taehyung watched the needle pierce his skin. The needle filled with his blood.

"But how?" whispered Jeongguk. Even Taehyung was surprised. Why did he not bleed when he was injured?

"Well, even you have this," Yoongi turned to look at Jeongguk. "Everything seems fine. Now let's replace this-" Yoongi tugged at Taehyung's bandage.

"No!" Taehyung jerked his arm away. Yoongi's eyes widened at the exposed wound on Taehyung's arm.

"You're bit!"

"No. Wait. Listen," Taehyung tried explaining. Yoongi made his way over to Hoseok swiftly. Hoseok had a gun aimed at Taehyung.

"You're bit!"

"Yeah, no shit Sherlock!" exclaimed Taehyung. He did not know how to ease the thickened tension. Jeongguk ran in front of Taehyung.

"Stop, he's not a threat."

"He's not a threat?! He's bit!"

"Yes! We know. You've said this three times now. But so was I," Jeongguk raised his shirt exposing his ribs to reveal the scarred bite mark.

"Jeongguk—"

"Each time I came to you to get stitched up, I've been bit. Those couple of days ago, the gash on my shoulder, I was bitten again," he explained, tugging at his shirt collar so he could expose his neck where he had been bitten. "Taehyung's condition is a byproduct of me. I kissed him when I still felt the infection with me and now he's different but he's still human." Hoseok slowly lowers his gun.

"I thought you would find this fascinating being a doctor." Namjoon spoke up.

"Well, once the internal panic wears off," Yoongi made his way around his husband. He set both Jeongguk and Taehyung on the table for checkups. He listened to Jeongguk's heart and took his pulse. However, Namjoon stepped in when Yoongi tried to take a blood sample.

"Let's not get too hasty here. We know for sure that Jeongguk has the cure."

"Well, that's the thing. Taehyung has nothing wrong with him. Everything seems to be working normally. But Jeongguk's pulse is quicker. Even if he's calm, and there's a swishing in his heart-"

"That's the infection. I can feel it," Jeongguk put his hand to his chest.

"But I don't bleed," Taehyung piped in.

"Watch this." Yoongi lifted Taehyung's arm. He ran a knife across his skin, forming a deep gash. It did not bleed as expected. However, Taehyung could see something happening. His body was repairing itself. "You're not bleeding because your skin is forming a protective layer right at the veins. Whatever is wrong with you, it's keeping you alive. Jeongguk bleeds. There's a distinct difference."

"What about the fact that I can hear their thoughts? Or I can see and hear everything unlike any human I know?"

"Heightened senses to keep you alive or..." Yoongi paused looking over at Jeongguk, "You were possibly a guard for Jeongguk, a being that could stay alive so that you could keep the cure safe. Your strain is much more zombie-like. Perhaps the immunity found out it was vulnerable and decided to make someone who could protect it." Taehyung looked down at his hands.

"What about cravings?"

"Cravings?" asked Yoongi warily. Taehyung was afraid to look up. He did not want a gun up in his face.

"I thought about eating—" Taehyung turned his attention to Namjoon. Then, his gaze fell straight to his lap. A quiet hush crept over them for some time.

"Was Jeongguk in trouble?"

"No. He was just saved. And—"

"Do you believe Namjoon had anything to do with it?" Taehyung was unable to answer. Taehyung had believed that Namjoon put Jeongguk in danger just so Taehyung would be bitten. "I think the sole purpose for this is to protect Jeongguk." Yoongi took Jeongguk's arm.

Taehyung watched as he began lowering his knife to Jeongguk's skin. At the last second, Taehyung grabbed ahold of Yoongi's wrist. The doctor's eyes widened. "Well, that's certainly interesting." Taehyung snapped out of his small rage.

"What is?" Taehyung released Yoongi from his firm grasp.

"Your eyes ... they turned red," he laughed. "We need to get you to CDC, Jeongguk as well. I'll pack my things." Yoongi made his way over to a worn dresser.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa hold up. Who said you were going with us?" Namjoon walked over towards the doctor. Hoseok came over to help his husband pack. Guess he was coming too.

"Think about it. You need a doctor. I'm a doctor."

"Great deduction skills there, Sherlock, but no, It's dangerous," Namjoon put his foot down. Yoongi and Hoseok continued to pack their clothes.

"The CDC won't believe a random man on the street and they certainly won't believe those bite marks until after they shoot. You need someone who's medically inclined." Taehyung tuned out their quarry. He put his shirt back on. Taehyung went to hand Jeongguk his own shirt. His eyes skimmed over the two bites on his torso. Taehyung had not noticed the one on his stomach before. Jeongguk covered his body with his arms.

"I don't like people staring," murmured Jeongguk. Taehyung kneeled before him. He maneuvered Jeongguk's hands from his exposed torso and placed his hand on the boy's tummy.

"We're one in the same. Only I have glowing red eyes when I'm mad." Jeongguk cracked a smile. "I don't care about your scares, Gguk. I didn't even care about them before." Jeongguk took his shirt from Taehyung and gave the older a peck on the cheek.

"Thank you, Silver."

Taehyung smiled at that. It meant a lot to him to still have that nickname. Next thing they knew, they were all packed and ready to go. Hoseok and Yoongi tagged along as they made their way to the CDC.

While Jeongguk and Taehyung hand-in-hand.

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How was it?

SOPE NATION where y'all at?! Monie, I can't even express how much I adore Yoonseok/Sope. They're totally the 'opposites attract couple'.

I can imagine Dr. (Jeong) Yoongi irl.

ON...

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안녕히 가세요, 모니 보라해요~💜