Chapter Text
Pain. Excruciating pain in his left leg and his shoulder. His head is throbbing. The sensation takes over Taehyung’s entire body and mind, making it impossible to focus on anything else. Has he ever felt pain like that before? He doesn’t know, but he –
“Oh my god! Are you okay? Please, wake up.”
Taehyung twists his face. Who is screaming at him? God, that voice is ringing inside his ears, and paired with the pain, it’s insufferable. Can they shut up?
“Please wake up!”
He decides he has enough. The boy flutters his eyes open, taking in his surroundings. Okay, he’s lying on the floor, covered in dirt and – is that blood? His blood? It’s late at night, the stars shining brighter than usual. Somewhere in the distance, a car is honking. Taehyung winces as the sound rips through his ears. And hovering above him is a man – or maybe a boy – Taehyung isn’t sure. It’s too dark, and he can’t make out his features. But Taehyung does notice long, black hair, big doe eyes, and pouty lips. Oddly pale and incredibly beautiful. He must be dreaming, Taehyung decides. There’s no way a man could ever be this beautiful. He looks photoshopped in every possible way. Even his muscles seem fake.
But the way he’s carefully shaking Taehyung’s shoulders and shouting at him to wake up makes the boy frown. Huh. So, he's not dreaming.
“Stop shouting, Jesus,” Taehyung mumbles. His tongue feels furry and heavy in his mouth, and he realizes that the words come out slurred and unclear. Oh. Maybe he hurt his head too? That’s probably a bad thing, right? But somehow, he can’t bring himself to care.
The man hovering over him frowns. “Oh god, I didn’t kill you, but I made you stupid!”
Taehyung wants to argue that – no, he is, in fact, very smart, thank you very much. But his mouth doesn’t open. Actually, he can’t really move any limbs at all. Panic settles in his stomach, and the boy must sense his panicky state. Because he slings his arms underneath Taehyung’s limp body and lifts him up quickly. As if he weighed nothing. Sure, Taehyung is very slim, thanks to the malnourishment from his foster parents. But he certainly isn’t light as a feather. Taehyung hiccups in shock and can’t really do anything when the boy heaves him into the backseat of a black jeep. Oh god. Is he getting kidnapped? Since his head doesn’t seem to work as it usually would, the thought of getting kidnapped doesn’t startle Taehyung as much as it should.
The man lays Taehyung down and puts his head on a sweater or a shirt. Taehyung doesn’t know what it is, it’s too dark, and he can’t move his head to check. But it’s fluffy, smells excellent, and Taehyung feels his eyes growing heavy with each passing second.
And then, darkness surrounds him, and he falls into a comatose sleep.
***
The next time Taehyung wakes up, he’s lying comfortably. In a bed, he notices when his eyes flutter open. He’s wrapped in a soft blue blanket, his back pressed against multiple pillows. Something is beeping, and his head throbs, but the pain is more tolerable now.
But his throat is dry. Dry as sandpaper. He tries to swallow but fails. Lifting his arm, Taehyung rubs at his tired eyes and fights back a loud yawn.
“You’re awake!”
Taehyung startles at the shout, but his eyes immediately land on the voice owner. “You again!” Taehyung mumbles, a deep frown set on his face. It’s the boy with those big eyes. The one who kidnapped him. Or saved his life? Taehyung isn’t sure. Is he still dreaming?
Suddenly, three different faces appear behind the young man, and now Taehyung is confident that he isn’t really a man. He’s a boy, just like Taehyung. Eyes huge and innocent, teeth shaped like a bunny. He’s cute, Taehyung thinks. Something must be terribly wrong with his head, he thinks next.
The three men step forward, and Taehyung notices their stern, worried gazes fixated on him. It makes him squirm. Something about those eyes seems – off. Weird. Dead? Taehyung can’t put a finger on it, but it doesn’t feel nice to have those eyes linger on him.
One of them is tall and broad, a deep frown set on his face. His features seem soft; Taehyung can see the shape of dimples on his cheeks. But he looks just as photoshopped and perfect as the boy who saved him. Saved him? Taehyung isn’t sure.
The other is just as tall, slim, and lean. Absolutely beautiful with big, peachy lips, soft black hair, and delicate cheekbones. He might be the most handsome man Taehyung has ever seen. His face is perfect, absolutely god-like. Or angelic.
The third is more petite. He reminds Tae of a cat – round cheeks, stern eyes, and skin pale as snow. A shiver runs through Taehyung, and he pulls the blanket closer to his body.
“Do you know your name?” The angelic man asks.
Taehyung frowns. “Yeah. But I’m not gonna tell you.”
The cat-like man chuckles at his response and steps closer. “You don’t have to. You can leave as soon as you’re able to walk.”
“Hyung,” the doe-eyed boy whines. He pouts most adorably, eyes huge and shiny. Taehyung’s heart skips a beat, and he doesn’t even know why.
“No room for discussion, Jungkook,” Cat-Boy hisses. “You weren’t supposed to bring him into the coven at all. Namjoon is fixing him, we erase his memories, and off he goes.”
The doe-eyed boy – Jungkook – grumbles, crossing his arms in front of his chest, and lets his head hang low. Taehyung understands why the boy surrenders. Cat-Man seems scary. He wouldn’t want to argue with him either.
The man with the dimples steps forward. His hazel eyes sparkle in a way that he has never seen before. There’s no way that Color is natural. Taehyung is sure he’s using contact lenses. “I won’t be introducing myself since you won’t remember any of this anyway.”
Weird. Taehyung frowns and shifts away from the men, feeling a little terrified. What the hell? Something about these men is funny. Taehyung can’t tell what it is, but they radiate the most absurd vibe. A cold shiver runs down Taehyung’s back, and he clasps his hands tightly around the blanket.
“I think we’ll need Hobi for this,” the angelic man says. And even though his voice is quiet and soft, it carries through the room, exerting a sense of power that Taehyung has never witnessed before. It makes him sit taller in the bed, tilting his head towards the man.
Namjoon sighs and nods. “Yeah. I’m still not done with the healing.”
“What –“ Taehyung’s throat is so dry, he can’t form proper words. “What is happening here? Where am I? Are you –?”
Cat-Man fixates him and interrupts him with a snarl. “Nothing. Don’t worry.”
Don’t worry? Yeah, right. Tae is too smart and strong to let these men do their thing. They might have kidnapped him to steal his organs, but he won’t get down without a fight. When Taehyung wants to argue, trying to get out of the bed, the door opens again, and another man enters the room. Slim, perky cheeks, a dimpled smile on his face. The moment Taehyung’s eyes land on him, his mouth falls open, suddenly feeling like he’s in some sort of trance. He can’t keep his eyes off of him.
The man sits down on the bed next to Taehyung and grabs his hand. Soft eyes land on Tae, and he begins to mumble some incoherent words. Wow. Tae’s limps begin to feel heavy, and his eyes grow tired. Everything seems calm and perfect and excellent. Sleep tugs at the corners of his consciousness, pulling him deeper and deeper into a blissful state of pure relaxation.
And then, Taehyung falls asleep again.
***
When Tae opens his eyes for the third time, Dimple-Man, the guy who put him to sleep within seconds, Cat-Man, and the angelic one are in the room. They fixate on him through deep eyes, and Taehyung feels uneasy, but the moment the Put-Tae-to-sleep-guy grabs his hand, he feels calmness wash all over him. Weird. Wasn’t he just feeling anxious a second ago? What is going on?
The man sends him the softest, purest smile, and Taehyung can’t help the bubbling feeling inside his chest. He smiles droopily back at him, smile turning boxy and huge. Taehyung has no clue what’s going on, but he feels incredible, and this man next to him is so pretty and warm like sunshine.
“Awwww,” Sunshine-Man coos and pinches Taehyung’s cheek with his index finger and thumb. “He’s adorable. Do we really have to let him go?”
“Hob-ah,” Cat-Boy warns. He steps closer to the bed and throws a backpack into Taehyung’s lap. His backpack! Taehyung beams at them, still feeling high on happiness with Sunshine-Man staying close to him.
“My backpack!” Taehyung sings and hugs it close, rubbing his cheek against his most precious and only belonging. God, he’s so happy to have it with him. What would he have done if it had gotten lost?
The men frown at Taehyung but don’t comment on his odd behavior. Even if they had, Taehyung wouldn’t care. Sunshine man makes him giddy, he’s lying in the comfiest bed, and he has his backpack. Life couldn’t be better.
“You’re all healed,” angelic man chimes in. “We will erase your memories, and it’ll be like none of this has ever happened.”
Sunshine-Man squeezes his hand, and a wave of warmth and love washes through his body. Is he supposed to answer? Huh, probably. Taehyung nods easily. “Okay.”
“We will drop you anywhere you like,” Namjoon tells him. “Just tell us an address.”
Waving him off, Taehyung shakes his head easily and replies: “Oh, that won’t be necessary. Thank you.”
The men frown again, and Taehyung feels a little confused. Why are they so pouty? Life is fantastic. Everything’s great! Can’t they see that? Sunshine-Man smells so good, Taehyung thinks. Oh, is that a ladybird on the bedside table?
“We’re in the middle of nowhere. You won’t get home all by yourself,” Cat-Man argues. Suddenly, he fixates on Tae in a way that paralyzes the boy. It’s almost as if he’s in shock. Taehyung’s mind cuts short, and all he can do is stare back with no thoughts in his brain. “Where do you live? We’ll drive you home.“
He tells him the address of his foster parents as if he’s on autopilot. The place he ran away from and never wants to get back to. But technically, that’s where he lives. He has no control of his mouth whatsoever. And for some strange reason, his brain works on its own.
Cat-Man nods and turns to the others. “Let’s get this over with.”
***
After heading to a mysterious underground parking lot, the angelic man, Sunshine-Man, Cat-Man, and Taehyung get inside a big, black G-Wagon. Taehyung stares at the expensive car in awe and can’t close his mouth. This car is new, he realizes. It must cost more than his foster parents‘ house.
Sunshine-Man holds his hand tightly, the high and endorphins rushing through Taehyung’s body like buzzing energy. It’s like soft summer air surrounds him. He feels floaty and light, so perfect.
He sits at the back of the car, hands tightly clasped around Sunshine’s.
“What’s your name?” Taehyung asks, turning his head towards Sunshine-Man.
“Don’t,” Cat-Man warns. Taehyung isn’t sure who he’s talking to. But Taehyung shuts his mouth anyway, pressing his lips together tightly and staring out the window. Cat-Man is scary with his piercing eyes, tight jaw, and constant frown on his face. During the ride, Taehyung stares out of the window with zero thoughts in his brain. Life is good, life is fantastic, he keeps singing inside his head.
He flinches when they reach the street where Taehyung’s foster parents live.
“Huh,” Sunshine makes. “I suddenly have to work a lot harder to keep him happy. Are you okay, sweetheart?”
Taehyung nods, feeling numb. The angelic man driving the car frowns but doesn’t comment on it. Tae can feel his stern gaze on him, and it’s – not pleasant. Maybe even uncomfortable.
“Guys,” Sunshine says. “I don’t have a good feeling about this. Jin-Hyung, can’t you make an exception and tell us what you see?”
The angelic man – Jin – clasps his jaw tightly together and shakes his head. “You know the rules, Hob-ah.”
“Yoongi-Hyung, what is he thinking?”
Cat-Man sighs. “Nothing. You’re manipulating his emotions, Hob-ah. He isn’t thinking anything right now.”
Hobi hums in disappointment and turns to Taehyung, grabbing his shoulders. “Even if I‘m not okay with this, you have to go now. Take care, okay?”
Taehyung doesn’t understand anything. His mind still feels floaty and effortless. Who are these men? And what is he doing here? Where is he? What is happening?
One stare into Taehyung’s eyes, and his mind goes blank. Empty. Grey.
He steps out of a random black car, feeling totally lost. Turning his head around, he tries to locate where he is until his eyes land on that horrible dark blue house at the corner. The place he fled from. The house he never wants to set foot in ever again. Taehyung grabs his backpack and runs.
***
He’s been running for an hour, forward and forward, away from that house of hell. A familiar sting in his chest eventually forces Taehyung to stop. He can’t run any longer. His steps slow down, and he takes in his surroundings for the first time. Where the hell is he?
The area doesn’t seem very friendly – graffiti is sprayed on the walls, empty beer bottles on the ground, trash is littering everywhere. And to Taehyung’s misery, it’s now getting dark. He gasps for air, massaging his chest. Fuck, he needs a place to sleep for the night. But where is he supposed to go? Turning his head around, he tries to scan the area for anything. Tae doesn’t have any money, so he can’t book a hotel room. He doesn’t have any friends he could sleepover either.
And his foster parents – well. Not an option.
A heavy sigh leaves Taehyung’s lips. It’s getting darker with each passing second, and he shouldn’t stray the streets in the dark. So, he keeps walking and eventually turns left into a dark alley. When he finds a big trash container, he shrugs his shoulders and squeezes behind it. The trash container smells, and it’s large – people won’t be looking for him here.
Taehyung hugs his backpack close and rubs his nose in it. Sometimes, Taehyung thinks it still smells like his grandma, who passed away one and a half years ago. God, he misses her so much. Misses her cooked ramen, her smile, and how she sang when she cleaned. Misses her hugs, her smell, and how she hugged Taeyhung to sleep. Tears form in his eyes, but he forces them away. This isn’t the time nor the place to cry, goddamnit.
He just prays to the heavens that it won’t start raining. Leaning his head against the cold metallic of the trash container, Taehyung closes his eyes. Maybe, if he’s lucky, he’ll actually fall asleep. He’d have to ask around for some pennies and get himself some food tomorrow. Perhaps he can find a place that would hire him. He could be a dishwasher or a cleaner, right?
Sleep eventually takes over Taehyung, but it’s unsettling and very short.
Because he wakes up only after what feels like an hour of sleep to someone vehemently shaking his shoulders. When Taehyung blinks his eyes open in confusion, he notices three things: 1. He’s soaking wet since it’s raining cats and dogs. 2. It’s still dark, so it must be night. And 3. a man who remarkably looks like a cat kneels in front of him, huge eyes staring down at Taehyung.
“Hey,” the Cat-Man says.
Taehyung frowns. He should probably be terrified of this stranger. The man certainly looks terrifying, but for some strange reason, Tae isn’t. Have they met before? He doesn’t think so, but he seems oddly familiar.
The man sighs. “Come. Come with me.”
The familiar vibe might be comforting, maybe. But going with that stranger? Hell Nah. Taehyung shakes his head. “No, what the hell?”
“It’s pouring!” The man shouts over the heavy rain. “What are you even doing here?”
Taehyung frowns. “I’m sleeping. Can’t you see?”
“Sleeping in the pouring rain in a dark alley? Are you insane? Get up!” The man grabs Tae’s shoulders and aggressively pulls him up to his feet. Taehyung clings to his backpack and stares at him in shock.
“Let go of me!”
The man clicks his tongue in annoyance. “Fuck, I need Hob-ah for this.” Then, he grabs Taehyung and flings him over his shoulder. And Tae? He screams at the top of his lungs. Holy shit. He’s getting kidnapped! Oh god, they’re going to take his organs, or they’re going to force him into a sex trafficking ring or –
“Shut up,” the man hisses. “I’m not kidnapping you. I’m making sure you’re safe.”
“What the fuck?” Taehyung shrieks. “You can hear my thoughts?”
“Yes, so shut up,” the man hisses. They’re in front of a car with a swoop, and Taehyung feels dizzy by the sudden movement. His stomach rumbles, and when the man puts him on the floor, Taehyung sways. But the Cat-Man reaches out to him and grabs him by the waist to steady him. Taehyung can’t help the blush that creeps on his face. He’s just a boy, after all.
“Get inside,” the man shouts and opens the door for Taehyung, pushing him onto the passenger's seat. The moment Tae sits inside, his body starts shivering. Holy shit. He hadn’t realized how cold he was until now.
When the man slides into the driver's seat, he throws one quick glance at Taehyung, puts on the heater and the seat heating, and reaches behind him. He grabs a jacket from the backseat and hands it to Taehyung. “Here, take this. You’ll freeze to death, kid.”
Taehyung gladly accepts the warm jacket and throws it over his slim shoulders, gibbering and clattering teeth. He frantically looks around and realizes that the car seems pretty new and very expensive. Even the smell reminds him of fresh leather and cleaning supplies. This man must be rich.
When the man starts the car, Taehyung doesn’t even say anything anymore and forces his mind to stay quiet. He’s getting kidnapped for sure. There’s no other explanation for this. And he’s seen enough movies, okay? Those kidnappers are usually aggressive, and it’s best to keep quiet and not get on their nerves. That way, he’ll survive longer.
“I’m not kidnapping you,” the man mumbles while staring ahead. He doesn’t really pay attention to Taehyung.
“Damn it,” Taehyung hisses, a thin line between his eyebrows as he studies the man’s side profile. “You can really hear my thoughts, can you?”
The man sighs, still not looking at Taehyung. “Yes.”
“Okay,” Tae states, bottom lip between his teeth. “Prove it. What am I thinking?”
Banana milk. Oreo shake. Giraffe. Lady Gaga.
Cat-Man chuckles, clearly amused about Taehyung’s little test. “You thought Banana milk. Oreo shake. Giraffe. Lady Gaga. Oh, and you call me Cat-Man.”
“Holy shit,” Tae mumbles, an unsettling feeling inside his tummy now. “I’m never thinking again.”
The man actually laughs at that statement. “You can’t force yourself to not think, kid. Just accept it. I promise nothing you think could ever shock me.”
Taehyung raises an unimpressed eyebrow at that. “Maybe. But I’m still fussy about my privacy.”
However, the man seems just as unfazed as before. He only shrugs and says: “Just accept that there’s no privacy with me.“
Crossing his arms in front of his chest, Tae grumbles, dissatisfied. This was not the answer he was hoping for. He tries to keep quiet, but after a short moment of silence, he asks: “Where are you taking me?”
“Home,” the man replies. Just that one word. And it makes Taehyung panic.
His eyes go huge. “To my foster parents? Are you from the police? The youth welfare office? Please don’t take me there, please. I’ll do anything; I –“
A surprisingly soft hand wraps around Taehyung’s, hitting him with surprise. Even though the heater is on the highest setting, the man's hand is ice-cold. Taehyung frowns, but the man already continues talking. “I’m not from the police. Don’t worry, you’re coming home with me.”
Taehyung visibly relaxes at that statement. “Oh, thank god.”
And that’s when Tae realizes that no matter where this man is taking him – anything would be better than the place he came from. Knowing that gives him a sense of comfort, and he leans back in the seat, hand firmly clasped around Cat-Man’s. Because even though his hand is cold, the touch is comforting. Nice even. Taehyung hums in his newfound contentment.
The man hesitates for a second. Then, he asks: “That bad?”
Taehyung gulps, but his voice is firm when he replies: “Yes.”
***
When the Cat-Man enters a luxurious-looking villa, Taehyung feels too dirty and small and insignificant to follow him inside. But the man grabs his hand and drags him inside the gigantic hallway anyway.
When Taehyung looks up, his breath hitches, and he backs up against the door with a loud thud. Five men are standing in the hallway, staring them down.
Taehyung whimpers in fear, but the Cat-Man puts a soft hand on his shoulder and squeezes reassuringly. And then, a man steps forward, eyes bright and a smile so vast it's flashing him like the sun. Taehyung blinks in awe. Sunshine, he thinks. Sunshine, sunshine, sunshine.
The Cat-Man smiles at that thought.
“Oh my god,” Sunshine sings. Oh, his voice is pretty. “You brought him back!”
And then, slender arms wrap around Taehyung’s shoulder, pressing him firmly against a muscular chest. And the feeling – god. Taehyung melts in this man’s arms. Sunshine, warmth, rainbows, butterflies, and Unicorns explode inside Taehyung. He feels like the fuzziest, warmest, most comforting blanket of happiness and love has been wrapped around him. Taehyung never wants to let go. He nuzzles his nose inside this stranger’s neck and breathes in deeply.
“Enough.”
The men jump apart in shock, heads turning back around and now staring at the voice owner.
And there, in the middle of the grand hallway, stands a man so powerful and angelic and impossibly handsome that Taehyung’s mouth falls open in awe. He blinks at the man feeling a sudden sense of respect and submission. He grabs Sunshine’s arm and clings to him for comfort.
“Hyung,” Cat-Man bows in front of the Angel. “I had to. I’m sorry.”
Angel-Man only nods shortly. “I know.” Then, after a short pause: “I prepared food for him.”
Taehyung blinks. Food for – for who? Is he going to eat dinner with them? That’s – that’s not. That’s not okay! He smells like trash!
“You can shower later,” Cat-Man replies to Taehyung’s string of thoughts. “First, you need to eat something. I know you’re starving.”
Taehyung nods slowly and lets his eyes wander through the room. In the left corner, a gorgeous doe-eyed boy with broad shoulders and bunny teeth sits on a plush chair, his body curled around a petite, pretty man with sharp eyes and jaw, curious gaze, slim waist, and plush lips. Pretty, Taehyung thinks. They’re all so gorgeous. Even the tall one with fluffy brown hair and dimples who looks grumpy and angry is pretty. And Taehyung? He isn’t sure, but he doesn’t feel comfortable with how the man is staring down at him. Tae would rather cling to Sunshine Man. Or even Cat-Man.
He misses the soft, knowing smile on Cat-Man’s face.
Sunshine drags him into the kitchen, and Taehyung stares. The walls are impossibly high; the wall on the right is made of glass and shows the enormous wonderful garden. The kitchen looks expensive and luxurious in an old-fashioned way. That stove must be ancient, but it shines and looks polished in the best way possible. These men have money, a lot of it. That’s for sure. And Taehyung feels even worse for intruding.
With a firm grip, Sunshine forces him to sit down in a comfortable chair and plops down at the end of the table. The chair is probably from some crazy designer, and Tae cringes at the fact that his jeans are muddy and moist. Taehyung feels incredibly nasty. God, he slept next to a trash can, and his clothes are smelly.
The others have somehow disappeared or simply haven’t followed them into the kitchen. It’s just Sunshine and Angel and Taehyung.
“I hope you like Ramen,” the Angel-Man says quietly, moving around in the huge kitchen. But he’s not really moving, no. Taehyung would instead call it floating, gliding, or even flying. His movements are so smooth and elegant that Taehyung can’t keep his eyes away from that incredibly handsome and impressive man.
Taehyung’s eyes go huge at the mention of his favorite dish. “I – god, I love ramen.”
For some strange reason, the man blinks at him. Then, a surprisingly soft smile stretches all over his face. He looks a lot younger like this – more approachable. Cute, even. Lovely,” he replies and puts a cup of hot ramen in front of him. “How incredibly lovely.”
“I’m – I’m allowed to eat that?”
An upset frown settles on Angel-Man‘s face. “What do you mean? I cooked it just for you, of course, you can eat it. All of it.”
Just for you. The words echoe inside his brain.
Taehyung stares at the cup of delicious-smelling ramen and feels tears swell in his eyes. “I –“ he chokes. “Thank you. The last time someone cooked Ramen for me was my grandma. This means a lot.”
The Angel-Man sits down next to him and studies Taehyung’s face softly. “She’s no longer with you?”
Taehyung shakes his head, gulping and forcing his tears away. He hates crying, so he tries to pull himself together.
A soft hum slips past the man’s lips. “Eat. You need some food in your belly.”
Taehyung eats all of it. He gulps down every last bit and eventually slums back into the chair, feeling blissful and stuffed. Then, his eyes go huge. “I ate all of it. I didn’t even leave anything for you!”
But the man only chuckles. “We already ate. I already told you I cooked for you and only you.”
Taehyung frowns. “But how did you know I was coming?”
Tilting his head, the man smiles at him, a vague smile that confuses Taehyung even more. “Let’s say I had a gut feeling.”
Taehyung’s frown only deepens, but he shrugs and decides not to ask questions. This might be a trap, and they still might put him into a sex trafficking ring, but so far, he loves it here. It smells nice, the men seem kind enough, the house is incredible, and Taehyung wants to check out the garden.
Suddenly the doe-eyed boy appears in the kitchen. He seems shy, the way he avoids Tae’s curious eyes and keeps his eyes focused on either the floor or the Angel-Man. But he doesn’t need to be because Angel-Man calls him closer. “Jungkook, can you bring our guest to the bathroom? Borrow him some clothes, please. He needs to shower.”
“Yes, Hyung.” The boy – Jungkook – bows in front of him and turns towards Taehyung. “Follow me, please.”
***
Once Taehyung is done with his shower in the most luxurious bathroom he has ever seen, he puts on a pair of fresh new boxer briefs, black sweatpants, and a giant sweater. The clothes are too big for him, but they are comfy and smell incredible. Somehow, the smell seems familiar to him, but he doesn’t know where he has smelled it before.
When Taehyung steps out of the bathroom, he hears loud voices from the living room. Or at least what Tae thinks is the living room. Tae carefully shuffles down the dark hallway closer to the noises. Someone is arguing. That much is clear. With a tight feeling in his chest, Taehyung points his ears and tries to listen as carefully as possible.
“...can’t stay here, Hobi.”
“He’s just a boy, Namjoon! How can you be so heartless?”
“I’m not heartless. I’m realistic! Yoongi-Hyung, you were on my side! What happened? How the fuck did you end up bringing a stray kid back into the coven?”
Taehyung hears a sigh. Then: “Hobi made me reconsider. He’s always right about emotions, Joon. I couldn’t hear his thoughts since Hobi did his thing with the boy. But Hob-ah said he felt something weird about him, and I listened. Namjoon, you should have seen how he started running away once he saw that house. He was terrified.”
It’s silent for a moment.
“When we got home, I couldn’t stop thinking about him. I just wanted to make sure he’s alright. And then I found him sleeping in this dark alley, soaked in the pouring rain. Namjoon, he was sleeping next to a trashcan!”
Silence. Oh god, this is mortifying. Taehyung feels incredibly embarrassed.
“Something is up with that kid,” Cat-Man concludes. “I heard his thoughts. He – he doesn’t have a home. We can’t let him sleep on the streets.”
“We can’t adopt any stray kid either, Yoongi.” That’s Angel Man’s voice; Taehyung is sure of it.
“He’s not just any kid!” Sunshine argues. “He ran in front of Kookie’s car. Out of every single car he could’ve run in front of, it was our Kookie’s. That must mean something! Jin Hyung, I saw your face. You’re just as fond of him as we are. I can feel your fondness from here, Hyung.”
Silence again. Taehyung holds his breath, but his mind is swirling, feeling bewildered. Who is Kookie? Who ran in front of Kookie’s car? “I’m also worried about Jungkook. What if he –“
“Hyung, I’ve been so good! I even saved him, and he was covered in blood. I’ve got myself under control, I promise! Can we please keep him, please?”
“Jungkook-ah, he’s not a pet. He’s a human being,” Angel-Man chuckles. “And I know you’ve got yourself under control, bunny.”
The soft endearment makes something inside Taehyung flutter. So gentle, so loving, so caring. The last time he felt genuine love like this was when his grandma was still alive.
“What if he doesn’t want to stay with us?” A new voice. A voice he hasn’t heard before. So soft and pretty. Maybe it belongs to the petite man he saw earlier?
It’s silent again.
“Let’s just ask him. Hey, kiddo.” Taehyung freezes. “Mind joining us?”
Loud footsteps echoe through the hallway, and then, cat-man walks around the corner, Jungkook following close and holds out his hand. Taehyung blushes furiously and ducks his head in embarrassment. The doe-eyed boy chuckles cutely as he watches Taehyung take Cat-Man’s hand and gets up, following him into the living room.
He shuffles behind Cat-Man and carefully sits at the edge of the gigantic beige couch, hands fidgeting in his hands. Sunshine immediately plops down next to him and grabs his hand softly. A sudden wave of calm washes over Taehyung, and he feels relaxed. Less anxious.
“So,” Angel man begins. “As you could hear, we are trying to figure out what to do next. What about you? Would you like to stay a couple of days?” Angel-Man asks, voice soft and comforting. He moves, and Taehyung blinks in surprise. Did the man just fly? Or did his eyes trick him?
“I – I don’t have money,” Taehyung mumbles, eyes darting through the room in mild panic. The moment goes as quickly as it comes when Sunshine squeezes his hand softly.
“Money?” Tall dimple-man asks in confusion, eyes blinking rapidly and – oh. That looks cute. Very cute. “What does that have anything to do with it?”
“I –“ Tae stutters. “I can’t pay you.”
“Why would you – you don’t have to pay us,” Tall dimple-man says, looking exasperated and almost offended.
Shutting his mouth, Tae wiggles his feet in confusion. “So, you’re just – You’re just letting me stay for free?”
“You have nowhere to go,” Cat-Man argues. “You can’t sleep on the streets. We –“ He throws tall dimple-man a stern look. “I won’t let you.”
“You wanted to get rid of him first,” the tall dimple-man argues and crosses his arms in front of his chest.
“That was before I knew he was sleeping next to a trashcan!” Cat-Man hisses.
Taehyung blushes again and ducks his head.
“You’re sleeping here tonight,” Angel-Man states in a tone that leaves no room for discussion. The entire room falls silent the second he speaks up. “And tomorrow, we can figure this out. Maybe we can find you somewhere to stay.”
Taehyung snorts in disbelief but shrugs anyway. “Sure.”
Cat-Man throws him a worried glance, but Taehyung ignores him. “Thank you for allowing me to stay.”
Taehyung is probably the most stupid man on the planet for agreeing to sleep here tonight. But he’s homeless. Where else is he supposed to go? Back to the dark alley and the pouring rain? No, thank you. He doesn’t know who these men are and what they’re planning on doing with him. They seem very nice, but how can he be sure? This could still be a trick! But honestly? He doesn’t even care. Let them do anything, he thinks. He’d give up his body to have a nice roof under his head and –
“Don’t even finish that thought.”
Taehyung flinches, caught in the middle of his train of thoughts.
“And we’re not doing anything to you, I promise. You’ve got nothing to worry about.”
When Sunshine squeezes his hand, Taehyung believes him.
“And by the way,” Cat-Man says. “Even though I like Cat-Man, my real name’s Yoongi.”
The boys coo at the nickname. Oh god. The blush that creeps up on Taehyung’s face shows the mortification that Taehyung is feeling right now.
“Cat-Man?” Gorgeous doe-eyed boy asks with huge eyes. “I love that nickname! Hyung, Hyung, what nickname did he give me?”
“Don’t you dare,” Taehyung hisses, but Yoongi already grins, looking even more like a cat.
“Gorgeous doe-eyed boy,” Yoongi replies. Taehyung groans in embarrassment and hides his face behind his free hand.
Sunshine and pretty petite boy break into fits of giggles at that. “What’s mine? Yoong-ah, what’s mine?”
Yoongi’s face goes soft when he replies: “Sunshine.”
The coos and awws that echo through the room make Taehyung’s cheeks burn with embarrassment.
He notices the amused spark in Angel-Man’s eyes and thinks, fuck it. At this point, he embarrassed himself to the end of no return. He’ll never recover from this ever again. The only way to deal with it is to embrace it. So, when Yoongi says: “Jimin is pretty petite boy, Namjoon is tall dimple-man, and Jin Hyung is Angel Man,” Taehyung accepts it with a shrug of his shoulder.
The rest of the men coo even louder.
“Angel-Man,” the god-like figure – Jin – hums with an amused spark in his eyes. “Huh. I like that.”
“Don’t,” Taehyung mumbles. He still hides behind his hand in despair.
“Well, I love my nickname. My real name is Hobi, but you can call me Sunshine all you want!” Hobi says and squeezes Taehyung’s hand. The embarrassment ebbs into a soft, tingling sensation, and Taehyung can breathe again.
“You can call me pretty all you want,” the petite boy says with a soft smile. “I’m Jimin.”
Jimin. Pretty. Taehyung nods in acknowledgment.
Jungkook waves at him. “I’m Jungkook, but I think you already know that.”
Taehyung hums in agreement and looks at the tall, dimple man.
The man still seems uncertain and eventually sighs. “I’m Namjoon. Nice to meet you.”
“I’m Seokjin, but you can call me Jin,” Jin tells him. God, he’s so graceful. How does he do that? "And what's your name, sweetheart?"
Taehyung licks his lips, feeling shy all of a sudden. "Um. It's Taehyung."
The boys smile at him, but Jin already continues: “Taehyung. You’ll sleep in one of our guest rooms tonight. Jungkook will show you the way. If you need anything, just ask. We will be happy to provide it for you.”
Taehyung nods. He feels like he should bow or something since Jin is talking so formally. Since Jin vibrates so much authority, it makes Taehyung shiver.
“I don’t need anything. Thanks.”
When Jungkook guides him upstairs, Taehyung isn’t sure he’ll ever find his way back. This place is gigantic, and the hallways look the same but so different. And it’s dark, so it’s difficult to make out certain distinguishing elements and details he could later on recognize.
“This is your room for tonight,” Jungkook says. He shuffles back and forth, looking unsure of what to do. “Umm. Well. Don’t be afraid to call one of us if you need anything. Okay?”
Taehyung nods. “Yeah, thank you.”
“I’m really glad you’re here,” Jungkook mumbles. “Even if it might seem like we’re not as welcoming. We love guests.”
Taehyung’s heart skips a beat at the soft confession, and he feels the strong desire to wrap his arms around Jungkook’s shoulders and press him close against his chest. He doesn’t, obviously. God, they just met. But still. The desire is there.
The boy leaves Taehyung alone when he steps into the guest room.
***
It’s still dark outside, and Taehyung wishes he knew what time it was now. His phone got wet from the rain and doesn’t work anymore, and he’s never owned a watch before. It must be around 3 am Taehyung guesses. But he really doesn’t have a clue. He rocks back and forth in the coziest bed he has ever laid in, but he can’t calm down enough to fall asleep. The anxiety keeps him awake. All his fears eating away at him. Where will he stay after tomorrow? Where will he sleep? What will he do? And also, he needs a second pillow or a plushie to cuddle close to. He can’t fall asleep otherwise.
Taehyung scratches his skin, a welcoming burn that distracts him for a short moment. But the thoughts come flooding back.
A sudden knock on the door startles Taehyung. It causes him to jump up, and he quickly shouts: “Yes?”
He doesn’t expect Jimin to slip his head past the door when the it opens. But the petite man smiles softly at him and says: “Hey you.”
Taehyung blinks at the pretty boy in confusion.
“May I come in?”
Taehyung nods hastily and pulls Jungkook’s sweater straight. “Of course.”
“Yoongi-Hyung heard your thoughts, and Hobi-Hyung sensed your emotions,” Jimin explains. Taehyung pretends to understand what he means with a nod and a confused smile.
Jimin sits down on the bed next to him and hands him a giant cup of steaming tea. “For you. Fresh chamomile and lavender. It should calm you down.”
Taehyung sniffs at the tea and thinks, fuck it. He doesn’t really care. If they want to poison him, they might as well do it.
Jimin watches him take a small, tentative sip. “You aren’t alright,” he softly mumbles.
Taehyung only shrugs. “I’m doing better than a few days ago. That’s an improvement, right?”
“You’re sitting in a house full of strangers fighting your anxiety on your own. You might call that an improvement, but it’s definitely not great.”
Taehyung frowns. “I know how fucked up my situation is. Thank you for reminding me.”
Jimin raises his eyebrows and hastily shakes his head. His eyes look big and apologetic when he rambles: “No, I didn’t mean it like that. I’m worried about you. That’s what I meant.”
Taehyung rolls his eyes. He can’t help it. The irritation takes over him. Even though he doesn’t want to be rude to Jimin, the words slip out of his mouth without thinking: “You don’t even know me.”
“So?” Jimin easily replies. “Can I not worry about you?”
The tea warms Taehyung’s chest, and he feels his eyelids getting heavier with each passing second. He mumbles: “Nobody worries about me.”
“That’s not true,” Jimin replies, voice incredibly soft. “We worry. A lot, actually. Even Namjoon Hyung,” he stops for a moment and tilts his head. “Maybe, especially Namjoon-Hyung.”
Taehyung doesn’t argue with him; he doesn’t have the energy. The tea works wonders on him, lulling him into a state of relaxation. But then, Jimin speaks up again. “Yoongi Hyung said you needed something to fall asleep.”
Taehyung frowns, but then Jimin gets a small stuffed brown bear from underneath his sweater and hands it to Taehyung. “For you.”
The boy blinks at the plushie in shock. “Wait, what?”
“It’s for you. You don’t like sleeping without something to cuddle, right?”
Taehyung nods, but he still doesn’t understand. “I - can I keep him?”
Jimin laughs and pushes the teddy bear into Taehyung’s arms. “Of course. He’s yours now. You can name him and cuddle him all you want.”
And Taehyung? He might actually start crying any minute now. He hasn't received anything over the last one and a half years. No present, no money, not even new clothes. This – this means the world to him.
Jimin reaches out and grabs his hand, squeezing in comfort. “I hope you can sleep well tonight. If you need anything, please call us. Okay?”
Taehyung nods, swallowing down the tears. “This is perfect. Thank you so much.”
When Jimin gets up, he takes the empty cup from Tae's hand, nudges Tae into the bed, grabs the blanket, and wraps it around Tae’s body. “Here. I’ll make it comfy for you.”
And boy, he does. He fluffs out the pillows and positions them in the most perfect way. Taehyung’s eyelids grow heavier and heavier, and Taehyung pulls the stuffed bear close to his chest. “Thank you, Jimin-ssi.”
Jimin gently pats Taehyung’s cheek and replies. “Call me Hyung. Sleep well, sweetheart.”
***
A soft hand nudges Taehyung’s shoulder, waking him up. Tae blinks in surprise and tilts his head, mind still fuzzy from sleep. His eyes land on Jungkook first since he’s standing at the edge of the bed, looking at Taehyung through curious eyes.
Then, he notices Hobi sitting at the edge of the bed and holding Taehyung’s shoulder. “Hyung made breakfast for you,” he greets him with the happiest sunshine smile. Taehyung can’t help but smile back.
“For me?”
“Mhmm,” Hobi replies. “I know you’re hungry.”
Taehyung snorts, half amused, half startled that both Yoongi and Hobi can read him like an open book. “Of course you do. You and your weird magic.”
Hobi raises his eyebrows in surprise, shifting on the bed to give Taehyung some space. Jungkook watches them curiously. “Magic?”
When Taehyung gets out of bed, he nods and waves his hand around Hobi’s head. “The way you manipulate my feelings. I can feel it, you know? When you touch me, I don’t feel like myself.”
Hobi opens his mouth and exchanges a quick questioning glance with Jungkook, who only shrugs. “I didn’t think you’d notice so soon.”
Taehyung frowns. “Ah-ha. So you admit it? That you can manipulate emotions?” Tae turns towards Jungkook. “And you? What’s your superpower? Yoongi can read minds, and Hobi can manipulate emotions. What about you?”
“It’s not manipulation,” Hobi argues, jutting his bottom lip out. “I can make you feel things. You actually feel it. So, it’s more about creating a feeling inside of you, rather than manipulating you.”
Tae opens his mouth. “That’s even worse. You’re telling me these floaty happy emotions are actually my feelings? I’m capable of feeling those things?”
“Well,” Hobi tilts his head. “Yes. But you probably wouldn’t be able to feel them this strongly without my trigger. I trigger them within you. You probably don’t have access to those strong emotions yourself.”
Taehyung exchanges a questioning look with Jungkook, but the boy only shrugs. “Don’t ask me. I’m also just figuring it all out.”
He hums and zips up Jungkook’s black hoodie. It doesn’t smell as strongly anymore, and Taehyung is a little sad about that. Maybe Jungkook will borrow him another hoodie.
Following the two men through the hallway and into the kitchen, Taehyung tries to take in as much as possible. But he quickly realizes that the house is too big for him to remember everything In just a couple of hours.
When Tae shuffles inside the huge open-spaced kitchen, he notices all six men sitting at the kitchen table, staring at him expectantly.
“Good Morning,” Jin greets him. Tae shuffles from one foot to the other awkwardly, unsure what to do with himself now. When Hobi wants to reach out to him, Tae shakes his head.
“I want to be in control of my own emotions,” Tae explains, and Hobi nods in understanding.
“Fair enough,” Hobi winks at him. “The others don’t want to use my magic either.”
“Magic?” Namjoon raises a skeptical eyebrow, his broad arms crossed in front of his chest. He looks good in the daylight, Taehyung thinks. His hair falls over his eyebrows, and he looks sleepy but cute.
“Yes, Hyung. He called it superpowers!” Jungkook excitedly wiggles his toes and grins at the elder.
But Namjoon only huffs and turns his head away from Taehyung, clenching his jaw. And ouch. That hurts like a knife has been stabbed into his chest.
“I made you breakfast,” Jin explains, filling the lack of conversation from Namjoon. “I didn’t know what you like. So, we have cereals, pancakes, toast, croissants, eggs, cheese, jam, butter, peanut butter, and chocolate milk. Do you like coffee?”
Taehyung scrunches his nose and shakes his head.
Jin chuckles. “No coffee. How about tea?”
Taehyung bites his bottom lip. “Um. Yes, please, thank you. But not the same as last night. I’d like to stay awake.”
Yoongi snorts and sits down at the table, grabbing a newspaper and opening it. But Jin pointedly ignores him and says: “Got it.”
“Sit, sit,” Hobi shushes and forces Taehyung to sit down on the free chair.
Awkwardly playing with the hem of Jungkook’s sweater, Taehyung stares at the feast meal standing in front of him. “Jin-ssi, you didn’t have to prepare all of this. A simple toast with butter would’ve been enough.”
Jin stops dead in his tracks, dropping the tea bag, and blinks at him in utter confusion.
“Oh no,” Jimin jokes, who sits on Taehyung’s left and squeezes Taehyung’s shoulder. “Now, you offended him.”
Tae opens his eyes wide and asks: “I did? I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to, I just –“
“Hyung loves cooking,” Jungkook explains. “But he doesn’t really have anyone who ... um. Who enjoys the type of food he cooks. So, it’s like the best thing he can cook for you!”
Taehyung blinks. “Oh.” Weird. “Okay. But this food looks amazing. How come you don’t like it?”
Jungkook searches Namjoon’s and Yoongi’s eyes for help, clearly struggling to come up with an explanation. Namjoon only grunts, making Yoongi sigh heavily. “We follow a particular diet. It’s not Jin’s fault he can’t match our tastes and preferences.”
Taehyung frowns but doesn’t continue asking questions. Let them starve, he thinks. That way, he’ll have more to eat for himself. So, he lunges forward and grabs a slice of toast, a croissant, cheese, strawberries – everything he can reach. He stuffs his mouth full of any food he can manage at lighting speed, gurgling down some juice.
“Easy, easy, Tiger,” Jimin chuckles and nudges Taehyung’s elbow. “You’re not going to starve here.”
Taehyung struggles to chew all the food in his mouth, but once he swallows, he replies: “I don't know when I'll get something to eat next.” He grabs an egg and places it on his plate. “Need to eat as much as I can.”
He’s in a trance, eating and eating and eating until eventually, Jungkook and Hobi have to pull him away from the kitchen table, making Taehyung whine in protest. “I’m not finished!”
“You can eat later. I’m sure Jin will gladly cook you lunch and dinner and prepare snacks for you,” Hobi mumbles and massages Taehyung’s shoulders. But Tae’s emotions stay the same. For some reason, it surprises Tae that Hobi respects his decision even if he’s clearly in distress and could need some endorphins right now.
Taehyung breathes through his nostrils and throws a questioning glance at Jin, eyes huge and lips pouty. “Please?”
The way Jin’s heart breaks at the adorable request of the young boy is clear to all of them except to Taehyung. “Of course, sweetheart,” Jin rushes to say. “Hyung will cook everything for you. Just tell me what you want, and we’ll cook it, okay?”
A massive wave of relief floods through Taehyung’s body. He won’t have to starve! At least not for the next 24 hours. God, what a luxurious life he’s living here. His foster parents usually allowed him to eat once a day. And here, he can get breakfast, lunch, and dinner? And snacks? Taehyung feels giddy at the thought. But it makes Hobi wince, probably sensing Taehyung’s emotional state. Yoongi also clicks his tongue in distaste and stares at Taehyung through worried eyes.
“So,” Taehyung eventually says, careful not to cross any lines, but he must ask. “It’s okay if I stay until dinner. Right?”
Namjoon avoids Taehyung’s questioning eyes and stares outside into the green garden.
All boys look at Jin.
“Hyung, please,” Jimin pouts. “Please!”
It’s quiet for a short moment, and even though Taehyung doesn’t have the same magic as Hobi, he can still sense the tense atmosphere in the room. Jimin clings to a water bottle. Yoongi’s hand is tightly curled around the newspaper. Jungkook fidgets in his seat, and Hobi clenches his jaw in anxiety.
A huge sigh leaves Jin’s chest. “Merlin. Of course, you can stay.”
Taehyung nods in relief and scratches his head.
“Aren’t you going to go back to your family?” Namjoon raises his head and stares directly into Jungkook’s eyes. “Don’t they miss you?”
Panic bubbles inside his chest at the mention of his family. He doesn’t have a family. All he has is the memory of the people that once were his family and are now dead. Those terrible people who took him in for the foster care money aren’t his family, and they never will be.
Hobi squeezes his arm, probably fighting the urge to comfort Taehyung. But Tae only sinks his bottom teeth into his lips and says: “I don’t have a family. Nobody misses me.”
“So, you ran away from home?”
Tae shakes his head. He’s strong. He can do this. Just answer his damn questions, Taehyung thinks. “I don’t have a home.”
“But where did you live before you slept in that dark alley?” Namjoon keeps digging, shuffling forward. Taehyung gulps and shuffles back.
“Namjoon,” Hobi hisses. “He clearly doesn’t want to talk about it.”
“Well, since he’s clearly going to move in here with the way you all swoon over him, he should at least tell us if anyone will file a police report against us for kidnapping a young boy. He’s not even 18 yet. This is illegal!”
Jin sighs and rubs his eyes in despair. He looks stressed out, trying to keep it together. Taehyung feels incredibly sorry for worrying him that much. “Taehyung-ah, are you okay to answer a few of our questions?”
Taehyung nibbles at his bottom lip. Oh god. He doesn’t want to cry. He doesn’t want a panic attack right now. But Namjoon does have a point. They have the right to know who they’re dealing with. Taking in a stranger? Hell, Taehyung probably wouldn’t do that himself. And they’re kind enough to open their house to Taehyung. So, obviously, they have the right to ask him a few questions. He nods, but Tae also knows he won’t make it through this without any help. He turns his head to Hobi and stutters: “I – Hobi-ssi, maybe you could – you know?”
“Oh, sweetheart,” Hobi cries and slings his arms around Taehyung’s more petite body. “Call me Hyung. And tell me if you want me to stop, okay?”
Taehyung nods as he feels the anxiety leave his body. Just like that. Remarkable. It’s truly magic, he thinks. Taehyung takes a deep breath, feeling calm and firm. Thanks, Hobi.
“Do you go to school?” Jin starts, pleasant and straightforward. Taehyung is glad for that easy question. He shakes his head. “I graduated a year ago. Gifted kid and everything.”
“Wow,” Jimin breathes and nudges his arm, trying to ease some of the tension in the room. “You're a smart-ass, huh?”
Taehyung blushes but doesn’t comment on it.
“You ran away from home, right?”
Taehyung shakes his head and cuddles closer to Hobi’s side. “Not my home. They took me in for money. They call themselves foster parents, but they’re just cruel and awful. I’m not going back there. You can’t force me. I’ll rather sleep on the streets than–“
Jin holds up his hand. “Nobody forces you to do anything. You don’t have to go back there, okay?”
Taehyung takes a deep breath and bobs his head.
“How did you end up living with them?”
Taehyung bites his lip, feeling his genuine emotions fighting to break through Hobi’s magic. Hobi squeezes Taehyung tightly against his chest. The hug makes it easier to talk around the lump in his throat. “My parents died when I was six. Grandma and Grandpa took me in and raised me. Grandpa died four years ago. Grandma died one and a half years ago. Ever since then, I was put into foster care.”
Jimin whines and slings an arm around Taehyung as well.
“What was your plan? You ran away to – what? Live on the street?” Namjoon asks with an edge to his voice.
Taehyung shrugs. Well, if he says it like that – yeah. To be completely honest, he didn’t have a plan when he packed his backpack and ran away. So, he admits: “Anything is better than them.”
“What were they doing to you?” Jungkook whispers, eyes huge and careful.
Starvation. Getting beaten. Bruises and split lips. Blood. His ankle being sprained. No clothes, no water. Coming home under the influence and screaming at him until he starts crying. Scars and wounds.
Taehyung hiccups and shakes his head. “I –“
Yoongi sucks in a sharp breath. “They were abusing him. You don’t have to explain it, Taehyung-ah.”
Namjoon’s expression softens as he studies Taehyung’s pained face carefully. He doesn’t dig any further.
Hobi clearly struggles to keep Taehyung calm and floaty, his teeth sinking into his bottom lip and his jaw clenched. Taehyung is grateful that he’s trying; otherwise, he might have a panic attack.
“You’re not going back to them,” Jin decides and slams his hand onto the table. Taehyung flinches at the loud sound. “When are you turning eighteen?”
Taehyung stares at his hands. “In one month.”
“One month?” Namjoon asks. “You couldn’t have waited another month until you’re of age?”
“He couldn’t,” Yoongi answers for Tae, leaving no room for discussion. “I’m proud of you for running away, Taehyung-ah.”
A soft smile stretches on Taehyung’s face. Proud of him. Wow. The last time he heard a compliment similar to this was from his grandma. God, he misses her. Yoongi winces.
“Sorry,” Taehyung apologizes, but Yoongi already shakes his head.
Jin takes a deep breath. “Okay. Taehyung-ah, you’ll stay with us.”
Namjoon clears his throat, but Jin ignores him. “We’ll figure this out together. We will look for a nice apartment for you. We’ll help you financially. Maybe you could go to uni, hm? Since you’re so smart? Wouldn’t you like that?”
Taehyung licks his lips. “I – I never thought about it before.”
“Why not?”
“Why would I? It’s not like I could ever afford it anyway.”
“Enough with the depressing money talk,” Hobi argues. “Hyung, tell him we’ll take care of it!”
Jin chuckles and eventually nods. “We’ll take care of it.”
Taehyung frowns at their sudden enthusiasm. This doesn’t sit right with Taehyung. How can they tell him they’ll take care of him? How can they say they’ll pay for him? Those men don’t even know him. “But why?”
Jimin squishes Taehyung against his chest and sings: “You’re like our new baby that we can spoil rotten. You’re just too cute! Namjoon Hyung, look at him, aegyo!”
Namjoon shakes his head and turns his body away, making Jimin roll his eyes. “Ignore him. He’ll come around.”
Taehyung pouts. He wants Namjoon to like him too! God, the cold shoulder feels awful. Taehyung wishes he could at least get a little smile out of Namjoon, but the man doesn’t budge. So, Tae eventually nods.
“Hyung, Hyung, can I show him around?” Jungkook asks, wiggling in his chair with his teeth stuck in his bottom lip, looking like an excited little puppy.
“Yes, you can, but take someone with you,” Jin orders firmly.
Jimin’s hand shoots up. “Me, me, me!”
Jin and Yoongi exchange a quick look until Yoongi sighs and puts his newspaper away. “I’ll watch the kids today.”
With a thankful smile, Jin pats Yoongi’s cheek.
Jungkook has already taken Taehyung’s wrist and drags him out of the kitchen. The sheer force of Jungkook’s grip whacks the air out of his lungs.
“Jungkook, careful, he’s human,” Hobi shouts after them, but Taehyung doesn’t really listen. Instead, he has to focus on not throwing up all of the food he just had for breakfast.
Jungkook immediately stops himself and scans Taehyung with a worried look. “Oh god. Did I hurt you?”
Taehyung shakes his head. “No. But I might throw up.”
At least, that makes Jungkook chuckle. Cute, he thinks. If anyone’s adorable in this house, then it’s not him. It’s the boy standing in front of him.
***
Taehyung doesn’t leave after the second night. Or the third. Or the fourth. He stays for two whole weeks, and everyone just kind of accepts that. Ignores the fact that Taehyung originally was supposed to stay for one night. And that they originally planned to look for an apartment for Taehyung. Or do anything. So far, nothing has happened.
Jungkook still wakes Taehyung up every morning, and each day his bunny smile grows bigger and bigger. Jin still cooks tons of food for Taehyung, trying various new recipes and stuffing Taehyung to the brim. (Tae ignores the fact that he hasn’t seen the men eat once in two weeks). Hobi still hugs Taehyung close, and he doesn’t even need his magic to make Taehyung’s body tingle with happiness. Jimin sneaks into Taehyung’s room every night before bed, talking casually about anything – the stars, music, books, philosophy. Taehyung probably loves those late-night conversations with Jimin the most. Something about him makes Tae open his heart and soul with ease. Yoongi still holds silent talks while Taehyung tries different tricks to block out his thoughts. It never works, but it makes Yoongi laugh every time, and that in itself is a big damn victory to Taehyung.
But there’s still this scary, scary question lingering over Taehyung and weighing him down. Will Taehyung have to move out? Will he stay for another couple of days or weeks? Will he move in eventually?
Taehyung is too afraid to ask. Scared that the men might kick him out. God, he doesn’t want to leave. This place is absolutely magical. Every corner of the house is buzzing with precious energy. Taehyung loves the green garden and the birds chirping from the trees. He loves his little room and the comfortable bed. He adores Hobi’s laughter and Jimin’s soft touches. Blushes every time Jungkook smiles at him, or Yoongi pats his head. He wants to impress Namjoon so badly and tries his hardest to be good. And Jin’s cooking might be the best of it all. It almost pains him to admit it, but Jin’s cooking is even better than his grandma's, and nothing ever came close to that. Expect Jin's.
Taehyung loves trailing through the big house, exploring every nook, every painting, and every funny object that he finds. The house has so much personality, and it warms Tae’s soul. It almost feels like home to him, and he’s been here for two weeks only, but it’s the happiest he’s felt in a long time. He sleeps well, eats perfectly healthy, and finally feels the stress and worry, and the trauma leave his body and his system.
The boys seem to notice that too. Jin comments on Taehyung’s happy smile. Hobi says he doesn’t feel the need to interfere with Taehyung’s emotions anymore since he’s more stable, and Yoongi doesn’t wince in pain at Tae’s thoughts anymore.
But there is one thing Taehyung has forced himself to do – or not do. It’s to not ask any questions. He’s seen things. Knows that those six men aren’t exactly ordinary per se. Can’t be. First, they never eat. Ever. Special diet or not, that’s freaking weird. Second, they talk funny, almost in an old way. They move way too fast and floaty, their eyes change colors every now and then, they are unnaturally pale, and their skin is always cold.
And Taehyung doesn’t even start with the magical superpowers. Yoongi can read their minds, hello?! Hobi can control emotions. And he’s sure the others have special powers as well, but he hasn’t figured them out yet. But Taehyung doesn’t ask. He wouldn’t dare to. These men have been so incredibly kind to him, taking him in and taking good care of him. It’s not his place to ask any questions. Doesn’t want to offend them either. And honestly? It’s none of his business.
Tae has learned the hard way to keep his nose out of other people’s businesses and not ask questions. Thanks to his foster parents (who haven’t even searched for him ever since he ran away, wow.)
Fact is, Tae is the happiest and healthiest he’s been in a long time, and he doesn’t want to leave. But he’s not stupid. He knows the topic will come up eventually.
So, it doesn’t surprise him when he hears shouting from the living room on Friday night. He’s been at the magic house for two and a half weeks now. Tae carefully rises to his feet, shuffling the blanket away. He tries to be quiet and rushes to the door. His hand reaches for the golden doorknob, and he opens the door as softly as possible and sticks his head out, trying to eavesdrop. He doesn’t have to try hard since the men are shouting loud enough. Taehyung flinches at the sounds. He hates fighting.
“... not a good idea.” That’s Namjoon’s voice. “We need to find a solution.”
“The solution is, he stays with us,” Yoongi argues, and he sounds mad. Tae shivers at the stern tone in his voice.
“How can you be so reckless, Hyung? We were on the same page! Save his life, drop him off, never see him again!”
“We don’t save his life by dropping him off, Namjoon. You might have healed his physical injuries, but what about his soul? That poor kid is broken! He doesn’t have a family and doesn’t have a place to stay. Do you really want to kick him out to die on the streets?”
“No,” Namjoon snaps. He sounds irritated, with an edge to his voice. “God, no. Of course, I don’t. I’m saying we need to start looking for an apartment. He has to move out. And we need to stay away from him. It’s the best for everyone, including him.”
“How can you be so heartless?” Hobi mumbles, voice low and sad. “Don’t you care about him at all?”
“That’s exactly the problem, Hosoek!” Namjoon shouts, sounding completely exasperated. Taehyung clings to the wall and stretches his neck. When Namjoon continues, his voice shakes, and Taehyung hasn’t heard that emotional timber in his usually calm voice before. “We’re all so attached to him already. It’s been two weeks. He’s human. We’d have to hide our true selves forever, and then one day he dies, and we’ll be left behind with the heartbreak. Remember how crushed Kookie was when his brother died? We can’t go through that again. We can’t – we can’t let another human get close to us. The longer he stays, the harder it will get.”
“You care about him,” Jin states. It’s not a question. Taehyung holds his breath.
“Of course, I do,” Namjoon replies, and he sounds so weak that Taehyung’s heart clenches inside his chest. He wants to walk up to him, wrap his arms around Namjoon’s body, press him against his chest, and cuddle it better.
Taehyung doesn’t understand what this conversation is about. All he can hear is that Taehyung is human, and for some reason, that oddly sounds like we are not, and Taehyung is confused. But he already figured there has to be some kind of supernatural magic in this household, so it doesn’t shock him too much. Don’t ask any questions, he tells himself. Whatever this is about, it’s none of his concern.
But this will certainly not stop Tae from eavesdropping. He’s a noisy kid, thank you very much.
“Namjoon does have a point,” Jin sighs with a heaviness to his voice that Taehyung can’t quite understand. “We don’t know how he’ll react once he finds out about us. And he will if he stays here.”
“But he’s been so chill so far,” Hobi argues. He sounds exasperated, and the fact that he’s fighting for Taehyung warms his heart. “He already knows about Yoongi’s and my gift, and he didn’t even bat an eyelash.”
“Maybe,” Jin says. “But even if he were to find out and even if he were alright with it. What are we doing once he’s gone? Hob-ah, think about Minnie and Jungkook. Think about yourself. Do I have to remind you what happened with your lovely art teacher 400 years ago?”
Hobi stutters. “I – that was different, she was my mentor, and she was so old, I only – And I was younger back then, I didn’t –“
“Enough,” Jin stops him, but there’s no anger in his voice. No, it’s gentle, and it sounds a lot more like exhaustion, and Taehyung hates himself for causing it.
“But you already know what’s going to happen,” Hobi argues. “Why are we even having this conversation?”
Jin sighs. “Hob-ah,” his voice is so gentle and patient. “We talked about this a million times, hm? Because my visions are only 95 percent correct. There are always those last 5 percent. And if I tell you about my visions, I’d influence your actions, and things could go differently. I have to let the universe do its thing and not interfere.”
“It’s not like I want him gone,” Namjoon eventually mumbles. “But I have to protect the coven. I have to think logically. And it simply isn’t smart to keep him here, as much as you’d like to.” He clears his throat. “As much as I want to.”
“We’re already attached after just two weeks,” Jin concludes. “Happens to the best of us, even after countless centuries.”
“But – but doesn’t that show he’s special? He belongs to us! That kid – he fits so well in here. Even the house loves him. Don’t you feel it buzzing with happy energy? I think he’s meant to be here, with us!” Hobi argues, and Yoongi hums. “I actually agree.”
Namjoon clicks his tongue, and the sound chirps in Taehyung’s ears. Where are Jungkook and Jimin? They seem to not be part of the conversation. “Jin, it’s your decision. We trust you entirely. But please keep in mind what I said. We don’t mix well with humans. It only causes lies, drama, and heartbreak. You said that yourself.”
Taehyung knows what follows next. Knows it in his heart – the decision that Taehyung eventually has to move out. He listened to their arguments and knows that Namjoon has a point. Even though Tae has no clue what’s actually going on, it seems like these men – whatever they are – are very different than Taehyung. And that simply doesn’t mix well. After Namjoon’s explanation, Tae understands him a lot better now. That man just wants to protect his family from an outsider, that could cause a bunch of drama.
The boy rushes back inside his guest room and feels panic bubble inside his chest because shit – this is precisely what he was afraid of. The worst possible thing that he could think of happened. He doesn’t want to leave them, doesn’t want to leave this magical place. And he knows what will follow next: They will sit him down at the dinner table and watch him eat his body weight in food, and then they’ll say: Taehyung, we need to talk to you. You can’t live here any longer.
And Taehyung does not sign up for that! He’s a stubborn teenager, and he doesn’t like humiliation. He’s very proud, thank you very much. Also, he doesn’t want them to go through something so awkward either. He’s doing them a favor, really, when he grabs his backpack, stuffs some of Jungkook’s hoodies in there, and decides to leave.
He walks up to the window and opens it, sticks his head outside, and contemplates if he could jump. It’s high, yeah. But he could do it. He’s athletic, and if he doesn’t land straight on his feet and instead on his knees, it could work. The backpack flies out of the window first. Next, he climbs up on the window still and pushes himself off. He falls, falls, falls – and lands on his side with a thud and winces in pain once the realization hits that he probably hurt his shoulder. Stupid, Taehyung thinks. Jumping out of a window? He could’ve guessed that he would hurt himself.
But it doesn’t matter. He grabs his backpack and runs through the garden, straight into the Forrest. With no plan in mind, he runs straight ahead, as fast as possible. Eyes stinging with tears, his vision goes blurry. Fuck, he wanted to stay there so badly. The sting in his heart hurts, and the running is a welcoming distraction. Eventually, his lungs start burning, and he has to slow down.
Once he stops, he starts thinking. Thinking about where he is (in the middle of a creepy forest at night) and what just happened. That’s when the realization hits him. What the hell did he do? It’s dark outside. He’s in the middle of a forest with no orientation at all. Even if he wanted to go back to the magic house, he’d probably never find his way back. And was that a growl he heard somewhere from the left behind a tree? Also, it’s getting colder and colder, and Jungkook’s hoodie doesn’t really warm him up that much.
Tae panics. Not a lot, but definitely a little. He should’ve thought about this more, he realizes. He definitely could’ve found a solution with the other men. They are caring and warm. They wouldn’t kick him out without providing a proper alternative for him. God, that was stupid of him. So, so, so stupid.
When Tae feels tears threatening to spill over, he feels a careful hand on his shoulder. Taehyung jumps back with a loud shriek, hugging his backpack close to his chest.
“Tae, it’s me!” And Taehyung realizes who it is.
“Namjoon Hyung,” Tae squeaks, and relief floods through Taehyung’s body at seeing a familiar face. Namjoon came for him! He was looking for him, followed him into the woods! Tae throws himself against Namjoon’s chest, who, without any hesitation, slings his arms around Tae’s more petite body.
“Baby, what are you doing? We heard you leave, and we literally got a heart attack.”
Tae only whimpers, too grateful to have Namjoon here with him. And too embarrassed to admit what he just did.
“Let’s get you back home, yeah? It’s way too cold outside. You shouldn’t be in the woods by yourself either.” Taehyung doesn’t care. God, he doesn’t care about anything except Namjoon and going home. He was so stupid for running away. He clings to Namjoon, who only squeezes him tighter. Then, he grabs Taehyung’s body and lifts him up as if he weighed nothing. Within the blink of an eye and a twirl inside his tummy, they’re standing in the living room, six worried pairs of eyes fixated on Taehyung.
“Oh my god,” Jimin shouts and immediately jumps Namjoon and Taehyung at once. Jimin cups Tae’s cheeks and squishes them together. “TaeTae, what were you thinking? You could've just asked if you wanted to explore the woods.”
“He didn’t want to explore the woods,” Yoongi remarks dryly and fixates Namjoon with a stern gaze.
Namjoon lets Taehyung down carefully and guides him to sit on the couch. “You’re hurt.”
“Huh?” confused, Tae blinks up at him. He didn’t really show that he’s hurt, did he?
“Your shoulder.”
Then, Taehyung realizes. His eyes go huge when he says: “Your superpower! You can see injuries?”
Namjoon chuckles. “Not quite. I’m a healer.”
“The most powerful out there,” Jungkook adds with starry eyes. “His original gift is Pain Deprivation. He can cut off people's sense of physical or mental pain. But Namjoon Hyung worked on his skills. Now he can sense any injury and heal it.”
Namjoon sighs as he slides onto the floor to kneel in front of Taehyung. “Took me only a couple of centuries to get there.”
“Centuries?” Tae asks in confusion.
The men exchange quick looks with each other. It seems like they’re communicating with each other without using any words. Eventually, Jin sighs and nods. A huge smile
spreads over Hobi’s, Jimin’s, and Jungkook’s faces.
“You already know the answer,” Yoongi hums with an amused spark in his eyes. “You were too afraid to ask. But you know. Have known it from the second we met. Am I right?”
Taehyung nods. He gulps when he says: “You’re not human. You’re – supernatural. Right?”
Namjoon avoids his curious gaze. It’s Jin who answers because, of course, he does. His voice is just as angelic as always, and Taehyung can’t keep his eyes off of him. “Let's play a quiz, shall we? What is impossibly fast and strong? Skin pale white and ice-cold? What never eats or drinks anything except blood?“
Taehyung’s blood rushes to his feet, and he feels lightheaded when he says: “A Vampire.”
The room grows quiet, a tense atmosphere hanging over the boys. It seems like they’re expecting him to freak out or something. But to Tae’s own surprise, he doesn’t. No, he stays surprisingly calm. Because it makes sense! The swift movements, the fact they never eat, their cold skin. It makes sense, and it doesn’t shock Taehyung at all. Instead, there’s excited energy running through his veins. His eyes jump from one man to the next, unsure who he should focus on. It’s Jin who speaks up again. “How do you feel about that, Taehyung?”
His mouth is too dry, and his tongue feels heavy. But he forces himself to take a deep breath and says: “It doesn’t surprise me, to be honest. I – I knew you were something. Didn’t expect vampires, but that’s cool, I guess?”
Jimin snorts in disbelief. “Cool, you guess? Aren’t you scared we’ll kill you? We crave blood, you know?”
Taehyung only shrugs. “If you did want to kill me, you already would’ve. And besides, you seem too soft to actually kill me. Or anybody.”
Jin chuckles at that. “Well. We are a lot softer than the rest of the vampires roaming around this earth.”
Raising his eyebrows in surprise, Taehyung asks: “There are more?”
“Oh yes, darling,” Jin sits down next to Tae and grabs his hand. “We keep our identity well hidden from humans. Which is why we were so hesitant to let you in.”
Taehyung hums in understanding. “I get that. Namjoon-Hyung,” Tae’s eyes grow big when he looks at his Hyung. “I understand why you acted this way. You were acting the most reasonable out of everyone. And I –,” Tae drops his head to stare at his hands. “I respect you a lot for that. For wanting to protect the others.”
Suddenly, a body slams into Taehyung’s. When he blinks, he’s got a handful on Namjoon’s body, half-hovering over him, squishing him, and pressing kisses over Taehyung’s cheeks. “I didn’t want to be mean to you, Taehyung-ah. But I was scared of letting a human get close to us again.”
Taehyung pets Namjoon’s head and ignores the fond looks the others throw at them. “I understand. I – I actually wanted to leave to make it easier for you guys,” Taehyung confesses.
Jimin and Jungkook gasp, and Hobi immediately starts protesting. Yoongi sighs in despair, Namjoon only clings harder to Taehyung, and Jin squeezes his hand.
“Don’t!” Jimin whines. “How could you ever do that to us? Leave without even saying goodbye!?”
“I didn’t want to,” Taehyung whines. “I wanted to stay, but I thought. I don’t know. I didn’t want you to tell me to leave. I guess I wanted to take matters into my own hands.”
“But we wouldn’t tell you to leave,” Hobi argues and steps closer to Taehyung. His orange shirt matches his skin tone so well, Taehyung thinks. He has to force himself to look away. “We talked about it and decided we want you to stay!”
Taehyung blinks at Hobi in confusion. But he – he heard them! They were talking about – well. Taehyung actually didn’t stick around long enough to listen to the end of their conversation. Maybe, they did decide to keep Taehyung around? A spark of hope flames inside his tummy. Then, he tilts his head to check in with the others. They aren’t mocking him, that’s for sure. Their stern faces show no sign of insincerity.
“You –“ Taehyung takes a deep breath. “You want me to stay? You care about me?” Taehyung adds with a strange tremble in his voice.
Namjoon pulls back a little, wanting to respond. But it’s Yoongi who answers for the rest of them: “Of course we do.”
They all stare at Jin now, expecting the eldest to talk. Taehyung has already figured out that Jin is the one who makes decisions around here, who has the final say in everything. For a second, Taehyung is scared Jin might change his mind. But he smiles softly and says: “Taehyung-ah if you want, you can stay here with us. You know our secret now, and things will change around here. We’ll start drinking blood, have vampire discussions, and go hunting in the woods. And you’ll be stuck in the middle of it all. Our small, little human. Are you okay with that?”
Taehyung’s eyes grow huge, and he feels tears swell in his eyes. “You’re really letting me stay? For – forever?”
“I certainly hope for forever,” Jimin mumbles, but Yoongi elbows him into the stomach. “Too early for that, huh?” Jimin chuckles.
“You can stay as long as you’d like,” Jin responds and squeezes Tae’s hand.
“Namjoon-Hyung?” Tae asks, head turning towards Namjoon to check in with him. But he only smiles, dimples on full display, and puts a hand against Taehyung’s cheek.
“I am outvoted,” he replies with a defeated shake of his shoulders. “And besides –“ a deep sigh slips past his lips – “I can’t let you go. I was hanging on by a thin thread anyway, trying my hardest to not get attached to you. But look at you,” he chuckles. “You’re my human baby!”
He squishes Taehyung’s cheek with a dimpled smile and bobs his nose. A huge boxy smile spreads all over Taehyung’s face in response. “How on earth could I not obsess over you?”
That makes the rest of the group fall into fits of happy giggles. Their laughter blends in with each other beautifully – Taehyung has never heard a more beautiful sound. This is his happy place, he thinks. This is where he belongs. Yoongi winks at him, a short nod following that string of thoughts.
“My home,” he mumbles happily. And just like that, Taehyung is part of the group. Officially.