Taehyung's mind is a bit fuzzy on the events of last night after falling asleep in the back of Jungkook's car.

Now he lies in a bed, not his bed.
Wrapped in a blanket, not his either.

He goes to sit up but he automatically regrets it when all the aches and pains return.

   "Take it easy."

Taehyung turns his head in time to see Jungkook stand up from the chair in the corner of the expensive looking room.

   "I was starting to think you'd never wake up." Jungkook laughs flashing that bunny tooth smile that Taehyung's never been so happy to see.

   "I'm so sorry." Taehyung says feeling the need to apologise.

   "For what?" Jungkook asks.

   "Hoseok, he shouldn't of called you. I'm sorry. I-If I was a burden or~" Taehyung starts.

   "Tae." Jungkook says. "It's fine. You don't have to apologise. I'm glad I could help."

Taehyung sighs. "You shouldn't have to deal with me."

   "I don't mind. Are you hungry?" Jungkook asks.

   "No. I-. I just need to go home." Taehyung says sitting up despite every nerve in his body telling him to lay down.

   "Home?" Jungkook asks. "You're going back?"

   "I have to Jungkook." Taehyung says. "I have to check on my dad."

   "I'm not understanding." Jungkook says biting the inside of his lip.

    "I have to go back. Or I'll have nowhere else to go." Taehyung says.

    "We can tell someone. We can always go to the~" Jungkook starts.

    "The police?" Taehyung says. "I'm almost 18 they don't care about me."

    "Abuse is abuse Taehyung. No matter the age." Jungkook says.

    "It's not abuse if I deserve it." Taehyung says, he's heard his father spit those same words a thousand times.

     "No one deserves this." Jungkook says looking at how frail and broken Taehyung looks now.

Taehyung stands and even though his legs feel like giving out he forces himself to stay standing.

   "Please." Jungkook says before thinking about what he's asking.

   "What?" Taehyung asks in confusion.

   "Stay with me for a couple days." Jungkook asks.

   "I can't. It'll just make things worse." Taehyung says.

   "Just tell him you're with Hoseok." Jungkook suggests.

   "My dad thinks Hoseok's fucking me." Taehyung says.

Jungkook's expression is priceless as he paints the unwanted mental image.

Taehyung can't help but smile a little. "I'll be fine Jungkook. I promise. This isn't the first time this has happened. It's okay."

   "Still take my number." Jungkook says grabbing Taehyung's cracked phone from the night stand. "And I'll be there as soon as you call me. No matter what."

   "You really don't have to do this Jungkook. I'll be fine." Taehyung says taking his phone and unlocking it.

His eyes widen when he sees multiple texts from his dad from last night.

Taehyung gasps so loudly that his side throbs and he groans in pain.

   "What? What happened?" Jungkook asks.

   "M-My dad." Taehyung says looking at the messages. "He texted me. Telling me to come back. Shit. I have to go."

   "I'll drive you~"

   "No. I'll take the bus. Thank you. Shit. I don't even know where I am." Taehyung says skimming the messages.

   "Here. I'll drop you off a block from your house. How about that?" Jungkook asks.

   "Okay. Thanks." Taehyung says.

The exit the room and for the first time Taehyung sees the house and how extravagant it is compared to the shack he lives in.

His leg bounces nervously the entire time to his house, he didn't know what to expect.

He's never missed his father's texts before.

   "Should I wait?" Jungkook asks when he parks the car.

   "No. It's okay.  Thank you so much for everything Jungkook." Taehyung gets out of the car and begins jogging down the block towards his house.

He slows to catch his breath before entering.

   "Appa?" Taehyung calls.

   "I'm here." His father responds.

His voice sends chills down Taehyung's back as he steps further into the small house.

   "Where were you?" His father asks calmly from where he sits on the couch.

    "I went to Hoseok's~"

    "I called Hoseok's mother and she said you weren't there." His dad cuts him off.

Taehyung bites his lip as he gets caught in his lie.

   "Come here son." His father points to the ground in front of him.

Taehyung breathes out nervously as he steps in front of his father, kneeling before him.

His father take his face between both his hands and presses their foreheads together.

Taehyung's heartbeat quickens as he became more nervous every second.

   "I'm so sorry." His father cries unexpectedly. 

Taehyung's brow creases as he watches the tears stream down his face.

   "I'm so sorry Taehyung." His father continues. "I don't want to hurt you. I never want to hurt you."

Taehyung feels his chest tighten as his own eyes fill with tears. "Appa."

His father shakes his head crying harder. "I'm going to get help. I promise. I'll never hurt you again."

Taehyung lays his head in his father's lap as he cries the same lies he always cries.

   "Everything will be just like it was before. I promise."

Taehyung accepts his father's embrace knowing that it will be the last one he receives for a while.

If only those empty promise weren't so empty.

--

Hoseok knocks on Taehyung's door the next day not caring if his scary ass dad answered.

He just needed to see his best friend a d apologise for not being there when he had promised he would be not matter what.

Hoseok hears the lock turn and the door opens to reveal Taehyung.

It was a bad night.

He should've know.

Taehyung only calls on bad nights.

   "I'm so sorry Tae. I'm sorry~" Hoseok starts to spill but is cut off by Taehyung tackling him in a hug.

Hoseok sighs hugging him back.

The relief Hoseok feels is undescribable as he hugs his best friend back.

   "I'm sorry Taehyung." Hoseok says again.

   "It's okay." Taehyung mumbles against Hoseok's neck.

Taehyung pulls away slightly and smiles reassuringly.

    "Did Jungkook ever come?" Hoseok asks.

Taehyung nods. "You didn't have to call him Hobi. I would've been fine."

    "I should've came myself." Hoseok says.

    "It's okay. I'm fine." Taehyung lies with a small smile.

Hoseok sighs. "Your dad?"

   "He's here. He's fine though." Taehyung says.

Hoseok steps down the steps and Taehyung follows closing the door behind him.

   "He apologized." Taehyung says.

   "He always apologizes. That doesn't make anything right though." Hoseok says.

They both sit down on the steps.

   "I know. But it makes me feel better." Taehyung admits. "Last night. We talked for hours. He didn't drink. It was like I was a kid again."

    "Did you go out last night?" Hoseok asks knowing Taehyung would understand what he was inferring.

    "No." Taehyung says. "It was weird. I just didn't feel the. The urge I guess. To get away, not like I usually do."

    "I'm still sorry I didn't come for you." Hoseok says.

    "It's alright. I'm kinda glad Jungkook came." Taehyung says.

Hoseok looks up at Taehyung. "Oh?"

   "Yeah. It's just another part of my life I didn't have to explain to him in words." Taehyung says still looking down at his old sneakers.

Hoseok nods. "I get that."

Taehyung sighs looking up at the clouds. "He keeps saying he's gonna get help. I just. I really hope he does. And~. I don't even believe in God and I'm praying for him to get help."

Hoseok looks sympathetic as he pats Taehyung's back.

   "I'm just so tired of him either being at work or drunk. Why can't there be an in between where he's just my dad. Y'know?" Taehyung says. "I'm starting to feel indifferent at this point."

     "Everything will be okay. Because the people who have the most sorrow in life have the most bliss in the end." Hoseok says.

Taehyung smiles at his best friend. "You're so stupid Hobi."

   "Hey. I mean it." Hoseok says. "You're gonna be a fucking millionaire one day and all you'll have to worry about is food and money. And hopefully a decent husband."

   "Decent?" Taehyung asks.

   "I mean with a face like that it's gonna be hard to find someone who wants to marry it." Hoseok laughs earning a punch in the arm.

   "No. I'll find someone good. Someone who loves me for me and nothing else. I want to find someone who loves me so much it hurts to even think about living without me. And I want them to laugh at what I laugh at. Cry at what makes me cry. I just want to feel love. Whatever love is. I want to feel it. And I want them to feel it for me." Taehyung spills.

   "Aish kid. You're gonna make me cry." Hoseok says dramatically fanning his eyes.

Taehyung laughs and ignores the pain that shoots through his side.

   "But on a serious note." Hoseok says. "I do hope you find someone that loves you like that. And if you don't, you can move in with me and my cats."

  "Shut up." Taehyung laughs standing to his feet. "Let's go eat. I'm hungry."

   "I'll treat." Hoseok says standing. "To say sorry for abandoning you."

   "First. You didn't abandon me. Second. You've already apologized a thousand times. And third. I was gonna make you pay anyways." Taehyung says  leading Hoseok towards the bus stop.

Hoseok just laughs and follows his friend.

--