Chapter Text
Tae glared at the four men blocking his way, his heart hammering inside his chest.
How did he end up in this situation?
The last thing he remembered was getting into his car to attend his nephew's birthday party. And suddenly, he found himself at a container dock, faced with these rough-looking men and no idea why there were targeting him.
He took a deep breath.
Considering his height and build he could probably take on one or two but all of them at once? No way in hell. So how would he get out of this situation?
“Think, Taehyung. Think!” he murmured to himself.
He stepped back when the men started approaching him, hastily digging into his pockets, pulling out his phone and wallet throwing them onto the pavement.
"Here, take these. That's all I have on me right now. Just let me go, okay?" he asked, hopeful.
One of the men, the big one with the scar across his face grinned. The evil glint in his eyes made Tae shiver.
"Now why would we let you go when you can give us so much more than that? Hm?"
Tae felt his breath hitch. No. Please, no. Anything but that. He fixed his composure, trying to come off as more confident, hopefully threatening.
"Don't you dare touch me." He growled, trusting that his voice was steady enough for the men to take him seriously and back off.
But they simply chuckled, taunting him.
"Feisty, hm?" The blonde one took a step closer making Tae flinch. "Just the way I like them."
Taehyung fought the urge to run, clenching his trembling hands into fists. He knew he couldn’t run away. They would catch up to him in no time. Besides, he didn’t even know where they were.
"Just...." he closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath. "Can't you just let me go? Here, you can have my watch too. It's a Rolex." He quickly unlatched the watch from his wrist, throwing it to one of the men. He could always buy more.
"You know," One of them spoke, but due to the darkness, he couldn't really tell which one. "If it was up to us we would let you go. There's no point in scarring such a pretty face, yeah? But unfortunately for you, we have different orders."
Orders? Tae swallowed. So, this wasn't a coincidence? A random mugging?
No, of course not. Fuck. The realization hit him like a truck. It must have been her. There was no one else that wanted to hurt him that much.
He exhaled, the fight leaving him. Whatever. It was not like it mattered whether he lived or died. He had already lost his reason to live 7 months ago.
"Fine, do it. Kill me." he said, his voice void of any emotion. The prospect of it was almost liberating. At least he wouldn’t be breaking his promise to Jungkook. "Just make it quick." He said.
He closed his eyes as footsteps approached him and braced himself for the pain. But it never came.
"What is going on here, gentlemen?"
Taehyung almost groaned. Great. Fucking great. He was hallucinating now. Was this fucking twilight or what?
Because Jungkook was fucking dead. He had died right in front of Tae. Months ago. Had left him alone to suffer the pain and loss. There was no way that he was hearing his voice right now.
Tae scoffed. It was probably just his mind playing tricks on him. Making him want to fight for his life. But he simply didn’t want to anymore. There was no point in staying alive. So, he decided to ignore that voice.
But then there was an arm wrapped around his shoulders, and a heavy body leaned against his.
Taehyung blinked. W-what?
"Who the fuck are you? Fuck off and mind your own business!" One of the men yelled.
However, Tae paid him no attention. His eyes were fixated on the man next to him. His structured face, the strong jawline, sharp eyebrows, even the small scar on his left cheek. As if he could ever mistake him anywhere.
Jungkook. His Jungkook.
Tears filled his eyes. Jungkook was here, standing right next to him again after so long.
His mind was too occupied by the mixture of emotions rushing through him to even try and comprehend how a dead man could be standing right next to him when he had buried him with his own hands.
"Gentlemen." Jungkook said, a confident smirk adorning his face as he pushed himself off Taehyung.
"Now now, gentlemen. I'm just evening out the odds here. 4 against one does seem a little unfair, don't you think?"
The biggest one of them stepped forward, spitting on the ground. "I'll give you one last chance, pretty boy. Fuck off while you still can. This is not your fight."
Jungkook however simply shrugged. "Don't think I will." He said, cracking his neck dangerously. “I think I will stay right here. So why don’t you fuck off?”
"J-Jungkook..." Tae reached out, his hand hovering in the air, as tears filled his eyes. He wanted to touch the man, to make sure that he was real but at the same time, he was afraid that Jungkook would suddenly vanish if he dared to lay a finger on him.
"Hush, baby let me deal with this, okay?" the other winked, stepping in front of him and shielding him with his slightly bigger body.
Tae bit back a sob. How long had he waited for this sound to hit his ears again? Could it be real? Or was he still dreaming? Maybe he was even dead.
Because something about this scene did not seem right. This person standing in front of him was so much broader than his Jungkook, the muscles straining against the fabric of his shirt.
His hair had also gotten longer, curling up at the ends. But what surprised him most was that evil smirk on his face, like he couldn't wait to make the men suffer.
Was that really his Gukkie? The one that would look at him with stars in his eyes, professing his love for Taehyung over and over again even when the last breath left his lips?
Yet, somehow Taehyung couldn't find it within himself to care. All he knew was that it was the first time in months that he felt alive again.
The differences didn't matter. All that mattered was that Jungkook was here. Alive.
Tae's mouth fell open, a scream caught in his throat as the big one lunged forward, aiming for Jungkook's jaw.
But Jungkook was quicker, dodging the hit smoothly and landing one of his own, shaking his hand afterward with an amused grin.
"Fuck that felt great." He shouted. “C’mon! Give me more.”
Great? Tae gaped at him. Jungkook had never been one to condone violence. The sight before him stood in complete contrast to what he knew about his husband.
He watched with horror as Jungkook knocked out one man after another with a pleased smirk on his face.
"Ah, finally." Jungkook huffed when he was done, bending down to pick up Taehyung's belongings, throwing them his way.
"There you go, baby." He winked, dusting off his hands as he glanced back at the four men who lay on the concrete ground, some unconscious and some groaning in pain.
Taehyung stood there, frozen as his mind struggles to comprehend everything that happened tonight. "W-wait!" Taehyung spluttered when the other turned away, looking like he was going to walk away.
"Gukkie, wait!" he cried, making the other turn around, snapping his head in confusion.
"Me?" he said, looking around and pointing a finger at his own chest.
"Gukkie." Taehyung whispered again, stepping closer, his body moving on its own as he raised one hand to cup the other's cheek gently. "My Jungkookie." He said in a trance. He still couldn't believe that he was allowed to see his lover once again.
His teary eyes were met with a raised eyebrow and a skeptical look on the other's face.
Jungkook chuckled. "I don't know what you're talking about, sweetheart." he said, running a finger along Tae's jaw. "but for you, I can be whoever you want me to be."
Taehyung tilted his head back, exhaling through parted lips, as a tattooed hand came up to rest at the back of his neck. Wait. Tattoos? Jungkook didn't have tattoos.
He gasped when he felt the other's breath hitting his lips.
"You're not him." he whispered, his round eyes looking into sharp ones, searching for his lost love.
But he couldn't even find a trace of his husband.
"I don't know who you are."
"Doesn't matter, does it?” A smirk adorned the man’s face as he leaned closer. “‘Cause I can tell you all night long." he whispered, and the next thing Taehyung knew was warm lips pressing against his own, knocking the breath out of his lungs.
✦✧✦✧
Taehyung gasped, sitting up straight, his chest heaving, as he frantically fumbled around until finally realizing that he was at home, lying safely inside his bed.
He let out a heavy sigh, running a shaking hand through his sweat-slicked hair, fighting the urge to pull at the blonde strands.
It took him a minute to catch his breath before he finally opened his eyes letting his gaze wander over the empty walls of his bedroom. The faint light seeping through the heavy curtains told him that it was already daytime. He cast a glance at the clock sitting on his bedside table. 10 a.m.
Taehyung sighed, rubbing at his eyes. All he wanted to do was to sink back into his pillow and pull the covers over his head, so he could pretend that there wasn’t an entire world he had to face without Jungkook by his side anymore. But he couldn’t.
He had to get up and get ready for his meeting with Namjoon hyung. He had already canceled on him too many times, wishing to avoid any topics that would remind him of Jungkook’s absence. But he couldn’t run forever, and he knew that.
Tae slowly crawled out of the sheets, his limbs feeling like lead as he dragged himself over to his bathroom, almost letting out a cry at the face staring back at him. His eyes were hollow, skin pale, lips chapped, his collarbones more prominent than ever due to the amount of weight he had lost ever since his husband’s death.
He knew that it was unhealthy, that he was worrying his friends and family.
“Jungkook wouldn’t want you to die with him!” Jimin, his brother had screamed at him with teary eyes when he had collapsed for the third time in four months.
Taehyung hated that he was causing his loved ones this much pain. Yet he couldn’t it in himself to care. What was the use of trying anyway? No matter what he did, he couldn’t bring Jungkook back to life.
Images from his dream flashed through his mind. This wasn’t the first time he had dreamt of his lover coming back since that dreadful night. However, it was never this intense. The sound of Jungkook’s voice, his warm touch, even his smell. It had all felt so real.
Taehyung shook his head, pushing the thoughts aside, focusing on his morning routine, starting with brushing his teeth.
There was no point in pondering over such dreams because that’s all they would ever be. Jungkook wasn’t going to come back, and he had long accepted it. And yet, it never stopped hurting. Taehyung still felt the emptiness in his heart and his life every single day.
He no longer woke up to Jungkook’s soft snores or to his husband’s melodic voice pulling him out of his slumber. No more morning kisses and warm hugs. It was all just …cold.
Taehyung’s hand stopped moving, tears welling inside his eyes. He placed a hand on the sink, resting his forehead against the bathroom mirror. His eyes fell on the second brush sitting in the holder.
Just like with any other of Jungkook’s belongings, Tae hadn’t found it within himself to remove them.
Because even if they tormented him, reminding him of his loss at every step, they also made this place feel like home. Like Jungkook could walk through the front door anytime and the world would be okay again.
As if on cue he heard the familiar sound of his front door being unlocked, his heart nearly jumping out of his chest.
“Tae?” Of course, it was Jimin.
Taehyung gave his reflection a bitter smile before bending down to wash his mouth and face. “In here.” He called, patting his skin dry.
Before he knew it, the bathroom door was flying open, a small figure running toward him, pulling him into a tight embrace.
“Hyung.” Taehyung said, taken aback by the urgency in the other’s actions.
“Where the hell have you been?” Jimin pulled away to glare at his younger brother.
“What are you talking about?” Taehyung frowned before walking past the elder, making his way to Jungkook’s side of the wardrobe. He pulled out a pastel blue sweater pulling it over his head, as he buried his nose into the fabric, hoping to catch a whiff of his husband’s scent.
“Tae.” Jimin sighed, closing his eyes. “Baby, I get that you want to be alone and everything.” He said, his voice a little gentler now. “But please understand that you can’t just disappear like that. Do you have any idea how worried we were for the past fourteen hours?”
“I was just sleeping, hyung. Not dead.” Tae rolled his eyes at his brother’s behavior. He understood that Jimin was worried about him, but what could possibly have happened to him in the walls of his own home?
“So now you’re lying to me?” Jimin followed him, trying to get his attention. But he was ignored by his younger brother, who was solely focused on getting out of this room and thereby getting away from this conversation.
“Tae, I was here yesterday.” Jimin insisted, still following him. “And you weren’t at home. You didn’t come home until way past midnight…“ he went on, his voice getting louder with every word, but Taehyung had stopped listening.
His eyes were focused on the purple note sitting on the left side pillow of his bed. He quickly walked past Jimin, ignoring his calls as he picked up the piece of paper, eyes skimming over the messy handwriting.
I’ve been told that I’m a good kisser, but this is the first time I’ve literally knocked someone off their feet. And don’t worry, I found your address in your wallet. Not a stalker!!! Anyway, I hope you find your Gukkie or whoever you kept calling for.
Have a good life, pretty boy.
PS: Stay out of trouble. I won’t be there to save you next time.
Jk.
Taehyung felt his blood freeze inside his veins as he read the short message a few more times. It was then that he realized. It wasn’t a dream. He was actually almost killed last night and then saved by Jungkook.
“How can that be?” he whispered to himself, fighting against the spark of hope that wanted to explode inside his chest.
A hand grabbed him by the shoulder, yanking him around. “Tae, are you even liste-“ Jimin’s words died in his mouth when he saw the younger’s paled face. “Tae?” he carefully, trying to make eye contact with his younger brother.
“It was real.” Taehyung whispered, his gaze unfocused. “It wasn’t just a dream, hyung. He’s alive. Jungkook’s alive.”
“Tae baby.” Jimin’s voice broke as he stepped closer to wrap his arms around Taehyung’s bigger frame. His own eyes were starting to tear up. “I’m so sorry. And I know it hurts. I know how much you want him back.” He choked. “But you need to let go. You need to move on, live your life. No matter how much we all want it he’s not coming back-“
“But he did.” Taehyung broke free of Jimin’s embrace to look him in the eyes, a fire burning inside his own. “He came back for me hyung. L-last night he was right there…. Gukkie-… he was-…he saved me. He was there.”
Jimin regarded his younger brother with pitiful eyes. This wasn’t the first time Taehyung had dreamt of Jungkook coming back to life. “Baby-“
“Hyung.” Taehyung grabbed him by the shoulders, looking at him with urgency. “I know this has happened before and I know you won’t believe me. But please!” he closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. “Please help me find this man.”
“Taehyung, what are you talking about?”
“I saw Gukkie yesterday.”
“What?”
“But I don’t think it was him.”
“What?” Jimin’s confusion only grew.
“I thought it was a dream too, hyung.” Tae ran his hands through his hair, picking up the note from the floor where he had dropped before. “Here.” He said, grabbing a wide-eyed Jimin by the arm, pushing the note into his hands. “Read.”
Jimin hesitated for a moment before quickly reading the few lines written on the piece of paper.
“It’s not my handwriting.” Taehyung said, pointing out the obvious.
“It’s Jungkook’s.” Jimin’s voice was barely a whisper, his head filling with questions.
“Not quite.” The younger noted. “But it’s pretty close.”
“Tae what the hell is going on here?”
“I don’t know hyung.” Tae replied honestly. “But I need you to help me find out.”
✦✧✦✧
It was half an hour later when both brothers found themselves sitting in front of a computer screen watching Jungkook- or whoever that man was – carry an unconscious Taehyung into their house, the security let him pass without any comment. Of course, they would. To the world Jungkook was still alive, taking care of family business abroad.
It was the lie Taehyung, Namjoon, and Jimin had decided to tell the world. It was a necessary step to protect everything Jungkook had worked for his entire life. The world, and a certain group of people needed to believe that Jungkook was still alive.
So, it was only natural for the bodyguards to mistake this man for his husband, letting him enter their home.
Taehyung watched through teary eyes as the man carefully laid Taehyung into his bed, covering his body with the bedsheets, then stroking the hair out of his face. The man sat there for a few minutes watching him sleep.
Taehyung’s limbs moved on his own, his fingers reaching up to touch the screen where that man was sitting beside his bed. Relief seeped into his veins as he realized once again that last night had happened. That man wasn’t a result of Taehyung’s fantasy. He was real, blood and flesh.
Out of nowhere, there was a flicker in the recording and suddenly, the man was gone, the image of an asleep Taehyung being the only thing visible on the screen. His breath hitched and his eyes darted over the screen frantically, looking for the same man. But he was nowhere to be seen.
“Gukkie” Tae whispered absentmindedly, catching Jimin’s attention.
“Tae,” the elder said, pulling the younger back to reality. The shock was written all over his face. “What-…” he closed his eyes, pinching his nose. “I mean how can that be? Who even is that?”
“I don’t know hyung. But we need to find out as soon as possible.”