—Taehyung's POV.—

I sit behind my desk staring down at my bruised hand wondering who V's latest victim was and how I was going to handle the repercussions.

It's always me that has to deal with the trouble V has stirred up and I'm so tired of it.

I'm tired of a lot concerning my system and my disorder, I just hope that psychotherapy is the amalgamation treatment I've been looking for.

A knock on my door startles me from my thoughts.

"Come." I say turning to my computer and trying to look busy.

"Son."

I look up at the sound of my father's voice, standing from my seat and bowing to him before walking around my desk.

"Can I do something for you, father?" I ask, hiding my bruised hand behind my back.

"I've come to talk to you about your current living situation." He starts, we've had this conversation countless times.

"I thought you understood that I was happy with my living situation." I say in confusion.

"I know what I said but things have changed now, Taehyung. You aren't fresh out of college anymore, you aren't a child. It's time to grow up a little." My father says, I know he means well by what he's saying so I don't get upset. "You can't live in that apartment with Jimin forever."

"I understand, father." I nod. "But I can't just leave Jimin to take care of the bills on his own."

"You'll still pay the bills but you have to move into a company house by the end of the month. That's not a request that's an order."

"But, father~"

"No buts. It's already said and done." He cuts me off. "Please understand that this is what's best for you. You play a major role in this company and I can't afford for you to live so far away from the company."

    "I'm always here on time and when you need me." I defend. "It hasn't been a problem~"

    "It wasn't a problem before but now that you're isolating yourself again and disappearing for days without an explanation it's time for things to change. I'll be able to keep a closer eye on you at the company house." He explains. "You remember what happened last year when you started behaving that way."

I immediately feel Hajoon and V's presence at the mention of last year.

    "I'm not throwing it in your face, I know you said you were going through hard times. I had just found out about your mother and things were hard for both of us." Father explains, walking on eggshells now that he senses my discomfort. "I'm trying my best to help you step into adulthood, I thought living with Jimin for a while would help but I never intended for that to be your permanent living situation."

    "I understand." I say, but I don't understand at all.

I'm 22 years old doing the work of a middle aged man, the only pleasure in my life is being able to have a friend close to me who knows the ends and outs of who I am as a person and who we are as a system.

Now my father wanted to take that away.

    "Your mother sheltered you so much and I'm afraid it's going to hurt you in the long run."

    "I understand." I repeat, mentions of my mother always cause me to dissociate.

    "I hope so." Father says. "I only want to protect you."

V protects me. I immediately think to myself, nodding my head. "Thank you."

    "You should be moved into the company house by the end of the month."

    "I understand, father."

——

POV.

"I can't believe you won't tell me who did this to you."

"It's fine, hyung. It was just a little altercation."

Seokjin sighs, crossing his arms as he watches Jungkook hold ice to his swollen face. "Doesn't look like it was."

Jungkook groans as he opens and closes his mouth, his jaw stiff from holding it still.

"Was it someone at the university?" The older asks, still trying to pry.

"You know, hyung, I went to university to get away from my parents. So could you please stop acting like my mom?" The younger asks closing his eyes. "I feel like shit."

    "Well your mother obviously didn't teach you how to speak to your elders." Seokjin says before returning to his desk. "You aren't in any condition to help me today."

    "What do you need help with?" Jungkook asks looking at him.

    "I don't necessarily need help I just want to suggest something to you." Seokjin says facing him.

    "What is it, hyung?" The younger asks giving him his full attention.

    "Before you arrived I got a phone call from Kim Taehyung concerning a very serious matter."

The mention of the brunette caused Jungkook to remember V's eyes as he told him to stay away.

"He's being forced out of Jimin's care and he needs someone to be there full time to help treat him without his father knowing." The older explains. "We briefly discussed the idea of me being his live in therapist but that'd never work with my schedule."

Jungkook nods along with Jin's words to show that he's listening.

    "I didn't purpose the idea to him but what do you think about being his live-in, for lack of a better word, caregiver." Seokjin says.

    "I'm no doctor, hyung." Jungkook says tilting his head. "I can't treat him."

    "He doesn't need treatment, he needs someone there to keep the alters in check while he learns to communicate with them properly." Seokjin says. "I'll have calls over the phone to talk things out every week as usual but without Jimin living with him he has no caregiver."

Jungkook sighs, he didn't think he was prepared to become anyone's caregiver, especially not Taehyung.

"He doesn't need a babysitter, he needs somewhere there incase something goes wrong."

"So he wants someone to solve all of his problems?" The younger asks.

"It's just a suggestion. Jongun likes you, obviously, Minseok could grow to trust you and V...I don't know. But Taehyung could be willing and Hajoon would want someone to be there for them."

Jungkook shakes his head as he thinks for a moment. "I'm not Jimin. Jimin's been there from the beginning, they trust him. They don't even know me."

"They could get to know you. I know you want to help, Jungkook. You wouldn't have been so worried about Minseok if you didn't care. And you like something about Jongun obviously~"

"Please stop throwing that in my face." Jungkook groans in irritation.

"All I'm asking is that you seriously consider it. I know it'll be draining mentally, physically, and maybe even emotionally but please consider it." Seokjin says. "That's all I'm asking."

Jungkook sighs for the umpteenth time that day as he thinks over all the things that could go wrong with Taehyung without Jimin there to supervise the alters.

He didn't want Taehyung to get hurt, especially with a persecutor personality like V.

"I'll do it." He says, he knew he was putting himself on the line with V but he didn't care.

"Have you even~"

"I thought about it." The younger says seriously.

"I'll be Taehyung's secret caregiver."

🔒🔒🔒