Taehyung inhaled deeply, his gaze fixed on the tombstone before him, white lilies resting delicately in his hands. Slowly, he crouched down, placing the flowers at the foot of the grave. His lips curved into a faint, bittersweet smile as his eyes lingered on the name engraved in bold letters: KIM JAEHYUN.

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” he murmured, his voice trembling slightly, followed by a soft chuckle that barely concealed his inner turmoil. He blinked rapidly, determined to stave off the tears threatening to spill. Crying wasn’t an option—he couldn’t allow himself that weakness.

When was the last time I came here? A month ago? A year? Two? The answer eluded him, swallowed by the whirlwind of his chaotic life. He couldn’t even remember the last time he’d taken a moment to honour his brother’s memory. Life had a way of pulling him in a thousand directions, and yet, today, the weight of it all had driven him here. The argument with Jin last night had been the final straw, leaving him adrift in his thoughts.

If only Jaehyun were still here. His brother had always known how to guide him, how to pull him back when he was teetering on the edge. But Jaehyun was gone, and Taehyung was left to navigate the storm alone. For all his power, for all the fear he commanded as the head of a ruthless mafia, there were moments—like this one—when he felt profoundly lost, a prisoner to his own solitude.

Taehyung’s stoic mask rarely faltered. He’d perfected it over the years, a cold, unyielding exterior that shielded him from vulnerability. But here, in the quiet presence of his brother’s grave, the cracks in his armour felt unbearably visible. His mind raced, unable to silence the ceaseless noise of his thoughts.

And then there was Y/n.

No matter how fiercely he tried to bury his feelings for her, they refused to be subdued. How could he? How could anyone discard emotions so deeply ingrained, especially when Y/n cared for him in a way no one else ever had? She saw him—truly saw him—in a way that unnerved and comforted him all at once. He had tried to distance himself, to maintain a professional boundary, but it was futile when her presence lingered in every corner of his life.

He often regretted appointing her as his right hand. If she weren’t so indispensable, perhaps he wouldn’t have to see her so often. But no one else had earned his trust the way she had. In a world full of deception, Y/n was his one constant, his anchor.

Not to say he didn’t trust others—he did, to an extent. But Taehyung had never been one for closeness. He was the cold one, the detached one. His past had seen that. The echoes of his childhood lingered, memories of being ostracised by classmates and whispered about like he was some kind of monster. Those wounds had hardened him, teaching him to rely on no one but himself.

Words didn’t come easily to him, and when they did, they were clipped and brusque: Yes. No. What. Fuck off. That had been his reality for as long as he could remember, and he had made peace with it—until Y/n entered his life.

He still remembered the first time she spoke to him. Back then, he hadn’t been particularly fond of her. In truth, he had been indifferent, even slightly irritated. But Y/n had a way of breaking through his barriers, chipping away at the walls he had spent a lifetime constructing. She hadn’t given up on him, even when he had given her every reason to.

And now, as he stood at his brother’s grave, Taehyung found himself thinking of her once again, her presence in his life both a comfort and a torment. She made him question everything he thought he knew about himself, and that terrified him more than he cared to admit.

10 Years Ago

"Taehyung! Jaehyun!"

Mr. Kim's commanding voice resonated through the house, prompting a groan from Taehyung as he tossed his phone onto the bed. He heaved himself up and left his room, descending the stairs with an air of irritation and confusion. What could his father possibly want at this hour? It was well past 11 p.m., for heaven's sake.

"Yes, Dad?" he asked, his tone clipped, as soon as he spotted his father in the living room. Moments later, his elder brother, Jaehyun, joined them, standing beside Taehyung with an expression of equal curiosity. Jaehyun raised an eyebrow in silent question, to which Taehyung responded with a nonchalant shrug, his eyes betraying that he was as clueless as his brother.

The source of their confusion became evident when Mr. Kim stepped aside, revealing a young girl standing awkwardly behind him. Taehyung’s gaze sharpened as it landed on her. She looked frail, her figure dwarfed by the oversized frock she wore, which was dirty and frayed at the edges. Stray bangs fell messily across her face, framing wide, uncertain eyes that darted nervously around the room.

Who in the world was this girl?

The brothers exchanged bewildered glances before turning their attention back to their father, who was now smiling in a way that only deepened their confusion.

"This is Y/n," Mr. Kim began, gesturing towards the girl. His voice softened as he continued, pointing first to Jaehyun. "This is Kim Jaehyun, my first son."

Y/n’s head tilted upwards to meet Jaehyun’s gaze. She offered a tentative smile, her lips curling shyly as she gave him a polite nod.

"He’s four years older than you," Mr. Kim added, his tone warm and inviting. Jaehyun returned her smile with a kind one of his own, giving her a small wave. "You can go to him if you need any help."

Then Mr. Kim shifted his attention to Taehyung, his expression firming slightly. "And this is Kim Taehyung, my second son. He’s a year older than you."

Y/n turned her gaze to Taehyung, her smile faltering slightly under his cold, scrutinising glare. She looked down quickly, fidgeting with her fingers as the tension in the room grew palpable.

Taehyung’s lips curled into a displeased frown as he directed his question to Mr. Kim, his voice brimming with irritation. "Who the hell is this kid, and what is she doing here?"

Y/n shifted uncomfortably, taking a step back, but Mr. Kim’s sharp glare silenced any further protest from his son.

"She’s going to live here from now on," Mr. Kim declared firmly.

Taehyung’s eyes widened in disbelief. "Wait, what? Are you joking?"

"She has nowhere else to go, Taehyung," Mr. Kim explained patiently, though his tone carried an undercurrent of warning.

"Since when did our house become a bloody orphanage?" Taehyung snapped, his voice rising. "You can’t just bring anyone into our home! For all we know, she could be a spy!"

At his harsh words, Y/n flinched visibly, retreating another step. Jaehyun noticed and shot his younger brother a disapproving look. "Tone it down, Tae," he said, his voice calm but authoritative.

Taehyung glared at Jaehyun, who ignored him and turned to the frightened girl. "I’m sorry about his attitude," he said gently. "He’s just... not the best with people."

Taehyung scoffed, folding his arms across his chest, while Y/n offered Jaehyun a shy smile. "I-it’s okay, oppa. I understand," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Mr. Kim’s patience finally wore thin as he fixed Taehyung with a piercing glare. "Like it or not, she’s staying here," he said firmly. "And you, young man, need to stop acting like a spoiled brat. You’re not a child anymore."

Taehyung sniggered, shaking his head in disbelief. "This is absolutely ridiculous!"

Jaehyun rolled his eyes and turned back to Y/n, his tone gentle once more. "Why don’t you take a shower and change into something comfortable, hm?"

Y/n bit her lip, her gaze flickering nervously to Taehyung, who was still glaring at her. She quickly looked back at Jaehyun and nodded.

"Taehyung," Mr. Kim called sternly, "be a gentleman and show her to her room. Lend her some clothes."

Taehyung’s head snapped towards his father, his expression incredulous. "Me?" he asked, jabbing a finger at his own chest.

"Yes, you," Mr. Kim replied curtly.

"For God’s sake, she’s a girl, and I’m—"

"She’s almost your age, and you’ll act appropriately," Mr. Kim interrupted, his tone brooking no argument.

Taehyung scowled. "Why can’t Jaehyun do it?" he muttered.

"Because my clothes will drown her, and I trust you to handle this with maturity," Jaehyun interjected, giving his younger brother a pointed look.

Taehyung groaned and turned to walk away, muttering under his breath. When he noticed Y/n wasn’t following him, he stopped and glared back at her. "Are you coming, or what?"

Y/n hesitated, looking nervously between Mr. Kim and Jaehyun, who both nodded encouragingly.

Taehyung rolled his eyes. "I don’t have all night," he snapped, turning on his heel as Y/n hurried after him.

He grabbed a t-shirt and a pair of trousers from his wardrobe and all but shoved them into her hands before leading her down the hall to the guest room. He pushed the door open and gestured for her to step inside.

"There. You can stay here," he said curtly.

Y/n entered cautiously, glancing around the modest room. Taehyung turned to leave but paused mid-step. "Oh, and Y/n, was it?"

She nodded quickly, clutching the clothes tightly.

"Stay the hell away from me. Got it?"

Her eyes widened slightly before she nodded again, her lips pressed into a thin line as Taehyung walked away without another word.

Present

Yet Y/n didn’t retreat. Instead, she dismantled every wall Taehyung had so painstakingly constructed around himself. Brick by brick, she tore down his defences, not with force but with a quiet persistence that he couldn’t resist. Before he even realised it, Taehyung found himself growing attached to her, drawn to her in ways he hadn’t thought possible. Over time, their bond deepened, evolving into something unbreakable. One thing led to another, and now here he stood—lost in his own turmoil, battling feelings for Y/n he could no longer suppress.

A soft sigh escaped his lips as his gaze lingered on his brother’s tombstone. The cold breeze caressed his face, ruffling his hair as it danced with the wind. It was a moment of stark vulnerability, the kind he rarely allowed himself to feel.

“What should I do, hyung?” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper, tinged with an aching sincerity that cut through the silence.

But the only response he received was the stillness of the air and the mournful sigh of the wind.

▬▬

"Where were you?" Y/n's voice rang softly but firmly as Taehyung entered the kitchen, his footsteps heavy with weariness. She stood by the counter, her arms crossed, watching him reach for a glass. "You didn’t even tell me you were going out."

Taehyung exhaled heavily, running a hand across his forehead as if to wipe away the exhaustion clinging to him. "I don’t have to tell you everything, Y/n. You’re not my mum," he replied curtly, his tone sharper than intended.

Y/n’s eyes widened in surprise, her lips parting slightly. "Jeez, I was just asking. You don’t have to be rude, you know," she muttered, her voice tinged with hurt.

Taehyung rolled his eyes, the weight of his day pressing down on him. "I’m tired, Y/n. I’m going to get some sleep," he said brusquely, his gaze momentarily flickering to Jin, who stood nearby, watching him with quiet concern.

He downed the glass of water in one swift motion, the cool liquid doing little to quell the storm within him. Placing the glass on the counter with a soft clink, he turned to leave. Yet, as he reached the doorway, Jin’s voice caught his attention. He froze in place, just outside the kitchen, his ears straining to catch their conversation.

"What’s with him?" Jin asked, his voice low but laced with curiosity.

Y/n shrugged, her shoulders lifting slightly. "I don’t know... I think he had a bad day. After all, he’s human too."

Jin frowned, leaning against the counter. "Why don’t you try talking to him? You’re the only one who seems to know how to cheer him up."

Y/n let out a soft sigh. "Didn’t you see, oppa? He’ll just snap if we say anything to him right now. It’s better to let him cool down first."

Jin chuckled lightly, though his amusement was tempered by sincerity. "I don’t even know how you put up with his outbursts and still... like him. If Namjoon acted like that, I’d have smacked him over the head by now."

Y/n turned back to the stove, her hands busy yet her mind clearly elsewhere. "I won’t say his outbursts don’t hurt—they do. Of course, they do. But that doesn’t make me stop liking him," she murmured, her voice softening. "I mean, who doesn’t have flaws?"

Taehyung stood still, leaning his head back against the wall as he processed her words, his heart constricting with unspoken emotions.

Jin sighed, placing a reassuring hand on Y/n’s shoulder, unaware of the shadow listening just beyond the door. "Why don’t you make him realise?"

Y/n frowned slightly, her eyebrows knitting together. "Realise what?"

Jin smiled knowingly. "Make him realise that he needs you as much as you need him."

A humourless chuckle escaped Y/n’s lips. "No, oppa. It’s no use. Every time I try to get close to him, he just pushes me further away."

Taehyung swallowed hard, the sound almost deafening in the silence of his thoughts. His throat tightened as her words cut deeper than he’d care to admit. Without another word, he turned on his heel and retreated to the sanctuary of his room, the echo of their conversation following him like a ghost.

As he closed the door behind him, only one thought played in his mind, over and over again, a plea he couldn’t voice aloud.

No matter how much I push you away...

Please push yourself in, Y/n.

▬▬

Words count — 2407

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