Trigger Warning ⚠️ : mentions of suicide and suicide attempts, please read with caution.

POV.

    "And you didn't see anyone write this?"

    "No."

    "Did anyone else mark the log?"

    "No."

Taehyung sighs, leaning against the kitchen counter. "Okay."

    "Sit down and eat, Taehyung." Jungkook says placing a bowl of Japchae on the table.

    "I have to call Jimin." The brunette says pushing himself up from the counter.

    "No. You need to eat." Jungkook says stopping him and leading him to the table. "Then you have to get some sleep. You're exhausted and you don't look so good."

    "I just don't get it." Taehyung says sitting down. "Hajoon hasn't said anything about a new alter in the inner world."

    "Don't stress yourself out right now." Jungkook says sitting across from the older.

    "And they say they they're better off dead." The brunette says looking at the notes left on the log. "Do you think it was them?"

    "I don't know. I wish you'd just eat and go to bed." Jungkook says, his head was throbbing and he himself was exhausted. "It's almost five in the morning and you have to work~"

    "Go to bed, Jungkook. You don't have to stay up with me." Taehyung says pushing the log away to eat his food. "I'm fine."

    "I seriously don't believe you." The younger sighs. "How can I be sure this won't happen again?"

    "You can't be sure. But I rather you take care of yourself before worrying about me." The older says looking down as he pushes his food around his bowl. "I'm so sorry about all of this. Really."

    "Me too." Jungkook says. "Are you in pain?"

    "Yeah but I'm always in pain so it doesn't matter." Taehyung chuckles, earning a look from Jungkook. "Come on. I was trying to lighten the mood."

    "What if it gets infected. Or I did it wrong or something?" The younger asks. "What if I~"

    "Hajoon's done this by himself before. The job was twice as bad as yours and I'm fine. So, don't worry." The brunette says. "It's fine."

    "When Hajoon did it before do you think it was this alter?" Jungkook asks gesturing to the log.

    "Oh, no." Taehyung says, his expression changing. "That...I mean it was me."

    "Oh." Jungkook says. "I'm sorry, I didn't~"

    "No. It's fine." The older says looking up at him. "Some things happened last year and I was in a very fragile state of mind at the time. I'm a lot better now."

    "That's good." Jungkook nods before the two of them fall silent.

They remain silent while Taehyung continues to eat, both of them completely lost in their own thoughts.

    "I'm gonna go to bed." Taehyung speaks up first. "You should too."

    "Fine." Jungkook says standing. "Are you sure you'll be okay?"

    "I'm sure. Thank you for worrying about me." The brunette says offering a small smile. "I know things have been far from easy for you."

    "They haven't been any easier for you." The younger says. "Plus, I wasn't promised easy. So I'm not expecting easy. I just want to help."

    "I know. And you have. More than you know." Taehyung nods.

    "I'll clean this up." Jungkook says grabbing Taehyung's bowl. "Goodnight, Taehyung."

    "Thank you. Goodnight."

—

POV.

Taehyung wakes up to the sound of upbeat music coming from downstairs.

He grabs one of his many robes before heading down, the muffled music getting louder the closer he gets to the kitchen.

He finds Jungkook standing over the stove bopping to the music as he stirs—what seems to be— pancake batter in a bowl.

Taehyung smiles a little at him, crossing his arms and clearing his throat.

The younger jumps a little, quickly turning the music off before facing Taehyung.

"Hey, you're up." He smiles.

"So are you." Taehyung says nodding towards Jungkook's unorganized workspace.

"Right. I'm gonna get that." Jungkook chuckles. "I'm glad you woke up just now. I made breakfast."

"Where'd you get this stuff? We have meal plans." The brunette says looking at all the food on the counter.

"I went out this morning. I couldn't sleep so I thought I'd cook for you." The younger says. "I know the meal plan is good for you but you have to admit it's kind of boring."

"Boring?" Taehyung chuckles.

"Very." Jungkook says. "Here, sit down. I'm almost finished."

"You didn't have to do this, Jungkook." The brunette says sitting down.

"I know. But I thought this would cheer you up after everything what happened yesterday." The younger says turning back to the stove. "I promised Chaehyeon that I'd get some things for him. I was hoping you'd come with me."

"Because you'd enjoy my company or because you want to keep an eye on me?" Taehyung asks.

"Little bit of both." Jungkook shrugs. "But mostly because I don't know what he likes."

"Neither do I. I don't really have a way to communicate with him other than through Hajoon." The older says. "I wouldn't be any help."

"Fine. Come to keep me company then. And so I can look out for you." Jungkook says walking to the table with freshly made pancakes. "We can spend your time together. Unless you rather not."

"No, that's fine." Taehyung says covering his mouth to hide the small smile forming on his face.

"Now, just because we're having a cheat day doesn't mean we can skip out on the water. Sorry." The younger says sitting a glass of water beside Taehyung. "But it's not as bad because there's pancakes, right?"

"Right." The brunette says taking the glass. "Thank you."

Jungkook prepares Taehyung's plate for him before joining him at the table with his own.

Jungkook goes out of his way to keep the conversation between them light and casual, steering away from any mentions of the other alters.

Jungkook decided that he'd try to let each alter spend some of their time as their's and only their's.

He would never understand how hard it was to share a life and body with five other people but he wanted to make each alter feel like an individual, even for just a little while.

    "Where are we going again?" Taehyung asks as he meets Jungkook downstairs.

    "Taehyung, we're going toy shopping. Not to work." The younger says looking at the brunette's outfit.

    "What's wrong with this? I always dress like this." He says looking down at the outfit himself.

    "A t-shirt and a pair of jeans would suffice." Jungkook says. "You don't have to dress like that all the time."

    "I like my clothes." Taehyung says adjusting the collar of his dress shirt.

    "Fine. But I'm warning you, we're definitely going to get some looks." The younger says walking to the door.

    "What do you mean?" The brunette asks following him.

    "You know...that look." Jungkook repeats as if that would make Taehyung understand any better.

    "I don't get it." He says in confusion.

    "We look like a pair of gay dads shopping for their kids. We're gonna get that homophobic look of 'jesus save those children.' Y'know?"

    "Why do you assume all homophobes are christian?"

    "I don't know. I've never heard anyone say 'Buddha save the the children.' Have you?"

Taehyung tilts his head as if he's seriously thinking about it.

    "Okay. I was joking. Let's just go." Jungkook chuckles.

    "Wait, do I look gay or something?" The brunette asks.

    "Are you gay or something?" The younger shoots back.

    "I've never thought about it. I mean...I don't know. I never had to~"

    "Oh my god, don't have a crisis right now." Jungkook says quickly. "I'm just kidding."

    "But I really never thought about it." Taehyung says grabbing his keys.

    "That's fine. I'll drive." The younger says opening the front door.

Jungkook takes Taehyung to a nearby toy store to find things for Chaehyeon.

"I never really thought about getting him any toys." The brunette says as they walk down one of the many isles.

"Look at this." Jungkook says holding up a huge box of LEGOs.

"LEGOs? Seriously?" Taehyung chuckles. "Those are going to be a nightmare."

"They're cute though." The younger says placing them in the cart.

"Don't you think this is enough?" The older asks pointing to the cart full of stuffed animals, coloring books, and other things that Jungkook thought Chaehyeon would 'just love.'

"I don't know." He says looking at the cart. "Just a few more things. I promise."

"You said that a few more things ago. I think this is good. And I'm sure Chaehyeon's gonna love it. So let's go." Taehyung says to which Jungkook pouts softly.

"Fine." He says steering he cart to the check out area.

As they're checking out the cashier makes very little conversation, glancing between occasionally.

"Jungkook." Taehyung says getting his attention. "I think it's happening."

Jungkook follows Taehyung's eyes to the cashier. "Yeah. It's definitely happening."

Taehyung doesn't try to hold back the laugh he releases, laughing freely for the first time in such a long time.

It actually startles Jungkook a bit, he even checks for a switch and he is happy to still see Taehyung honey brown eyes.

And even happier to see the smile on his face.

🔒🔒🔒