Taehyung feels guilty as he looks down at the number on the scale he kept in his bathroom. His hands fidgeting as he waits for Jeongguk's reaction.

"It's nothing we can't fix," He says, taking Taehyung's hand as he steps off the scale. "It's not your fault they took advantage of you in that hospital."

"What will we do today?" Taehyung asks as he gets dressed. Noticing that Jeongguk still hasn't changed his clothes. He was too afraid to ask why.

"I figured we could just stay in and catch up. We can make dinner together," Jeongguk says, rearranging the things on Taehyung's dresser. "Make it feel like old times again."

Taehyung smiles as he buttons the last few buttons on his shirt, turning to Jeongguk who has busied himself with putting his perfume bottles in order. "You're quite particular aren't you?"

"I always have been." Jeongguk smiles softly as he looks up at Taehyung. "Everything has to be perfect, right?"

"Not everything can be perfect, Jeongguk."

"It could be if everyone put in some effort."

Taehyung falls silent, letting the younger have the last word. "Gguk?"

"Hm?" Jeongguk smiles, his smile faltering when he looks over and sees the apprehensive expression on his face. "What's wrong, beautiful?"

"I just...I can't help but notice..." Taehyung trails off, looking down at his hands.

"Notice what, my love?" Jeongguk asks, walking over and standing in front of him. "You can tell me anything."

"Why don't you ever change?" He asks without looking up at him.

"Perfection and consistency go hand in hand." Jeongguk takes Taehyung's hands and making him look at him. "You know that."

"Who told you that?"

"You know who."

"Who, Jeongguk?"

Jeongguk falls silent, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looks Taehyung in the eyes. "What's going on here, Taehyung? Are you doubting me?"

"Why don't you ever change your clothes?" Taehyung asks, his voice shaking nervously. "I've never s-seen you wear anything else...why?"

"I can't believe you," Jeongguk says, shaking his head in disappointment. "What's gotten into you?"

"I couldn't help but notice~"

"You're taking your medicine again, aren't you?" He asks suspiciously. "Don't you dare lie to me. Are you?"

"No, Jeongguk, I'm not," Taehyung says, shaking his head. "I swear, I haven't."

"Prove it."

"Prove it?"

"You've never questioned me before. The only time you've ever questioned me is when you took that shit they gave you. So prove you aren't taking it."

Taehyung stammers for a moment before falling silent, looking at Jeongguk to be sure he was serious.

"Where the hell is it?" Jeongguk asks, already walking to the bathroom. "Where is it!?"

"Stop yelling, someone will hear you," Taehyung says, rushing after him. "Why would I lie about taking it? I know what it'll do to me~"

"Flush it," He says pointing, to the full bottle sitting on the counter next to the sink. "I want to see you do it, now."

"I haven't taken it," Taehyung says, desperately wanting Jeongguk to believe him.

"I said flush it!" He shouts. "I'm just going to keep yelling if you don't! Flush it, Taehyung!"

Taehyung flinches, immediately grabbing the bottle from the sink. "Please stop, yelling, Jeongguk."

Jeongguk stands over his shoulder as he dumps the entire prescription, his hands trembling as he pushes down the toilet handle. He watches them go down before turning to him. "See? They're gone, alright?"

"You don't have anymore anywhere else?" Jeongguk asks. "Are you sure?"

"There aren't anymore, these were the only ones." Taehyung opens the medicine cabinet behind the mirror. "See?"

Jeongguk sighs, his shoulders relaxing and his expression softening. "Okay, I trust you."

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked~"

"Forget about it," Jeongguk say. "Just don't do it again, okay? Don't ever doubt me, Taehyung. I love you."

"I love you too," Taehyung says as Jeongguk pulls him into a hug. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay, beautiful."

~

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine, mother."

Taehyung sighs, looking out from where he stands on his balcony smoking a cigarette. He hated the taste, and he hated the smell, but Jeongguk loved the raspy edge it gave his voice.

"Seokjin said he was going to check on you today, has he been by?" Mrs. Kim asks on the other line, endlessly worrying about her youngest son. Just as the question leaves his lips there's a knock on Taehyung's front door.

"I think he's getting here now," Taehyung says, quickly outing his cigarette before going to get the door. "I'll call you when he leaves, mom, I promise."

"Okay, I love you, Taehyung."

"I love you too."

Taehyung opens his front door and finds Seokjin standing there with food in his hands. "Hyung, I said I wasn't hungry."

"I don't care, I am and it's rude to make someone watch you eat," Seokjin says, walking into the apartment and looking around for a second. "Why is it so cold in here? It's freezing outside."

Taehyung apologizes, adjusting the air conditioning before going to close the doors that led to the balcony. "I didn't notice."

"What've you been up to?" Seokjin asks as he unloads the food from the bags. "I got you japchae."

Taehyung tries not to frown at his mind immediately tries to calculate how many calories could be in the dish. "I'm not hungry, hyung."

"I'll leave it for later then," Seokjin says, walking over and pulling the refrigerator open. He scans it suspiciously. "Did you order in for breakfast?"

"No. Why?"

"There's nothing in the fridge," Seokjin says, putting the japchae inside before shutting it. He opens a few cabinets and finds them in a similar state. "There's nothing in here, Taehyung. Why didn't you tell me you needed groceries? I would've came and got you."

"I'm fine," Taehyung says waving his hand dismissively. "I don't get hungry really, I think it's because of my medicine."

"Well you still have to eat, either way." Seokjin takes the remainder of the food from the bag before putting it in the refrigerator.

"I thought you were hungry, hyung," Taehyung says when he sees him putting the food away.

"I ate already, it was just an excuse to make you eat. Because I know you haven't," He says. "Eat the food I brought until tomorrow. I'm going to get you groceries, so message me anything specific you want."

"You don't have to~"

"You need to stay healthy, Taehyung. Mom and dad aren't going to let you stay here if you start going downhill in any areas of your health."

Taehyung sighs, nodding his head in understanding. "Okay, hyung. Thank you."

"Since when do you smoke cigarettes?" Seokjin asks, spotting the pack on the counter.

"I don't usually, unless I'm trying to calm down," Taehyung lies. "Its a bad habit."

"It is." Seokjin sighs as he looks around the apartment. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I am, thank you for coming to check on me. It means a lot to mom," Taehyung says. "And me, it means a lot to us."

"It's no trouble. You can always call me if you need me, no matter what," Seokjin says, walking around the counter and hugging his brother. "Eat the food I brought you and take your medicine. I love you, I'm serious."

"I love you too, hyung," Taehyung says, hugging him back before pulling away. "Text me when you get home."

"I will," He says, smiling before leaving a bit reluctantly. "Love you."

"Love you too." Taehyung smiles softly before he shuts the door behind him. He sighs, closing his eyes and listening to the silence for a moment.

"Is he gone?" Jeongguk's voice asks, causing him to turn his head. He finds the brunette standing at the entrance of the hallway.

"Yes," He says, meeting him. "He's coming back tomorrow to bring groceries."

"I'll just stay in the room again," Jeongguk says, hugging Taehyung's waist. "I'm tired, will you sleep with me?"

"I'm not tired," He says, laying his head in the crook of his neck. "And I have a lot of work to catch up on. I'm so behind."

"Catch up tomorrow," Jeongguk says in a whisper. "Go to sleep with me for now."

Taehyung hums, it never takes much for him to give in. "Okay."

"I love you, beautiful."

"I love you more."

🌤🌤🌤