"Listen here you little fucker, I want you to come straight home from school, go straight to your room, and stay fucking silent. You hear me boy?"

Taehyung nodded, his eyes cast downward. His father was having company. That meant another night without dinner. It also meant a night where he was less likely to get hit, which gave him slight hope.

"Answer when you're fucking spoken to!" The little boy flinched at the screaming, smelling alcohol on his father's breath. That was never a good sign.

"You're gonna flinch at that? I'll give your wimpy ass something to flinch at!" The man's hand connected with the side of Taehyung's face. The slap was followed by a couple of punches, but nothing nearly as bad as usual.

The boy trudged out the door, his gazed fixed on his feet. He walked to the bus stop where the bus was just pulling up. He entered the bus and sat next to a boy with a small stature and chubby cheeks.
Tae stared out the window throughout the entire duration of the bus ride.

~~~

The school day was a blur and the bus ride home felt like it would never end. As soon as the timid boy stepped off of the bus he felt panic boil in the pit of his stomach. Something felt off to him but he didn't dare show it as he walked into the house.

As soon as he walked into the living room he knew his gut feeling was right. He was met by a fist to the abdomen. Tae hunched over from the unexpected blow. His dad grabbed his hair and threw him to the ground. Taehyung yelped in pain but took the beating his father gave him.

His hope for having a decent night had been ripped from him as he took blows to the abdomen and chest. His father was usually careful to avoid major blows to the face as to not raise suspicion.

As soon as the assault was over Taehyung was yanked to his feet by his hair and shoved towards his bedroom door. He slunk into his room and shut the door. The boy moved towards his mirror and took off his clothing, examining the newly forming bruises along with the old scattered across his body.

A soft whisper of "momma, why did you leave us?" spilled from his lips. He stared into his own dull and lifeless eyes, trying to remember a time when they held hope and light.

Taehyung heard his father's friends begin to enter the house so he put his clothes back on and hid himself in the small closet in his room.

~~~

Taehyung awoke with tears rolling down his face. He noticed Yoongi next to him still sleeping peacefully so he wiped his tears and closed his eyes. Tae fell into a slightly peaceful sleep with the memory of Yoongi's steady breathing and welcoming scent fresh in his mind.