im adding angst cause i need it

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The soft hum of tires against asphalt filled the silence as Soobin drove the group back home. The weight of the past few weeks seemed lighter now, though not entirely gone. Yeonjun, seated in the passenger seat, looked out the window, his face pale but calm. His physical wounds had healed enough for him to leave the hospital, but the scars of his captivity still lingered in his gaze.

In the back seat, Beomgyu sat close to his husband, holding Yeonjun's hand tightly, as if letting go would mean losing him again. Taehyun, on the other side of Beomgyu, kept quiet, stealing occasional glances at Soobin in the rearview mirror.

"Soobin," Yeonjun said softly, breaking the silence. "Thank you for everything. You and Taehyun... you saved my life."

Soobin's grip on the wheel tightened briefly before he glanced at Yeonjun with a faint smile. "You don't need to thank me. You're family, Yeonjun. We'd do it all over again if we had to."

Yeonjun turned his gaze back to the window, his voice carrying a warmth that Taehyun couldn't ignore. "Still, I don't know how I'll ever repay you. Even before all this, you were always the one looking out for Beomgyu and me. You're too good for this world, Soobin."

Taehyun's jaw clenched slightly, his eyes narrowing at the easy way Yeonjun spoke to Soobin. The soft praise, the casual familiarity—it gnawed at something deep inside him.

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Once they arrived, Soobin helped Yeonjun inside while Beomgyu hurried ahead to set up the couch with blankets and pillows. Taehyun lingered behind, watching as Soobin gently guided Yeonjun to sit down, their quiet conversation too soft for him to hear.

Beomgyu returned with a glass of water and a worried expression. "Are you sure you're comfortable here? Maybe we should've stayed at the hospital longer..."

Yeonjun shook his head, giving his husband a reassuring smile. "I'm fine, Gyu. Being home is better for me now."

As the brothers fussed over Yeonjun, Taehyun felt an inexplicable irritation bubble up. He hated feeling this way—it was irrational, petty even. But every time Yeonjun smiled at Soobin or touched his arm in thanks, it sent a jolt of jealousy through him.

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Later, when Beomgyu and Yeonjun retreated to their room for some rest, Taehyun found Soobin in the kitchen, brewing a pot of tea. The soft light above the counter illuminated his face, calm and focused.

"You're good with him," Taehyun said, leaning against the doorway.

Soobin glanced up, raising an eyebrow. "With who? Yeonjun?"

Taehyun nodded, trying to keep his tone casual. "He seems to trust you a lot."

Soobin chuckled softly, pouring the tea into two mugs. "He's family. It's not about trust—it's about knowing he can lean on me when he needs to."

The calmness in Soobin's voice only made Taehyun's jealousy flare. He pushed off the doorway, stepping closer. "You do so much for everyone, Soobin. Don't you ever wonder if someone might take advantage of that?"

Soobin turned to face him fully, confusion flickering across his features. "What are you trying to say, Taehyun?"

"I'm saying," Taehyun began, his voice tighter than he intended, "that you give so much of yourself to people who don't always see you. And maybe—just maybe—someone else might want to be the one you lean on for a change."

Soobin stared at him, the weight of Taehyun's words sinking in. The air between them grew thick with unspoken tension, the unsaid emotions they had been dancing around for weeks now impossible to ignore.

"Taehyun," Soobin began, his voice softer now, but Taehyun shook his head, stepping back before the conversation could continue.

"Forget it," he muttered, retreating toward his room. "I'm just tired. Goodnight, Soobin."

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As Taehyun disappeared down the hall, Soobin leaned against the counter, staring at the steaming mugs of tea. His chest felt tight, the weight of Taehyun's words pressing down on him.

The jealousy in Taehyun's voice pressed on Soobin, lingering in his mind long after the conversation ended. It wasn't just the words, but the raw edge of emotion behind them—something Taehyun usually kept so carefully hidden. It clung to Soobin, stirring a mix of confusion and warmth he wasn't sure how to handle.

As he stood in the quiet kitchen, his thoughts spiraled. He had always seen himself as a caretaker, someone others relied on. It was his role, his identity. But hearing Taehyun's voice, heavy with something so close to longing, made him wonder if he'd been blind to something deeper.

Why did it matter so much to Taehyun how Yeonjun interacted with him? Was it really jealousy, or was it something else entirely? And why did the idea of Taehyun being jealous—of wanting his attention—make his heart beat just a little faster?

Soobin's grip tightened around the edge of the counter. He had always admired Taehyun's quiet strength, his ability to stay calm under pressure. But this side of him—unguarded, vulnerable—was new. It made Soobin see him in a way he hadn't allowed himself to before.

Had he been missing something? Had Taehyun been standing there all along, waiting for him to notice?

The thought sent a wave of warmth through him, but it was quickly followed by doubt. No, this is ridiculous, Soobin thought. I'm reading too much into it. Yet the memory of Taehyun's gaze, the way his voice softened even in frustration, refused to leave him.

For the first time, Soobin found himself questioning the walls he had built around his own heart. Maybe Taehyun's words weren't just about Yeonjun or anyone else—they were about him. About the way Taehyun had been trying to tell him something without saying it outright.

And maybe—just maybe—Soobin wanted to hear it.

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saur erm idk yall liking them