Taehyung paced in front of the intercom, glancing at his phone almost every five seconds since the moment Jungkook hung up on him. He felt a stinging discomfort to his stomach because of his injury the more he paced around, but his concerned state impeded him from caring much about it. 

His phone beeped, and he instantly opened the new message. Before he could read it, the bell resounded through the apartment. He buzzed Jungkook in and focused his eyes on his phone. 

Namjoon: Don’t think too much about what Jungkook says tonight. He’s always like that when he has a fever. Give him some medicine and tell him to sleep. 

He’s always like... what? Taehyung questioned in his head. He cracked the door open and went off to search for any medicine, hoping to have some paracetamol or aspirin left. 

He rummaged in the medicine chest and thankfully found both medicines. He scurried out of his room, heading to the door. He pulled it back and stared at the elevator until the doors split open. Then, Jungkook bobbed in his vision. His steps were ponderous and small as he approached him, and his eyes seemed to fight to stay open. 

Every bewildering thought dispersed from Jungkook’s head the moment his eyes fell on Taehyung and detected his concerned countenance. “Tae.” His name leaked out of his mouth unwittingly, and the next moment, his body disobeyed him, too. As if he didn’t have any control over his sense, he threw his arms around Taehyung’s shoulders and tugged him close to him. 

Taehyung’s eyes enlarged with surprise, sucking in a breath at the unexpected action. His hands hung in the air, as though he didn’t know what to do with them, but when the initial shock toned down, he set them on his back. “Kook.” He brushed his palm against him in little circles, feeling Jungkook’s hold around him tighten. “Let’s go inside. You need to lie down.”

Jungkook didn’t move right away. And he wouldn’t if Taehyung didn’t pull back. He followed him into the apartment and resumed his way to the armchair as Taehyung closed the door. 

“Not there.” Taehyung’s voice stopped him before he could sit. “Bedroom.”

“But I—”

“Now.” Something firmer crept into Taehyung’s voice this time that didn’t give room for debate. 

“Fine. Need to change my sweater, anyway. This one stinks.”

“No, it doesn’t,” Taehyung was quick to argue as they trod towards his room. “It smells nice.”

“But I wear it all day,” Jungkook murmured as he pulled the neck of his sweater to his nose and smelled it. “Here, it smells funny.” He suddenly swerved and stood in front of him, pushing his sweater towards Taehyung’s face. 

Taehyung flinched at the obstacle that sprang up in front of him. He didn’t bother smelling it since he already took a few drags of his intoxicating scent earlier, but his eyes leaped at the chance to leer at his exposed collarbones. “I told you it smells nice. You can’t smell bad.”

“Sure I c—” 

“To me,” Taehyung added in a whisper, his gaze straying away from him. He brushed past him without another word and entered his room a few seconds later. He went to the closet and scanned his sweaters, trying to find an oversized one. Upon completing his search, he rotated and pattered towards Jungkook, who just sat on the edge of the bed. “I’d give you yours, but it hasn’t dried yet.” 

“It’s okay. Do you mind if I take a shower? I really feel like I’m burning up.”

“Of course. Let me give you clean boxers and pants.” Taehyung went back to the closet and found the said items. Once he twisted around again, though, the clothes near slipped through his grasp at the sight of a shirtless Jungkook, who was now unbuttoning his jeans without a care in the world. He couldn’t form words to say. He couldn’t stop him because he didn’t want him to stop. 

His eyes devoured his flexing muscles as Jungkook arose and pushed his jeans down. He held onto the mattress and pulled the hem of the slightly tight clothing until his sinewy leg glided out of it. He repeated the action for the other leg and tossed his jeans on the bed. 

Taehyung’s belly swam in a pool of heat, his heartbeat accelerated suddenly, his throat went dry. And when he discerned Jungkook was about to shed his boxers too, he just lost it. “Are you doing this on purpose?”

Jungkook’s fingers, hooked under the waistband of his boxers, stilled. He lifted his eyes to his, peering at him under heavy eyelids. “Yes.”

A spasm crossed Taehyung’s face at the raw honesty. “W-Why?”

“I’m testing a theory.” He opted out of taking off his boxers and instead neared him slowly. 

“What theory?”

Jungkook didn’t answer until he bridged the distance between them throughout. “I’ll tell you later. Now”—he took another step closer, believing Taehyung would have no choice than to retreat, but surprisingly, Taehyung stood his ground and allowed him to come so close their bodies touched gently—“tell me how you feel.”

Only then Taehyung took a tiny step back. “What?”

“How do you feel seeing me half naked?” Jungkook was more serious than ever during his experiment; there was no twinkle of mischief in his eyes nor a trace of a smirk on his lips. “How do you feel with me so close? Are you excited or nervous?”

Taehyung gaped at him with utmost confusion. What the hell is he saying? Was that what Namjoon meant? I shouldn’t think too much about it then. “I’m a little annoyed because you make no sense right now.”

“Just answer the questions.” Jungkook lunged closer, causing Taehyung to drop the clothes he was holding as his back collided with the closet and his hands slapped against it on instinct. 

Taehyung was at a loss about what Jungkook wanted to achieve from this. But he relented and let him have it his way; his gaze meandered on Jungkook’s face, then descended on his thickset body. “I feel... both. Excited because I get to see your muscles, and nervous because I don’t know what you’re trying to do,” he replied in earnest. There was no reason to hold back, anyway, he thought. 

Jungkook’s expression sank a bit. What does this mean? This won’t do. With this thought, he set a hand on Taehyung’s chest, right over his heart. He felt his pulse, concluding it was indeed a notch faster than normal. “What else do you feel?”

Taehyung let out a long sigh. “Jungkook.” He lowered his hand and cupped his cheeks, instantly feeling the heat on them. “You’re sick. Can you please take a shower and lie down?”

“But I want to know...”

God, he was sulking like a little kid! How could Taehyung resist him anything when he was this cute and hot? “You want me to be honest?”

“Yes.” His traits tensed with nonsensical eagerness at his words. 

Taehyung held their gazes locked as his hand smoothed down his shoulder, feeling its way to Jungkook’s hand. He delicately tugged it towards him and placed it on his crotch. “You feel this?” he rasped, his breath coming faster at the simple touch. His hooded eyes caught the mild surprise that danced around Jungkook’s gaze. “I’m hard for you. And all you did was get half naked.”

Jungkook sensed his cock give a twitch of immense interest, but a gnawing question swirling in his head didn’t allow it to grow into full hardness. Does this mean he only likes me sexually? That’s what he meant in that text, huh?

Jungkook retracted his hand and withdrew. He bent to take the clothes from the floor and stood with his back turned to him. “Sorry. I don’t know what I’m doing.”

“You definitely know,” Taehyung said, but it didn’t stop Jungkook from grabbing the sweater from the bed and then walking towards the exit. “You’re just not telling me.”

Jungkook disappeared seconds later. He heard Taehyung say, “It’s on your right,” and headed down the hallway until he located the bathroom. 

Although lightheaded by his high fever, Jungkook succeeded in proving that Taehyung liked him sexually. Just sexually. And a part of him secretly wished for this outcome. He didn’t believe he could manage it if Taehyung liked him in any other way.  

But another part of him — a well-buried part of him — was cocooned in curiosity. It made him wonder, truly, in that stupefied state during his cooling shower, how would he feel if he found out through his experiment that Taehyung liked him in another way? What would he do? What would he say?

He was sure he wouldn’t be able to believe it. It would be a figment of his imagination, he would think. He would be torn between wanting to know and letting Taehyung keep that answer chained inside him. But that roaring curiosity would eventually constrain him to inquire him about its validity. He knew it.

However, as he stepped out of the shower, an unforeseen awakening reached a coherent segment of his mind. He could be just overthinking this. That text seemed incomplete, and he wasn’t aware under what circumstances Taehyung sent it or the reason he did. Why was he torturing himself like that? He could just ask him about it first and then act accordingly. 

With his maddening thoughts now quieted and the futile speculations pushed aside, he dressed, took a medium-sized towel for his dripping hair, and walked out of the bathroom.

He found Taehyung sitting on the edge of the bed when he entered the room, and the older man’s eyes immediately swung to him. They didn’t disclose any of his thoughts or feelings, unlike when he first came here. Before, he could individuate the fragments of worry in them. Now... they were like a blank canvas in his eyes. Why was that? It made him wonder again. It seemed like Taehyung always made him wonder. 

“Are you feeling better?”

The voice that rolled into Jungkook’s ears was smooth, deep, and... normal. Almost mannered. He went straight for the bed and tucked himself under the covers, then laid the towel over his pillow so he wouldn’t wet it with his hair. “A little. I feel a bit refreshed, but my head is still throbbing.” 

“Did you take any pills?”

“Aspirin.”

“And it didn’t help?”

“Taehyung.”

The said man remained unmoving at the call of his name, just like he was this whole time. He hadn’t turned to face him, hadn’t glimpsed at him, simply hadn’t moved. At all. 

Taehyung was acutely aware of his feelings for him. He liked him in a way he shouldn’t, in a way he couldn’t believe he would like someone, and in a way Jungkook never would. And for some reason, he became cautious of these feelings. What if he gave too much away and Jungkook hunted them out? His overbold behavior from before had shriveled so much it vanished with that realization. 

Jungkook wouldn’t mind it if he kept his distance in a way, he was sure. But Jungkook’s next words lacerated that certainty of his. 

“Why are you still sitting there? Come take care of me.”

What did Taehyung just hear? Was that really the Jeon Jungkook who had told him to stay at least a meter away from him? Was he joking when he had said that? Or was the fever who spoke on his behalf at that moment?

Taehyung pushed himself to his feet and faced him. “What... should I do?”

“Nothing. Just sit next to me.”

Taehyung’s puzzlement only surged. “That’s not how you take care of someone.”

“For me it's enough. So come here.”

Taehyung still didn’t move. He kept gazing at him, delving, searching for a sparkle of insincerity or jest, but he found none. “You had told me to stay a meter away from you.”

Jungkook listlessly blinked at him as his lips seemed to stretch a mite. “I take it back. I thought it was obvious since I sat on the same couch with you last night.”

The mention of the last night had Taehyung’s eyes sprinting away from him and his embarrassment slamming back inside him. Was he supposed to say something about it since Jungkook offered him the chance or pretend like it never happened? What did Jungkook want him to do? 

“Stop thinking, Tae,” he said through a deep exhalation. “Stop thinking. Don’t try to understand me. Let me be crazy for this night. Let me spew whatever comes to my mind without asking me about it. Can you do that for me? Just for this night.”

The concealed desperation in his voice impacted Taehyung in a way that agitated him, squeezed his heart savagely, and freed whatever constraints he had chained around his emotions. The said emotions poured from his eyes like a torrential storm, and Jungkook must have perceived it since he attempted to lift himself to a straighter position as his gorgeous traits puckered with alarm. 

“Lie down,” Taehyung instructed soothingly as he placed a firm hand on his shoulder. 

And just like that, in a span of a second, Jungkook could see everything in his eyes again. The worry, the compassion, the agitation, the gloom. Was he really that much worried about him? Why did he attempt to hide it?

He followed his instructions and eased his body back into his nest. He peered in depth as Taehyung patted his cheek and then his forehead, even the side of his neck. 

“You’re not that warm anymore. The shower must have helped. How long ago did you take the aspirin?”

“I—About two hours ago.”

Just when Taehyung’s features mellowed, they contracted with unease again. “Two hours ago? Why did it take so long to kick in?”

Jungkook’s fingers crawled towards Taehyung’s hand, that was resting on his crossed legs, and curled over it. He smiled softly at the answer his frazzled brain conceived. “Maybe because aspirin wasn’t the right medicine.”

Taehyung riveted a leery stare on him, then glanced at their connected hands before his eyes jumped back to his face. “You’re not saying... that I... that I—” A throaty chuckle from Jungkook ended his broken remark, but another flash or concern swept through him when Jungkook coughed heavily. 

Taehyung made haste to bring him a bottle of water, dismissing the pang of pain of his injury when he hopped off the bed. He was back before Jungkook knew it, and he passed him the bottle. 

“Yah. Don’t run like that for me again. You’re still injured.” There was an unmistakable strictness in his gravelly voice, which Taehyung ignored. 

“Shut it and drink.”

Their gaze lasted for a few fraught seconds before Jungkook took the bottle. “Thank you. But don’t do that again.”

To be honest, Taehyung forgot about his injury at that moment and was only reminded of it when he felt that pang. But he was too worried for Jungkook to care. “Are you okay?”

Jungkook left the bottle on the nightstand after drinking about half of it and lay down again. “Yes. I’m not dying, you know. Don’t be so worried about me.”

“I’ll take care of you however I want. You chose to come here, anyway.”

“Yeah, because I wanted you to just be there. Not make you run for me.”

Taehyung didn’t seem to have a comeback. Just be there? Was that really enough for him? And why would he even want Taehyung to just be there for him? Why him?

“I told you to stop thinking, Taehyung.” Jungkook rolled to his side, facing him. “Lie down too.”

Yes, he should stop thinking. Nothing good ever came out of overthinking. So Taehyung slipped under the thick blanket as well and lay on his side. 

“It doesn’t hurt when you lie on your side?”

Taehyung shook his head. “I’m better now. Maybe not ready to run yet, but I’m better. It doesn’t hurt that much, and I didn’t take my medication today.”

Jungkook’s lips beautifully curved up into a smile. “That’s good to hear. Now... What’s up with that text you sent me?”

God, Taehyung had just relaxed! He had just felt all cozy and warm! Why did Jungkook have to bring that up now? And what the hell was he supposed to say?

Taehyung’s mouth opened, then closed without a word, his lips curling inwards. His eyes roamed all around his hands, that were laid on the gap between them, and his heart kicked into a gallop as he couldn’t invent any sort of excuse at that moment. 

At last he gulped and blurted out whatever flashed up into his mind. “Um, it was a mistake. Obviously. I didn’t mean to send it. And obviously I didn’t mean it like that. I was just thinking about why you didn’t text me all day and I thought I should text you, but I decided not to. And I just wrote stupid things for no reason. I was bored. I have nothing to do, you know? I’m all injured and stuff. It meant absolutely nothing, so delete it from your memory. And from your phone.” When his rather lame rant ended, Taehyung realized how unsure and unconvincing he sounded. He could clearly see it in Jungkook’s perplexed gaze. 

Was it really just a mistake? Jungkook thought. Why is he so nervous then? Why did he give such a lengthy explanation? “I still don’t understand why you wrote that. And what was the rest of the message? You wrote, ‘You got me acting like some th.’ What’s up with that?”

“Um, like some thirteen-year-old,” he admitted in defeat. “Because you didn’t call at all, that’s why I wrote that. For—For fun, obviously. And I was thinking... if you still felt, you know, awkward.”

Jungkook’s mind traveled back to yesterday’s events, but with everything that happened today, he didn’t seem to care that much. “Why would you write that you like me, though?”

“God, stop asking!” Taehyung suddenly grumbled as he flopped onto his back. He wasn’t supposed to lose his cool and snap at him, but the embarrassment tangled with his frustration was too intense of a mix to restrain. He hid his face with two protective palms, rubbing it. “It was a stupid message and a stupid mistake.”

Jungkook crawled a tad closer and ventured to wrap his hand around his wrist. He tugged it and lowered it when the resistance abated, then smiled as Taehyung revealed his face fully. He was worried about nothing! Taehyung didn’t like him like that. Although sure of his answer, he decided to confirm it with him. “So you don’t like me?”

Taehyung twisted his head, training his eyes on the ceiling. He had to say no. He had to. But why didn’t the word want to come out? Why was that damn word stuck in his throat suddenly? “I like... hanging out with you.”

Creases budded all over Jungkook’s forehead. His pulse unexpectedly quickened. “Are you avoiding to answer me?”

“No. I’m just telling the truth.”

“The answer should be no, Taehyung.”

“It is,” Taehyung said, stressing on each word. 

“Then why can’t you say it?” Jungkook’s heart went into a full out sprint at his silence. He jolted from his lying position and leaned over him, pressing his palm against the mattress beside his head. “Why can’t you say it?”

The repetition of the inquiry tore down the surround of Taehyung’s suppressed emotions, blinding his rationality and messing up his head. “Because I don’t know!” he snapped again, fiercer this time. “I’m attracted to you, okay? I’m—” 

“That doesn’t mean you like me.”

“Then what does it mean?”

Jungkook just gazed at his turbulent eyes. Then, he lay down again. 

“What does it mean, Jungkook? Hmm? You don’t know either, right? Because you feel the same. And you’re such a coward you can’t even admit it.”

Jungkook blinked in a trance, hearing Taehyung’s words buzz in his head. Was it different to like someone and be attracted to someone? He was so, so lost. Where was his Namjoon hyung when he needed him? 

Jungkook cleared his throat, and the action seemed to clear his mind a bit as well. “I’ll answer you tomorrow. For now, let’s just... not talk about it anymore. Let’s not think about it anymore.”

Taehyung felt the uneasiness seep out of his form at his words. “Good call. But why will you answer me tomorrow? Will you search about it online or something?” 

Jungkook snorted. Yes, in that messed-up, awkward situation, Taehyung managed to pull a little laugh out of him. “Something like that.” 

Taehyung rotated his head in his direction, catching Jungkook’s small smile and copying it. He shifted to his side again, facing him. “It seems like you’re back to your senses.” He reached out to cup his cheek, feeling his temperature. “I think your fever is down by a lot now. Do you want me to bring you a thermometer?”

“No.” Jungkook took hold of his hand before he could retract it. He embraced the back of it with his palm and let them rest between them. “Arguing with you is much more of an antipyretic than aspirin, apparently. So I don’t really care about it.”

Taehyung’s smile brightened at his words, just like his eyes. “Stop saying nonsense. If you need another pill, I have aspirin.”

“I have you now. Why would I need it?”

“Jungkook!” he said in a whiny tone upon recognizing the mirth in his voice. “Stop saying these things. I can assure you I’m no medicine.”

“You feel like a drug, though.” 

Taehyung’s smile faltered, despite that he picked up on the teasing in his voice again. “I’m addictive?”

“Yes,” he agreed without much thought. Something changed in the way he looked at Taehyung, but Jungkook himself couldn’t pinpoint the reason for it. “And dangerous. But you’re like a mysterious drug.” Jungkook allowed a hush to fall over them, which grew more galvanic by the second, until he spoke again. “I don’t know what will happen to me if I have a taste of you.”

Taehyung was mesmerized under his heady gaze, and his words only drove him into a deeper entrancement. While his heartbeat sped up by that indecipherable aura that Jungkook was exuding, his lips tilted in a smirk. “You already had a taste of me.”

“True. But that’s how drugs usually work. The more you take them, the more addicted you become.”

Taehyung hummed a sweet sound, his smirk unwavering. “What would it take for you to get addicted to me?”

God, why was Jungkook doing this to himself again? Was what he started just an innocent flirt? And why did that urge to show him instead of telling him was so consuming he barely managed to tame it? “I can’t tell you that. I don’t do drugs, anyway.”

Taehyung chuckled — a rich, amused sound that lingered in Jungkook’s ears by the magic it carried. “I’m perfectly harmless, though. You can do me anytime.”

“Ah, your mouth,” Jungkook breathed out as he held his jaw between his fingers. His eyes wandered over his sensual lips, pushing down another urge to stroke them. “Just as filthy as I remember.”

“Your mouth is worse if it wants to.” Maintaining eye contact, Taehyung shifted Jungkook’s index finger over his lips and kissed it. 

Jungkook regarded him intently, with no words dangling on the tip of his tongue. Waves of heat coursed through his veins when Taehyung did it again, momentarily wondering if his fever suddenly increased. But it wasn’t his fever, he soon realized. It was all on Taehyung, his silky soft lips, and his stimulating gaze. 

The moment he felt something wet trace his finger, which was no other than Taehyung’s hot tongue, Jungkook rushed out of his stupefaction and whisked his hand away as if it burned. 

Taehyung wasn’t too surprised at his frantic reaction; he somewhat expected it. But that didn’t prevent him from feeling discouraged. “Sorry,” he uttered. “I went too far.”

“I started it,” Jungkook cooly said. “Don’t apologize.”

“Why don’t you finish it then?”

It sounded like a challenge. Like those underlying challenges Taehyung gave to him that night. He couldn’t accept it this time, though. He just... couldn’t. “There’s something we have to talk about.” He decided it was a good chance to change the subject. “And it’s serious.”

Taehyung sensed the ambiance get darker once he said his last remark in such a somber manner. All mischievousness and amusement burned out of his eyes — of his existence — as he pulled himself to a sitting position. “What’s wrong?” 

Jungkook mirrored his moves. “We found the detective who was in charge of your parents’ case. We secretly sent an officer to Daegu to see if his address was valid, but it wasn’t. He stayed there to look for him.” Jungkook felt his throat constrict with sorrow the more he spoke. “Today, they told us he was found dead.”

Taehyung’s agonized eyes stared in bulging circles as a trail of gruesome goosebumps stung his skin. “W-What? Why? How?”

“They murdered him. Someone crashed into his car. And then stabbed him thirteen times.”

“Oh my God,” Taehyung muttered as he palmed his mouth in shock. Sure, he had heard and seen a lot of horrendous things, but it was different this time. It was different because Jungkook was hurting because of that person’s loss. He knew how agonizing it was for him. But what he didn’t know was why his heart ached so much at the thought of Jungkook going through this and bearing it alone. 

He scooted closer, enough to fasten his arms around him. “I’m so sorry, Kook. He was like family, wasn’t he?”

Jungkook’s eyes shined with tears. All he could muster was a nod, because if he spoke, he wouldn’t be able to rein back those tears. He wrapped his arms around him too and focused on Taehyung’s comforting caresses on his back. 

“Did they find who did this?”

His question helped him subdue the oncoming tears, and he withdrew, linking their hands instead. “No. Something... weird happened. And that’s what I wanted to tell you because I can’t explain it, no matter how much I think about it.”

“What?”

“They found a fingerprint in the car and someone else’s blood. But... Taehyung...” Jungkook struggled to get the words across since he knew what a shock it would be for him. He would drag him into the maze Jungkook had fallen into and, deep down, he didn’t want him to deal with it. 

“What is it, Kook?” Taehyung prompted nervously, slanting a tad closer and tightening his grip on his hand. 

Jungkook kept his eyes anchored on their hands. “The results said that the fingerprint and the blood... matched to you.”

Taehyung’s eyes eddied in a vast pool of befuddlement as he clouded over more. Alarm coated his tongue that held his words captive, and the multitude of dreadful emotions scorched every inch of his skin, causing him to lose the hold on Jungkook’s hand. “What are you t-talking about? To... me?”

Jungkook saw it all again. Every detestable emotion was written in his gaze, and his chest felt as if it were being crushed at the sight. “Yes, to you. Seon Taehyung.”

The mask of terror on Taehyung’s face intensified as he flew into a groggy state of thinking. That’s not possible. How can it link to me? To my fake identity? I don’t have my fingerprints and DNA registered anywhere! It should link to the real Seon Taehyung. Why... How could it link to me? 

A delicate hand embracing his cheek dissipated the mantle of shock ringing Taehyung’s sentience and brought the life back to his eyes. He met Jungkook’s gaze, tracing scraps of sympathy in it. 

“I know how shocking it is. I couldn’t believe it either.” 

Taehyung swallowed in his attempt to find his ability to speak. “Jungkook... You know I had nothing—”

“Shh,” Jungkook softly shushed him as his thumb rubbed a gentle line over his cheek. “I didn’t suspect you even for a second, Tae. My father was doubtful since he doesn’t know you, but I asked Seokjin to show him the footage of the CCTV outside the building. He saw you didn’t come out of your apartment last night and today.”

Taehyung briefly thought about the back entrance of the building that had no CCTV around, but kept the information to himself. “Thank you. But how is it possible? Who would do something like this? And why?”

A sigh escaped Jungkook. He drew his hand away and instead interlocked their fingers. “I don’t know. Someone planted your DNA there. Was it to mock us? Throw us off? Why did they choose you, though? How did they get your DNA? Could it be someone close to you?”

That’s not possible because that wasn’t my DNA, fuck! Did someone mess with the results? How did they get access to the station’s database? And why me? Who the fuck is playing with me like that?

Remembering Jungkook’s question, he glanced at him. “No. There’s no way. I only have trusted people around me. That’s why they’re so few.”

“Then, I don’t know what’s going on.”

“What are you gonna do? Can you find who did this?”

“Well, we have to. We’ll investigate from here for a few days. But I know the only way to catch whoever did this is to find out what Jeosun was onto before he died. And I have to go to Daegu to do that.”

Taehyung felt his heart jump at his words as his expression stretched into a mask of consternation. “No. You can’t do that. What if you die too?”

“Then I die.”

“Yah!” Taehyung exclaimed, his eyes flaring with rage. “Jungkook, no. Why did you even send an officer there, huh? Why?”

“Because your parents’ case is still unsolved. Maybe they couldn’t find any leads and that’s why they stopped investigating, but someone has to get to the bottom of this. And seeing how Jeosun died within two days, it means there are a lot of secrets there.”

“And what, you want to go there and die too?” he shot back anxiously as he wrenched his hand away. “I’ll find out who killed my parents and why on my own! I didn’t ask for your help. I know what I’m looking for is dangerous, and that’s exactly why I don’t want your help!” His aggressive speech didn’t faze Jungkook in the slightest, he observed. Jungkook just sat there, stony-faced, almost uninterested, and listened to his tirade. Taehyung’s features drooped with dejection. “Look at what happened, Jungkook. Someone innocent died for a murder that happened nineteen years ago. And it’s on me. Because that case is related to me—”

“It’s not on you,” Jungkook cut him off, a severe tint coloring his voice. “The police sent him there. It’s our job to solve cases.”

“Jungkook,” he sighed, hovering on the edge of overwhelming frustration. “The police in Daegu gave up for a reason. Before someone else gets hurt, before you get hurt, please stop.” He didn’t mean to plead, but he couldn’t help it anymore. He was desperate. He didn’t want Jungkook to die or anyone else to die because of that case.

Taehyung shifted close to him, closer than before. He sat cross-legged beside him, facing him, and cupped his cheek, turning his head to lock their eyes together. “Promise me you won’t go there. Promise me you won’t send anyone else there. Please, Jungkook. I don’t want you to die.”

Something soft crept into Jungkook’s eyes as he viewed him. He held his wrist tenderly, and a warm smile touched his lips. “I won’t die, Tae.”

“Jungkook,” he muttered and bit his lower lip, closing his eyes for a moment. “Promise me, please.”

“I can’t promise you that. I’m sorry. I want to solve this. I have to. I already started it, and I have to find out who killed Jeosun.”

“What should I do so you won't go there, hmm? What—What should I—”

Jungkook pulled him into his hug, muffling his words. He nestled his chin against his shoulder and caressed his back. “I won’t go anytime soon. Don’t worry. As I said, we’ll investigate from here first. We’ll track Jeosun’s moves using the CCTV.”

While Jungkook’s touch and warmth always soothed Taehyung’s soul, this time that awful presentiment didn’t lessen. “If you go to Daegu, I’ll come with you.”

“No—”

“It’s the only way I’ll let you go there,” Taehyung uttered as he pulled back. “Or else I’ll talk to your father myself and tell him how dangerous it is to go there. But I’m sure he already knows it since that officer died.”

Jungkook’s chest fell with a long exhalation. His skin prickled with something far too vile at the thought of putting Taehyung in danger. “I can’t let you come with me. What if something happens to you? I won’t be able to forgive myself.”

“And what if something happens to you, huh? You think I’ll be able to forgive myself? You want to go there because of a case that’s related to me. If you want to go so much, I’m coming with you.”

Jungkook sighed again at the recognition of that steely resolve in his eyes. He lay down and gently tugged Taehyung with him. They were on their sides, gazing at each other, as Jungkook draped the blanket over their bodies. “We’ll talk about that again when it’s time. Now sleep.”

“You want me... to sleep here with you?”

“Yes.”

Taehyung slipped into silence for a few moments. “Why?”

“Because I’m sick. And you have to take care of me.”

And again, a few seconds of stillness passed by as Taehyung simply watched him. “By just being here?”

“By just being here,” Jungkook echoed in a whisper as his eyes fell shut. A soft ruffling rang in his ears, and he opened his eyes to inspect. He saw Taehyung reach for the extra pillow beside him and bring it into his hug. “What are you doing?”

“I can’t sleep without hugging something.”

How crazy would it sound to him if Jungkook told him to hug him instead? Probably too crazy, but he couldn’t drive this thought from his head. He scooted closer and stretched his arm over the pillow instead, his palm resting on Taehyung’s side. 

“And what are you doing?” Taehyung asked in surprise. 

“I want to hug something too. Now sleep.”

Taehyung just watched him again, speechless. His hand unclasped the pillow, and he ventured to extend it towards him, setting his palm on Jungkook’s side like he did. He closed his eyes too. “If you need anything, wake me up.”

“I won’t need anything.”

“How do you know?”

Seconds ticked by, but no response sounded from Jungkook. Wanting to check if he fell asleep, he unfolded his eyes. To his surprise, Jungkook was already staring at him and didn’t avert his eyes when he met them. 

Jungkook’s chest swelled with a slow breath when their gazes fused. Because I have everything I need right here. With his dragging exhalation, he expelled this thought as well. “I just know. Get some rest. Goodnight.”

Taehyung simply cracked a smile. “Goodnight, Kook.”

Their eyes closed in a mutual decision, and although today’s outrageous revelations attempted to bombard their minds, the coziness that encapsulated their existence at that moment was far too preponderant to be conquered.

───⭒───༺🌑༻───⭒───

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