TW: Alcohol

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"You have one month to get these songs in Taehyung!" Manager Puo screamed. He had called Taehyung into his office to let him know how unsatisfied he was with the slow progress Taehyung was making on some of his solo work.

"I know. I'm sorry. I will work harder." Taehyung bowed to his manager. He felt terrible. He already knew his manager was angry with his slow progress but it wasn't in him to get his work done any faster. He was a perfectionist and it took him multiple days to get one song done. Now that he was falling behind, the company was a bit angry with him.

"Whatever it is that has you so distracted from progress, get rid of it," Manager Puo threatened.

"There is nothing..it's just..me..I'm sorry...again, I will work harder." Taehyung gulped and stared at the floor, hoping this talk would be over soon. He let out a deep breath when he was told to leave the room and go back to his studio to get back to work.

He made his way back into his studio and sat at his desk. Crossing his arms and putting his head down to rest on them, he began to quietly cry. He felt disappointed with himself and like he was letting his company, and ARMY, down by not having these songs ready in time. I'm sorry, everyone. I will work harder.

His head shot up when he heard his studio door open. He turned to see Hobi had walked in. He quickly wiped the tears from his face and greeted his hyung. He wasn't fast enough in hiding his expression, so Hobi instantly noticed the boy had been crying.

"I was going to ask how the meeting went, but I can tell that it didn't go so well." Hobi walked over and placed his hand gently on Taehyung's back and started rubbing it. "What happened? Is everything okay? What did he say to you?"

Taehyung looked up at Hobi. "I'm a failure, hyung."

"What? Noooo! No way Taehyungie! That's what he said?!"

"He didn't have to say it. I just know that's what he thinks of me and I don't blame him. I have nothing to show him. None of my songs are finished."

"But that doesn't mean you're a failure. No offense to you or anything," Hobi couldn't help but giggle, "But you've always worked slowly. However, in the end you always finish what you start and create great work. This time is no different."

Taehyung wrapped his arms around Hobi and squeezed him, appreciative of his kind words. "Thanks, hyung. I better get back to work now though."

"Of course." Hobi kissed Taehyung's forehead and made his way out so his dongsaeng could get to work.

Taehyung was full of frustration when he would record part after part for his songs and still think they were terrible. He was gripping at his hair, pacing around the room, deleting part after part. I don't understand why everything I'm trying to create sucks right now! I'm not happy with any of this! I can't show this shit to the world!

Before he knew it the members were gathering up to head home. Taehyung told them he had more work to do, but seeing the tiredness in his eyes, Namjoon told him not to stay at work and to come home with them.

"Okay, I could use a drink anyway," Taehyung said.

The members looked at him surprised, considering Taehyung wasn't one to drink alcohol. He'd have some on an occasion like a holiday but at home he always chose tea or water.

"A drink, hyungie? Like an alcoholic one? Since when?" Jungkook raised an eyebrow.

"Since I need something to calm down a bit."

The members didn't question it further, it was something they all did when they were feeling stressed.

Except Taehyung was taking it too far too quickly, and had turned to alcohol as a complete crutch. He'd take shots in the morning before work, he'd order alcohol while in the studio, he'd come home and drink some more. Manager Puo was still breathing down his neck about getting his work done and Taehyung was still frustrated and having a hard time. So instead of face his schedule head on, now when he'd drink in his studio he would constantly give up on working and get so drunk that he'd stop caring about the work completely. Being intoxicated made it easier for him to brush things off or throw his work away.

It began to effect more than just his work. It was affecting him at home too. He started isolating himself in his room when he'd drink and never wanted to hang out with any of the other members. Jimin would beg and beg for them to go out and do stuff together and Taehyung would brush him off and say he was stressed out and wanted to relax at home.

"That's all you ever do now. You just sit here and drink," Jimin frowned.

"At least it's helping me deal with everything," Taehyung replied.

"You count this as help?" Jimin scoffed. "Because honestly I think if anything this is just hurting you more. It's not safe for you to do this to yourself, and to be completely honest it's not safe for you to be doing this to us either. I understand you feel pressure about your solo work but we still have band work to do and we can't get anything done if you're sitting in the corner half passed out and drunk the whole time."

"It's not affecting my performance."

Jimin let out a loud laugh. "You can't be serious? Yes it is! How much work have you even gotten done lately?! You're over here stressing about deadlines when in reality you're wasting your own time by drinking all day! From what I've seen you've gotten no work done in a solid week now! So yes, Taehyung-ah, it is affecting your performance."

"Jimin?" Taehyung sat up in his bed, wobbling from the dizziness that his most recent beverage had caused him.

"Yes?"

"Get out of my room."

Jimin threw his hands up in surrender. "Sure, whatever." He slammed Taehyung's door closed behind him and once he was gone Taehyung pulled more alcohol out from under his mattress that he'd been hiding. He knew the members were starting to be bothered by his drinking so he was trying to hide the drinks more so he didn't have to hear all of this complaining. Jin and Yoongi had already given him a talk about drinking safely and making smart decisions but he brushed it off. He didn't care what the others thought, as long as he was happy. Drinking is helping me. I'm less stressed. I've been sleeping better. Forget what Jiminie says, I've been making a lot of music!

The members had gathered together in the living room discussing how worried they were about Taehyung. Namjoon said he was going to talk to manager Puo about cancelling Taehyung's solo work, at least for now. There was no real reason for it anyway, Puo had already said he just wanted solo stuff from Taehyung so the company could sell it and make more money. The others agreed that it would benefit Taehyung to cancel the project.

The next day Namjoon went to Manager Puo and did not ask for him to cancel Taehyung's solo work, he demanded he cancel Taehyung's solo work.

"What right do you have to tell me what to do?" Puo replied.

"I have every right. Not only as the leader of the band, but as his hyung too. He's a miserable mess all because you want some extra money. I will not allow anyone on this team to be treated that way by anyone, manager or not. If he wants to get the music out on his own in his own time, then so be it, but you're taking the deadline away and you're going to stop pressuring him about it. His health is in danger and his health is way more important than whatever stupid monetary agenda you have."

Puo crossed his arms and glared at Namjoon, stumped on how to reply. He raised an eyebrow and stared at him for a moment. "Just know if I cancel this, that's money out of the company's pocket, and that's all on you, Namjoon."

"So be it," Namjoon replied. "I'd rather be poor and know my brother is healthy over being rich and see him struggling to even live. This ends now, and that's not a request. It's a statement."

"Suit yourself, but you can be the one to tell him why his project is cancelled."

"Gladly." Namjoon turned and slammed the door behind him as he left Manager Puo's office.

Namjoon was excited to tell Taehyung that the pressure of his solo work was off, hoping it would take a huge weight of his dongsaeng.

But Taehyung was once again already wasted, and absolutely pissed off at Namjoon for what he'd done.

"Who gave you...the right? To do that? I didn't ask you to do that!" Taehyung screamed, waving the bottle of alcohol he was holding around in the air.

"I thought I was doing you a favor...this is a good thing Taehyung...you don't have to stress so much now.." Namjoon said it softly, trying to be reassuring. He stared at the bottle being waved around and tried to grab it. "Now you can lay off of all this."

Taehyung pushed Namjoon away. "Fuck off!" Taehyung screamed. "All you did was turn me into even more of a failure! Now I'm just supposed to do nothing?! Hand in nothing?!"

"Taehyung!" Jin screamed from behind him. "Don't you dare talk like that to him! You're not a failure, you were just under too much pressure and Joonie helped alleviate it. You can still make whatever songs you want, but without deadlines so you can relax a bit now."

All of the members had gathered around Taehyung in the kitchen when they heard the screaming.

"What the hell is this? Some kind of intervention?!" Taehyung screamed when he noticed he was being circled.

"Do you need it to be?" Yoongi asked.

"No! What I need is for everyone to mind their business and leave me the hell alone! I don't need anyone's help! Stay the hell away from me!"

Jungkook also tried to grab the bottle out of Taehyung's hand. "Please...hyungie...we're just trying to help." Tears slowly started streaming down his cheeks. Seeing Taehyung like this was killing him. It was killing all of them.

Taehyung turned towards Jungkook and shoved him. "I don't need fucking help!"

Jungkook stumbled backwards and fell against Hobi, who tripped backwards and ended up hitting his head on the corner of the counter. The rapper grabbed at the back of his head and started crying while the members ran to him and Jungkook. Taehyung turned and ran away, retreating to his room.

He threw his face into his pillow and screamed as loudly as he could. He felt absolutely terrible for what he just did and didn't know how to handle it. Everything felt like a mess. He let his tears drench his pillow as he continued to drink from the bottle, hoping the faster he drank it the faster the pain of everything would go away. Before he knew it Jin had come in and snatched it out of his hand.

Taehyung looked up to Jin with soaked, remorseful eyes. "I'm so sorry hyung....I didn't mean to push them that hard...are they okay? Is Hobi hyung okay?"

Jin took a deep breath, he wanted to scream but also felt like there had been enough of that already and it had gotten them nowhere. "Listen to me and listen to me carefully. I'm giving you an ultimatum. You can either quit the damn drinking, or quit the damn band."

Jin figured that would surely work. No way Taehyung would leave the band. He didn't really mean it, of course he didn't want Taehyung to go. He was hoping to just scare the boy.

So Jin was speechless and stood frozen in shock when he saw Taehyung get out of bed and run out the door. He heard the rest of the members screaming at Taehyung asking where he was going and then he heard the front door slam shut.

Jin finally regained his composure and ran back into the kitchen. Hobi seemed to be okay. Jungkook was still crying but he was alright too.

"Where the hell is he going?!" Yoongi screamed. "He's drunk as hell! He can't just be out there!" Yoongi didn't waste any more time and opened the door demanding everyone run after Taehyung before he got too far. As they ran out in search of him Jin was crying and apologizing. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I told him to quit drinking or leave the band obviously I didn't think he'd actually pick leaving! I don't know what the hell he's thinking!"

"He's not thinking! And that's the problem!" Yoongi screamed.

While they continued to search, Taehyung continued to run while swearing under his breath. I don't need them. I'm a shitty brother anyway. I can't do my job and make music. I can't handle anything without it turning to shit. I hurt my own brothers. I'm the problem and it's better for them if I leave the band. Then I can't be a failure anymore. They don't have to worry about me anymore if I'm just not around to worry about. I won't be a burden anymore! Everything is better this way!

Taehyung could hear his members catching up from behind him, considering he was stumbling around and wasn't making it all that far, but he ignored them. He continued to shut them out and would try to turn and go in various directions to get free.

"Taehyung! Wait! I wasn't being serious!" Jin screamed.

"Taehyungie!" Jungkook screamed after him. "Taehyungie just come back home and we can figure something out!"

Taehyung stopped in his tracks and turned to them. "There is nothing to figure out! I'm a disappointment to the group and clearly it's better if I go! You're all better off without me anyway!"

"That is not true and you know it!" Jimin yelled.

When Taehyung realized everyone was getting closer he turned and tried running. The members returned to chasing him.

"Taehyung stop!" Namjoon screamed.

"No!" Taehyung yelled behind him. His vision was blurry and he couldn't tell where he was going. Between his drunkenness and his tears he was falling and stumbling all over the place. Jungkook ran fast enough to catch up and grab Taehyung's shirt, but his hyung quickly got out of it. Taehyung didn't realize he was running straight for the road.

"Taehyung!" Everyone screamed when they saw Taehyung stumbling into the middle of the street. A car came out of nowhere and blasted the horn. Taehyung froze in place, in a stunned panic, when he saw a car headed straight for him.

Jin and Yoongi both ran into the road to grab him.

To the others, all they saw was the car come to a halt. Jin, Yoongi, and Taehyung were sprawled out on the ground on the other side of it, out of view. The driver of the car got out and started screaming asking if they were okay.

"Hyungs! Hyungs!" Jungkook screamed at the top of his lungs. The rest of them ran to the other side of the car.

"Are they hit!? Were they hit?!" They dove down next to the three on the ground. Jin was laying on top of Yoongi, who was laying on top of Taehyung.

"Were you hit?!" Jimin screamed through tears. "Oh my god, someone call 911! Help! Help!" He grabbed Jin's arm. To their surprise, Jin crawled his way off of Yoongie and Yoongie crawled his way off of Taehyung.

"Not hit," Jin groaned. The rest of them sighed with relief. The driver of the car went on and on about how they didn't mean to almost hit them, and Jin told him it wasn't his fault.

Taehyung was a sobbing mess on the ground and Hobi grabbed him into a tight hug. They all started hugging each other.

"You aren't hurt at all? Are you sure you're okay?!" Namjoon panicked.

"I'm so sorry," Taehyung sobbed into Hobi's chest. "I didn't mean to-I didn't mean to almost..to almost..."

"Shh.." Hobi whispered and kissed Taehyung's head. It was hard for any of them to be angry right now. They were too overcome with worry.

The driver of the car kept asking if they were okay and if he needed to call 911, but Jin said they'd be alright and they were just going to go home. Jin didn't see the driver at fault and apologized for everything and told him to carry on and that they were going to handle the rest of the situation at home.

Jin and Yoongi had collected themselves enough to stand up. They both did have a few scrapes on their arms but that felt like nothing compared to what could have just happened. Everyone checked Taehyung over to make sure he didn't have any physical injuries and once they saw he was okay, Namjoon grabbed him from Hobi and scooped up in his arms ready to carry him home. Taehyung buried his face into Namjoon's shoulder and continued to scream and let the flood gates open. He felt absolutely terrible and like if anything, he deserved to be hit and killed by the car. He couldn't understand why on earth the members even bothered saving him. He felt they all would have been better off letting him get hit. He also couldn't believe he did something that put his hyungs in danger.

They quickly got back home and placed Taehyung on the couch. He kept screaming and crying that he was sorry for everything and understood why Jin told him to leave. Jin sat on the couch and pulled him into a hug. "Tae I'm the one who is sorry. I really didn't mean that. I didn't think you'd get up and leave..."

"Taehyung-ah why on earth would you choose to leave...?" Yoongi asked softly. As upset as everyone was now, they were just glad nobody had just been severely hurt or killed.

Taehyung admitted why he'd left, hyperventilating and crying while trying to explain how they'd be better off without him. "I-I don't understand why you guys care so much and don't just get rid of me. I've caused so much damage."

Jimin squeezed Taehyung's shoulder. "As mad as we may get, we would never stop caring about you. That's why we're in such a mess right now. You think we're just going to sit here and watch you get sick and watch you be hurting and idly sit by and let it happen? We're trying everything here, including Jin's little scare tactic, you know he never meant for you to actually leave this band. You just have to understand we care so much and love you so much and we don't know what else to do to help you anymore."

"Yeah, and Taehyung," Namjoon started rubbing Taehyung's back. "I didn't get your work cancelled to make you feel like you're a failure. I was really just trying to help you. It's okay to put work to the side to focus on your mental health. It's something you needed." He wiped Taehyung's tears away. "We love you way too much to see you suffering like this."

"How could you still love me after everything I did? I -I pushed Jungkookie and Hobi hyung. I almost got Jin hyung and Yoongi hyung hurt...I haven't been nice to any of you....I've been so bad.....I'm so sorry.." Taehyung started panicking thinking of all the wrong he'd done and began having trouble breathing.

Namjoon squeezed him tighter. "For starters you haven't been yourself. You're sick. We know that. We know this isn't how you usually act. I think we can all agree we've been frustrated with you but in the end you're still our Taehyungie and we still love you and care no matter what. We don't see this as you being bad. We see this as you being sick and needing help. There's a difference in that."

Taehyung felt his heart lighten up and a loving warmth wash through his body. He was slowly sobering up too, but his body was also feeling extremely exhausted and was having trouble keeping his eyes open. Without warning they started to close and he accidentally passed out against Namjoon. The members tried to shake him awake but it was no use, he was out cold.

"I guess we'll just have to continue this in the morning," Yoongi mentioned. The members helped get Taehyung into his bed and even changed him into clean pajamas first. They grabbed bottles of water and some headache medicine and left them on his nightstand.

"He will be needing those later," Jimin chuckled.

They walked out and talked about how after all of this, hopefully Taehyung will come to his senses. "But if not the only other option is to get him into some kind of rehab....he can't just keep doing this. Especially after...today.." Yoongi frowned. He could only hope that this entire situation knocked some sense into Taehyung.

The next morning Taehyung woke up and immediately grabbed the headache pills and water. His head was pounding like never before and his body never felt so drained. He felt like a cement block stuck in bed. After the headache pills kicked in a bit he finally got himself up and dragged his feet out into the kitchen. Hobi and Namjoon were already up and making breakfast. The two looked at Taehyung and could tell by his eyes that this was the most sober he'd been in a while now. For the time being, they were going to get the real Taehyung.

"Hungry?" Hobi asked. Taehyung took a seat at the kitchen table. "Starving, hyung." He placed his elbows on the table and held his head in his hands, sighing deeply. He could only hope the apology he had been planning all morning would lend him some more forgiveness.

Jin walked in and asked Taehyung how he was feeling. "I've been better." He dropped his face onto the table and started crying again. Jungkook walked up behind him and rubbed his back. They could all tell Taehyung had something to say so they waited patiently. After a few minutes of collecting himself he looked back up.

"Now that I'm in a better state of mind, I would like to apologize again. I'm so sorry everyone. For everything. I never even want to look at alcohol again. It was stupid. I acted badly. I got people hurt. You guys know that's not me, and thank you for being patient with me and helping me instead of just kicking me out."

The apology immediately made Yoongi tear up. He was so glad to see his dongsaeng acting normal for the first time in days.

Taehyung continued. "And Joonie?" He looked to his hyung. "Thank you for getting me out of the deadlines. It really does help. I'm sorry I acted like it didn't."

Namjoon hugged him. "Of course. Please understand why I did it. Please never consider yourself a failure. You're a lot of things.." all of the members laughed, and Namjoon continued, "But you're not a failure."

"Aside from all of this though, are you going to need extra help? I mean how are you really feeling today?" Jungkook asked.

"I swear I'll be okay. I'm not going to make the same mistakes again. I promise. Knowing what could have happened last night...I swear I'll do better."

Jin said the first thing Taehyung had to do was get rid of all of his alcohol, so all of the members helped him get right to it. They searched his room and the dorm up and down making sure nothing was hidden and nothing was. The members were glad to see Taehyung had no problem getting rid of it.

They got back to eating breakfast and the members couldn't stop smiling at Taehyung. He noticed it and asked if there was something more they needed from him.

"Hmmm...no..." Jimin smiled. "We already have what we need."

"What's that?" Taehyung asked.

"We got our Taehyungie back."

[The End]