Two weeks after our big punishment, everything changed.

Jin had gone to see Namjoon again, leaving me and Tae alone since Jungkook had gone to work.

Unlike usual, Tae kept his distance from me. He always scurried out of rooms I entered and ignored every greeting or question aimed towards him.

By mid-day, it had gotten pretty annoying and I'd started feeling socially deprived.

Somehow, I managed to corner him in his room, locking the door behind myself before leaning on it.

"Hyung, please go away."

"Did I say something?"

"What do you mean?" He asked quietly.

"You've been avoiding me all day. And you never even come to wake me up in the mornings anymore either. Did I say something that upset you?"

He shook his head, looking down to his hands as he played with his nails. They'd just been freshly polished and he'd decorated them with kitty stickers.

"Was it something I did?"

Again, he shook his head, "I just don't want Jungkook to get angry again. I didn't like the last time."

My heart broke at that and I moved to sit on his bed at his feet, "Tae, I'm sorry about that."

"It's not your fault...I started it," he glanced up at me and lightly smiled, "And I enjoyed it too much."

"That's...you shouldn't blame yourself. You like what you like."

"I used to like being rough," he shrugged, "Things change."

For the next few minutes I just watched him. He was biting his lips, scratching his arms, wiggling his toes.
The next thing I know, I sigh and he looks up to me, "What's changed, Tae Hyung?"

He dropped his head again and shrugged.

"C'mon. You can talk to me," I lightly pat his foot and smiled.

He sighed as well and looked around the room, "Jimin...I wanna leave too."

Shit.

"What for?"

"It's not what it used to be here. I used to enjoy the attention and the way that I felt wanted, but now it's just....it doesn't mean anything to me anymore. It doesn't feel the same. But I can't leave Jungkook. He'd...god I don't know what he'd do."

I cautiously moved closer and put my hand on his knee, "Do you still love Jungkook?"

A long pause came after that. He was visibly thinking, sometimes even mouthing a few words that I'm sure were running through his mind.

"No," he shook his head, "Not anymore. Not after that night."

I nodded and looked to my feet, "So...what are you gonna tell him?"

"Tell him? Jimin, I'd probably get locked in the bomb shelter. He would never let me go. I've been here too long. Obeyed for too long."

"Do you want me to tell him?"

He furrowed his brow and dropped his hands to his stomach, "What difference would it make?"

"I don't know, but Seokjin-hyung got to go out after I talked to Jungkook about it."

Tae's expression softened and he looked to his hands. Suddenly he smiled and turned to grab my arm, "Jimin, I have an idea!"

--------------------------

"Got everything?" I smiled and fixed Tae's shirt collar.

He nodded and adjusted his bag strap, "Yeah, thanks Hyung."

"Don't mention it. Just go," I leaned in and hugged him, almost positive this would be the last time. "Seokjin's waiting at the bus stop, hurry before he gets worried," I mumbled to him.

"Okay," he whispered, kissing my cheek, "Thank you again."

"Aish," I whined, "Don't make me cry."
He giggled and pulled away, his eyes crinkling up as he did so, "TaeTae."

"Yeah?" He slipped his shoes on and looked back up.

"Promise you'll only come back if you absolutely want to."

He nodded and reached out to ruffle my hair, "I promise Hyung. I won't waste this chance."

"Be safe," I smiled softly as he slipped out the door, "Bye Kim Tae Hyung."

"Goodbye Park Jimin."

Once the door closed, I sighed. I plopped down on the floor and ran a hand through my hair.

I glanced up, looking for a camera. I found it tucked in the corner of the ceiling, "Hi Jungkookie," I waved.

Now all I could do was wait. Jin wasn't coming back and neither was Tae. I didn't want them to, they weren't happy here.

----------------------

"Tae, Jimin, SeokJin!" Jungkook's voice echoed through the quiet hallways.

I bit my lip and turned another page in my book. It was a good book; a romance/sci-fi novel I had Jungkook special order for me.

"I'm home!" he called again.

Now I was just feeling sympathy for Kook. The moment I turn up, everyone he's spent his life with decides to leave.

"Jimin?"

My door opened and I looked up to see Jungkook peeking into the room.
"Oh, good. You're dressed. Where's Tae? I got him something."

"Really?" I bit my lip and looked back to my book, "That's nice."

"What's with that tone?" Jung came in and sat down on the edge of the bed, facing me, "You okay?"

I paused then sighed and started reading again, "Just check your camera footage."

"Why would I do that?" he laughed a bit.

"So you'll know," I muttered.

"Jimin," his voice sort of sounded hurt, "Where's Tae?"

I shook my head and pulled my knees closer to my chest.

He got up, reaching out to ruffle my hair, then left. It was just as quiet now as it had been for the pass six hours.

------------------------

I didn't see Jungkook until the next morning. He had work and I figured I'd make him breakfast. I put his plate on the table and passed him in the hall on my way back to my room.

He looked terrible, eyes puffy and red and dark circles more prominent than ever.

I muttered a "Breakfast is on the table." In return he muttered a raspy thanks.

For the next few days we stumbled around one another. I took care of the house, mostly because it was easy with the way Jin had taught me. If it was a terribly hard task, I'd let the mansion crumble under my feet.

And then there was always Jungkook.

He loved this place and he even slept in Tae's bed since he left. I heard him crying one night about how "the scent's gonna go away and I'll never smell it again".

Tae...was probably the only one of us he loved for more than our bodies.

A week after Tae left, I managed to get Jungkook to eat dinner with me at the table.

For most of the meal, we were silent. I understood that he probably didn't want to talk to the person who let his lovers go.

But I was slowly caving in on myself and I needed interaction.

"Jungkook-ah," I put my spoon down and he looked up to me, "It's been a while since we talked."

He nodded and pushed his food around.

"Do you hate me?"

He paused for a few seconds, then thankfully shook his head.

"Are you mad at me?"

He nodded then stood up, starting to clear the table.

"I'll take care of it Jungkook-ah," I mumbled, "Please get some rest before work tomorrow."

He stopped, pausing for nearly a minute before he left the table.

I sighed and slouched over, rubbing my eyes. I should take my contacts out.  I stood and gathered all the dishes into a manageable pile before taking them to the sink.

------------------------

I woke up when the bed shifted.

Slowly but surely someone, who I could only assume was Jungkook, crawled in behind me and wrapped me in his arms.

That was the moment where I felt how much I missed him holding me. The strong, yet gentle hold he had on me reminded me of our last time together.

"Jungkook-ah," I whispered.

"Sorry, Jimin," he rubbed a small patch of skin on my arm with his thumb.

"It's fine," I snuggled back into him, kissing his arm.

A few seconds later, he started crying, something I never thought I'd be around to witness.

"Jungkook-"

"I'm a terrible person, Jimin," he croaked out.

"No," I found myself trying to convince both of us. I mean...he basically raped Tae Hyung.

"Then why would he leave me? He said he would stay with me forever. He said he loved me."

I turned to my other side, wrapping my arms around him. It didn't occur to me too often, but Jungkook was still young. He still made mistakes and said stupid things he didn't mean.

I brushed his hair back and kissed his forehead.

"Why'd he leave? I didn't want to hurt him, hyung," I felt his fingers digging into the back of my shirt, "I love him. I never wanted to hurt him."

"I know," I tucked his head under my chin, "I know you love him. And I know you'd never want to hurt him. You were so willing to change if it meant he'd be happy. But he wasn't happy here, Jungkook-ah. He needed to go. Tae needed to be free and explore."

"It's not fair," he pulled me closer, "He said he loved me and I trusted him."

"I'm sure Tae does love you," I pulled back a bit and swept a few tears off his cheek and nose, "I'm almost positive that Kim Tae Hyung fell in love with Jeon Jungkook...but I'm also sure that his feelings changed when the way he was treated changed."

"I just wanted him to stay!"

"I know."

"I didn't want him to be jealous of a new person. I showed him a lot more attention, but...why didn't he like it, hyung?"

"It was the wrong kind of attention, Jungkook-ah. It wasn't what he wanted."

He hiccuped a few times, sniffling a tad more than usual, "Why am I so stupid?"

"You're not stupid."

"Then why can't I read people like you can? Is something wrong with me? Am I mean or something?"

"Not everyone is perceptive," I laid my forehead against his, "Some of us are gifted."

"Hyung," he grabbed my hand and placed it in his hair, "Tae always played with my hair."

"I can do that," I smiled a bit, lightly slipping my fingers through his locks.

"And Jin-hyung always makes pancakes on Fridays, remember?"

"I'll need some practice, but I can do that, too."

"Ever since you got here...you've been steering me straight. Can you keep doing that?"

"I'll try my best, Jungkook," I nodded, brushing his hair back from his eyes.

"Will you be my friend?" He closed his eyes and licked his lips, "I've never gotten to know anyone on such a basic level."

"Of course we can be friends, Kookie."

"Thank you, hyung."

"Get some sleep."

He snuggled against me so that his head was under my chin again, and I smiled at the childishness of it.

But he was asleep already, and I couldn't complain. At least this way his mind would be at ease.

------------------------

"Hyung," Jungkook shook me awake and I groaned as I rolled over.

He laughed a bit and leaned down more, "I'm going to work, now. Try to have fun today."

"Okay," I mumbled, "Have a good day."

"I will," he leaned down and kissed my temple before quietly leaving the room.

I went back to sleep almost instantly.

-------------------

Being by myself was nice when I considered the peacefulness, but the loneliness trumped it when my brain wasn't occupied.

I tried to keep myself busy; cleaning house and figuring out how to make pancakes (I ended up consulting the internet). Yet the only thing that I could focus on was learning dances to a few songs I really liked.

Tae really introduced me to a lot of the groups and artists I listen to nowadays. His incessant talk of them and his covers of their songs he performed in the shower really stuck the lyrics in my brain.

I knew a few of the songs -mainly because of their bass- just had to have choreographies, so I looked them up.

In an hour, I had half of one dance completely figured out.

I stopped when I got tired and started my pancake-making practice.

Surprisingly...the video I found made it easy. And it even taught me how to make one the shape of a star, heart, and (oddly) a crab.

I planned to give them to Jungkook as a snack when he got home. It'd be a few more hours, but I was still practicing making the star perfectly.

My first batch burned, so I'd also have to fill the kitchen with something better than the smell of burnt sugar.

------------------------

"Jiminie!" Jung shouted from the front door, like he always used to.

That made me smile, "In the kitchen!"

I heard his shoes thud to the floor and then his footsteps making their way towards me.

"It smells like pancakes," he stood beside me, "It's not Friday."

"Shush," I held up a plate full of lopsided stars and bumpy hearts, "Try one."

He laughed a bit, but the smile he wore kept the teasing from getting to me.

"Stars, hearts...and one crab?"

"I questioned the crab too," I smiled, "Take one, c'mon."

"Okay," he chuckled and grabbed a star, taking a bite and holding up his hand, "Still a bit dough-y."

"So cook them longer," I nodded and sat the plate down, "Wait till I get this batch done."

"What're we having for dinner," he laughed, his mouth full.

"Pizza. I already ordered it. I told them we needed it at seven since I knew you'd be back to answer the door."

He nodded, placing the half eaten star back on the plate, "Thanks for this, Jimin."

"No problem," I smiled, "We're friends, right? What else am I good for if not making you happy?"

"You're good at listening," he said after a short pause.

"I just like listening," I waved my hand in the air, turning back to the pancakes I had frying, "I'm not good at it."

"Could've fooled me," he mumbled, laying his chin on my shoulder, "You're a good hyung, you know that? Did your brother ever tell you that?"

"He told me twice," I smiled, "Once when I helped him ace his algebra test and once when I got his crush to go out with him."

Kook giggled and placed his hands on my hips. I didn't feel like he had any other intentions though, so I ignored it, "I'm sure he thought it a lot. Because you are a good hyung."

"Thank you Kookie," I nodded a bit and flipped the heart over, "Lookie, it's perfect!" I squealed.

He smiled and nodded, "That it is. See, you're already doing good."

"Thank you. Sorry I've wasted so much ingredients, though."

"Can't you just...throw these back in the pan 'nd cook 'em a little more?"

I stared at the plate for a second then shrugged, "Don't see why not." The doorbell rang, scaring me a bit, since it broke our little bubble.

"I got it," he chuckled as he slipped away from me.

I pouted at how cold I felt without his heat.

--------------------

Dinner was nice- quiet, yet nice. We mostly talked about his day at work, as usual. He did ask if I actually enjoyed cooking. I wasn't in love with it, but I wasn't bothered either. I made sure to let him know that, and he fell quiet again for quite some time.

Suddenly, he picked his head up. His mouth fell open, and he seemed to want to speak, but nothing left his thoughts.

"What is it?" I leaned on the table and smiled.

"Nothing...nothing really, just-" He reached up and scratched his head "I was wondering if you...wanted to...or...if you would stay with me tonight."

"Stay with you? I don't go anywhere," I furrowed my brow.

"No, I mean, like, sleep in my room with me."

Somehow, I relaxed after he asked that. I was waiting for something like that, only I expected him to ask me to play video games with him.

"Um..."

"Too fast?" he lightly laughed and messed up his hair, "Sorry."

"No, I...just...you shocked me is all. I didn't think you'd ask that."

"I'm lonely," he played with the centerpiece on the table- a glass vase filled with marbles. "I miss TaeTae."

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

He shrugged, "I drove him away. I know that."

"How're you holding up?" I asked carefully. "Without him?"

"Ugh," he pushed his plate away and dropped his head to the table, "I can't help but notice how quiet and clean everything is around here."

"I can be messier if you need me to."

He chuckled at that, his body shaking a bit, "No, it's fine. I wouldn't mind if you played some music though."

"I play music all the time. You're just not back before I get tired."

"Tired?" he lifted his head.

"I started dancing," I looked down and blushed, "Nothing major just...learning a few choreographies for some songs."

"That's nice," he smiled, "I remember-" he sat up and grabbed another slice of pizza "-one day I came back and found Jin hyung and TaeTae dancing in the hallway. It was one of the few times Jin was actually happy here."

"I'm sure he liked it more than he let on," I lightly smiled.

"I doubt it. He liked Tae. Taking care of Tae, playing with him, cooking with him...he enjoyed not being completely alone."

"You can't blame him though can you?" I placed my chin in my palm and watched him eat. His bunny teeth were cute.

"No, I can't," he shook his head, "And now...I only realize how much they mean to me once they disappear."

"They?"

"Jin hyung was more of a mom to me. I know he seemed really cold towards me, but there were many nights he held me and helped me sleep. He sang me lullabies and pet my head...I can't help but wish that all that meant he at least saw me as human."

"I didn't at first," I admitted, "Then I got to know you. Then you cried in front of me. At first, I never thought I'd enjoy being here, but I enjoy it still. I don't know why."

"Me neither," he smiled, "You're alone all day."

"Maybe I like the peace and alone time," I shrugged.

"Maybe," he dove his fingers into the vase of marbles.

-----------------------

I stood outside the door to the master bedroom, debating with myself.

Should I really be doing this? I mean, I still felt like Tae Hyung loved Jungkook, only deep down in his heart of hearts.

He just needed time to get through everything he was thinking and then he'd be back. He loves Jungkook, so should I really start something like this?

Still, what harm could cuddling do?

I knocked on the door and Jungkook told me I could come in.

I turned the handle down and pushed the door open, only enough for myself to slip through.

Jungkook was pulling the covers down and climbing under them, sending a small smile towards the older.

"I guess you're really tired," I lightly smiled and made my way to the bed. It was seriously huge and it was easy to see why he felt lonely sleeping here.

"A little," he pulled the duvet over his shoulder.

I got into the bed as well, sinking down to a laying position cautiously. I looked over to Jungkook and his eyes were already closed. His mouth was slightly parted, and he quietly snored.

"Cute," I rolled to my side and placed my palm in his.

He didn't grip me like he normally would. Out like a light; the poor kid.
I closed my eyes and snuggled under the blankets.