buckle up bitches ;)

Red and blue lights, constantly flashing. The doors to the police cars left wide open. Uniformed men walking briskly around the area, some talking fast, some writing things down, some pulling on a white cover suit, some pushing back the myriad of passer bys trying to get a glimpse of the chaos.

Chaos, that's what it was.

Ten thousand things were happening, and yet Jungkook stood at the head of the scene, clothes disheveled, tires eyes burning, a soft ringing in his ears, mouth dry and fingers shaking, not knowing what to do, his mind fizzled, the light slowly dying out.

"You must be Jeon Jungkook."

And just like that, an instant snap back into reality.

The familiar voice of Detective Lee meets Jungkook's ears, and his eyes dilate as he takes in the man's appearance, already trying to get used to the older male - knowing that he's going to see much more of him in the future.

"The name's Junghyun Lee, it would be nice to say it's a pleasure to meet you, but...under the circumstances," he pauses, Jungkook still dazed as ever, trying to process the things that would roll out before him in a few seconds, "is Kim Taehyung going to be here?"

Jungkook nods, "soon...I suppose," he says, his words short and curt, he didn't feel the need to make conversation. "Could you tell me what has happened so far?" Jungkook asks timidly, yet with so much bravery - all of the bravery he had mustered.

Detective Lee, although sweet looking, was a sharp man, the wrinkles and scars on his face the clear proof of the career and role that he carried. The hint of the nasally voice, the texture of his deep and rough, sandpaper accent.

"The report of Park Jimin was anonymous, this already builds up a mystery - whoever reported this case, clearly doesn't want the police to find them...very clearly, but they didn't lead us to the crime scene surprisingly."

Before Jungkook could ask, another officer, probably Detective Lee's partner, runs up to the two, "Kim Taehyung is here, asking for Jeon Jungkook and yourself," he pants, and only after receiving a curt nod from Detective Lee, he resumes to the job he was doing.

Detective Lee nods, walking away to the entrance, where thin, singular, black and yellow tape was holding a myriad of strangers back. Jungkook's heart thuds. Taehyung.

The man he loved so dearly, with all of his heart. The man who he left, with all of his heart. Kim Taehyung. The man who shared such a mess of a love story, and yet, Jungkook could never forget his name - not because he couldn't, but because remembering the passion, the way he loved Taehyung, all of it felt so good.

And now after five years, Jungkook would be seeing the man. And for once, he wouldn't be seeing his face on a magazine, or hearing his voice on the Saturday night news, but rather in real life: Jungkook just hoped that he didn't fall addicted to the soft flow of it all.

His feelings were dormant, sleeping, but could be a beauty awoken by hell.

And then, Jungkook saw him.

Eyes dark, hair fluffy and messy, unlike his usual part to the side, donned in grey joggers and a dark green t-shirt, a coat over himself. He looked the same. But different, all at the same time.

His reddish hue of his lips were more prominent than ever, most likely from biting them so much, in worry or stress. Those hellish eyes were mature, and his skin was tanner than before. Shoulders broad, legs long, a curve in his waist and strong, slightly wrinkled hands.

A gasp is caught in Jungkook's throat, and he half wants to run into those arms. That embrace. The warmth that he missed so much, be he refrains from doing so. Don't be so stupid, he thinks to himself, mentally yelling at himself for having idiotic thoughts.

Taehyung's eyes glance over Jungkook's body, but he then focuses on detective Lee, "can you explain what's happened officer?"

Jungkook steps a little forward, to hear the conversation better - he too, wanted to know the full story of Jimin's disappearance.

"We got the call earlier on, just a few hours ago. They led us to clear ground a few yards away from Jimin's house. They said they heard yelling and it sounded like their neighbor, before they heard struggling and a scream fading away. It was only till we asked about that we found out that often, the people of this street could hear constant arguing through the walls. But..before you ask questions, maybe you should come inside," Detective Lee says smoothly, almost as if he wasn't explaining a real case, but a story. A messed up, made up horror story.

The question of, "what's inside" remains on the tip of Jungkook's tongue, but he bites back his tongue, knowing that time, especially now than ever, was not to be wasted. He follows the silent Taehyung, and brisk detective. "Put these covers over you, so when we walk inside we don't contaminate potential evidence," he instructs, pulling on a white forensic suit.

Jungkook and Taehyung do the same, Jungkook's fingers shaking as he struggles to grip the small, white zipper. Kissing his teeth, he tries to stay still while zipping it up, and after a moment of struggle (which Taehyung watched silently) he finally done up his suit and pulled on the hat.

"Follow me," Detective Lee barks, and the two divorcees walk side by side, in a highly tense silence, awaiting for whatever was inside Jimin's house.

Taehyung's eyes narrow, thoughts racing, zooming around in his mind. It was no surprise that, for once in his career, he was at a stalemate. Not knowing what to say or do, especially in the presence of his ex husband, he decided, rather than trying to figure things out with his own narcissism, it was better to remain silent - much to Jungkook's dismay, who was wishing that Taehyung said something. Anything at all.

They made their way to the doorway. The doorway they hadn't seen in five years. The house of the man who practically was already missing, ever since...

"Come on in," Detective Lee ushers to the both of them. Jungkook's eyes glitter, thousands of memories flooding to his mind, the memories flashing like a light - he felt scared, small and almost like a tiny insect.

From the memory of Taehyung in bed with Jimin, to the memory of writing his name on the divorce file, to meeting Mark for the first time, to the call he had earlier on in the night. He felt faint.

Taehyung closes his eyes, taking in a deep breath, feeling exactly how he felt all of those years ago. Guilt, regret, hatred - feelings that were much, much stronger than all of the good ones, like happiness, love, passion. He glances at Jungkook, the one who had left him, seeing his eyes on the ground - probably from embarrassment, because Taehyung was thinking of exactly what Jungkook was.

But, even through all of the painful memories, Taehyung takes the lead, like always, and steps inside.

And just like that, he's standing in the very place that his marriage broke. His throat felt dry, like bile was clogging it up, making him feel sick. Everything was exactly the same, as it had been a couple of years ago.

Taehyung continues to follow the detective, Jungkook walking just behind him. He dared to turn around and look into those doe eyes, to see the fading twinkle, those pupils dilating at the same memories. The same memories but different perceptions. Different points of views. But yet, he couldn't bring himself to do it. Cowardice washed over Taehyung's mind like a bucket of ice water was being thrown at him.

Swallowing thickly, Jungkook glances around him. Nothing had changed, apart from the odd furniture that was placed somewhere else - Jimin, his old friend, was a creature of habit, a characteristic that Jungkook had yet to forget about him.

Truth be told, after their friendship broke, Jungkook had never reached out to Jimin, he almost forgot the sound of his sweet and nurturing voice, the smile he had and the way his bangs sheened over his twinkling eyes. It had been too long. Yet, Jungkook wished it had been longer, because he couldn't forget the betrayal.

As his eyes scan the room, Jungkook notices some picture frames askew, the way they were tilted, hanging off of the walls at an angle. But he doesn't take into consideration that Jimin was a neat freak. Something that he had also forgotten.

Walking past the picture frames, he looks down at the flooring, and smiles a little, the marble flooring he picked out for the hallway was still laid out - the fond memory of Jungkook and Jimin arguing over which flooring better before they finally agreed on this one; an ugly flooring at that, but they had reached a checkmate. And somehow, in some sort of twisted way, the flooring hadn't looked so ugly anymore.

"We're going to go upstairs, everything looks pretty normal, but his bedroom is the place where many questions arise," detective Lee's voice rings out, making Jungkook fall back into place, body freezing. "His bedroom?" He asks, making Taehyung also stop.

Detective Lee is already halfway up the stairs, Taehyung just behind him, but Jungkook stood at the bottom, looking up at them. Taehyung knows what thoughts are racing in the younger's eyes, but once more he doesn't take it upon himself to console and comfort his husband- ex husband.

"Is there a problem Jungkook?" Asks detective Lee with an frown. After a pause, Jungkook shakes his head, and slowly begins to walk up the stairs, a heavy feeling of sickness pooling at his stomach, sterilising the start of something so nasty. He didn't want to be reminded of that painful memory, but he had to. To find his old friend.

They finally arrive at the room, and another gasp is caught into Jungkook's throat as he takes in the scene before him. Taehyung's eyes widen, his hand slapping over his mouth, which has dropped to the ground in shock. Both of their bodies frozen, an ice cold dread looming over the both of them like a rain cloud on a wintery, windy day.

At first glance, it looks like a normal bedroom, nothing out of the ordinary. But because of the forensic officers taking pictures, and standing around certain places in the bedroom, both Taehyung and Jungkook knew what was alienated in the room.

"Come with me," the detective starts, leading to the bedsheets, he pulls at the sheets, moving the bedsheets slightly, "if you look closer, there's splatters of blood, right now we don't know who's. And we don't know what happened here. It can...be rape, because these droplets look like-"

Jungkook doesn't know he cries out, until a sob echoes around the room. Detective Lee looks up, "if you need a moment, you can step outside, and then we'll continue."

He's harsh, he's cold, but he's real. This is real. Jungkook had to be strong. Shaking his head, "no...go on detective," he says softly, sniffling a little bit.

"But we're not for sure, because it could have been a cut on his body, or something like that. Unless we find him, unless we find a lead - well, we don't know for sure."

Taehyung nods, face deathly still, almost like this was uninteresting for him.

"And then over here, this draw was thrown out, the clothes all over the floor, like someone was looking for something. And the closet over there, well, all of his clothes are on the ground, but the weird thing about it is that: all of his underwear is missing. Nowhere to be found. Like he just upped and left, but without the rest of his wardrobe."

As detective Lee continues to explain the room, Jungkook couldn't help but think more and more that Jimin was in grave danger. It didn't seem like he left, but more like he was taken. And Jungkook didn't want to think it. No. He didn't want to think about it.

But unfortunately, there was no other way to view it.

"But the caller said Jimin was outside?" Taehyung voices.

"Exactly," detective Lee mumbles, deep in thought. "So whoever took Jimin must have been inside of the house first."

A silence falls over the three men. The silence so deafening that it makes Taehyung's gut wrench in a tight knot of regret. He wishes that he didn't fall out of contact with Jimin. He wishes that he knew how to fix it.

Detective Lee turns to the two, "that's it for now. We need to question you outside about Jimin, and then you can go home."

When the three men reach outside, Taehyung and Jungkook pull of the forensic suits, following the detective to a quieter spot, a bench there. Taehyung and Jungkook seat themselves next to each other, but on either end of the bench, wanting as much distance as possible. Detective Lee takes a seat in front of them. He pulls out a tape recorder, placing it in the middle of the table.

Taehyung eyes the recorder, before looking back up to Detective Lee.

"You may introduce yourself. Name and age please," the detective says loud and clearly after pressing a button.

"My name is Jeon Jungkook, age twenty-five."

"And my name is Kim Taehyung, age twenty-six."

"What are you two, to each other?"

Jungkook clears his throat, glancing at Taehyung from the side. Taehyung makes no move to answer the question. Jungkook doesn't want to say it. The words he has been avoiding for the last five years of his life, the words he has never found the courage to admit, the words that he somehow found the ability to ignore.

"We're ex husbands."

It was clear that the news was shocking to the detective, the raise of his bushy, greying eyebrows told that. Loud and clear. But he didn't make a noise of shock, and instead, continued with his interview, "Taehyung, tell me what is your relation to Park Jimin, the person announced missing?"

"We're college friends, the same goes for me and Jungkook. The same goes for Jungkook and Jimin," he answers clearly.

"Being so close to college friends, you must have been in contact often?"

Jungkook speaks up at this, "no, we actually all drifted...ever since the divorce. We all went our own ways and haven't spoken since. Today's the first time I've seen Taehyung since..." He trails off, glancing at Taehyung, only to see Taehyung looking directly at him with hooded, and unexposed eyes.

"Do you know anyone that might have had anything to do with this situation? Anyone that might have held a grudge towards Jimin?"

"Jimin was always a sweet man with a beautiful soul, he wouldn't hurt a fly," Taehyung's description of Jimin makes Jungkook's heart oddly pang out of nowhere, making him frown, "I doubt anyone would hate him for no reason," Taehyung finishes.

"Have any of you ever had a problem with Jimin?"

This question stumps the both of them. For they both knew, the next words spoken would put a whole new perspective on the situation.

Jungkook mumbles, "Jimin is the reason why our marriage fell apart."

Detective Lee shifts a little bit at the news he's told, sitting more comfortably, he then thinks of a way to word his next few sentences, "so now we can have a motive," he says quietly, making Jungkook's eyes widen, and Taehyung's body to lock into place out of shock.

"You mean possible motive," Taehyung interjects loudly, looking at Jungkook, then to the recorder, and finally, to detective Lee's narrowed eyes. He nods, "possible yes, but I have to rule out everything. D'you mind a trip down memory lane? Tell me everything that happened with you two and Jimin."

Jungkook gulps, the nervousness fluttering in his stomach, grasping at his gut, flipping it around and squashing it, lighting it alive until it was nothing but mere debris.

"Well," Taehyung begins, and then pauses. His shoulders slump as he sees Jungkook looking at him with those dead, brown eyes, "Jungkook should explain this," he says, before he looks away.

Taking a deep breath, Jungkook says, "Taehyung and I, well we got married when we were eighteen. We were in Vegas for my cousin's wedding when we had decided to elope for a joke. He was nineteen though, being one year older than me. Then for the next two years we spent happily married. But, Taehyung spiralled, with the stress of university, he started drinking and doing drugs constantly, and I was there to pick up the pieces."

Detective Lee looks at Taehyung. A young druggie? He certainly didn't look the sorts now, especially with the naturally charming looks, and the title of being a young CEO of a worldwide known company.

"Continue," Detective Lee says. He knew that the two had nothing to do with Jimin's disappearance, but there was always a chance. They say the seed always rots the apple first. The ones closest to the core.

"And who was Taehyung's buddy for drinking? Jimin. The two were close. And after meeting in college, I became close to Jimin too. One day, I came home from work - since I worked too, to support our marriage," Jungkook's voice was shaky, the flashing of memories seeping into his mind like blood to white silk, "and I caught Taehyung in bed with Jimin."

He doesn't realise it, but a tear rolls down his cheek. Hot and slow.

The memory of seeing his husband in bed with one of bestest friends, the pain of being the one to help Taehyung first, and then having been betrayed by the man he loved the most. The pain, the screaming and the tears.

Detective Lee sighs, sitting back in thought. He rolls his neck to the side, cracking it before he looks at the both of them once more.

"If you both can give me an alibi that checks out, we can rule out the possibility of the both of you being suspects."

Taehyung crosses his arms, "I left my building at eight in the evening, drove for ten minutes to the nearest food place, got my meal and then drove home to my complex. I've been there all night working. You can check the cameras and my phone records because I made regular calls to my assistant."

"I-i got off of work at six pm, met up with my friend, Namjoon at the café that is exactly ten minutes away from my work, we stayed there for an hour an a half before I came home."

Detective Lee nods, "well, once we get confirmation about your alibis, I'll get back to you both about any leads. Here's my number. I'll call you soon."

He took out a notepad from the inside of his pocket, and also a pen, wrote down his number twice and handed one each to both Jungkook and Taehyung.

"Go home, and get some rest."

The three men stand up ready to leave, but the detective stops them one last time, "you two weren't his emergency contacts before. It was recently that he changed the form. Any idea why?"

Jungkook tilts his in confusion. Jimin had changed it recently?

Taehyung looks over at detective Lee, "it's weird, definitely, but Jimin isn't around for us to get answers. We've not been in contact for about five years, so unless Jimin is found, I think there's going to be a lot of unsolved mysteries in this case," his tone is short, and without any warmth, signalling that Taehyung had finally ended the conversation.

Detective Lee nods, and walks away.

Now remains Jungkook and Taehyung, standing alone. Jungkook opens his mouth to say something, anything at all to rid of this tension, but nothing, not a peep, travels out of his mouth. Taehyung shakes his head, sighing to himself quietly in shame, before he walks briskly away.

Jungkook is in two minds.

Follow after detective Lee and try to get more information, or follow after Taehyung and clear the air.

After a hot moment of deciding, Jungkook sighs and runs after the detective, calling out his name, "Detective Jonghyun Lee!" The aging detective pauses, and turns around, "anything I can do for you Jungkook?" Jungkook pants a little, catching his breath, "I want to be of more help...somehow, anyhow."

Detective Lee gazes at Jungkook with his dark eyes twinkling along side the flashing red and blue of the police cars.

"I'm sure you'll of much help," he says slowly, "as long as you are honest, and straight to the point."

Jungkook looks at Detective Lee, "what is it that you are trying to say detective? D'you possibly think that I have something to do with Jimin's disappearance?" Detective Lee shrugs accordingly to Jungkook's words, "when there's a case, everyone – no matter who you are, has a motive and until you're cleared, well..." The detective trails off.

Detective Lee gives one last nod at Jungkook, before walking away. But then, very loud, and very clearly says, "lies come around faster than the truth Jungkook, always remember that boy."

Jungkook, with one glance at the detective's back, swiftly turns around and walks away to his car, ready to head home, embark into his bed, and go to sleep. He hopes that when he awakes the next day, all of this is only a dream.

As he walks over to his car, the male feels the first drop of rain. Looking up to the clear night sky, Jungkook closes his eyes in relief – he had always loved the rain with everything in his heart.

He looks around himself to see an expensive, sleek, black car. Very obviously Taehyung's. Who else could drive such car to a crime scene, if not Taehyung, then who? Squinting his eyes in the darkness, Jungkook sees that Taehyung is not moving in the comfort of his own car, and in fact, resting his forehead against the steering wheel.

Stressed, that's what he is.

Something in Jungkook's heart pulls, and he feels that soft spot for Taehyung opening up again after all of those years, those years to cover up that spot with a patch, to rid him of his addiction to Taehyung. Pushing back almost all of his nervousness and embarrassment, and walks over to Taehyung's car.

Tapping on the window, Jungkook fidgets a little.

The little rat tap tap of his knocks were present over the now dull sirens of the police department that were surrounding the block that Jimin lived in.

Taehyung flinches in his seat when he hears the tapping on his window. Head spinning, he squints up to see the familiar face before him. With a tight lipped frown of confusion, Taehyung rolls his window down slowly, to see Jungkook even better.

Jungkook doesn't know where to start, what does he even say? What does he say to the old love of his life that broke is heart into thousands upon thousands of smithereens?

Wetting his lips with the tip of his tongue, Jungkook takes a deep breath and says, "we're definitely going to be seeing more of each other Taehyung." Taehyung gasps at the way his name rolls from Jungkook's tongue, how familiar his voice sounds, and yet, it seems too distant, and too far away to touch. Nodding, he replies, "I know that we are," what more could Taehyung say?

In the moment, all of his words that he could have said all of those years ago vanished from his mind like they weren't replaying like a bad song that he couldn't seem to shake from his mind.

"So," Jungkook starts, only now noticing how cold the wind truly was, "we should be more comfortable with each other. I know asking you this is going to be a longshot, but...do you want to come by my place for a cup of coffee?"

Taehyung doesn't say anything, not because he doesn't want too, but because he's so shocked by Jungkook's forwardness. Back when they were in college Jungkook was the shy kid, that never normally spoke his mind, and was even too scared to agree to go on a date with Taehyung, so seeing this forwardness came as a shock to the young CEO.

"You don't have too, if you don't want too, I am only offering because this night has come as a shock to us, so a pick me up is needed," Jungkook adds when he notices that Taehyung makes no move to answer, or even reply to his offer.

With the click of his tongue, Jungkook realises that Taehyung is at a loss of words, meaning, he isn't going to speak to Jungkook, not even a peep. Jungkook decides to walk away, but not before casting a hard glance at the man staring up at him with those calculating and observant, beady eyes.

Jungkook is halfway to his own car when he hears the words, "you got anything stronger than coffee?"

He turns back around swiftly, "follow my car home. I don't want to be standing in the cold, writing down my address for you," and then, after those words, Jungkook walks over to his car and gets in. Not taking even a moment to breathe before he turns on the ignition and drives off. Slow enough for Taehyung to follow after him, but fast enough to get home quickly, missing the warmth of his own home.

Taehyung sighs in the silence of his car, his fingers tapping against the steering wheel, watching the back of Jungkook's car with squinted eyes.

He doesn't know how to feel in a moment like this. The fact that in mere ten minutes, he would be in Jungkook's home – something that should have been their home.

And then the thoughts of what he had missed out on arrives in his blank mind. What had Jungkook been up too? Did he live alone? In a house or in an apartment? What kind of job did he have? And the question that burns the brightest in Taehyung's mind: is Jungkook in a new relationship?

The slight chance that Jungkook was, made Taehyung's stomach flip uncontrollably, his grip on the steering wheel tightening every passing second, knuckles turning white, the sudden urge to speed up the pace of his car at the back of his mind, but then he looks at the car in front of his – Jungkook's. And suddenly, that moment of fleeting emotion, leaves Taehyung's mind as his shoulders slump into his seat. He had no right to be jealous.

Jungkook deserved to be as happy as could be, especially after the pain he, himself, Taehyung created for Jungkook after sleeping with Jimin. Taehyung's the one who didn't man up and fight, and Taehyung would just have to accept the fact that there is a probability that Jungkook has moved on.

The slow song of a recent pop song plays in Jungkook's car, as he drives naturally to his location: home. He hums along to the random melody, quite enjoying the song as it calms his nerves that reached the sky. Taehyung, his ex husband, was going to be in the home that he owned, and lived in, with his new boyfriend of two years. That sentence itself made Jungkook's spine shiver with the utmost amount of nervousness.

He couldn't control it. After all of those years, he couldn't control the way he was feeling, and that makes Jungkook sick to his stomach. And yet, he sees nothing wrong with the fact that he didn't tell Taehyung about Mark, the man who currently lay beside Jungkook, night after night.

Jungkook turns left, and sees that Taehyung's car is still tailing behind his own. In a sick way, Jimin's disappearance brought the two together again, but Jungkook wishes that it didn't have to be this way. This complicates almost everything, and Jungkook wishes that the night could be over.

For new dawns always brought new prospects, making individuals forget the failures from the night before.

Jungkook's mother taught him that.

That new tomorrow's always brought even more happiness than the night before, and that is because new days can bring so much more opportunities that the past simply can't.

Jungkook sighs when the song playing finishes, fading away slowly into a more upbeat tune, something that could make a teen want to get up and dance, but somehow, the tune made Jungkook want to drive into a wall. The annoying lyrics all about some lovesick person happy about being lovesick.

Switching off the radio, Jungkook falls comfortable with the silence in his car, eyes on the road. This car ride home felt like hours upon hours. Like he lived in a different city, but really, he lived half an hour's car ride away from Jimin's home.

But his own home was near, he turned another left, driving into his neighbourhood, noticing the familiar characteristics of the area that he lived in, like the block of freshly built houses, and the one aging tree that grew slightly to the left orientation. The broken kids swing set on the front porch of the old couple down the road, Jungkook often smiled to himself when he drove past that house, the way they kept the swings their to remind themselves of their growing grandchildren.

And then finally, Jungkook sees his own home coming into view. A two story home with a beautiful garden and front lawn, although most of the time, Mark was the reason as to why his home looked beautiful. Jungkook stops the car, and lets out a ragged breath, his heart thumping, before he finally gets out of the car and into the night, watching Taehyung park his car a few paces down the road.

The two walk in silence to Jungkook's front door, and after a bit of fumbling with his keys in the dark, Jungkook finally opens his door, and walks into the comforting warmth of his home, Taehyung following right behind him.

He looks around himself, noticing things about the unfamiliar setting. Taehyung appreciates the immediate warmth, which is a direct contrast to the cold outside. Jungkook switches on the passageway light, walking from here and there, turning lights on. Taehyung's eyes glance over certain objects, like picture frames, and shoes that looked different sizes, but he doesn't dwell on it too much, and follows after Jungkook.

"What do you drink?" Jungkook asks, leading Taehyung to his kitchen island. Taehyung leans against it, watching Jungkook reach into his fridge to bring out a beer, "I don't drink beer anymore," Taehyung mumbles, feeling the awkward tension. "Oh? Then what is it that you do drink?" Jungkook asks once more, putting the beers back in the refrigerator, turning to face Taehyung.

"You got any scotch or bourbon?" Jungkook nods, walking to a glass cabinet. And that's when Taehyung notices the drinks, from mulled wine to aging scotch – Jungkook had it all. "You like hard liquor?" Taehyung asks with surprise. Jungkook shrugs, taking out a bottle of scotch, with two beautifully shaped glasses, the shape cylinder, but the pattern on them intricate. "My palette grew accustomed to strong beverages, that's why I drink black coffee," Jungkook answers, placing one cup on the island, in front of Taehyung.

He opens the bottle and starts to pour Taehyung a drink, and then one for himself. He takes a sip, watching Taehyung swirl the drink before drinking the whole thing in one go. He then places the cup down, waiting for a refill.

Jungkook chuckles, "I see that you still drink like there's no tomorrow," he pours Taehyung another cup, before twisting the cap onto the bottle, and placing it in the glass cabinet, signalling that Taehyung was to drink no more.

"Well in a moment like this, drinking is well deserved," Taehyung says, looking at the brownish, translucent liquid. Jungkook nods, "yeah, everything that happened tonight came as such a shock to me – I don't blame you for wanting to drink it away."

There's a pause between the two, and Taehyung notices that the tension is awkward and the silence is comfortable.

He gulps down the second glass of his scotch, the aftertaste remaining in his mouth even after minutes pass.

Jungkook speaks up, "d'you think he's safe?"

Taehyung breaths in deeply through his nostrils, "I don't know what to say. Maybe he is, maybe he's not. We just have to wait until he's found." Jungkook tries to find comfort in Taehyung's words, but rather finds them uncomfortable, and therefore, he seeks comfort in his deep voice.

His voice was something that Jungkook had always loved. The deep, smooth voice, almost like scotch itself. Hard, yet soothing.

Jungkook finishes the bitter drink, placing the cup in the sink, "here's to finding Jimin," Jungkook says. Standing next to Taehyung, he reaches over for the other cup, before turning around and moving away from the elder.

Taehyung flinches when he feels the slight tickling touch of Jungkook's body against his, but then he truly notices how Jungkook has changed. What used to be bare skin, was taken up by tattoos. Not just one, but a whole sleeve. His body was larger and yet had the perfect ratio of muscle to body fat. And the one thing that remained was the curve in Jungkook's waist.

Jungkook faces Taehyung, "it...it was nice seeing you though. You look healthier, and obviously now you're successful and all of that. If only the circumstances were different," he whispers, eyes glued to the ground. Taehyung's lips part in the longing of wanting to ask Jungkook everything about his life.

However, seeing as Jungkook hasn't asked, Taehyung feels that he has no right to pry, especially when he is standing in Jungkook's kitchen, having drunk his liquor.

"Thank you. And you're right, if only the circumstances were different," Taehyung falls silent.

It is clear that the two simply don't know what to say each other, and can not hold a proper conversation and yet the silence felt comfortable. Like the two could stay in the warmth of the kitchen forever and ever. Jungkook sighs, "would you like another drink? Maybe some tea or coffee? Seeing as you're going to be driving home."

Taehyung shakes his head, feeling as if he's overstayed his welcome, "no thank you. My tolerance is very high, and I don't live too far so I should be fine. Thank you for the warm welcome and I'll see you soon," Taehyung smiles but Jungkook sees that it doesn't reach his eyes.

As Taehyung gets ready to leave, footsteps alert Jungkook. Mark.

His boyfriend walks into the kitchen, a groggy look in his tired eyes, "Jungkook, I thought I heard you," he smiles, walking over to Jungkook. Jungkook nervously smiles, hastily pressing a kiss to Mark's lips, making Taehyung frown a little.

It's only then that Mark notices the tall man in the kitchen, "oh! Hi, I'm Mark, Jungkook's boyfriend," he introduces. Taehyung smiles bitterly, "Nice to meet you, I'm Kim Taehyung. Jungkook's ex husband."

Mark's eyes widen slightly, "you're the ex husband?" He asks, without thinking. Jungkook mentally groans at the awkward encounter, wishing for the ground to open up and swallow him alive.

"Yes, yes I am," Taehyung says thickly, voice suddenly sounding like curdled cream. Mark simply nods, frowning at the thought that Jungkook didn't bother to tell him just who he is divorced too. There was nothing wrong with it, but Mark had preferred to know.

The three stand in an now awkward silence until Taehyung finally speaks up, "thanks for the drinks Jungkook, I'm going to leave now."

Jungkook only nods, wanting to call out for Taehyung, but instead, watches him leave, the front door opening and slamming shut. Mark stares at Jungkook for a second, before he shakes his head and heads on upstairs. Jungkook walks over to the living room window, shifting the curtains to the side to watch Taehyung's car drive off just in time.

He closes his eyes, gripping the curtains in a closed fist.

Oh how life has a sick way to tear people apart and to bring them back together. Jungkook just wishes that nothing dramatic happens to force the two to crash together unknowingly.

Sighing, Jungkook moves away from the curtain and locks his front door, before he finally heads upstairs to his bedroom, and partner, Mark.

---

hope you like it so far!
coming soon.