UMBRELLA | (FAR EAST MOVEMENT) HYOLYN FT GILL CHANG.
"baby, i'll lift you up like an umbrella.
i'll make sure you're keeping your head up."

taehyung focus
the strong scent of toast overwhelms taehyung as soon as he steps out of the bathroom, his eyes immediately drift over to the source of the smell, stomach growling.
a layout of various breakfast foods is placed on the coffee table; glasses of freshly squeezed orange juice, perfectly browned toast with tiny butter and jam spreads, homemade choc chip muffins and croissants tempt him to walk right over and plonk himself by the coffee table. but he stops himself when he notices jungkook across the room, sitting hunched in the armchair, busy studying a map of daegu and its surroundings.

the aforementioned, not looking up, distractedly mutters out a "help yourself" to taehyung who, certainly helps himself. bare footed, he patters across the hardwood floor and without a word, seats himself on the edge of the bed, reaching over for one of the still warm muffins.

whilst casually shaking a towel through his damp hair, taehyung spots something else amongst the breakfast items — a worn looking tv remote sits, desolate and forgotten, in the midst of the foods.

discarding the towel in his hand and taking a huge bite out of his muffin, taehyung leans over and takes the thin device in his hands, studying the buttons with curiosity. he never really watched television; work took over almost all his leisure time so he never found himself sitting in front of the huge tv screen back at home — to taehyung, the thing was more decoration for his walls than entertainment.

but now he takes the remote control in his hands and points the device at the grey clunky looking television perched on a glass stand that threatens to give out with the tv's heavy weight. the thing looks outdated, like something from the 90's and taehyung wonders if the tv will even turn on after its clear disuse (a thick layer of dust covers the tv and he doubts anyone's touched it in a long while).
nevertheless, taehyung fiddles with the buttons and eventually manages to turn the television on. the screen immediately shows a pinstripe suit clad man sitting behind a desk, holding a stack of meaningless papers that he sifts through before suddenly announcing taehyung's name.

"kim taehyung, son of kim daesuk and heir to kim enterprises," taehyung stops chewing when he hears his name, startled. he straightens his back and listens closely, "is still missing. father, kim daesuk is distraught about son's disappearance and refuses to comment on the situation—"

a photo pops up on the screen, blocking off the pinstriped newsman. it's a blurry photo of his father walking out of the company's main building, suit looking crinkled and his skin tone a worrying shade of sallow. black suited bodyguards are flocked all around him, all wearing wires and speaking hurriedly into their mouthpieces as they barge past the immense amount of journalists who prod microphones at his father, shouting question after question.

feeling sick all of a sudden, taehyung sets the muffin down on the coffee table and reaches over for the orange juice, his mouth is need of liquid to appease the dry scratchy feeling residing in the back of his throat. he gulps down the juice whilst listening in on the newsman's report, his attention completely on the old tv model.

jungkook focus
jungkook, on the other hand, frowns at the map in front of him. he can't seem to figure out the safest and easiest way to get both, him and taehyung, across seoul without having the police/kim enterprise's extensive security team on their tails.
he sits back against the armchair and heaves a sigh, running a hand through his coal back hair as he tries to focus on the different lines on the paper map spread out on his lap.

half listening in to the drone of the newsman reporting taehyung's absence at the kim house, jungkook leans forward and uncaps a red marker, scratching an x on the outskirts of daegu where they were currently. then he places another cross at their final destination — a destination that would surely take days to arrive at.

a faint buzz from his phone alerts him of a message, the screen lighting up and causing jungkook to divert his attention to the device, completely forgetting about the map. he unlocks his phone, taps the message notification from 'boss' and waits for the messages to load.

boss: i saw the news
boss: they have witnesses against you — someone saw you in a love motel with kim taehyung and someone else saw you in a fucking chicken shop
boss: what the fuck were you doing in a love motel room with your assignment? and a chicken shop??
boss: the police are just one step behind you because of these slip ups. jungkook, when i told you to take it easy and be wary of the police, i meant it. don't be hasty and make anymore stupid mistakes.

jungkook: the brat was hungry and wanted chicken — what do you want me to do, hyung? let him starve?
jungkook: driving around for hours and dealing with that idiot is fucking tiring — i needed sleep and went to the first motel nearby. nothing happened, don't worry.

boss: language.

jungkook: sorry hyung.

boss: you're not sorry, are you?

jungkook: no, not really hyung.

boss: maybe you should back out of this.
boss: starting work on assignments again after a year break might not be so good for you, kook-ah. i can switch jimin to your assignment if you're feeling stressed out doing the job.

jungkook: im not stressed out, hyung. i wanna do this.

boss: but hyung's worried for you (*'д｀*)

jungkook: stop worrying.
jungkook: im fine.

boss: if you say so (ノ_・。)
boss: but if you ever feel stuck and you wanna pass your assignment to jimin or someone else then go ahead and tell me
boss: hyung won't mind.

jungkook: ok hyung.

boss: anyway what's going on? last time i called, you didn't give me any updates — you only bitched about kim.
boss: and even then you only said a couple of sentences before hanging up.
boss: how's the situation? how's kim?

jungkook: we're in a b&b
jungkook: and we're kinda stuck.
jungkook: we had to ditch the car cause the cops were on to us. we found a bus but then fucking kim needed to pee and the bus couldn't wait so we had to walk afterwards. then fucking kim decides to trip and fall into a ditch and sprain his godamn ankle. and because his ankle's sprained, i had to fucking carry him down a motorway. thank god an old lady saw and gave us a fucking lift — otherwise my arms would've fallen off.
jungkook: basically we got no transportation at the moment.
jungkook: and when i went into town earlier this morning to check out the bus timetables, local police officers were stationed there, searching for kim in all the buses.
jungkook: it's gonna take a while to get him to you.

boss: language.

jungkook: sorry hyung.
jungkook: you got any input on my situation?

boss: well

jungkook: yeah?

boss: i got nothing man (｡-_-｡)
boss: but im sure you'll think of something, you always do. you're a smart kid.
boss: kim taehyung sounds like a handful.

jungkook's about to reply back to namjoon but the sound of someone sniffling makes him pause. he lifts his head up.

taehyung's sitting there on the bed, looking like he's about to drop one of his infamous crying fits. he sniffles again and jungkook watches little saltwater gather at the corner of taehyung's eyes whilst praying to the heavens above to not make kim taehyung cry — because, when kim taehyung cries, kim taehyung does not stop until he feels like stopping (or until the moment jungkook looses his cool and lifts his gun threateningly).

"stop crying all over the breakfast."

"i can't." taehyung chokes out.

jungkook's eyes flit back to the map laid out on his lap. brown irises study the thick yellow lines (which are supposedly roads) passing through south korea with newfound concentration. with eyebrows furrowed, jungkook murmurs out a half hearted "that's nice."

"you're meant to ask me why i can't stop crying!" taehyung sniffs, incredulous at the lack of concern.

jungkook drags his eyes upwards from the map and stares hard at taehyung for a few seconds before rolling his eyes and mumbling the words; "and why can't you stop crying?"

"i just can't! look at the tv — my family's so worried about me and im just sitting here in a cute b&b and eating really nice muffins when i should be escaping. but i can't escape because you're sitting right here — can't you go outside to smoke for a second and let me attempt to run away??" taehyung bawls, letting out his notoriously loud sobs.

"you know i can't let you do that."
jungkook braces himself.

taehyung makes a sound that sounds like something in between a wail of a distressed toddler and a low whine from a hurt dog as he turns away from jungkook and flops on to his side, grabbing a pillow and hugging it to his chest while he sulks like an over dramatic teenager. jungkook watches on with an unimpressed raised eyebrow.

+

time goes by and jungkook finds himself fully absorbed into the map as he plans out a route for him and taehyung to take. fat red lines cover the paper map's surface, indicating fast pathways, roads and motorways to take in order to hand his 'assignment' over to his hyung.

jungkook occasionally looks up to check on taehyung but the boy had pretty much stayed in the same spot as before; curled up on the bed with a pillow to his chest. he chokes back a sob as he continues to watch the news — the news had long gone flitted to another news report (about pandas giving birth to help lower the risk of extinction) but taehyung still cries. jungkook wonders if he was still crying about his family or because of the baby pandas.

+

taehyung has taken to walking round the motel room lifelessly. he lifelessly picks up items and lifelessly puts items back down and then starts up a lifeless round of walking across the room and back. the news channel had been switched to a cartoon channel, one that taehyung didn't recognise but still watched lifelessly.

jungkook appreciates this taehyung more, he prefers quiet depressed taehyung over the over excitable, clumsy and crying taehyung because although the boy is kinda making jungkook feel depressed with his gloomy personality change, he's also allowing him to work in silence. so jungkook was thankful.

+

taehyung focus
jungkook had left earlier, saying he'd be back soon with lunch. taehyung had replied with a soft sigh and said nothing else to the boy.

now alone, taehyung sits where jungkook had sat just ten minutes ago; the leather armchair cool against his skin. reaching over for the map laid out on the coffee table and grabbing a banana from the fruit bowl, taehyung studies jungkook's messy annotations with narrowed eyes.

where is he taking me now? taehyung mentally questions as he surveys the black inked scrawls decorating the flimsy paper. he finds where they currently are with the help of a thick red cross marking the area. a black line follows a road from the red cross to an unidentifiable place. the words "get a car from hobi hyung here" is written in tiny script.

hobi hyung? who's he? and what is this place? taehyung thinks, scrutinising the intricate lines and dots covering the map.
unable to figure out where they were headed or read jungkook's ineligible handwriting, taehyung places the map back on the table and peels the banana, sighing heavily.

                                        +

somehow three hours pass by.

in the three hours that've passed by, jungkook and taehyung had both helped themselves to several helpings of japchae, both busily slurping the glass noodles down without having any time to exchange words. after their much appreciated meal, taehyung goes back to watching tv listlessly and jungkook goes back to heavily annotating his poor map.

                                        +

jungkook focus
"hi hyung — no, i — yes, im back on assignments. no — uh yes — hyung, stop screaming. hyung! listen to m. ok — im fine — yeah, im coming your way and need a car. can you arrange one? mhm — oh my god, hyung. yes, no no no — mhm, that one. okay, bye." after a few busy phone calls to a hyung of his and more annotations on the map, jungkook breathes out a heavy sigh and folds the map up, carefully slotting the folded paper into his backpack. he leans back and rummages inside his jacket pocket, reaching in for his marlboros.

that's travel arrangements and route done, jungkook thinks as he rests his head against the brown leather armchair. he finds his lighter and moves to light up his cigarette, eager to lose the stress and tension that clings to his head.

now the only worry is if kim'll follow the plan and not fuck it up. that and the dozen police officers that seems to be stationed at every fucking road in this stupid town. jungkook brings the lit cigarette to his lips and inhales the burning scent that already lingers around the thin tube in his hands. he opens his mouth and lets the almost weightless cigarette sit between his lips. he breathes in.

where is kim? jungkook thinks as he surveys the darkening b&b room with mild concern. the room lowers it lightness courtesy of the grey rain clouds outside, that threatens to burst and terrorise people's newly straightened hair with its rainwater.

jungkook turns his head slowly to the balcony where black skies that block out the sun, are visible. the angered clouds looks like they're taking over the world; spreading out far and wide over the town and past it and all the whilst teeming with water, threatening to drench whoever's out on the streets. jungkook wonders when the first drop'll fall.

just as jungkook motions to look away, a movement on the far side of the balcony catches his attention. he points his gaze towards the figure that leans on the balcony railing, cheek placed in the palm of his left hand, holding up a face with frown lines embedded deeply into the features. jungkook watches taehyung start to pick at the paint peeling on the railing whilst blowing out small clouds of smoke from his lips.
he gets up.

taehyung focus
i can't believe that this morning, i thought it was nice being away from home. it's not. i miss home; i miss the reassuring smell of long gone cold coffee in dad's office and hyung's smiles. i miss jae treating me to surprise fried chicken dates set late at night. i miss everything — even the lack of freaking textbooks around me is making me homesick.

taehyung peels at the tough white paint layering the balcony railing he was leaning against and throws the little white shreds over the balcony, watching the peels flutter and cascade down to the grey concrete down below.

i want home, taehyung thinks as he stops himself from peeling off more paint. he suddenly feels very sick.

"it's raining." someone says behind him in a quiet rasp. the prominent scent of cigarettes fills and overwhelms taehyung's senses.

taehyung looks up. and sure enough, the clouds had finally burst and now a steady drizzle falls the town's buildings and concrete grounds, streaking the grey with light splashed of water.

"come on," jungkook hums from behind taehyung. the latter looks over his shoulder to see the younger walk around their shared room, making a beeline for the front door where he slips his feet into a pair of beat up sneakers. he looks back up at taehyung and waits expectantly for taehyung to move.

the older reluctantly moves away from the balcony and pads into the room with slightly wet flip flops sticking to the wooden flooring. he drags his eyes upward to see jungkook expertly pulling off his hoodie whilst juggling with his lit cigarette. he pulls the hoodie off and without mentioning anything, throws the garment at taehyung who just about catches it.

"wear it," jungkook mutters as he takes a long drag of his cigarette. holding it in for a few calming seconds, before then releases the smoke out, exhaling slowly. "—unless you wanna catch a cold." he turns around and unlocks their room door with his set of keys, quickly unlocking and pushing open the door.

"hurry up." he calls over his shoulder as he walks through the doorway and out. taehyung, a little confused, forces his arms and head through the holes of jungkook's hoodie and tugs the item on as he attempts to walk through the open doorway with the hoodie obscuring his vision. he manages to get out after stubbing his toes a couple of times on the door and finally tugs the clothing piece over his head.

with flip flops thwacking against the staircase's polished floor, taehyung struggles to bound after jungkook what with his fast paced marching and taehyung's still healing sprained ankle. puffing and panting, taehyung spots jungkook crossing the empty lobby towards the entrance. he yanks the door open and stands by the open doorway, waiting for taehyung once again. rain pours in through the doorway.

"where are we going now?" taehyung breathes, tone unintentionally whiny after moving so much in just under a minute.

"nowhere." jungkook replies bluntly as he leans against the front door.

"then what are we doing here?"

"we are," jungkook starts. he pauses to tap the ash growing at one end of his cigarette, on to the floor. "going to do number one on your bucket list; dance in the fucking rain."

he's really going to let me do my bucket list?
taehyung blinks. "o–oh. um. im not really in the mood to dance. . ." taehyung trails off.

"just go out there and prance around a little — liven up and stop looking so dead. you're making me feel depressed."

"how am i supposed to be lively when im being held fucking captive?" taehyung mutters under his breath as he passes by jungkook. he steps out gingerly, his sandalled feet squelching under a puddle. he's in the b&b's pretty much empty car park, puddles are filling up potholes in the tarmac and a drain in the road nearby gurgles. everything is pretty much a horrible shade of  grey.

when he takes place outside, he's met by a spray of rainwater, the thin drizzle just about okay to stand under. but even so taehyung shivers and clutches his forearms. he looks back at jungkook who stands by the doorframe, casually taking in lengthy dregs of smoke into his lungs.

taehyung looks out at the barely used car park. this isn't what i expected — when i meant dancing in the rain, i meant dancing around in heavy downpours in the middle of somewhere that isn't a damn car park, i meant dancing with a close friend, or a family member — a loved one. i wasn't intending on dancing alone in a light drizzle in the middle of a b&b's freaking parking lot. . .

taehyung turns around and limps back towards jungkook.

jungkook focus
"what happened?" jungkook says upon seeing taehyung wander back inside.

"uhm, it's awkward to move around with my sprained ankle. can't move around much." taehyung mumbles pathetically.

jungkook stubs out his cigarette by letting it drop to the floor, crushing it underfoot and grinding the remainder of the cigarette into the carpet.
"i don't do this bucket list shit with my other captives so be grateful and make the most of it." jungkook grunts, taking taehyung's hand into his grip and giving it a tug to motion him to move outside.

"uhm—" taehyung nearly trips over the door mat when jungkook hurriedly drags him out to shut the door behind him.

rainwater rains down on their faces and clothes, soaking them as they walk to the centre of the parking lot. once there, jungkook stands, facing taehyung whilst boring his eyes into the startled elder.

"dance."

"i told you, i can't—"

"shut up and make the most of it. use me as a stand, and dance around whilst holding my hand."

"but—"

"no buts. you wanted to do this, didn't you?"

"yeah, b—"

"great, now dance."

"i—"

jungkook sighs. "lemme help you out then." and at the word 'help', jungkook takes taehyung's other hand and pushes him away causing taehyung to hurtle backwards unsteadily but jungkook's grip stays on his hands and he pulls him back to his chest.

taehyung focus
taehyung, shocked as fuck at jungkook's movements, lets himself fall on to jungkook's white t-shirt clad chest weakly. he feels his left arm rise into the air with the help of jungkook, the latter moves away from taehyung and before taehyung can process what's going on, jungkook performs a quick series of spins, spinning taehyung round round crazily on the spot.

the world is a blur before his eyes — a blank shade of grey with hints of colour beneath the asphalt colour. he can feel tiny raindrops drive into his skin and soak his clothes, making his hideous yellow shorts stick to his legs. despite the horrible feeling of wet clothes, wet hair, the dull ache resonating in his ankle and the weird feeling arising knowing that jungkook was, in a way, 'dancing' with him, taehyung's enjoying being spun around and flung crazily to the beat of the rainfall — it's different to the dancing he usually does back at home; stiffening ballroom dancing to instrumental piano with business partner's wives/daughters.

so despite everything and his previously depressed and homesick state, taehyung throws his head back as he's spun and laughs. he freaking laughs. he laughs when jungkook spins him dizzy and abruptly stops, causing him to stagger around unevenly as if he was drunk.

jungkook focus
when taehyung laughs, when he softly but surely laughs, jungkook is caught off guard. he was not expecting that.
nevertheless, taehyung's laughs when he teeter totters around dizzily makes jungkook smile for some reason.

jungkook stops the spinning for a second when taehyung nearly trips and lands on his face, laughing. he holds on to the disorientated elder whilst trying to mask his small smile.

taehyung's breathless when he questions, "you said you normally don't do bucket lists with your other captives." taehyung asks, feeling a little woozy, "why exactly are you you doing this with me?"

jungkook thinks for a second before spinning taehyung again, "cause you're different."

different?? how so??
"different?" taehyung queries in between breathy laughs as the world spins rapidly around in his eyes.

jungkook coughs, "shut up kim, and just enjoy the favour — don't question it."

______________
was kinda half–arsed when writing this chapter but oh whale [i didn't even bother to spell check whoops]  : ) ) )

just a note; the weather's getting hotter so remember to wear sun cream when going out and make sure you're drinking a lotta water !! to my muslim readers; ramadan mubarak!! i hope your fasting (as well as mine) goes well and nothing bad happens !! （⌒_⌒)  — sharmilaaaaa