#taekookau where they’ve been blissfully married (by political machination or not) for two years, when it finally happens: they fight. And it’s ugly.
And for the first time since meeting Jungkook, Taehyung thinks he sees the hint of fear in his husband’s eyes.
And for the first time since meeting Jungkook, Taehyung thinks he sees the hint of fear in his husband’s eyes.
- or, the angsty tsof epilogue drabble that was requested
- dragonlord!jk
- shadowed beast!th
- don't need to read the fic to understand
- dragonlord!jk
- shadowed beast!th
- don't need to read the fic to understand
It starts, like this:
There's an accident.
One minute, Jungkook is happily riding Orion through the sky, pinwheeling to show off to Taehyung who's watching below.
The next, everything is black.
There's an accident.
One minute, Jungkook is happily riding Orion through the sky, pinwheeling to show off to Taehyung who's watching below.
The next, everything is black.
Jungkook doesn't know what it is that set Orion off, but she crashes abruptly to the ground - all two tons of sheer, unbridled weight - before she begins thrashing.
Something, somewhere, set her senses off.
Something, somewhere, set her senses off.
Jungkook is still trying to calm her down over her wailing, frightening shrieks, when abruptly, she /screams/.
As though something hurt.
As though something frightened her even more.
As though something hurt.
As though something frightened her even more.
He finds out, some moments later, that it's Taehyung.
That his husband, having seen from afar the wild and frenetic flailing the very large, very predatory dragon had engaged in - just inches from Jungkook - had used his own Gift on Jungkook's dragon.
That his husband, having seen from afar the wild and frenetic flailing the very large, very predatory dragon had engaged in - just inches from Jungkook - had used his own Gift on Jungkook's dragon.
And when Taehyung approaches - with Orion slumped over on the floor, all fight drained out of her, as though in a terrifying trance - Jungkook's senses are going haywire, inextricably intertwined with that of his dragons'.
"What did you do," Jungkook demands, accusatory at once.
Taehyung pauses. Narrows his eyes, expression cooling into something stiff. "I wrapped my shadows around her vision."
Jungkook stills.
Taehyung pauses. Narrows his eyes, expression cooling into something stiff. "I wrapped my shadows around her vision."
Jungkook stills.
"You /blinded/ her?" he says, whispered low, the world's devastation (betrayal hurt outrage) wrapped into a single sentence.
Taehyung will not be cowed. "It was her, or your safety," he replies evenly, and Jungkook feels a flicker of rage he isn't sure whose it is.
Taehyung will not be cowed. "It was her, or your safety," he replies evenly, and Jungkook feels a flicker of rage he isn't sure whose it is.
His, or his dragon's.
"How could you," he demands nonetheless, clutching tightly to Orion's head. A dragon protects its own - with a ferocity that would split the very skies, if it came to it. "You're /hurting/ her, you're-"
"How could you," he demands nonetheless, clutching tightly to Orion's head. A dragon protects its own - with a ferocity that would split the very skies, if it came to it. "You're /hurting/ her, you're-"
"Between you and anything else," Taehyung says, voice dripping with solemn promise in every syllable, "I will always choose you. Regardless of the collateral damage."
And it's something, there, about 'collateral damage' that sends Jungkook spinning.
And it's something, there, about 'collateral damage' that sends Jungkook spinning.
It must show on his face, for Taehyung's expression turns softer, in the acquiescence a man feared by all has only ever shown one person, and one person alone: his husband.
"Jungkook," he murmurs gently, stepping forward-
"Jungkook," he murmurs gently, stepping forward-
But Jungkook's emotions - and senses - are out of control.
For the first time in a long time, he cannot distinguish where his emotions end, and where the dragons' begin; it is as though he's been possessed by his dragons' senses, all over again.
He flinches.
For the first time in a long time, he cannot distinguish where his emotions end, and where the dragons' begin; it is as though he's been possessed by his dragons' senses, all over again.
He flinches.
(Later, he will realize that it had been Orion's reaction to what she could only perceive as a threat. That the full-bodied, violent flinch he'd reacted with, hadn't been his own - because of course not, because every atom of of his self knows that Taehyung could never hurt him.)
But Taehyung doesn't know that.
All Taehyung sees, is this:
A memory, in the distant past, of how he'd spent over a decade without once reaching towards another, because of how intimately acquainted he'd become with /rejectionfearrecoil/ from the world.
All Taehyung sees, is this:
A memory, in the distant past, of how he'd spent over a decade without once reaching towards another, because of how intimately acquainted he'd become with /rejectionfearrecoil/ from the world.
That his own parents had flinched away from his seeking hand - when he was but a small child - in terror at the frightening powers he possessed.
That he hadn't reached towards a person in over 10 years, until he'd met Jungkook.
That he hadn't reached towards a person in over 10 years, until he'd met Jungkook.
Jungkook, the first person in perhaps his entire life, that he trusted to never recoil in horror from his touch, the way Taehyung had been taught from a too-young age that the world would do.
Jungkook, who now flinched away from his hand.
Jungkook, who now flinched away from his hand.
Between the two of them, it is impossible to ascertain who wears the more devastated expression.
Taehyung, who's hand freezes mid-air, face creasing into something that holds a poignant sense of /devastating loss/.
Taehyung, who's hand freezes mid-air, face creasing into something that holds a poignant sense of /devastating loss/.
Or Jungkook who, upon seeing the abject devastation on Taehyung's face and realizing his own act, flinches once more, as his expression falls into something shattered and terrified.
"Wait," he says, hand reaching out towards Taehyung, who's already leaving. "No, that wasn't-"
"Wait," he says, hand reaching out towards Taehyung, who's already leaving. "No, that wasn't-"
But Taehyung is gone, having slipped into those very shadows that, once, had been his only companion.
For days after, Jungkook tries to cross the bridge that now exists between himself and his husband.
He slides in close in their bed at night, only to be met with the broad back he doesn't think he's seen in, well.
Ever.
He slides in close in their bed at night, only to be met with the broad back he doesn't think he's seen in, well.
Ever.
He tries to start enthusiastic conversations about books he knows Taehyung is reading nowadays, only to be met with a stiff smile - placid and frigid and not at all true - and stiffer shoulder.
He even tries as much as to act coy, to dress himself in the leather pants and harness he knows his husband so loves, and approach him in his study-
Only for Taehyung to stand and whisk away as though burned.
Only for Taehyung to stand and whisk away as though burned.
And Taehyung doesn't mean to, he isn't /trying/ to be purposefully hurtful, it's just.
A lifetime of being reviled and feared - a lifetime of hands snatched away before he, even as a young child, ever had a chance to hold onto someone - comes flooding back.
A lifetime of being reviled and feared - a lifetime of hands snatched away before he, even as a young child, ever had a chance to hold onto someone - comes flooding back.
Jungkook is the first thing in a damned and forsaken world that he'd ever allowed himself to covet; to cherish; to /love/.
He couldn't stand it, then, if the one precious thing in his world came to fear him like all the rest.
He couldn't stand it, then, if the one precious thing in his world came to fear him like all the rest.
He can still remember it, after all.
The way Jungkook's shoulders had jerked; the way his hand had snatched away, clutched at his chest in fear; the way his eyes had been wide with terror.
The way Jungkook's shoulders had jerked; the way his hand had snatched away, clutched at his chest in fear; the way his eyes had been wide with terror.
Taehyung doesn't know if he could ever stand to see such horror and fear in Jungkook's gaze again - not directed at himself, not like this.
Doesn't know if he can be reminded of the loveless monster he'd once been.
Doesn't know if he can be reminded of the loveless monster he'd once been.
All the while, Jungkook tells himself- /it's your fault, you hurt him, you /hurt/ him, and now you'll lose the one person who's ever seen you and saw something worth keeping-/
And he can't risk it, can't risk losing everything he's never dared dream of.
And he can't risk it, can't risk losing everything he's never dared dream of.
-- ok im the worst but im sorry it's almost midnight i am still drained from work i'm misspelling every other word and correcting it sldfjldksjsdkl but i will pick this up tomorrow i SSWEAR
in the meantime, interact pls? <3
in the meantime, interact pls? <3
Jungkook had already thought, staring bleakly at the broad slope of Taehyung's back in a bed that'd never felt quite so cold, that that was the worst he could ever feel.
He'd been wrong.
The worst had yet to come.
He'd been wrong.
The worst had yet to come.
Because one morning, he wakes up, and finds the connecting door - the one that had bridged his and Taehyung's rooms, when they'd still had separate ones - open.
When he finds Taehyung quietly moving a stack of books into what used to be Jungkook's old one.
When he finds Taehyung quietly moving a stack of books into what used to be Jungkook's old one.
There's the vague sensation of cataclysm, then, dousing Jungkook's veins with ice and making his hands tremble with sheer grief.
Is Taehyung kicking him out of their room?
Taehyung finally looks up and sees Jungkook, then, and stills.
Is Taehyung kicking him out of their room?
Taehyung finally looks up and sees Jungkook, then, and stills.
Jungkook, in his time in the Western Plains - in his time with Taehyung - had learned, slowly, to be willful. To be petulant, to tease, even to cry. Often.
(Because Taehyung had been there, to catch his tears and indulge him.)
(Because Taehyung had been there, to catch his tears and indulge him.)
But suddenly, it feels as though he's been transported back.
Back to the childhood he'd had, learning to quietly fold himself away into the unseen corners of a room; learning to be as unobtrusive as possible, to desire nothing, to ask for nothing.
Back to the childhood he'd had, learning to quietly fold himself away into the unseen corners of a room; learning to be as unobtrusive as possible, to desire nothing, to ask for nothing.
Because now, faced with a terrifying devastation he'd never anticipated, Jungkook doesn't shed a single tear.
Rather, holds it all in, visible only in the clear hurt in his eyes and the tremble in his hands.
Rather, holds it all in, visible only in the clear hurt in his eyes and the tremble in his hands.
"I thought," Taehyung says quietly. "It might be best to have some distance."
Jungkook feels his chest tighten; feels all the air evaporate out of the room.
Distance from a loved one, to a dragon, is not unlike death.
Jungkook feels his chest tighten; feels all the air evaporate out of the room.
Distance from a loved one, to a dragon, is not unlike death.
Taehyung must misread the agony on Jungkook's expression, because he goes on to add- "Do not worry, I will do the moving," as though-
As though Jungkook's concern had been about the /logistics/ of moving his belongings.
As though Jungkook's concern had been about the /logistics/ of moving his belongings.
It's this, more than anything, that makes Jungkook stare helplessly, bewildered and confused and stricken; long enough that by the time he blinks back into awareness, Taehyung is long gone, the door shut neatly between them.
/ / /
Jungkook spirals in despair.
Briefly, he contemplates fleeing.
(Because it /hurts/, is the thing - of being unwanted. Again. By the one person who had taught him what it's like at all, to be wanted. By the person who'd asked him to stay.)
Jungkook spirals in despair.
Briefly, he contemplates fleeing.
(Because it /hurts/, is the thing - of being unwanted. Again. By the one person who had taught him what it's like at all, to be wanted. By the person who'd asked him to stay.)
He could return to the Heartlands.
His brothers had told him he always had a place in their home, and though the thought of the cold hallways and colder stares he'd grown up with there make him shiver, it couldn't be any worse than here, now.
His brothers had told him he always had a place in their home, and though the thought of the cold hallways and colder stares he'd grown up with there make him shiver, it couldn't be any worse than here, now.
The old Jungkook, perhaps, might have.
Might have turned and fled, having known only how to nod his head and obediently slip away into obscurity the way he'd been trained so well to do.
Might have turned and fled, having known only how to nod his head and obediently slip away into obscurity the way he'd been trained so well to do.
After all, he'd only ever been the disposable spare, all his life.
It would not be hard to return to it.
But he is no longer the old Jungkook.
No, he is Lord Jungkook, the dragonlord; the /Stormbringer/. The east wind. (The one who had, once, been loved by the Shadowed Beast)
It would not be hard to return to it.
But he is no longer the old Jungkook.
No, he is Lord Jungkook, the dragonlord; the /Stormbringer/. The east wind. (The one who had, once, been loved by the Shadowed Beast)
Taehyung had taught him that he belonged not in the back room or in the dark corners, but in the very center of the room, graced by the warmth of jewels and chandeliers; had shown him affection and warmth and love, had shown him limitless amounts of it.
And Jungkook.
Jungkook wants that back.
Covets it, in a way he'd never dared to do all his life, growing up. (Covets it, in the way Taehyung had /taught/ him he's allowed to.)
And if Taehyung is so upset with him, then. Then Jungkook shall make amends.
Jungkook wants that back.
Covets it, in a way he'd never dared to do all his life, growing up. (Covets it, in the way Taehyung had /taught/ him he's allowed to.)
And if Taehyung is so upset with him, then. Then Jungkook shall make amends.
/ / /
Jungkook's idea of a grand romantic declaration, in the end, probably needs some work.
(He'd panicked, alright? He doesn't know what else to do, doesn't know how to make it up to his husband when his husband cares for so little to begin with.)
Jungkook's idea of a grand romantic declaration, in the end, probably needs some work.
(He'd panicked, alright? He doesn't know what else to do, doesn't know how to make it up to his husband when his husband cares for so little to begin with.)
As it is, all he ends up doing is wandering the marketplace in town, eyes desperately hunting something - /anything/ - to get for Taehyung, that might win his place back in his good graces.
He already has a stack of valuable, rare tomes he'd unearthed in an antique bookstore along the side, but.
It feels woefully inadequate for the circumstances.
He briefly contemplates searching the ends of the earth, for some unnameable jewel, or other.
It feels woefully inadequate for the circumstances.
He briefly contemplates searching the ends of the earth, for some unnameable jewel, or other.
But Taehyung doesn't care for jewels.
Between the two of them, it is /Jungkook/ who luxuriates in material goods, Jungkook who is the dragon who likes to hoard precious and sparkling things.
Taehyung...Taehyung's never desired much. (Aside from Jungkook.)
Between the two of them, it is /Jungkook/ who luxuriates in material goods, Jungkook who is the dragon who likes to hoard precious and sparkling things.
Taehyung...Taehyung's never desired much. (Aside from Jungkook.)
As the day grows darker and darker and evening approaches, Jungkook's panic grows.
He doesn't know what to /do/.
All he has are parcels upon parcels of useless /stuff/, things that won't bring Taehyung back to him, things that won't-
He doesn't know what to /do/.
All he has are parcels upon parcels of useless /stuff/, things that won't bring Taehyung back to him, things that won't-
His eyes sting.
He bites his tongue, simply standing there in the middle of a crowded marketplace, trying desperately not to cry under the safety of his hood; feeling ridiculous, more than anything else.
He bites his tongue, simply standing there in the middle of a crowded marketplace, trying desperately not to cry under the safety of his hood; feeling ridiculous, more than anything else.
cw // violence
That's when they get him.
Taehyung had always, always told him to be careful; to be vigilant; to take no less than an entourage of 3 guards when traveling in town, because of the kinds of unsavory people who prey upon unsuspecting noblemen.
That's when they get him.
Taehyung had always, always told him to be careful; to be vigilant; to take no less than an entourage of 3 guards when traveling in town, because of the kinds of unsavory people who prey upon unsuspecting noblemen.
(Because of the darker terrors, of those who'd risk their lives to get their hands on a /dragonlord/, despite the improbability of such a task.)
But Jungkook, in his panicked despair, had forgotten to heed any of the warnings.
But Jungkook, in his panicked despair, had forgotten to heed any of the warnings.
Had only marched into town, clearly bedecked in fine silks and velvets and a picture of great wealth, carelessly purchasing expensive parcel after expensive parcel, armed with nothing but his hefty bag of gold coins.
Not even a sword.
Not even a sword.
As it is, he's entirely unprepared for the flash of cold metal that settles at his lower back, the unsavory voice rasping in his ear "One move, and I'll slice through your spine, pretty."
Unprepared for the hand that wraps around his neck, and squeezes.
Unprepared for the hand that wraps around his neck, and squeezes.
/ / /
Taehyung had thought he was doing the right thing, by giving Jungkook space.
(How could he not, when every time Taehyung saw him, all he could envision is the abject terror that had been on Jungkook's face, that time when he'd reached for him?)
Taehyung had thought he was doing the right thing, by giving Jungkook space.
(How could he not, when every time Taehyung saw him, all he could envision is the abject terror that had been on Jungkook's face, that time when he'd reached for him?)
He'd thought.
He'd thought, perhaps, that Jungkook would /want/ the space from him. That Jungkook, in now having learned to fear the man that the rest of the world did, wouldn't want to sleep in the same bed as the man called nightmares incarnate.
He'd thought, perhaps, that Jungkook would /want/ the space from him. That Jungkook, in now having learned to fear the man that the rest of the world did, wouldn't want to sleep in the same bed as the man called nightmares incarnate.
He'd thought this was what was best for Jungkook.
And so, when Jungkook promptly disappears for an entire day, Taehyung wills himself not to worry.
Not to immediately seek him out, the way he might have in the past. (It isn't his place, anymore.)
And so, when Jungkook promptly disappears for an entire day, Taehyung wills himself not to worry.
Not to immediately seek him out, the way he might have in the past. (It isn't his place, anymore.)
But he should have.
He should have known, when he'd left all three dragons behind - because Jungkook /never/ goes anywhere without at least one of them, not if he can help it - that he ought to be worried.
He should have known, when he'd left all three dragons behind - because Jungkook /never/ goes anywhere without at least one of them, not if he can help it - that he ought to be worried.
He should have- should have tapped a guard to go seek out his location, should have checked in, should have done any number of things.
Because then, to witness the strangled cry of /all three/ dragons in tandem-
-the dragons, who are connected to Jungkook-
Because then, to witness the strangled cry of /all three/ dragons in tandem-
-the dragons, who are connected to Jungkook-
Is a sudden and gripping fear the likes of which he'd never experienced.
/Jungkook/.
Taehyung tears out of his study, melding immediately into the shadows underneath to move to the courtyard where the dragons are, heart threatening to tear out of his chest.
/Jungkook/.
Taehyung tears out of his study, melding immediately into the shadows underneath to move to the courtyard where the dragons are, heart threatening to tear out of his chest.
Jungkook, Jungkook, Jungkook.
His hands shake with unbridled terror.
"Where is he?" he rasps, despite the fact he knows he cannot communicate with the dragons the way his husband (his /husband/, whether or not Jungkook still wants him) can.
His hands shake with unbridled terror.
"Where is he?" he rasps, despite the fact he knows he cannot communicate with the dragons the way his husband (his /husband/, whether or not Jungkook still wants him) can.
If anything happens to him-
Taehyung will tear this world down, piece by piece, until nothing remains standing.
Taehyung will tear this world down, piece by piece, until nothing remains standing.
/ / /
The dragons lead him to a small, nondescript inn near the edge of town.
Taehyung has to fight down the urge to bring the entire building down on its very foundations, the second the dragons point it out. Jungkook is still inside.
The dragons lead him to a small, nondescript inn near the edge of town.
Taehyung has to fight down the urge to bring the entire building down on its very foundations, the second the dragons point it out. Jungkook is still inside.
He does not, however, fight any urge to destroy the door on its hinges, leaving it a violent carcass of splintered wood as he strides inside, terrifying shadows already leaping from every corner of every wall, prepared to come swooping down to kill every bastard inside-
"Taehyung?"
Taehyung freezes.
The shadows do, too, dripping from the ceiling and corners and every inch of the room like sharpened, hungry claws.
Because Jungkook sits in the middle of it all...
...Perfectly well and fine.
Taehyung freezes.
The shadows do, too, dripping from the ceiling and corners and every inch of the room like sharpened, hungry claws.
Because Jungkook sits in the middle of it all...
...Perfectly well and fine.
He's sitting at a small table, a spoon - a /spoon/ - clutched in one hand, a truly alarming number of shopping parcels surrounding his feet.
His eyes are wide and shocked as he gapes at Taehyung as though /he's/ surprised to see him.
His eyes are wide and shocked as he gapes at Taehyung as though /he's/ surprised to see him.
"What-" Jungkook moves as though to stand, but Taehyung gets to him first.
Half-collapses to his knees at Jungkook's feet, hands coming up to wrap desperately - but tenderly, so softly that it aches - around his knees.
"Are you hurt?" Taehyung asks.
Half-collapses to his knees at Jungkook's feet, hands coming up to wrap desperately - but tenderly, so softly that it aches - around his knees.
"Are you hurt?" Taehyung asks.
Jungkook can't stop gaping. "What? No, I- what are you doing here-"
Taehyung can't breathe. Feels his entire body go nearly boneless with the sharp relief.
"And why did you break their door?" Jungkook asks, voice rising in pitch with his confusion and bewilderment.
Taehyung can't breathe. Feels his entire body go nearly boneless with the sharp relief.
"And why did you break their door?" Jungkook asks, voice rising in pitch with his confusion and bewilderment.
"You're scaring them, put the shadows away!" Jungkook goes on to say, gesturing towards-
Oh.
Taehyung hadn't even noticed the others.
As it is, there's an old couple trembling on the floor, clutching desperately at one another and in clear, unbridled horror, whimpering.
Oh.
Taehyung hadn't even noticed the others.
As it is, there's an old couple trembling on the floor, clutching desperately at one another and in clear, unbridled horror, whimpering.
Ah.
Taehyung allows the shadows to slip away, and the light returns to the room once more.
And then, having just registered Jungkook's words- /scaring them/- Taehyung stiffens.
Pulls his hands back, and stands.
Taehyung allows the shadows to slip away, and the light returns to the room once more.
And then, having just registered Jungkook's words- /scaring them/- Taehyung stiffens.
Pulls his hands back, and stands.
Jungkook stares at him. "Taehyung?" he murmurs, voice soft and uncertain.
Taehyung's hand curls around-
Nothing, really. Not when he doesn't have a hand to hold, not anymore.
Taehyung's hand curls around-
Nothing, really. Not when he doesn't have a hand to hold, not anymore.
"The dragons," Taehyung says at last, tearing his eyes away from the most precious thing he's ever gazed upon, feeling the physical ache of it as he does so. "They. I thought- you were in danger."
"Oh. The bandits."
Taehyung tenses again, and outside, one can hear the growls of three mutinous dragons.
Jungkook huffs. "They were idiots, I burned them all." He smiles, pleased. "To a crisp."
"And then I came here to eat some pie, because it made me hungry."
Taehyung tenses again, and outside, one can hear the growls of three mutinous dragons.
Jungkook huffs. "They were idiots, I burned them all." He smiles, pleased. "To a crisp."
"And then I came here to eat some pie, because it made me hungry."
This time, it's Taehyung's turn to stare.
(When had his darling become so beautifully strong, he marvels; the same boy who had, once, never even learned how to hold a sword?)
(When had his darling become so beautifully strong, he marvels; the same boy who had, once, never even learned how to hold a sword?)
His lips twitch as though to suppress a smile.
And then, as abruptly as anything, realization settles back in - at their proximity, at how closely Taehyung is standing to Jungkook's sitting form, at how he's towering over him like a dreaded menace.
He steps back.
And then, as abruptly as anything, realization settles back in - at their proximity, at how closely Taehyung is standing to Jungkook's sitting form, at how he's towering over him like a dreaded menace.
He steps back.
Jungkook's expression freezes. And then, cracks.
"What is it," Taehyung asks, desperate and worried all over again. "Are you hurt somewhere? Do you need me to bring a healer? Is it-" His hand rises on instinct towards Jungkook's cheek, but stops and stills in mid-air.
"What is it," Taehyung asks, desperate and worried all over again. "Are you hurt somewhere? Do you need me to bring a healer? Is it-" His hand rises on instinct towards Jungkook's cheek, but stops and stills in mid-air.
It's this, at last, that makes Jungkook's expression crumple in on itself.
Taehyung watches, stricken, as Jungkook /cries/.
Taehyung's seen Jungkook cry many times. But never like this.
Never like the sobs were tearing out of him with nothing but sheer, poignant /heartbreak/.
Taehyung watches, stricken, as Jungkook /cries/.
Taehyung's seen Jungkook cry many times. But never like this.
Never like the sobs were tearing out of him with nothing but sheer, poignant /heartbreak/.
Who'd broken his dragon's heart?
"Jungkook," Taehyung breathes, devastated, coming back down on his knees to try to peer up at Jungkook's face, now facing the floor and concealed behind his hands. "Jungkook, where are you hurt, you need to tell me-"
"Jungkook," Taehyung breathes, devastated, coming back down on his knees to try to peer up at Jungkook's face, now facing the floor and concealed behind his hands. "Jungkook, where are you hurt, you need to tell me-"
"Why are you so far away?" Jungkook finally cries, heaved with the force of his sobs. "Why- I'm-"
Taehyung freezes.
"I'm sorry, I'm- I'm s-sorry, I d-didn't, I'm-" Jungkook's shoulders tremble. "I don't, don't k-know what to do, I-"
Taehyung freezes.
"I'm sorry, I'm- I'm s-sorry, I d-didn't, I'm-" Jungkook's shoulders tremble. "I don't, don't k-know what to do, I-"
Taehyung feels helpless but to stare, eyes wide, at the sight of his husband - his darling, precious gem, more beloved than anything else in this vast universe - falling to pieces before him.
"Please don't hate me," Jungkook weeps, stopping Taehyung's heart entirely.
"Please don't hate me," Jungkook weeps, stopping Taehyung's heart entirely.
"Hate you?" Taehyung echoes, the words foreign and jarring on his tongue.
How could he ever hate the one thing he loves?
But it only makes Jungkook curl in on himself with abject devastation, makes him cry /harder/, clutching at himself.
How could he ever hate the one thing he loves?
But it only makes Jungkook curl in on himself with abject devastation, makes him cry /harder/, clutching at himself.
"D-don't," Jungkook sobs, hiccuping, nose flushed red, eyes swollen already. "Don't throw me away, don't-"
Taehyung can't swallow the bile that's rising in his throat.
"Don't, p-please, /please/," Jungkook begs, and Taehyung feels the last of his self restraint crumble.
Taehyung can't swallow the bile that's rising in his throat.
"Don't, p-please, /please/," Jungkook begs, and Taehyung feels the last of his self restraint crumble.
He surges forward to wrap himself around Jungkook, unable to help himself, all concerns of whether or not Jungkook might welcome his touch vanished out the window in the face of his husband crying hard enough to choke for air.
"Jungkook," Taehyung breathes, voice unsteady. "What are you saying? Why would I throw you away, what-"
Jungkook wails, as though someone were piercing his very heart through with a dagger, clutching desperately back at Taehyung and burying his face into his chest.
Jungkook wails, as though someone were piercing his very heart through with a dagger, clutching desperately back at Taehyung and burying his face into his chest.
"You- you wouldn't- y-you wouldn't t-touch me, you- you won't even l-look at me," he cries, wet and devastated where the words are half-screamed into Taehyung's chest with the force of his sorrow. "Y-you, you d-didn't, didn't want me, you-"
Taehyung's never felt this much self loathing in his life, not even before Jungkook; not even when he'd read of Perseus, the hero who'd slain the gorgon monster, and thought dimly of a future in which a hero might come to slay /him/, one day.
"Y-you /left/," Jungkook gasps, pressing tears into Taehyung's very heart with each word. "You w-were, you were m-moving out, you- you d-didn't, you didn't want m-me anymore-"
And as Taehyung is busy trying (failing) to catch his breathe over the nausea-
And as Taehyung is busy trying (failing) to catch his breathe over the nausea-
"Don't," Jungkook begs again, hands curling tighter into Taehyung's shirt. "D-don't throw me away, p-please, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, d-don't-"
"Jungkook," Taehyung says, leaning back to look into Jungkook's face-
-only for Jungkook's voice to break on a sob at the distance.
"Jungkook," Taehyung says, leaning back to look into Jungkook's face-
-only for Jungkook's voice to break on a sob at the distance.
Taehyung hurriedly brings Jungkook back into his chest, wrapping around him with a fervor bordering on manic, arms curling equally desperately around his crying husband.
"Jungkook," he whispers, gutted. "I could never throw you away."
"Jungkook," he whispers, gutted. "I could never throw you away."
"I love you, you're my darling dragonheart-"
Jungkook makes a broken, wounded noise in his throat, and Taehyung shushes him, carding a painfully gentle hand through his hair.
"-you're the only precious thing in an entire world I've never cared for," Taehyung breathes.
Jungkook makes a broken, wounded noise in his throat, and Taehyung shushes him, carding a painfully gentle hand through his hair.
"-you're the only precious thing in an entire world I've never cared for," Taehyung breathes.
"How could I ever hate you," Taehyung says, breathless with the absurdity of the sheer idea. When every breath, every heartbeat of Taehyung's has only ever been in unlimited adoration for the boy in his very arms; when Jungkook is the center around which he gravitates.
Jungkook trembles in his arms and Taehyung holds him tighter.
"My heart would have to stop beating, for it to stop loving you," Taehyung murmurs into the crown of Jungkook's hair, and Jungkook's arms tighten around his chest.
"My heart would have to stop beating, for it to stop loving you," Taehyung murmurs into the crown of Jungkook's hair, and Jungkook's arms tighten around his chest.
"You're the only thing I've ever wanted," Taehyung swears, the prayer of a religious man in the face of his personal god. "Everything I've never known I /could/ want."
Jungkook cries anew, as though even relief were enough to trigger his tears.
Jungkook cries anew, as though even relief were enough to trigger his tears.
"Please," Taehyung says, now his turn to beg. "Please, darling, stop crying, I can't bear it."
Jungkook finally, finally leans back to look up at him, and oh, there he is.
Taehyung's entire perfect universe, gazing up at him from in his arms.
Jungkook finally, finally leans back to look up at him, and oh, there he is.
Taehyung's entire perfect universe, gazing up at him from in his arms.
"But you-"
Taehyung - for the first time in /days/ - lays a hand against Jungkook's cheek, and Jungkook sinks bonelessly into it with a sigh.
"I thought. I didn't want you to be afraid," Taehyung says quietly.
Taehyung - for the first time in /days/ - lays a hand against Jungkook's cheek, and Jungkook sinks bonelessly into it with a sigh.
"I thought. I didn't want you to be afraid," Taehyung says quietly.
Jungkook's eyes flash open again.
"I saw you flinch, that day," Taehyung says. "I didn't...I didn't want to frighten you, any more than I already-"
Jungkook looks gutted.
"No," he whispers, horrified. "No, no, I wasn't-"
"I saw you flinch, that day," Taehyung says. "I didn't...I didn't want to frighten you, any more than I already-"
Jungkook looks gutted.
"No," he whispers, horrified. "No, no, I wasn't-"
Taehyung's lips press together. "You don't have to-"
"No!" Jungkook insists, so forcefully that Taehyung blinks. "I wasn't, it wasn't- that wasn't me, that was Orion, I could never-"
Jungkook's eyes water once more and Taehyung hurries to hush him.
"No!" Jungkook insists, so forcefully that Taehyung blinks. "I wasn't, it wasn't- that wasn't me, that was Orion, I could never-"
Jungkook's eyes water once more and Taehyung hurries to hush him.
Jungkook buries his face in the hollow of Taehyung's throat. "You could never frighten me," he swears, and Taehyung's heart flutters. "You're- you're my home, Taehyung, you're. You're where I feel safest, with you."
Oh, Taehyung thinks.
Oh, Taehyung thinks.
Just how much love can one hold for another person, he wonders.
He'd thought he'd already loved Jungkook more than humanly possible; with every inch of his monstrous, wretched heart.
But he continues to find that there's /more/ of it.
He'd thought he'd already loved Jungkook more than humanly possible; with every inch of his monstrous, wretched heart.
But he continues to find that there's /more/ of it.
"I love you," Jungkook says then, helplessly, as though at a loss for any other way to express the overwhelming breadth of emotion he holds for Taehyung, and.
Yes.
Taehyung understands the feeling.
Yes.
Taehyung understands the feeling.
"And I you, my dragon," Taehyung murmurs back, and is rewarded with the most beautiful sight he's ever had the privilege to see - Jungkook's beaming smile, all red nose and red rimmed eyes, but sparkling brighter than any star Taehyung's ever loved.
"U-u-um, s-sirs," they hear, and both turn to look.
The old couple are in near tears, now, clutching frantically at one another and regarding Taehyung like a ticking time bomb.
"I-if-if y-you c-could let us m-m-move-"
Oh.
The old couple are in near tears, now, clutching frantically at one another and regarding Taehyung like a ticking time bomb.
"I-if-if y-you c-could let us m-m-move-"
Oh.
"Taehyung," Jungkook gasps, scandalized. "You froze them?"
Taehyung releases them from their shadows.
"I forgot," he says.
"Taehyung!"
Taehyung releases them from their shadows.
"I forgot," he says.
"Taehyung!"
-- fin.
omg idk why this became so long wtf disjofgwdfksvnbwsdo
omg idk why this became so long wtf disjofgwdfksvnbwsdo
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