{can't escape}

Jungkook almost couldn't hold himself properly as those words slipped out from Taehyung's lips. They were cold, stern and Jungkook only found his limbs beginning to tremble more violently as he allowed for his brain to process everything. He knew his father was in town... but just hearing it was triggering enough to send Jungkook into a downward spiral. 

From beside him, Taehyung was quick to put the phone back down, finally noticing Jungkook's shaking through the dim city lights that shone through the curtains. "Jungkook?" 

"Just... just give me a moment would you-" Jungkook uttered, placing a hand against his chest as he began to control his own breathing. Taehyung watched on in concern as Jungkook began to steady himself, squeezing his eyes shut as he focused on the rhythm of his heart. 

Wordlessly, Jungkook turned on his feet, catching Taehyung off guard as he began to walk out from the kitchen and into the hallway. Jungkook's legs felt like jelly as he practically wobbled his way towards his room, Taehyung following closely behind, "Kook, you don't have to-"

"-I just need a moment, okay!" He snapped, turning to face Taehyung with a glare before storming over into his room. 

"Jungkook you're-"

"-I'm not!"

Jungkook went to slam his door shut, but was stopped as Taehyung pushed his way inside, "Jungkook you're scared!" He shout, standing with his hands either side of the doorway, "Just admit it already!" Taehyung dropped his arms as he took a step forwards, "Stop denying it..."

Gritting his teeth, Jungkook placed both hands firmly on Taehyung's chest as he tired to push the stubborn male out the door, but Taehyung only fought back, grabbing onto the doorframe to stop himself from moving backwards. Realising that Taehyung wasn't going to budge, Jungkook threw hands, "Cant you just respect that I need some time alone!?"

Taehyung's usually soft expression turned dark, "Cant you just realise that running away will never solve your problems?!" He shout back. 

Jungkook fell silent... because those words truely hit him deep. 

Running away had never solved any of his problems. He ran away from the Jeons to escape from his violent life only to fall straight back into it after a few years. Hiding hadn't solved anything, it had only increased his anxiety as he watched and waited for his father to find him, because even though he had runaway... he had never truely escaped. His mind was still under his father's control. The fear. The guilt.

He took a few slow steps back, stopping when his legs hit the side of his bed and he fell into it. His back collapsed against the mattress as his eyes flickered to the ceiling, and he just stopped and stared at it in silence. 

Taehyung let out a breath, moving away from the doorframe as he made his way over to Jungkook's bed. Wordlessly, he lay himself down next to the younger, the mattress sinking underneath them both as they lay side by side. Taehyung's shoulder brushed against Jungkook's, but the male didn't say anything as they both stared at the ceiling. 

"Sorry." Taehyung mumbled

Jungkook shook his head, "Don't be... I needed someone to tell me that." He listened to Taehyung's soft breathing, feeling comforted by his touch as they lay side by side. Jungkook couldn't help but draw in a sharp breath as he thought back to everything he had ever runaway from, good and bad. 

From beside him, Taehyung rolled on his side to face Jungkook, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah..." Jungkook replied, "I just... recalled something, that's all."

Taehyung rose a brow as he watched Jungkook's expression fall, "What was it?" There was a moment of hesitation. A moment where Jungkook contemplated parting his lips to speak, but in the end he found himself turning on his side to face Taehyung. 

They both collectively lost their breaths as they faced one another, the city lights outside just enough to light up their appearances. Jungkook found himself focusing on Taehyung's eyes. They were a deep, earthy brown - the colour of the earth after torrential rains. But there was something else in them, something glistening. Glistening like an old copper penny being examined in the warmth next to powerful flames that were licking the safety glass door of an old fireplace. They held secrets, the same as his own did. And Jungkook found himself finally relaxing as he lost himself in those gorgeous eyes begging to be let into every secret he had to share. 

"I've mentioned it before... that I had someone special that taught me right from wrong." Jungkook began to speak, eyes flickering away from Taehyung's. "It was a girl. And before my father, you know- killed her... we spent a lot of time together." He let out a shaky breath, reassured by Taehyung's steady gaze, "I only knew her for a year, but she quickly turned into my everything... I fell in love... but then that was taken from me." He gripped the sheets tightly in his hands as his expression changed, "We had a fight- and then I pushed myself away." He bit down against his lip, "That was the night it happened. That was my final straw... I fled the crime syndicate not long after and never looked back."

Noticing Jungkook's unease, Taehyung couldn't help but reach out a gentle hand, weaving his fingers through Jungkook's hair as he softly stroked the younger male's head. "Don't blame yourself."

"You don't get it Taehyung... I can't help it." Jungkook breathed, eyes flickering up to meet with the other male's. Then, under his breath, Jungkook spoke one final sentence before he slipped off into a deep sleep, 

"Because it was my fault."

-----

Jungkook found himself stirring when the sound of the ringing doorbell shrilled through the apartment. It was tinny and grating, demanding that he should wake up and go to the door. It cared not one bit that he was sleeping as it rung for a second time, demanding attention now. So with his eyes flickering open, Jungkook found himself letting out a groan as he slipped out from his dreams, flinching when he felt a warm presence beside him. 

With slow breaths brushing against the back of his neck, Jungkook turned on his side, eyes shooting wide when he noticed that Taehyung had fallen asleep beside him. The golden rays of the morning sun slipped through the sheer blinds, illuminating the male's honey-toned skin in the newly found light of day. Jungkook found himself studying the male for a moment, the way his breathing came slow and soft, to his deep blue hair spread out against the sheets. 

Then the doorbell rang again non-stop. 

Someone wanted his attention pretty bad. 

Jungkook figured it was probably one of the boys seeing as there was no bashing or breaking down the door type noises, so letting out a grunt he pushed himself up off the bed and onto his feet. He ran a hand through his tousled bed hair, rubbing at his eyes as he shuffled sluggishly towards the front door. The doorbell continued to blare as someone put their thumb on the button without releasing it and at this stage Jungkook was ticked off, and in all his fury he just jumped to the door and flung it wide open ready to shout. But then he paused when he saw Jimin with his finger over the buzzer and Yoongi standing behind him. 

"God Jungkook, we thought you were dead or something!" Jimin exclaimed, taking a step forwards. 

Shielding his eyes from the sun, Jungkook was quick to pull the pair inside before he slammed the door, cursing when he realised he probably woke up Taehyung with all the ruckus. 

Shoving his hands into the pockets of his sweatpants, Jungkook's eyes flickered between the two, "What the actual hell are you two doing in my apartment?"

Lifting the bags in his hands, Yoongi gave a bored expression, "We brought lunch."

Jungkook frowned, "Lunch?" His eyes darted to the clock across the room before his eyes grew wide, "It's 2pm!?"

"Wait..." Jimin said, letting out a small laugh, "You were asleep!?"

Ruffling his hair, Jungkook gave a cough, "Um... yeah."

From down the hallway, a new figure approached. Taehyung rubbed at his tired eyes as he made his way out into the living room, pausing when he looked up to take in the scene. His eyes flickered from Jungkook, to Yoongi to Jimin, "What the fuck is this?"

"My words exactly." Jungkook sighed, folding his arms over his chest as Taehyung shuffled up to his side. 

Jimin gave a roll of his eyes as he pushed past the pair, heading into the living room with Yoongi as they placed down the plastic bags, "Listen... we heard the boss man is in town, so we thought you might be on edge today." He confessed, causing Jungkook to loosen his stance. Jimin slipped four trays of sushi out from the bags, placing them against the table, "Last night was crazy, so instead of dwelling on it, lets just move forwards and sit down to have a nice decent meal." He huffed, blowing a strand of hair out from his eyes as he sat himself down against the floor. 

Yoongi followed the actions of the younger, taking a seat on the floor as he reached for a tray of sushi, "I hate to get all reminiscent, but I think we're all starting to loose ourselves." He spoke flatly, taking a pair of chopsticks into his hands and breaking them apart, "It's been over a week since we all sat down and had a meal together... since we were all at the mansion." Using his chopsticks, he grabbed at a piece of sushi, picking it up and shoving it into his mouth. He went silent as he chewed and swallowed, "Lets just relax for now... until the invitation for the banquet arrives, we shouldn't all be worrying so much."

Jungkook needed this... he really did, so not wasting a second, he took Taehyung's hand and guided the male over to the table. They both took a seat against the floor, breaking their chopsticks as they dug into their meal, soaking up the sunlight that channeled through the windows and savouring the precious moment. 

Then, Jungkook found his lips lift into the smallest of smiles, 

"Thanks."

---------------------------------------------

{Author Note}

I'm back! 

I didn't have good internet connection whilst I was quarantining with friends, but I'm back home now so get ready for more frequent updates!

Ps. I swear quarantine is driving me mad. My blonde hair has grown out quite a bit, so I dyed it a deep blue. The roots are dark brown so I left them... and when my sister walked in she said I looked like I just copied Jungkook's current hair colour lmao. I didn't even notice that my hair literally looks like the fem version of JK rn.