Chapter Text
KTH ;; New York 2016
After having a tall glass of soda, Taehyung’s bladder had started protesting. Usually he would be able to hold the need to use the washroom quite easily, but for some reason in the current situation where Taehyung was also very nervous, nothing was working. Jeongguk’s presence helped a lot, but there was an underlying anxiety that he couldn’t figure out the source of. He signed it off as uneasiness of being in a completely new environment and let it be. But other than that, he was enjoying himself. The place was a little crowded but with Jeongguk, Yoongi and Jimin with him, he didn’t feel as uncomfortable as he thought he might. Jeongguk had stuck with him throughout the night too, which he was very grateful for. They had danced together and he had even asked him for a date. His heart had actually fluttered when Jeongguk asked him out. They had met up multiple times, but he didn’t know if he could call them dates, so this was something he was very much looking forward to.
He excused himself, telling Jeongguk that he was going to go to the washroom.
“Do you want me to come along with you or something?” Jeongguk asked.
Taehyung’s laughed and shook his head. “Don’t worry. I think I know where the washroom is. I saw Jimin go that direction.”
Jeongguk nodded with a smile and Taehyung started walking towards the direction he had seen Jimin disappearing to. He had to squeeze and slide through people, which was not the most pleasant thing to do, but he managed to find the washroom pretty quickly. Right when he was about to open the door, someone opened it from inside, giving him a scare. Taehyung laughed out loud when he saw it was Jimin with an equally surprised look.
“Hey, need to pee?” Jimin asked, sheepishly.
Taehyung nodded, trying not to laugh again.
“Want me to wait for you?”
“No, no. I won’t take too long.” Taehyung said, as he went inside the washroom. It was a fairly clean space. Taehyung saw that there were two open urinals, and three stalls. For some reason, he never felt safe peeing in open, like most men did. So he went inside a stall and closed the door behind him. Once he was done relieving himself, he went outside and washed his hands. He looked into the mirror, the little eyeliner that Yoongi had helped him put was still on. He gave himself a small smile, it had taken him a long time to be able to look into the mirror and not hate the reflection he saw. He had come a long way.
Taehyung wiped his hands on his jeans and began to walk towards the door. He heard the stall behind him open. Suddenly, it felt like someone was shooting daggers at the back of his head. He felt goose bumps all over his body. Before he could even wonder, why the hell he had reacted that way, he felt a startlingly tight grip on his wrist which was all too familiar. He felt his heart drop to his stomach as he turned around, praying to all the gods that existed that this was some kind of a twisted dream.
“Taehyung Kim. I knew it.” All colour left Taehyung’s face. He discreetly pinched his thigh. The grip on his hand didn’t loosen nor did he wake up in cold sweat like he had in the past.
The smirk on the man’s face was one that called for disaster. It was the same face from his nightmares. Taehyung’s heart was beating against his chest, he felt nauseated.
“H-Hanbin. L-let me go.” Taehyung tried to pull his hand away, but like always, he was too weak against the other male.
“Why TaeTae? I just found you!” Hanbin, the name itself made him sick. Seeing him here, after so many months, he knew he had to be the world’s unluckiest person. Gods must have hated him to give him such fate. “Aren’t you happy to see me?”
“Please don’t do this, please!” Taehyung had no idea what he was going to do. But he was terrified. Even the thought of the other male had sent shivers down his spine, but now that he was here in front of him, he felt his legs tremble.
Hanbin did not listen to a word he said, which was very expected. Instead he let out a chuckle, and pulled Taehyung against him, holding his other wrist in his hand as well. Taehyung tried to shake him off, tried his best to at least get him to loosen his hold. But it seemed like he had gotten much stronger than when they were students.
Taehyung’s ears perked up when he heard someone opening the door. But before he could scream out or feel relieved, Hanbin’s hand was over his mouth and he was being dragged into the stall he came out from.
“You better stay quiet. You don’t want a repeat of what happened the last time we met, right?” Hanbin whispered into his ear. It made him sick. Thinking about what had happened- no. No, he could not think about that now. He needed to escape from this situation, somehow. Jeongguk would be waiting for him.
Taehyung felt tears welling up in his eyes as he heard someone outside. Hanbin’s hands pressed against his jaw tighter. He was sure Jeongguk would be able to feel his pain by now. Their link had weakened, but it had started to get better since they met. He prayed to god, someone would find him. The tears flowed down his face when he heard the door close, all hopes being shattered.
“Nobody is going to come help you TaeTae.” Hanbin whispered in his ear. His voice was cruel and Taehyung had no idea what to make out of the face the other male was making. It was twisted into a sick form of happiness and disgust, much to his horror.
“I have a soulmate, H-Hanbin, please let me go.” Hanbin’s eyes narrowed, one of his hand’s loosened, not enough to break free but just enough for him to peek at Taehyung’s inked wrist.
Hanbin let out a low snort. “I’ll pretend I didn’t see it.” He was way too close now. Taehyung felt like he wanted to rip his skin out when he felt Hanbin’s breath on his neck.
He hated this. He hated this so much.
Taehyung closed his eyes, he knew he wasn’t weak, but he could not bring himself to stop shaking in that moment. He didn’t know how to get himself out of this situation.
But-
There was a loud banging against their door. It was as if oxygen was pumped into him and he could breathe again. The bangs became more frantic and the grip on his wrists got tighter. But he was struggling against them now. Someone was here, someone was going to help him!
“Hey! Open up! Taehyung? Tae, are you inside?”
He could recognise that voice anywhere. Jeongguk! It was Jeongguk!
“Taehyung! What is happening? Tae! Open the door!”
Taehyung tried to remember all the nights when Yoongi had held him and assured him that he was strong, he could protect himself. All the self defense classes he had taken, should not go to waste. The fear was receding in him, as he felt Jeongguk’s presence. With all the might Taehyung could gather at that moment, he brought up his leg and with the force he could gather, he aimed for Hanbin’s crotch.
“You little-” Right when Hanbin’s arms loosened on his wrists, Taehyung pushed him with great force, making him collide against the commode. Right in that moment, he opened the door, falling into the arms of his soulmate.
“Taehyung! Oh my god, Tae, are you okay?”
Taehyung let himself bury his head in Jeongguk’s chest. He was shaking. He had managed to push Hanbin away. He had done it.
“You fucking bitch, get back here-”
Taehyung felt a yank on his shirt, but he was immediately pulled back. Jeongguk then pushed the older male behind himself. Taehyung leaned against the counter and tried to even out his breathing.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” He had never heard so much anger in Jeongguk’s voice.
“Get away man, you don’t know anything.” Hanbin sneered right back at him.
“All I need to know is that you are fucking abusing my soulmate.” Jeongguk said through clenched teeth, harshly tugging Hanbin’s collar.
“Get the fuck off me! Soulmate? Yeah, right!” Hanbin brought back his hand and went right at Jeongguk’s face with his fist. Taehyung lurched forward as Jeongguk staggered back. The last thing he wanted was for Jeongguk to get hurt while trying to protect him. But before he could ask Jeongguk to stop, the other male was throwing a punch at Hanbin, and pushing him to the floor. It was only a matter of seconds that Hanbin was under Jeongguk and was getting punched again and again and again. Taehyung could feel the hate radiate off of Jeongguk. He stood there in shock. He understood that Jeongguk must had realised who Hanbin was.
“Jeongguk, stop it! Stop it!” Taehyung said, pulling the younger male off of Hanbin who was coughing blood.
Jeongguk let himself be pulled back, perhaps relieved that the other male would be unable to attack them anymore.
“You fucking stay away from Taehyung!” Jeongguk shouted eyes dark.
“Let’s leave, please, let’s go.” Taehyung whispered.
“Just, let me call the security.” Jeongguk said. He led the two of them outside the washroom, hugging Taehyung close to himself. He took out his phone and said something to it but Taehyung wasn’t paying attention. He could not focus on anything properly. He just didn’t want to end up having a panic attack. His face was pressed against Jeongguk’s shoulder as he tried to focus on his breathing and Jeongguk’s calming hands rubbing his back.
Before he realised, Yoongi and Jimin were beside him and they were out of the club. The security had called the police who were waiting in a distance as Jeongguk explained to them what happened.
“Taehyung, oh my god, are you o-okay?” Jimin asked, once he was in Yoongi’s hold. Yoongi had his arm around his shoulders. The older male looked very angry, clenching his teeth as he saw the security drag Hanbin out of the club. He was spitting and resisting their hold.
Taehyung sent a small smile towards Jimin. “I-I’m fine.”
“I didn’t even know that asshole was in this state!” Yoongi muttered, full of anger.
“It’s okay. I-It’s not your fault.” Taehyung said, breathing out. He was still a little shaken, but much better than ten minutes ago.
Once Hanbin was safely locked inside the police car, Jeongguk walked towards them. Taehyung smiled at his soulmate as the younger male shot him a worried look.
“Thank you, Guk.” Taehyung said, as he went to hug Jeongguk. Jeongguk took Taehyung into his arms, putting his arms around his waist.
“I hardly did anything Tae.” Jeongguk whispered against the older male’s hair.
“You did. You saved me.” Taehyung replied, pulling back and smiling at his soulmate.
“I think we should call it a night. Let me drop you guys.” Yoongi said. “Do you want to sleepover at mine today, Tae?”
“Actually Yoongi, if you didn’t mind Jeongguk, I’d like to stay with Jeongguk a little longer.” Taehyung said, biting his lip. He knew he had a lot of explaining to do. He had delayed it enough. “If you are okay with that, Jeongguk.”
“Of course, you can even sleepover at mine if you want.” Jeongguk said, holding Taehyung’s hand.
“You sure?” Yoongi asked. Taehyung knew that Yoongi too had gotten a scare today. His brother already looked after him so much; he needed a little break sometimes.
“Yes, hyung.” Taehyung said in Korean, full of affection. Yoongi smiled at Taehyung and patted his cheek.
“If you need anything, call me.” Yoongi said.
“You’ll be okay, right?” Jimin asked, sounding slightly choked.
“Yeah Jimin.” Taehyung replied, feeling touched at how much Jimin cared about him. Jimin hugged him tightly before he and Yoongi had got into their cab and left. The other two soulmates too, got into their own cab.
They didn’t talk on their way to Jeongguk’s apartment but the younger male had taken Taehyung’s hand in his own and was rubbing it soothingly. Taehyung leaned against the window and watched the blurry lights, still feeling a little weak. He closed his eyes.