The pink-haired boy presses the back of his hand to his plump lips in an attempt to hold back his sobs. But tears still spill over his round cheeks, his confusion and pain needing some release. Sitting against the wall of his and Hobi's room, he remembers what Jungkook had said in the van. 'Tae might not know us at all.' As painful as that thought is, what hurts worse is what they don't know. What could have turned their gentle little brother into a monster?

Flashback

Jimin jumps back from the table with a shriek, the sight of a spider making his skin crawl. "Kill it! Squish it!"

But Taehyung jumps forward, his eyes wide with alarm, "No hyung, don't hurt it! It isn't going to hurt you!" Saying that, he carefully slides the spider into an empty cup before carrying it outside and gently depositing it on a tree.

Smiling his adorable grin at his still jittery friend, he gives the older a side-hug,"You shouldn't kill anything when you don't need to hyung, even creepy bugs!"

Lost in the memory, Jimin's head snaps up when his door opens. He's greeted with the sight of his boyfriend. Giving him a watery smile, he tries to sniff back his tears. "How's Taehyung?"

Hoseok crosses to the younger, before sliding down to sit on the floor and pull the smaller boy into his lap. "You don't need to hide your tears from me baby. And Taehyung is alright. His shoulder's stitched up and he's been given some pain meds that are probably gonna keep him knocked out until tomorrow."

Jimin nods, and this time his voice is soft and uncertain,"Hobi, what could have changed Tae that much? You saw the reports of what V did. I just...I can't imagine our Tae hurting a single soul, let alone doing the things V has done."

The redhead sighs, "I don't know either. But he's still Taehyung. I think the only thing we can do is wait for answers baby. Wait, and stay by his side, no matter what he's become. That's what a family does."

Jimin lays his head against his boyfriend's chest, "Thank you Hobi. I love you." He's so grateful to have the older with him. He can't imagine feeling more complete than he does when they're together.

"I love you too baby."

Elsewhere

A fist slams against the wall of V's room, crumpling the plaster. "Goddammit!"

Suga is furious, rage practically crackling from his skin. He'd been on his way home from trying to track down the doctor when his phone had rung.

"Hey Boss, I was just about to update you. Doctor Jung has totally disappeared. His neighbors say he hadn't been home in days. I'm not sure if he went into hiding or if he was grabbed."

Baekhyun's voice when it comes is high-pitched with worry, "Don't worry about that right now Suga. Get to the compound, there's been some kind of attack. The overnight security were all killed, and now V isn't answering his phone!" By the end, the other sounds close to tears.

The assassin doesn't hesitate, gunning his car to dangerous speeds as he rushes to the mansion. Arriving at the house just before dawn, the place is in an uproar. Suga doesn't look at the rest of the Byun men as he runs to the room reserved for V's visits. When he arrives, his heart drops to his stomach at the mess, and he immediately lashes out at the wall.

Gritting his teeth, Suga tries to get control of his feelings as he shakes his hand, his knuckles bruised from the punch. His eyes flick around the room, taking note of the discarded guns, and the daggers tossed aside, along with V's phone lying forgotten by his bed. But it's the blood drying on the floor that has ice running through his veins. Snarling, the usually unflappable man loses his cool, stalking from the room. 'Whoever did this is going to fvcking die, and I'm gonna make sure they beg first!'

The Jeon Compound

Jungkook sits hunched over, staring at the sleeping figure in the bed. The doctor had reassured him that Taehyung would be fine, although he'd be sore for a few days. Now the mafia leader was free to let his eyes roam over his beloved, taking in the changes as well as what had remained the same. His nose was still beautifully sloped, his lashes thick and longer than any girl's he'd ever seen, followed by full, lush lips. He was a little taller, though still shorter than Jungkook, and his shoulders were wider. He'd also lost the baby fat that used to round out his cheeks, and his normally caramel colored hair had been dyed a silvery color, the longer length framing his ethereal features. It seemed almost impossible, but Taehyung had grown even lovelier than he'd been as a teenager. The raven-hair remembered the sound of V's voice when they'd talked, and it made his heart race to recall how deep it's gotten. He's looking forward to hearing that velvet voice again when the younger wakes up. 'Although he's most likely not going to be pleased when that happens.'

As if hearing the elder's thoughts, Taehyung shifts, a frown drawing his elegant brows together before his eyes blink open. Jungkook leans forward anxiously, watching confusion cross the other's face as he gazes at the ceiling above him, before he goes to push himself up, the movement jarring his shoulder and drawing a pained hiss from his lips.

"Careful, you might pop your stitches. You're going to be sore for a bit, but the doctor left pain meds for you."

V's head snaps to the side at the voice, surprise and wariness filling him as he recognizes the dark haired man sitting by the bed. "Where am I? Why are you here? What the hell is going on?"

The taller boy raises his hands to show he doesn't mean any harm. "You're at my home. I brought you here to get you medical attention."

The injured younger narrows his eyes, suspicion evident in the tense set of his features, "Why would you get me medical attention? You're the one who stabbed me in the first place." Memories of the previous night rush back at him, making his chocolate eyes fly open wide, "You were after Baeki-hyung! Did you think you could use me to get him somehow?? If so, I swear I'll fvcking kill you so slowly-"

"Relax! I'm not trying to use you to get to Baekhyun...although he sure as hell as a lot to answer for." Jungkook swallows, looking down a moment before he raises his eyes back to the still wary younger. "Do you...recognize me...at all?"

V arches an eyebrow at the question, "Um, yeah, obviously. You're Jeon Jungkook. You're the leader of the Jeon group. You broke into my hyung's house and freaking stabbed me."

Disappointment fills the older, his shoulders slumping. "Nothing else? You don't remember me from before?"

The silver haired boy stares uncomprehendingly, "From before what?"

Jungkook takes deep breath, carefully watching the other's face, unsure of how much to tell him right now. "We used to be...very close. We grew up together. But, we were...separated...years ago. I thought you were dead." His voice is thick with remembered grief as he speaks.

V stiffens, his doe eyes wide with shock as he stares at the older. 'Is that why he makes me feel so strange?' Out loud, skepticism fills his voice,"Are you serious?"

The older nods, "How much do you remember?"

A soft sigh escapes his lips as the other ponders the question, "I woke up 6 years ago, no memories at all. Baeki-hyung and Chany-hyung were with me, along with Suga-hyung. I found out my parents were dead, although that didn't really matter to me since I couldn't remember them anyways."

Jungkook nods, restraining his anger at the mention of Baekhyun, Chanyeol, and this 'Suga'. "What about your name?"

The other shrugs, "My hyungs gave me a new name, V. They said it was safest if my old name stayed dead."

The ravenette takes a breath, "Well, your name is actually Taehyung. And you're...very important to me."

V snorts, rolling his eyes, "Important to you? How am I supposed to believe this crap? That name doesn't mean anything to me. It's going to take more than just a story and a name I don't recognize Jeon."

Jungkook rakes his fingers through the inky black strands of his hair, wondering how to deal with the person in front of him. He knew Taehyung better than he knew himself; but this new person, V, was a virtual stranger. 'I finally have him with me again, but I don't know how to talk to him!'

The two sat in silence, secrets, pain, and confusion creating a gulf that seemed too wide to cross.

AN: Y'all, I'm like seriously so happy to see how many are enjoying this story, I can't even put it into words. All your encouragement and support mean so much to me. I 💜 you!