POV.

Taehyung starts to dissociate around six that evening as they sit in the living room unloading Chaehyeon's toys from the bags.

He tries to fight it off and he realizes that he's nearly been in the front the entire day, it's the longest he's been in the front in months.

"You're dissociating." Jungkook says as they unpack everything they bought.

"Yeah..." Taehyung says, trying his best to continue to help Jungkook. "Chaehyeon's around."

"You don't have to fight it. You're okay." The younger says when he notices Taehyung's expression.

"No, I know it's just..." The brunette starts, trailing off for a second. "This is the longest I've been in the front in a while. Usually I hate fronting. A few weeks ago this would've been horrible for me but...you made me want to be here today."

Jungkook can't tell if Taehyung is just rambling or if he genuinely means what he says, but it makes him smile either way. "I'm glad we could spend your time together. I feel like I know you better now."

"Yeah..." Taehyung says, his eyes becoming distant as he chuckles softly. "Everyone's so close to the front."

"You don't have to worry. I'm here." Jungkook says reassuringly.

"....thank you, Jungkook."

"You're welcome."

The younger continues to watch the brunette as he continues to unpack Chaehyeon's toys, giving Taehyung as much time as he needed.

The brunette sighs softly, covering his eyes to block out the light.

    "Mhm..." He hums distantly, he was in a strange state of consciousness that made him question who he was at the moment.

It was common for him to not know exactly who he was, he wishes he could say he's used to it by now.

Jungkook watches him close his eyes for a few moments before he groans softly.

When he opens his eyes Jungkook smiles softly. "Hey, Hyeonie."

Chaehyeon's eyes find Jungkook's after a few uncertain moments.

    "You're okay." Jungkook says reassuringly. "It's just me."

The little's eyes scan the ground around him, most of the toys they just purchased laid out on the ground.

    "These are for you." Jungkook says as he finally gets the LEGOs out of their box. "For you to play with."

    "Play?" Chaehyeon asks looking up at Jungkook.

    "Yeah. And I got snacks. Lots of snacks." The older chuckles. "Do you want to play?"

The little looks down at the toys and nods softly.

    "Oh, I got you some pajamas. Do you want to wear them?" Jungkook says excitedly.

    "O-Okay." Chaehyeon nods, fidgeting with the sleeves of the shirt Taehyung was wearing.

    "They're upstairs." Jungkook stands. "Do you want to come with me?"

Chaehyeon nods, standing to follow him up.

Jungkook leads the way to the main bedroom. "Taehyung helped me, Hajoon was co-conscious too so I think you'll really like them."

    "Hajoon-ssi?"

    "Mmh." Jungkook hums grabbing the onesie from off the bed. "Look, do you like it?"

Chaehyeon holds back a smile when he sees the yellow onesie, only Hajoon knew his favorite color.

    "It's your favorite color, right? Taehyung said that's what Hajoon told him." Jungkook says looking proudly at the onesie. "I like yellow too."

The little nods, fidgeting with his sleeves again. 

    "Okay. I'll leave it here." The older says laying it back down. "I'm gonna be right outside."

Chaehyeon nods again, a smile tugging at his lips as he grabs the onesie. Jungkook smiles as he steps outside the room.

    "Hyungie?"

    "I'm here."

After a few minutes Jungkook hears something fall in the bedroom, crashing loudly against the floor.

    "Chaehyeon?" He says in alarm. "Are you okay?"

He waits for an answer, walking inside the bedroom when he doesn't receive one.

When walks into the bedroom he sees Taehyung's jewelry box broken on the ground, Chaehyeon's bunny on the ground next to it, but the little is out of sight.

    "Hyeonie?" He calls looking around the room, finding the brunette in the corner with his knees pulled to his chest.

Chaehyeon hides his face as he tries to hide, trying to make himself as small as possible.

    "What happened, Hyeonie?" Jungkook says stepping towards him.

The little tries to suppress his cries but Jungkook hears them.

    "Hey," Jungkook starts quickly, his voice instantly becoming worried. "Don't cry, Chaehyeon. Are you hurt? What happened?"

    "T-Try~ Tried to g-get...bunny." Chaehyeon cries into his arms. "'M sorry. D-Didn't mean t-to~"

"It's okay, Hyeonie. It was an accident~"

"D-Don't want to be punished." The brunette cries harder, cowering further away from Jungkook.

    "Chaehyeon." The older says gently. "You won't be punished. It was an accident, accidents happen all the time. And it's my fault, I put the bunny on the dresser."

Chaehyeon looks up at Jungkook through his hair. "Will m-mommy punish h-hyungie?"

    "No. She's not here." Jungkook says. "She can't hurt you anymore."

    "Hajoon-ssi said t-that when V-hyung came. A-And m-mommy still hurt." The little cries harder. "M-Mommy will hurt, hyungie."

    "No, no, no, Chaehyoen." Jungkook says quickly, embracing the little before he can think to do any better.

Chaehyeon tenses as Jungkook's arms wrap around him, his sobs dying down as the older runs a calming hand through his hair.

    "She can't hurt you or me. Not here." Jungkook says firmly. "Nothing bad can happen to you when you're with me."

    "Nothing?"

    "Nothing. Not ever."

Jungkook feels Chaehyeon's arms wrap around him, the brunette burying his face in the crook of his neck.

    "You're okay." He says running his fingers through the little's soft brown hair.

Chaehyeon's sniffling stops after a few moments, his breathing evening out and leaving them in a comfortable silence as Jungkook rocked him back and forth.

"Jungkook?"

Jungkook jumps a little at the sound of his name leaving the brunette's lips, he pulls away from the hug and he's met with Taehyung's brown eyes.

"What happened?" He says, his voice laced with confusion.

"Chaehyeon fronted." Jungkook says, pulling away from the hug completely with an apology. "He knocked down your jewelry box trying to get his bunny."

Taehyung nods but he still looks confused. "It's okay..."

"Are you okay?" Jungkook asks, scooting away to give him some space.

"I'm still really dissociated." The brunette says hugging his knees against his chest.

"Okay." The younger says, lowering his voice. "Do you need to be alone~"

"No, please." Taehyung says quickly, looking at Jungkook with fresh tears in his eyes.

"What's wrong?" Jungkook says, his eyebrows drawing together in instant worry and concern.

"I'm sorry." The brunette says closing his eyes for a moment to take a deep breath before speaking, his breath coming out panicky. "T-This happens sometimes, it's not me. I-I don't know."

"It's okay, it's okay." The younger says, trying to keep his voice calm for him.

"It's not m-me~" Taehyung starts, his hands trembling as he pushes his hair from his face.

"I know. It's okay." Jungkook says, shushing him. "Just breathe. Can you breathe with me?"

"No." The brunette says, his breathing becoming heavier as he squeezes his eyes shut. "Hajoon, please. Please."

"Taehyung, listen to me." Jungkook says, trying to keep his voice gentle while talking over Taehyung's laboured breathing. "You're okay. Look at me, please?"

"V, I need you. Please." Taehyung continues, ignoring Jungkook's pleads. "I need you, V."

Jungkook panics, looking around the room for something to ground the brunette. "I don't know what to do."

Taehyung's breathing is still labored as he begs Hajoon or V to come to his rescue.

"Taehyung, hey." Jungkook says. "What's you're favorite song?"

Taehyung looks at him in confusion, his tearful eyes narrowing in confusion. "W-What?"

"Favorite song." The younger repeats. "Do you have one?"

"No." He says shaking his head.

"That's okay." Jungkook says, his voice shaking despite his attempt to remain completely calm. "My favorite song is Ocean Eyes. Have you heard it?"

"No." Taehyung breathes out, pressing his fingers to his temples as he tries to relieve the pressure building there.

    "It's an old song by an American artist. It goes like this." Jungkook says, humming the melody of the song as best he could.

Taehyung looks at Jungkook in confusion, his chest heaving as he desperately tried to even his breathing.

    "I don't really know the lyrics." The younger says, humming bits of the song.

Taehyung closes his eyes and tries to focus Jungkook's gentle humming, trying to breathe slower.

Jungkook chuckles as his voice cracks a little, the notes were definitely a little high for him but he saw how it was calming Taehyung.

Taehyung's body visibly relaxes, he covers his face with both his hands as he breathes in deeply and exhales.

    "This is my favorite part." Jungkook says before starting to hum again, trying his best to hit the notes.

Jungkook hums the last of the song, silence settling between them.

Taehyung's breathing is much slower and controlled, he still struggles to stop the tears but he's slowly pulling himself together.

    "You're okay." Jungkook says reassuringly, moving so that he's sitting directly beside him. "Can I hug you?"

The brunette nods, letting Jungkook pull him into his embrace.

    "I'm sorry." He says shakily, his hands still covering his face.

    "Don't apologize." Jungkook says. "You're okay. Everything's okay. I promise."

Taehyung feels himself relax more at the reassurance, letting himself actually believe Jungkook's words.

Even though Jungkook grounded him and made him feel safe he couldn't help but wonder where V and Hajoon were.

Usually they'd instantly be near the front whenever he had panic attacks or ptsd flashbacks but they were nowhere to be found.

They were meant to be his protectors and when he needed protection they didn't show.

As Jungkook runs his fingers through his hair and continues to reassure him that he is one hundred percent safe Taehyung realizes why they didn't show.

He didn't need them to protect him, because Jungkook did.

Jungkook protected him.

Jungkook was protecting him.

🔒🔒🔒

A/n: dedicating this chapter to my sister who literally blasts ocean eyes on repeat whenever she's feeling anxious. I'm honestly so sick of hearing that damn song but I love her. </3