I would never see your face again

Does Taehyung regret saying that? Absolutely not. He, one hundred and ten percent stands on it. 

Out of all things he can tolerate, someone taking the decision of his life isn't one of them. It's unacceptable no matter what, Taehyung sighs, closes his eyes leaning against the seat of the taxi not knowing he'll get hit by the memories which were buried in the deepest corner of his brain. 

The cries echo in the room. The 15 year old Taehyung couldn't help but put his hands on his ears, eyes screwed shut as he tried to pretend as if his mother wasn't crying over his dad’s dead body. 

He tried to pretend the guards weren't threatening his mother to be the next person in line if they didn't stop from protesting. He tried to pretend his sister wasn't clinging to him as she too, tried to pretend everything was fine. 

Taehyung was still older but she? She was only eight years old. So young to know what death is, so young to come to know about the dangerous monsters that exist in this world. 

They don't know for how long they were sitting like that, hiding like that in one corner of the house, clutching to each other like— no their life did depend on it. That’s what was at stake if they even thought of intertwining in between, rocking back and forth in a way to cut out the deadly silence engulfing them. 

After what Taehyung supposes has been hours is when his mother comes up to them, face painted with tears, almost grey hair disbelieved, cuts and blood which he supposes is of both of his father and herself. 

She falls on her knees in front of them, expressions void of emotions, ashen as that of a corpse. As if she’s just breathing, not alive. 

“Eomma?” Taehyung whispers, making his little sister look up at his mother and she immediately starts crying, throwing herself on his mother. 

Taehyung slowly crawls to his mother, scared to go near her as if he’ll break her if he touches her. But then she looks up at him and gives him a weak smile, opening his other arm to welcome Tae in her embrace. 

“I'm scared eomma,” Taehyung whispers around her neck, body so weak, not stronger than a skeleton. 

“I know, I am too. We’ll break free soon, okay? We’ll get away from this torture soon” 

“We will?” the little girl looks up, hope glinting in her eyes. Taehyung bites his lips to say no, to tell that they won't. His mother has been saying that for years and yet they have never for once have been close to escaping this prison called life. 

No, not life, controlled life. When does their life belong to them anyway? He’s just a doll with strings in the hands of someone else. This life never belonged to them, always of someone else. 

“Yes, Aera. We will just hold on a little more” Aera, Taehyung’s sister nods, going back to hug her mother. Slowly slumping to sleep, too tired from crying. 

In that brief moment, her eyes make contact with Taehyung’s.

“Promise me, Tae” she clasps his hands in her own, speaking in a low whisper like even the walls had ears. 

“Promise me you’ll take care of her, promise me you’ll never let anyone else control your life if something happens to me. You’ll—” She pauses to take a deep breath, stopping her tears from falling. 

“You’ll never end up like we did, Taehyung. Make yourself a strong man my boy. Never let anyone control you, never let them do shit for you okay? The world is a monster my boy, do not trust anyone. Do not let them make decisions for you. They'll use your naive-ness and torture you. Promise me, Taehyung, you'll be your own boss. Promise me you'll make yourself strong, My boy. Promise me” The male doesn't even give it a second thought, he just nods furiously. 

“I promise eomma! I promise, I'll take care of myself and I'll take care of Aera once we leave this place” he attempts to smile. She smiles, moving her hand to pet his head. Taehyung gives a weak smile, leaning into her touch. 

Only if he had been able to complete his promise. 

Taehyung’s eyes snap open, mirth in his eyes. He makes an attempt to wipe off the gathering tears as the taxi comes to a halt, in front of his closed garage. He gets out, paying the driver. 

Taehyung frowns at the closed shutter, walking around to go upstairs through the door. He runs up the stairs. 

“Why is the shop—” Taehyung halts, frowning as he hears loud cries. 

“What happened?” 

As everyone looked up at him, the kids were sitting on the sofa, mari standing in front of him holding hands of someone he couldn't see through the crowd. Yoongi leaning against the wall next to the worn out sofa. 

“Hyung” they move away. 

“Jaehun? What happened, why are you crying kiddo?” Taehyung walks towards him, sitting down on his knees as he wipes his tears. The rest of them move away to give him space. 

“Mari, what happened?” The racer asks, looking up at his best friend as Jaehun was uncontrollably hiccuping and sobbing, unable to let out a single word which would make sense. 

“Jaehun's father has been found” Taehyung’s frown morphs into a huge smile. 

“Isn't that good news!” 

Jaehun shakes his head, crying out louder making the others quickly rub his back and say soothing words, which in Taehyung's opinion just overlapped with one another. 

“He has been found, kiddo. Not back” it was Yoongi who said it this time. 

“Jihan, take jaehun out. Let us talk, alright” Jihan nods, helping Jaehun in walking down to the garage to sit on the sofa. Once they left, the crying faded away. Yoongi and Mari sat on the sofa, Maria patted the seat next to her, telling The racer to take up the vacant place. 

“What do you mean hyung?” Yoongi takes a deep breath. 

“His father, let's say Jaehun found him getting trafficked somewhere. He's a kid. I'll be shocked if he stayed quiet and didn't run to those people to free his father. The guys tried to kick him away, Maria even had to bandage his torso” And those words Taehyung’s eyes fell on the table which had lots of blood covered cotton balls, an open alcohol bottle and the bandage kit laid open. 

“What happened after that then?” He asked with a swallow, hoping Jaehun’s father hadn't died. 

“Jaehun ended up shouting he'll do anything just let his father go so the guys joked that if he'll pay the amount they'll let his father go” It was Maria who said it with a sigh. 

“How much? ” 

“W̶ 3,00,00,000” 

30 Million wons

It feels like a cold bucket of water is dropped on top of Taehyung’s head. There's no way they can have that much money. 

“There's no way we can have that much money,” Yoongi sighs. “I checked my bank statements, I have around 5 million won, Maria has around 3 so that's 8 million” 

Probably not the time but Taehyung felt warmth over the fact that Yoongi didn't even think of just letting it be and giving no help at all. Yoongi said he only cared about Taehyung and no one else but it was a pure lie and this was just a proof of it. 

“I have around… I think 7.” Taehyung whispers, rubbing his face. Even if he sells his cars they wouldn't be able to cover up the amount. 

“So 15 million. It's only half, there's no way we can help him.” Maria said, biting her lip as she thought of any other way they could gather money. 

When come up with nothing she shook her head as if to get rid of any other thought. 

“What are we gonna do, hyung?” Taehyung whispers, tears gathering in the corner of his eyes. He could ask Jungkook, he had a whole crime syndicate, sure he could help the racer but there's no way Taehyung could ask him. 

The mobster isn't his boyfriend to ask for his help. They are just… well for the lack of better term, fuck buddies. Who the fuck asks their fuck buddy for money? Not Taehyung. Plus, even if they were together, The racer wouldn't dare ask for such a large sum of money. He refuses to be under someone's debt. Nothing good comes when you own someone a big deal. 

And though Taehyung deep down believes Jungkook wouldn't do anything bad to him for 15 million won, you can never be sure of anything because let's be honest, he doesn't fully trust the male. 

He can trust him enough to let things stay civil and share some parts of himself, have an unlabeled kind of relationship with him, be vulnerable for a brief period of time but this? Asking for money with the possibility of very little chances of payback any time soon? This goes far beyond the little whatever the fuck kind of relationship they have. 

This 7 million won, he has saved in the last 9 years of working as a racer, just how much time it'll take for him to save 15 million? And let's not forget about the interest rate along with it. Even if he participates in every race that’ll be organised then too, he wouldn't be able to pay Jungkook back. Taehyung wouldn't take his help and that's the end of discussion. 

“I have no idea about what we are gonna do, kiddo” Yoongi let out a sigh, pulling Taehyung and giving him a side hug. 

“We'll find a way alright? We know how much this means to you” He drops a kiss on top of his head. Knowing well how deeply it is connected to Taehyung’s past subconsciously, There's no way the younger one would sit and do nothing. 

“How much time do we have?” He asks curling himself smaller in Yoongi’s arms. 

“Not a lot, Kid” Mari imitates Yoongi’s voice making the racer chuckle weakly and for Yoongi to hit the back of her head. 

“That's Domestic violence.” 

“Sure young lady” Yoongi rolls his eyes but opens his arms for Mari, welcoming her in their hug. 

“But for real, it'd be really nice if we were thieves or something. Just raid a rich druggie and boom we'll have enough money” Maria says dreamily. 

“You're crazy” Yoongi shakes his head like a disappointed father but Taehyung wasn't listening.

Could he… 

“Tae? Tae? Taehyung??” 

“Huh? Wh-what happened?” Taehyung blinked away his daze, turning his head to see both of them looking at him with concern. 

“What are you thinking, little one?” Taehyung shakes his head looking down on his lap. 

"N-nothing… just.. Was thinking of my… dad” Taehyung lies conventionally. Maria frowns, she doesn't know a lot about Taehyung’s parents. Just that he had a smaller sister and all three of them had died when Taehyung was 16.

She looks at Yoongi who mouths that he'll tell her later. The eldest of them knew Taehyung wouldn't mind if Maria knows about his past, the racer trusts her enough and vice versa. They just didn't have the time nor opportunity to share their past. 

“It's…. understandable. He's at a better place now, right?” 

“Yeah…you're right” at that the racer cracks a weak smile at the woman.

“Taehyung” 

“Yes hyung” 

“Don't think of doing something stupid” Taehyung grins. 

“I'm not gonna do something stupid, hyung” 

─── ❖ ── ✦ ── ❖ ───

Hope now you understand why Taehyung values his control so much :) I gave an answer to your one question and gave you 5 more questions 😂😂

I said I haven't started my plot, never said I hadn't begin to leave hints and trails behind of plot ;)

Any theories? Any guesses on what might the plot be?? What will happen? I'm interested to read your theories 😁

See you on next chapter, bye bye. Love you