Taehyung is gone when Hoseok wakes up the next morning and even though he gets slightly nervous he just figured he had to go home and he'd meet him at school.

When Hoseok gets to the school he immediately finds Jin and Namjoon, the only two Hoseok could talk to about Taehyung and not feel guilty about it.

   "It's Taehyung." Hoseok says sitting down at the picnic table that the two sat at.

   "What? Out chasing dick all night again?" Namjoon asks.

Seokjin punches his boyfriend in the shoulder. "That's not funny."

  "Fine. I'm sorry. Go ahead Hobi." Namjoon says taking Jin's hand and kissing it.

  "I don't know how to tell him." Hoseok says.

  "Surely Taehyung knows he has some type of problem." Namjoon says.

  "I don't think he does Joon. It's just something he does and I don't think he sees it as a problem." Hoseok says.

  "Is he at school today?" Jin asks.

  "I don't know. He stayed with me last night but he was gone when I woke up." Hoseok says.

  "Hey Hoseok."

Hoseok turns and smiles when he sees Jungkook walking by with some girl by his side.

   "Hey Jungkook! I don't think you've met Namjoon and Jin." Hoseok says.

   "I don't think so." Jungkook says smiling at the two.

  "This is Jungkook. The new kid." Hoseok says.

   "Nice to meet you Jungkook." Namjoon says standing and shaking the younger's hand.

   "I'm Seokjin." Jin says standing as well to shake Jungkook's hand.

   "It's nice to meet you." Jungkook says turning to the quiet girl next to him. "I'm not sure if you guys know each other."

  "Lisa right?" Namjoon asks.

  "Yeah." The girl smiles brightly.

  "Do you guys wanna sit? We just hang out here until the bell." Seokjin says.

  "Thanks but we were just heading to meet some friends." Jungkook says.

  "Alright. See you around I guess." Seokjin says.

  "Later." Jungkook smiles.

Namjoon and Seokjin take their seats watching Jungkook walk away with Lisa.

  "He's hot." Namjoon says.

Seokjin gasps punching Namjoon in the shoulder. "He's a baby."

  "You're my baby." Namjoon smiles cutely leaning closer to Seokjin who has an annoyed expression.

  "As I was saying." Hoseok continues. "I've tried discretely telling but he's never picked up."

   "I don't understand why you can't just tell him he has an addiction." Namjoon says.

   "He might get offended." Jin says.

   "But still. Isn't better than just watching him go through it obliviously?" Namjoon asks.

   "I guess."  Hoseok frowns.

  "Don't worry yourself too much Hobi. If it's not hurting you and it doesn't seem to be hurting him." Jin says trying to make Hoseok feel better.

  "But he is hurting Hyung. His dad's a dick and his mom left him. Junhui left him. Everyone keeps fucking leaving him. And he's barely around anymore. He keeps missing school cause he can't sleep at night. And for some reason I feel like there's something I should be doing to help him but I don't know what it is." Hoseok rants.

Seokjin smiles sympathetically and places his hand over Hoseok's.

  "I really wish I knew what to do Hobi." Jin says. "Just try being there for him as much as possible. Okay?"

Hoseok smiles a little as the bell rings and the three of them stand to go to class.

Hoseok's eyes scan the crowd of students going to class in search of Taehyung but he doesn't see him.

Taehyung doesn't show at school that day.

--

Hoseok and Jungkook run into each at the end of the day on their way out of the main building.

  "Taehyung didn't come to school today?" Jungkook asks.

  "No." Hoseok says still forcing himself to smile as the worry returns.

  "That's too bad. Hey? Do you wanna go to the cafe with me? I was on my there anyway to type the paper for Ms. G." Jungkook says smiling at Hoseok.

  "Um. Yeah. Sure." Hoseok says.

  "Cool. I'll take you home afterwards." Jungkook says.

  "Oh. You drive?" Hoseok asks following Jungkook in the direction towards the student parking lot.

  "Yeah. I'm saving up for my own car, right now I just use my mom's." Jungkook says.

Hoseok nods. "Cool."

Jungkook unlocks the doors and the two climb into the car.

  "So. How long have you and Taehyung been friends?" Jungkook asks starting the car and pulling out of the lot.

  "Just three years." Hoseok says.

  "Oh. I thought you guys were childhood friends or something." Jungkook says.

  "No. Seems like it though." Hoseok laughs.

Hoseok looks down at his phone expecting at least a message from Taehyung telling him why he didn't come to school but there's nothing.

  "Something bothering you?" Jungkook asks.

   "No. It's just. Taehyung usually tells me when he's not coming to school. And he hasn't texted me all day." Hoseok says.

  "I'm sure he's alright." Jungkook says hopefully easing Hoseok's nerves.

Hoseok smiles at the boy but his nerves are still on edge.

Gosh why does he have to worry so much all the time?

--

Taehyung unlocks his phone as he leaves his house to go anywhere but here.

His dad had texted him late last night telling him that if he didn't come home that night he didn't have to bother coming back at all.

Taehyung pulls the sleeves of his polo neck shirt down to cover the bruises left there by his father.

He had been too exhausted and in too much pain when he woke up the next morning to go to school so he just took the day.

He dials Hoseok's number and waits for him to pick up.

  "Tae! Where are you! You didn't come to school today and you had me worried sick! You better have a reasonable explanation as to why~"

   "Hoseok please." Taehyung says cutting him off. "I meant to text you but it just slipped my mind. Jeez."

   "As long as you're okay." Hoseok says.

  "Where are you now?" Taehyung asks walking towards the nearest bus stop.

  "I'm at the internet cafe with Jungkook." Hoseok says.

  "I'm coming. Don't leave until I get there." Taehyung says.

  "Come straight here." Hoseok says.

   "Yeah yeah." Taehyung says hanging up the phone as the bus approaches.

Taehyung walks into the dimly lit cafe scanning over the room until he sees Hoseok and the dark haired kid.

  "Bout time you showed up." Hoseok says.

  "Hey Tae." Jungkook smiles.

  "Hey Jungkook." Taehyung says smiling back and sitting on the other side of Hoseok.

  "Cool polo neck." Jungkook compliments.

  "Oh. Thanks." Taehyung says looking down at the plain black shirt that had absolutely nothing "cool" about it.

   "We were just typing up a paper for Ms. G." Hoseok says.

   "I was just typing up a paper. You were just searching up cat cafes." Jungkook says.

  "And I found one." Hoseok says.

  "There is no such thing as a cat Cafe." Jungkook argues.

  "There is!" Hoseok says turning the monitor so Jungkook can see.

Taehyung smiles a little watching the two bicker.

  "I'll believe it when I see it." Jungkook says.

   "Bet. We'll go one day." Hoseok says.

Jungkook laughs before turning to face his computer again.

  "Tae. Mr. Gwon handed out another essay question today." Hoseok says.

   "Oh joy." Taehyung says plainly.

   "If you brought your ass to school sometimes you'd know." Hoseok says.

   "Yeah. I'll do it tomorrow." Taehyung says looking down at his phone.

   "Before or after the party?" Hoseok asks.

Taehyung sighs remembering his invitation.

   "You don't have to come." Jungkook reminds him kindly.

   "Yes he does!" Hoseok exclaims. "We haven't gone out together in forever Tae. Please."

   "I'll come Hobi." Taehyung says.

   "Yes!" Hoseok says.

Taehyung shakes his head looking down at his phone again. "I have to go. I'll be at school tomorrow though I promise."

  "You just got here." Hoseok complains. 

   "I know. I'm sorry Hobi. I'll see you later maybe." Taehyung says standing. "See you tomorrow Jungkook."

  "Oh. Do you need directions to Bogum's?" Jungkook asks.

  "No. I'll meet you there." Taehyung says leaving the cafe.

   "He was in a hurry." Jungkook says turning to face Hoseok who seems upset that Taehyung left.

  "We never hang out outside of school anymore." Hoseok says.

Jungkook pouts cutely. "C'mon Hyung. Let's get a snack."

Hoseok smiles at the boy and they stand together and walk to the counter.

--

  "I really have missed you Tae." Suho says pulling Taehyung closer to his chest.

   "Did you?" Taehyung asks letting his eyes fall shut.

  "Mhm." Suho hums kissing Taehyung's neck, the faded bruises from the night before covered by Suho's harsh marks.

   "You don't mean that." Taehyung says tracing small patterns into Suho's arm.

     "I do. You used to be so special to me." Suho says.

    "Used to be?" Taehyung asks.

    "We don't talk anymore." Suho says. "I tried calling you and texting you."

   "I know. I'm sorry." Taehyung says feeling genuinely sorry.

    "Don't be." Suho chuckles. "Let's just enjoy being together right now, yeah?"

    "Mhm." Taehyung hums relaxing into Suho's warmth.

Taehyung feels safe like this and it makes it easier for him to sleep when someone holds him like this after sharing such an intimate moment.

Even though he knew it wouldn't last, it made him feel wanted, needed even.

He found solace in the arms of a difference lover every night.

Even if they forgot him by the morning.

--

I love Junmyeon ❣️