Chapter 30

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„Hey Jin... yeah, I'm barely alive." God, he had to stop making these jokes.

"Uni stress?" Jin tried to move past him and Jungkook quickly blocked the way, earning a confused brow furrow from him.

"Uhm... it's a bad time. I have visitors." Jungkook quickly explained, still using his body to block Jin's way.

Jin clearly tried to look past him, as if he was going to see them there in the hallway. "Visitors?"

What the hell was Jungkook supposed to say? Something that would maybe stop Jin from entering his apartment. The thing was, he... he wasn't even worried about Jimin or Yoongi. Those two wouldn't give him any trouble, he was sure, but he had no clue how Taehyung would behave if someone entered Jungkook's apartment.

"Uhm... we have a lot to catch up with but I have a boyfriend now and his brother and his brother's husband are here."

"Jungkook? Everything okay?" Jimin entered the hallway behind him before joining him by the door.

"Your boyfriend?" Jin asked, clearly curious, while eyeing Jimin. He was probably taking in just how pretty Jimin was.

"No, his brother." Jungkook quickly corrected, feeling a little weird about calling Taehyung his boyfriend, but it was the best excuse. If he had his boyfriend's family over it would be weird for Jin to join them.

Jimin seemed to grasp the situation quite quickly, moving next to Jungkook. He didn't show any reaction to Jungkook calling Taehyung his brother whatsoever. Unlike Taehyung he obviously seemed to know that having someone over for a long time wasn't that easy to explain with a simple 'yeah, they are staying over just because'.

"I'm Jimin. Taehyung's brother. You are?"

"I'm Jin, Jungkook's cousin. I didn't know he had anyone over. I wouldn't have come if I had. I don't want to intrude." Jin smiled politely, but Jimin just waved him off.

"Don't worry! You're not intruding! We also showed up here without a warning. Unless Jungkook has any problem with it we don't mind." Jimin quickly reassured before expectantly looking at Jungkook. God, how much Jungkook wished he hadn't said that. Maybe Jimin was confident in Taehyung not attacking anyone, but Jungkook really had no urge to risk his cousin's life to find out.

"I guess if Jimin doesn't mind..." Jungkook smiled awkwardly, moving to the side to let Jin in. He watched as he slipped his coat off and took it from his hands to put it on the hanger. Even though they had known each other his whole life Jin had been over maybe once in the five years that Jungkook had been living here already. They weren't exactly close. Jungkook had never really felt close to Jin even though they chatted every once in a while.

Maybe because Jin barely ever opened up. He talked about pretty much everything but Jungkook didn't feel like he knew him at all. Even right now, Jin checking up on him felt more like he was doing it because that was what they were expected to do as cousins. Talk every once in a while, and Jungkook had neglected that duty for a little too long now.

"I think I'll prepare something to eat now that we have so many guests." Jungkook declared, mainly because he needed a good reason to grab Taehyung and keep him away from Jin. "Just make yourself comfortable! Do you maybe want some tea? I think we should have some green Assam... or Earl Grey?"

Jin smiled as he slipped out of his shoes and neatly placed them next to the door. "Usually I would decline, but some green tea actually sounds good right now."

"Good. If you will excuse me." Jungkook smiled, hurrying back to the living room where Yoongi and Taehyung were sitting. At least they looked just as fucking awkward with each other as Taehyung and Jungkook usually were. It was a little satisfying because that meant it really was just a Jimin and Taehyung brother bond thing that made the interactions between the two of them almost seem easy.

When Jimin had said Jungkook was doing great with him he had probably meant it. "Taehyung, you're coming with me to the kitchen." He didn't leave any choice there and was pretty relieved when Taehyung actually got up from his seat and moved towards him. "I'll make some food and you'll help me."

"Wait a second, Jungkook, before you run off and hide your boyfriend, let me have one look at him." Jin laughed while entering the room. Jungkook wondered if Taehyung had registered that Jin had called him his boyfriend, but if it bothered him he didn't let it show. Jungkook reluctantly came to a halt and so did Taehyung. He knew that he wouldn't be able to get past this.

"Taehyung, this is Jin, my cousin. Jin this is Taehyung." He intentionally left the boyfriend part out because he really didn't want to irk Taehyung.

"Nice to meet you, Taehyung. I haven't seen you around before, where are you from?" Jin asked with a smile, mustering Taehyung as if he was trying to remember if maybe he had seen him somewhere before after all.

Jungkook was about to answer for Taehyung like he was used to when Taehyung answered himself. "Out of town." His eyes quickly moved over to Jimin, who was standing behind Jin. "Daegu."

"That explains it! When did you move here?" Jin asked curiously and once again Taehyung answered in completely clean language. As if he hadn't ever had any issues talking whatsoever. Jungkook wasn't sure whether he should feel annoyed or proud at the fact that Taehyung could speak this well already and yet chose to avoid it most of the time.

"A few months ago. I was living with Jimin before that." He nodded in Jimin's direction, who hummed in approval.

"Not having Taehyung around sucks, but at least I know he's been having a good time here so far. I trust Jungkook with taking care of him." Jimin lied with a perfectly straight face while patting Jungkook's shoulder and once again Jungkook wondered just how convincingly Jimin could lie to him. How much about the more positive things he had said about Taehyung had actually been lies?

Taehyung was scary but at least he was very straight forward about it. No touching or disrespecting and you were mostly safe. For the most part it was simple, but Jimin clearly was different. A lot less transparent. Even though Taehyung had clearly left out some information, everything he had told Jin had been the truth. But Jungkook doubted Jimin would have any problems with lying.

"We'll go prepare some food now." Jungkook patted Taehyung's shoulder and to his surprise he barely reacted, to the touch. At least not in a negative way. Instead he just followed Jungkook into the kitchen like he did on their normal days.

Jungkook could feel the tension slowly flow out of him when he closed the door. It was weird that by now things had changed so much that he no longer felt threatened by Taehyung's presence itself. Actually he felt pretty okay with Taehyung being in the same room right now. The only thing that still kept him on his toes was having Taehyung in the same room as other humans who didn't know how badly Taehyung could react to touch. Taehyung wasn't as dangerous around him anymore... at least it didn't feel like it nowadays.

"I'm sorry for keeping you away from Jimin right now, but I'd really prefer to keep you away from Jin. He can be a little touchy sometimes and I doubt you'd be a huge fan of that." Taehyung turned to look at him before nodding slowly. At least he didn't fight it.

"Wanna help me cook?" Jungkook suggested with a smile. He knew it would probably not go all that well because it was the first time the siren was going to try this, but there was a first time for everything and cooking was quite the typical human thing to do. "You like human food, right?"

He waited for Taehyung to answer and once again only got a nod. Beautiful. The second they were alone again Taehyung shut his mouth. He wasn't even surprised.

"Great, then let's give this a try." Jungkook grabbed a chopping board from one of the drawers right next to the stove and placed it on the countertop. Next he pulled some onions from the fridge.

"I'll peel them and you have to cut them. I'll show you how to do it and then you can try for yourself." Jungkook made quick work of the first onion, easily peeling off the outer layers before placing it on the chopping board. Since this was the part he was trying to show to Taehyung he waved him over, telling him to watch as Jungkook first cut the onion in half and then started cutting it into thin slices. He could tell that Taehyung was watching intently and part of him was happy that Taehyung really seemed to want to learn how to cook.

"Here." He held the knife out to Taehyung and for just a second his mind flashed to the question whether it was dangerous to hand Taehyung a knife, but then he remembered that the knife really didn't make much of a difference for whether Taehyung was dangerous or not.

"Careful, it's sharp." Jungkook warned when Taehyung mustered the blade. Well, even that probably wasn't anything to worry about. When Jungkook had tried to stab Taehyung when he'd first come here Taehyung had grabbed the knife right by its blade and hadn't even gotten a shallow cut.

Jungkook grabbed another onion to start peeling it with a smaller knife, watching Taehyung as he did. He already knew it wasn't going to work from the way Taehyung grabbed the knife. He held it way too tightly and right underneath the blade. It looked so stiff and there was no way he had any control over it.

The second issue became obvious the second Taehyung started cutting. He didn't make any cutting motion... instead he pressed down and before Jungkook could warn him the knife slid off the onion and right onto Taehyung's fingers that were conveniently placed right underneath. Jungkook quickly closed his eyes, not wanting to see what was going to happen.

When there was no sound from Taehyung even after a few seconds he hesitantly opened his eyes just to find Taehyung with all of his fingers still intact. Jungkook's heart was racing when he hesitantly leaned over a little too look at them. Nothing. There was nothing but a very small, superficial cut on Taehyung's skin although Jungkook was sure he would have lost all of his fingers there.

Slowly Taehyung, who seemed a little startled as well, brought his hand up and licked his finger. Jungkook was pretty sure the wound would close right away now... Especially considering Taehyung's spit had healed the deep cuts on Jungkook's body a few days prior, so this should have been nothing for him.

"Okay... yeah, that's dangerous. You shouldn't do that." Jungkook chuckled awkwardly. He moved a little closer and expected Taehyung to move away, but he stayed where he was, which didn't exactly lead to them touching but Jungkook was pretty damn sure he was too close for comfort for Tae.

Carefully he picked the knife up to take a look at it. Of course there was a small dent in it... why was he even surprised. It had bent a little, probably due to the combination of Taehyung's robust skin and strength. "Let me show you how to hold it... uhm... do you mind if I touch you?" Jungkook asked, handing the knife back to Taehyung. He really wasn't sure how else to show him how to properly hold the knife.

"It's okay." Taehyung answered and Jungkook might have felt a little happy at that. He still wasn't used to Taehyung being okay with Jungkook touching him, but it was a nice change.

"Okay then. Can you move here and hold the knife like you would to cut the onion?" Jungkook suggested, moving away to let Taehyung take his place. He did, once again gripping the knife like he had before.

"Okay. Now..." Jungkook reached his hand out. "Relax your hand for me."

This felt weird. Taehyung's face was maybe a few centimeters from his, watching him intently as Jungkook took his hand and adjusted his hold on the knife. Once he was content with the way Taehyung was holding the knife he nodded and moved back a little. "Now try to cut the onion and don't grip it too tightly. Hold the knife comfortably." Jungkook explained, watching as Taehyung brought the knife to the onion.

"Okay, stop." Before Taehyung could hurt himself again Jungkook placed his hand on Taehyung's. "Now, this second hand is important too. You can use it to stabilize the onion but you have to be careful not to put it into a position where you might cut yourself."

He quickly showed Taehyung where he was allowed to have his hand and where not.

"As for cutting, you don't need to use your strength to push down. First off, you might hurt yourself that way if you slip off and secondly you'll destroy the knife and the board with those muscles of yours. So what you have to do is to do something like a sawing motion as you press down. Not much and slow, but it makes a huge difference." Jungkook explained, vaguely copying the motion with his hands as if he was cutting.

He watched as Taehyung copied it, cautious of his hand not getting in the way this time as he pressed down. Jungkook watched in satisfaction as Taehyung slowly cut off one slice. He was a little slow and it was way too thick, but it was a good start.

"Can I show you something... but I need to get pretty close for that, so if you're uncomfortable just tell me, okay? There is no need to hiss." Jungkook explained before moving behind Taehyung. This felt awfully wrong, but he wanted to actually show Taehyung how to do this... maybe he'd even find some fun in cooking.

"Okay." That was the official okay that Jungkook wouldn't get his head cut off. He let out a deep exhale before hesitantly moving to wrap his arms around Taehyung from behind, placing both his hands on each of Taehyung's to guide him.

"If you use your hand like this..." Jungkook brought both of Taehyung's hands to the onion again. He felt a little weird because he could feel the warmth of Taehyung's back seeping through his t-shirt... and his heartbeat and breathing. Taehyung felt so alive under him. Not scary and cold. Alive.

Jungkook's heart started beating a little faster but he was pretty sure that was due to the anxiety and nothing else.

"...you can lean the knife against it and in that way control how thick your slices are. Like this." Jungkook moved Taehyung's hand to cut a couple of slices that were a lot thinner than the one Taehyung had cut before. After finishing maybe half of the onion like this Jungkook let go of Taehyung's hands again. "Now you try."

Jungkook couldn't help smiling when Taehyung replicated what he had done, relatively slowly but pretty stable. He obviously was a quick learner. "I'm jealous of how quickly you learn things." Jungkook sighed, watching Taehyung a little longer before continuing to peel the next onion.

"Thank you." When Jungkook looked up he could feel his heart do a little jump again when he found Taehyung smiling at him. Actually smiling. He looked so sweet like that. Less intimidating and almost approachable... Jungkook still wasn't used to seeing Taehyung smile. No matter how often he did it, it was just a surprise to see every time.

"I mean it... uhm..." Jungkook felt a little awkward asking Taehyung directly because he hadn't said anything about it yet and had just accepted it, but he felt like now was a good time to ask if ever. "Today you spoke pretty comfortably with Jin... how come you barely say anything around me?"

Jungkook watched as Taehyung's hands came to a halt as he seemingly thought about a response to that. He waited patiently while continuing to peel the onions.

"I don't feel comfortable talking... yet." Taehyung muttered, continuing to cut. "I can if I must, but..." He hesitated a little and Jungkook realized he was actually still struggling with picking the right words. Somehow that was kind of cute.

"...when I'm with you I don't feel like I have to." Jungkook couldn't help smiling a little at that. So far he'd taken Taehyung's unwillingness to talk to him as a bad thing but now he almost made it sound like something good. He had expected Taehyung to be done with that, so when Taehyung spoke again it almost startled him.

"I prefer just being comfortable here." Taehyung went back to cutting the onions and Jungkook watched him, feeling oddly happy.

"Are you comfortable here? In this apartment?" He asked out of curiosity. He really wanted to know. Just because he preferred being comfortable didn't mean he actually was.

Taehyung seemingly didn't even need to think as he nodded, going back to his preferred means of communication. Jungkook placed the next onion on the board. "I'm really happy to hear that. I mean it." The creepiest thing was that he really did... even after everything that had happened he meant it.

Jin sadly had to leave right after dinner since he still had to do groceries for his own apartment, but he didn't leave without making Jungkook promise that they would be in touch again soon. Jungkook reluctantly accepted. Maybe next time he could make sure that Taehyung wouldn't be there.

Surprisingly, conversations didn't die down after Jin left. Instead Jungkook found himself back on his sofa, talking to Yoongi and Jimin about all kinds of things, and to his surprise Taehyung wasn't really part of any of the topics. It was just random stories about Jimin's life and Yoongi's life and some of Jungkook's life. Jungkook found himself relaxing completely even though Taehyung was sitting right next to him, listening to them talking. It was quite late already too, but Jungkook barely noticed.

Talking to Jimin was fun. The boy obviously had seen quite a lot in his life and knew how to tell stories. It wasn't until Jungkook felt a weight against his arm and then his shoulder that he realized that it was after midnight. His whole body stiffened when he found Taehyung leaning against him, eyes closed, breaths even. He looked ridiculously pretty from above. Long lashes, warm lips and fair skin. There wasn't a single blemish on his face.

When he looked back up he found Jimin grinning wide at him. "You know he doesn't just do that with anyone, right?"

Jungkook tried not to move in fear of waking Taehyung up. "I know he's not very comfortable with people touching him." He muttered, slowly adjusting the way he was sitting to properly be able to support Taehyung's weight and for both of them to be comfortable.

"He certainly doesn't sleep in just anyone's presence either... he trusts you." Jimin said, more of a statement than anything else. "He barely trusts Yoongi and Yoongi is family... that really means something with him." Jimin explained. "I hope you will be able to forgive him the rough start you two had at some point."

Jungkook looked back down at Taehyung, unsure what to say. He knew that anything Taehyung was doing was just his nature and, to some extent, he didn't exactly hold a grudge. The issue was more so that with the way things were right now Jungkook was still scared of Taehyung. Even if Jimin had told him that Taehyung didn't mean him any harm... not anymore. The fear was still there.

"I'm not mad at him for what he has done... I know it's just his... both of your nature, but he's just unpredictable most of the time and I'm scared of him. I do enjoy the time I spend with him, but I honestly fear for my life sometimes... and it's not even his fault right now. He's been way nicer since you two talked but it's just... a lot. He almost killed me. I was this close to dying. It's just weird, to be honest."

Jimin sighed softly, leaning forward a little. He had a pretty sympathetic expression on his face. "I know this is hard. It's a shitty situation to be in, but I hope you two will be able to put that behind you and maybe you'll even become Taehyung's first friend."

Jungkook took a deep breath, startling a little when Taehyung stirred slightly against his shoulder, but he just turned slightly and buried his face deeper in Jungkook's shoulder. Almost out of reflex Jungkook's hand went up to run through Taehyung's hair. He had no idea how Taehyung would have reacted if he had been awake but all he did like this was snuggle a little closer to Jungkook.

On the other side of the couch table he could hear Jimin chuckle under this breath. "I know you don't know a lot about sirens because Taehyung doesn't talk much, but trust me when I tell you that this is a lot. Sirens don't form relationships the way you do. For us there are two possible distinctions. Strangers and family." Jimin nodded at Taehyung. "That's not stranger behavior."

Jimin let the words sit for a few seconds before he continued. "Of course it's not that simple. Taehyung is trying to adjust a little to your culture and copying certain things as he learns more about the way humans act in relationships, but I still mean it when I say that this is a lot. He might not be seeing you as family but he's letting you in and trusting you... I hope you don't take that lightly."

Jungkook swallowed. There was a dangerous spark in Jimin's eyes that served as a good reminder that Taehyung wasn't the only siren in this room. Jungkook wondered whether he was just being too sensitive or if the threat he was hearing in those words was real.

"As long as Taehyung doesn't give me a reason to, I have no issue with him being here." Jungkook stated bluntly. "It's one hundred percent in Taehyung's hands if we work out as friends or not. But if I end up feeling like I'm no longer safe in my own home again, I'll have to reconsider this whole thing."

He knew his words sounded harsh, but he meant it. He liked Taehyung. Maybe he was crazy for that because even though he was also scared he'd grown to like the siren over the last months. But that didn't mean that he wanted to gather any more trauma than the one he had already gotten.

No matter how sweet Taehyung could be deep down... if Jungkook could no longer feel safe in his own home he'd have to change something.

Jimin leaned down, relaxing again. "That's fair... sorry. I know it's not my place to tell you what to do. I'm just a little protective when it comes to Taehyung. I'm scared he'll get hurt."

"I get that, but I'm scared I'll get hurt and I'm the only one fending for myself." Jungkook let out a sigh.

"I know I'm a siren too and that might be scary, but you really can come to me if you have any questions or just need someone to talk to about the things that are happening to you. I want to help. I just have no clue how. I know Tae doesn't know how to act around humans... but he's learning. He's learned more of the language here during his few months here than he did back at mine and Yoongi's in ten years. He obviously needs time to get to know human culture... I just want everything to go well..."

Jimin blinked as if remembering something. "Oh right, before I forget... this probably will be affecting you too so Taehyung wants you to know that he'll need to go back to the ocean for a while soon. It's a little like homesickness. Just the pressing urge to go back to the ocean and an overwhelming kind of sadness. It's even worse for Taehyung. I'm used to living on land, so as long as I go swimming frequently I can mostly satiate that urge, but Taehyung has spent all his life in the ocean. He'll have to go back soon."

Jungkook had no idea what to say. Did that mean that Taehyung was going to leave forever? Jungkook wouldn't see him ever again?

As if reading the question right off his face Jimin opened his mouth again. "He wants to come back after... says he wants to learn more about the human world... if you're okay with that."

Jungkook furrowed his brows. "I'm getting a say in that?"

Jimin nodded. "Taehyung knows he's overstaying his welcome here. It's been what? Three? Four months? That's a long time to force someone to endure your presence after you tried to kill them." Jimin chuckled. "He's giving you a choice."

Jungkook opened his mouth to say something, but Jimin interrupted him before he could say anything. "You don't have to make up your mind just yet. You don't have to tell me. Just tell him when he leaves..."

Jimin nodded in the direction of Taehyung's sleeping figure. Suddenly Taehyung's weight against Jungkook's shoulder felt a lot heavier than it had before. Taehyung was giving him a choice. Jungkook wasn't forced to host the siren here anymore.

The concept felt weird... off. He'd gotten so used to being forced into the position he was in that he had a hard time comprehending that this time he'd have a choice.

"I hope you'll think about it well..." Jimin got up from his seat, looking at Jungkook for a few seconds before walking over to Yoongi, who had been listening quietly the whole time. Jungkook got the impression he never talked a lot.

"Yoongi? Do you mind going back to the hotel on your own? I think I want to go swimming with Taehyung before we leave." Jimin touched Yoongi's cheek incredibly softly. Like he was precious and something to be cared for.

"Don't worry. Just go have fun. It's been a while." Yoongi muttered and Jungkook couldn't help but be a little jealous of just how much warmth he had in his eyes. Jungkook had thought he'd had that with Minji, but as it had turned out he hadn't.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Jungkook." Jimin turned back to him. "Both towards us but also Taehyung. I know that you're doing a lot."

Jungkook sighed, closing his eyes. "To some extent it's fun, but then it's just exhausting... I have no clue if I want him to come back. I..." He let out an even deeper sigh. "I like him, but does that mean I should risk my life? That doesn't sound very reasonable."

"I get that." Jimin squatted down in front of him, slowly running his hand through Taehyung's hair, who was still sleeping. "Just think it over... and I hope you'll give him a chance."

Jungkook wanted to say something, but Jimin was already carefully waking Taehyung up. "Hey, Taehyungie."

Jungkook watched with something that almost felt a little like adoration as Taehyung opened his eyes, tiredly blinking at Jimin.

"Wanna go swimming?"

It took Taehyung quite a few seconds to really wake up before he slowly nodded and moved away from Jungkook, seemingly not even bothered by the position he had fallen asleep in. And then, within just a few minutes Jimin, Taehyung and even Yoongi were gone, leaving the whole apartment behind empty and quiet.

And Jungkook had no clue what to do. His mind kept focusing on the question whether he wanted Taehyung to stay as he showered, brushed his teeth and eventually laid in bed, staring at the ceiling. He really didn't know. This wasn't an easy decision at all.

A/N

Man I absolutely adored this chapter... I'm telling you this is a turning point😔💜

How did you guys like it? First taekook cooking, then Tae sleeping on jk's shoulder and now Jungkook even gets to decide for himself🥺

I swear my heart❤️ The best way to describe my emotions is that I have a crush on this story😂