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Never in a million years did Taehyung think he'd be standing outside Jimin's door in a cold sweat. Not when he could barely look at his former friend in the eye.

"I need to talk to you." He stuck his foot in the way before Jimin could close the door on him. "Please."

The smaller boy brought a hand up to rub his face, sighing heavily. It was pretty darn clear that Jimin didn't want him around.

"My brother— Jeongguk—"

Jimin gave Taehyung his full attention when his best friend was mentioned. The younger closed his eyes and Jimin could tell he had been crying by the dried tear tracks that glimmered on his cheeks.

"Come in, I suppose." Jimin said reluctantly.

"Thank you." Taehyung muttered as he stepped on the back of his shoes and wiggled them off.

"So what's so important that you had to show up at eleven at night?" The older asked stiffly.

Not feeling welcomed enough to take a seat anywhere, Taehyung stood oddly in the middle of Jimin's living room as he spoke. "Gyu called me today."

Jimin leaned against the dining table. "I thought you told Jeongguk you cut off ties with your family."

"I did. I really did." Taehyung confirmed, he ran fingers through his hair, tugging frustratingly at the roots, "But he somehow got ahold of my number and told me to move back to Busan or he'll— he threatened to hurt Jeongguk."

The younger didn't miss the way Jimin tensed, the muscle on his neck pulsing. And suddenly he was transported back to the days they used protect Jeongguk... together. Cursing out anyone who dared bully the youngest in school, and walking him home when he stayed at the library too late at night to consider safe. They had a mutual fondness for Jeongguk. It was just that Taehyung's fondness grew into something more.

"This was exactly what I was afraid of." Jimin said point-blankly, a frown engraved onto his features. He exhaled. "Your family is so fucked, Tae. So, so fucked."

"I know."

"So... you're going back to Busan?"

Taehyung shook his head immediately. "No... no I can't. I just can't. I've built a whole new life away from them. I just got Jeongguk back. I can't throw it all away now." He looked up, not sure what reaction to expect from the blonde boy.

Jimin's face remained emotionless. Taehyung could barely recognize this side of him.

"What do you want me to do, then?"

"Keep an eye out for Jeongguk and make sure he's always with someone he trusts. Just for a few days." Taehyung answered steadily through his hands were shaking. "I'll fix things, somehow. I'll change my number and—"

"Does Jeongguk know?" The older crossed his arms.

"Please don't tell him." Taehyung pleaded, "I don't want to scare him away again."

Jimin stared at him for a second before nodding slowly. "Fine. I won't."

"I know this a lot to ask for, from me-"

"I'm doing it for Jeongguk. Not you."

Ouch. Taehyung felt it like a dull slap to the face, grimacing. But he knew he deserved it, flashbacks of their past replaying in his mind like a broken video tape. "I never got to say I'm sorry." His voice lowered to a hush, Adam's apple bobbing.

Jimin shrugged, walking away to clear the kitchen sink as an excuse to remove himself from the conversation.

"Jimin." Taehyung called.

"The door isn't locked."

"Jimin, I'm sorry!" The younger continued, heading over to join him in the kitchen.

Jimin sighed again, as if conflicted. Then he turned to face Taehyung and gave him a look he couldn't decipher. Taehyung saw it now that he was just a meter away from him- the white thin line that ran below his eye. The scar his dad gave Jimin because apparently "his femininity influenced Taehyung's sinful gay thoughts".

He remembered very vividly how he watched his father beat his best friend up and all Taehyung did was watch. He remembered Jimin's panicked eyes, begging him to help. He remembered the bruises that bloomed across his skin. He remembered being frozen in his spot, letting it happen. He remembered the way Jimin stumbled out the door, hopefully to the nearest clinic, and never spoke to him again.

"I was too scared to say or do anything." Taehyung admitted, "And I was the shittest friend for it. I'm so sorry."

"I don't know how I feel about you, Tae." Jimin told him.

Taehyung felt the sting of his words- the same words Jeongguk said when he first saw Taehyung again. Had he become a mere stranger to both of them just like that? Could he even blame them? Taehyung was walking bad luck. Literally everyone he tried to befriend or just interacted with had to answer to his father, had to earn his approval. The possibility of that was equivalent to chicks hatching out of supermarket eggs. And while Jimin understood this was something out of Taehyung's control, the two of them had a lot things they needed to figure out.

"You weren't there when it all went to shit, okay?" Jimin's voice got louder, "You weren't there when Gguk showed up at my door at three in the fucking morning bawling his eyes out. My mom got mad because she didn't like visitors but I convinced her to let him stay the night and he wouldn't eat for the next few days and it killed me because I had no idea what happened and I tried calling you but you disappeared off the surface of planet Earth. I didn't find out till a week later that you dumped Jeongguk."

"I didn't want to." Taehyung defended, getting increasing exasperated by all the 'it's your fault's thrown at him.

Jimin huffed, hands grasping at the counter to anchor himself. "Well, what was I supposed to think, Taehyung?" He raged on, "It took months to get Jeongguk to move on and I was there every step of the way. He was doing great. He was doing so great. Then all of a sudden you show up again and can you blame me for wanting to protect him?"

Not knowing what to say, the younger decided to shake his head.

"But I can't stop him from running back to you."

Taehyung looked up at Jimin, not knowing what to make out of that sentence.

"Because that boy fucking loves you, Tae."

Taehyung couldn't help the way his heart stopped for a split second in the hollow of his chest.

"No matter how many times he looks me in the eye and tells me he's done loving you— he isn't." The skin between Jimin's eyebrows creased as he struggled to find the right words. "And I can tell it's the same for you." The laugh he lets out was sullen. "You two risk it all for each other. So what can I do but let you dive back into each other's arms? And I wish I could punch you for all this bullshit. But I can't. Cause it's not your fault. And I don't hate you."

Taehyung didn't know where all this was coming from.

"Just—" Jimin inhaled sharply. "I'm terrified for both of you and I really want to knock each of your family members into next week. Because fuck them. They ruin everything." He meet Taehyung's gaze and his next words are firm. "You can't hurt Jeongguk again. Not like this. The boy's broken enough times."

"I won't." Taehyung answered without a thought. It was like his whole existence was solely not to cause Jeongguk any more pain. "I'll figure things out. I won't let him near us."

Famous last words.

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Oh gosh my reads shot up and I'm assuming it's because of beabea222 recommending my book on iadoreguk 's profile. Thank you!! It made my entire day

Y'all I'm really sorry but mint chocolate ice cream is NOT it