Jungkook's POV.

    "You don't have to follow me. I can handle myself."

    "I'm coming anyway."

V scoffs as we walk out of the house, pushing his hair back from his face. "I don't need you."

    "I'm not letting you go see her alone." I say following him to the garage area.

He stops and turns to me. "You don't talk about her. Ever. Got it? Not to me, not to Taehyung or anyone else. It's none of your fucking business."

    "I got it." I nod. "Sorry."

    "And just because I'm not kicking your ass right now doesn't mean I like you any better." He continues. "I'm cooperating with you for now, but you're history when that contract runs out."

    "You don't have to hate me, V." I say to him. "I'm not your enemy."

    "Yes you are." He says before continuing on his way.

I follow him silently to his car, it's an expensive foreign that I know he probably bought without Taehyung's knowledge.

    "Get in or walk." He says snapping me out of my thoughts.

I climb into the passenger seat. "Is this your car?"

    "Who's else?" He asks as he buckles his seatbelt.

    "Right." I say doing the same. "It's nice."

    "Whatever." He says pushing the button to start it as he looks at his phone. "What makes you think this address belongs to Taehyung's mother?"

    "His dad said he went to see her and this is where the tracker places him this weekend." I explain. "Do you recognize it."

    "Obviously not." He snaps. "Or I wouldn't be asking about it."

    "Don't snap at me." I snap back, I couldn't just let him walk all over me. "I'm trying to help."

    "I don't need your help. Did you not get that before?" He says before putting the garage door up and speeding out.

He drives like a maniac, barely slowing to take turns or to change lanes.

    "Please slow down." I say holding the door to brace myself. "You're going way to fast."

    "Shut up." V says, rolling his pitch black eyes in annoyance.

It's the most nerve racking car ride I've ever experienced in my entire life, I'm surprised we make it to the address in one piece.

    "You're a terrible driver." I say as I shakily unbuckle my seatbelt.

    "You're alive aren't you?" He asks as he unbuckles his as well.

    "Are you sure this is the right place?" I ask instead of acknowledging his comment.

    "Yeah. You stay in the car." He says getting out of the car.

I follow him out, causing him to huff in annoyance. "I said I'm not letting you go alone."

    "You don't even know if it's her."

    "And if it is?"

V shakes his head. "I'll handle it."

    "I'll help." I say continuing by his side.

He looks over at me but I don't return his gaze as we near the gate of the house the address leads to.

    "Should we ring the buzzer?" I ask.

    "You mean buzz the buzzer. You can't ring the~"

    "Your so persistent about arguing with me about literally everything." I complain.

   "It's not an argument if you're wrong, it's a correction." He says.

"You don't have to correct every single thing I say~"

"Then stop being wrong all the time~"

"Taehyung?"

We both freeze at the sound of Taehyung's name being called.

We turn to the owner of the voice and we find a man probably in his early thirties.

"What are you doing here?" He asks, stopping before us. "Mom just left."

I look over at V and he looks frozen, like he can't move.

"She's coming right back, you can wait for her if you want." He says before his eyes drift to me. "Who's this."

"W-We were just leaving." I say grabbing V's arm, I'm surprised when he doesn't pull away from me.

"No, stay. You don't mind waiting, do you, Tae?" The man smiles. "You and...?"

"Don't fucking talk to him." V says, but the usual snappiness in his tone isn't there. "We're leaving."

"So you came all the way here just to leave? Why, buddy?" He asks putting a heavy hand on V's shoulder. "There's no telling what mom'll do if she knows you were here and didn't stay to see her."

I expect V to react, to push the man away and curse at him but he doesn't, he just stands there.

"We really have to go." I say pulling V away from the man. "Sorry."

"No worries. Taehyung, make sure you call mom. Okay, buddy?" He says, smirking as his eyes never leave V.

I look at V and his jaw is clenched tightly, his eyes focused on something far and distant.

    "Come on. Okay?" I say guiding him to the car. "Keys?"

I know something is seriously wrong when he hands over the keys with shaking hands.

    "I'll fucking kill you if you crash my car." He manages to force out as I open the doors.

    "No car crashing on my watch." I try to joke as we get in the car. "Are you okay?"

    "No. I'm so not fucking okay." He breathes out, leaning his head against the window and closing his eyes. "Who would do this? Why would they do this? W-Why?"

    "Do what, V?" I ask as I drive in the direction of the house.

    "Everything I do for this stupid fucking system and one of them actually~" He groans in anger and frustration. "But I'm the bad guy, right? I'm the fucking bad guy."

    "I'm not following." I say glancing over at him. "You're worrying me."

    "You worry too fucking easily." He snaps. "That was Taehyung's fucking step brother, okay? Didn't you learn about him like you learned about all of us? And Taehyung's mom? And his step dad?"

    "No. I only learned about you guys and Taehyung's mom. I'm sorry." I say, trying to figure out a way to calm him down.

    "Why the hell are you apologizing?" He asks looking over at me. "I don't know what to do. I should just let whoever it is fuck everything up. I shouldn't even care."

    "Of course you should care, V. You're a protector. It's your job to protect everyone."

    "Don't tell me what my goddamn job is, okay, Jeon? I fucking know what my job is."

I sigh lightly. "I'm sorry. I-I don't know what I should say."

    "Don't say anything. And don't mention this to Taehyung or I swear to god I'll fucking murder you with my bare hands." He says, his voice still heated.

    "Okay." I nod even though I know his threats are empty. "I just want to help. If you're scared I want you to know that you don't have to be. Nothing bad can happen to you. I won't let you get hurt."

V scoffs. "Oh so what, you're my protector now?"

    "Even protectors need to be protected, V." I say and I genuinely mean it.

    "Yeah." He says looking out the window. "Well I fucking don't."

Silence settles between us but I can tell by the bounce of V's leg and the way he sighs continuously that he's still very on edge and in his head.

He may not think he needs protecting but I think he does.

I think that not having anyone to be protected by is what's made V into the cold, hard, and cruel person that he believes himself to be today.

He may believe he isn't worthy of protection, but I think that's bullshit.

Everyone is worthy of being protected.

Everyone.

🔒🔒🔒