When Taehyung came to Jungkook's chambers, with the help of another guard, Jimin was standing outside the door. He gave an unreadable look to Taehyung, and after a few seconds of silent staring match, Taehyung Looked down with a sigh.

“Jimin,” Taehyung's voice sounded tired. “I'm not strong enough to take your punches right now. So can we do this later? Please? I really need to talk to him right now.”

Jimin didn't say anything at first, but then gestured towards the door, as if to convey that Taehyung was welcome to enter. Taehyung was surprised. For even though he thought he might be excused from the beating due to his weak physical condition, he thought for surely he'd have to talk hours just to convince Jimin to let him be anywhere near Jungkook again. He was sure that the guard would kick him out even before he could say Jungkook's name.

Taehyung took a few cautious steps towards the door and just as he was about to pass Jimin, the latter spoke up.

“I think you did the right thing this time.”

Taehyung had to make a conscious effort to close his mouth, as it was opened with surprise from the question. “You do?”

“Yeah. I mean I know it's terrible and would probably end up ruining both your lives, but I understand your point.” Jimin gave a small nod. “His life matters more than anything.”

If he could be uncaring about being seen as a lesser man, Taehyung would have burst into tears at that point. The tremendous weight that seemed to be pressing down on his heart was reduced a bit with the words of Jimin. Taehyung knew that if there was anyone in the world who counted Jungkook as his only priority, it was Jimin.

“T-thank you.” Jimin gave another nod, before opening the door for Taehyung.

He didn't bother announcing the entry, as the guards at the door are normally supposed to do, for he knew Jungkook would refuse to meet.

Jungkook was packing his things, just like he said to the king, when he heard the door open. He had his back towards the door, and didn't bother turning cause he just assumed it was Jimin. No one else would dare come in unannounced. So he was surprised when a hand gently grabbed his wrist and stopped him.

“Baby..”

Jungkook pulled his hand out of the hold so fast, that Taehyung was yanked forward a bit. “Don't you dare touch me!”

“Baby, listen-”

“I'm done listening to you. I don't wanna hear a single thing from you ever again. Get out!”

“Koo, you know why I did that-”

“No, I don't!” Jungkook was all but shouting now. “I have no fucking idea why you'd do something stupid like that. You promised me!”

“Koo, I-”

“You promised me that you'll neve make me sad again. You promised you won't let go of my hand again. You p-promised-” Jungkook had to pause because of the gasp of breath that was threatening to come out of him. “Y-you promised you won't hurt me again. Are those promises all fake!?”

“Please, just-”

“Were you trying to deceive me?!”

“I would never! You know that!”

“You're lying! You- you-”

Taehyung quickly walked to Jungkook and held him against his chest. “Calm down.”

Initially, Jungkook struggled against the hold. But when he heard the painful cry Taehyung let out, he stopped. They stood like that for a few seconds, before Jungkook spoke up.

“Let go of me, hyung. I have to finish packing.”

Taehyung sighed and released the hold. “Can you listen to me for a minute? Please?”

“No.” Jungkook walked away and resumed packing his bag. “There is one thing I wanna know though.”

Taehyung gave a nod when Jungkook turned to look at him, but he couldn't believe his ears when he heard Jungkook's question.

“Do you even love me?”

Taehyung felt the anger flare in one side of his heart, just as heartbreaking pain roared up in the other. He chuckled humorlessly, before answering that question.

“Of course I love you! What kind of a question is that?! I love you more than my own life, Kookie, how-”

“Doesn't feel like it, with how eager you were to throw me away.”

“Oh my god! You know that's not what it was.”

“Was it not?”

“Kookie, don't be ridiculous. What else was I supposed to do?! You were taken right in front of my eyes. While I had to hide like a spineless coward!”

“No. No, you were being smart! You were waiting for the opportunity to save-”

“Do you have any fucking idea how fortunate we had been?! How God damn lucky was it that Soobin worked there? And he recognised and remembered how you helped him? Gods! You could have been taken and we would have no way of knowing where!”

“You were there-”

“What could I possibly have done?! Huh?! I'm just a simple man. I'm no match for the power in your world. I would have run after your carriage till I drop dead but that's it. I would fight with them till I have no life left in me but given my non-existent combat skills, I assume it would delay them for a few seconds only. Tell me!! What the hell am I supposed to do?!”

“Hyung, I-”

“If you have any inkling of what I felt when I saw you being tossed into that carriage, you would understand where I was coming from. The helplessness and the fear…” Taehyung stopped his words and looked straight at Jungkook with tears burning his eyes. “No man should ever feel such emotions.”

“S-stop.”

“You were abused in my own house, by my own family, and then they even helped to kidnap you. What if something happened to you? Despite all the luck I had in finding you that night, what if I were only a few seconds late to come to you? You were literally a second away from getting stabbed. If anything had h-happened to you, what was I gonna do?! Huh?! How am I supposed to live with myself without you?!”

By then Taehyung was crying. Tears were running down his cheeks, he had his fingers tightly clenched into a fist which was making the wounds on his hands to bleed again. Jungkook was shaking as well. This was the first time Taehyung had ever raised his voice at him and meant what he said. The pain of the other man was making Jungkook hard to breathe as well. He wiped his tears and walked to Taehyung, and helped the latter sit on a chair, before going down on one knee infant of him

“L-look what you did.” Jungkook whispered through the tears. “Y-you hurt your hand again.”

Taehyung slowly pulled his hand out of Jungkook's hold and touched the latter's cheek. “Does me being hurt make you sad?”

Jungkook couldn't stop the painful sob that slipped past his lips. “Y-yes.”

“Then why is it so hard to understand that it's the same for me? Hmm..?”

“S-stop.. I-I.. I can't b-breathe..”

“Shh…Please don't cry.” Taehyung leaned forward until their foreheads touched. “I did what I thought was the best thing to keep you safe. Not because I don't love you. But because I love you too damn much.”

“H-hyung..”

“I love you so much, Jungkook. I love you more than anyone and anything else in the world. If I were given a choice to save you or everyone else, I'll let the entire world burn, just so I could keep you safe. Including myself. My life is worth nothing compared to yours. I love you.”

Jungkook pulled away so that he could look straight at Taehyung. “T-then why is it so h-hard to understand that it's the same for m-me?”

“Kookie..”

“I'll let the world burn to keep you safe too.”

“Come here.”

Taehyung pulled the prince into a kiss filled with emotions. They were both crying, both letting out their fears, pain and relishing in the togetherness. Despite the hardships they went through, they still had each other.
  
  
 
  
 
  
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A/N -  For people who waited for a big punishment from Jungkook, I'm so sorry...😭 it didn't felt right with his character. Accepting a genuine apology, with proper reason felt more like his style.. hope you guys are not too disappointed.. 😔

Also, this is the end of the story. The epilogue is coming right up. Don't go anywhere okie.. ☺️☺️