CHAPTER 23

The kitchen awakes in one of the most awkward silence as the boys keep entering to eat some breakfast. Hoseok wasn't the only one who heard Yoongi and Jimin yesterday, Namjoon and Seokjin did too, but agreed to pretend they didn't know and to not get involved as long as it's not necessary.Taehyung eats some leftovers, a bowl of rice with meat, completely absent of what's going on inside the others heads."Jiminnie, how many hours have you slept? Your eyes are swollen like balloons."Seokjin chokes in his morning coffee, Namjoon coughs and Jungkook keeps his eyes on his food, sucking on his lower lip.Hoseok giggles it off, "Oish, Tae, how can you tell him that? Give me a bite, it looks yummy," he opens his mouth letting out an ahhh and Taehyung cheerfully accepts."Sorry. I didn't mean to insult you, Chimmy. Just curious, your eyes are only swollen this much when you cry, but of course I would know if you cried, right?"Jimin shifts under Taehyung's gaze and drinks a whole cup of water, making time for himself to come out with something to say, but he finds none—he smiles, but it doesn't reach his eyes. He takes advantage of his sleeping state to avoid talking. Jungkook doesn't ignore it and interferes.Jungkook begins to speak at the same time Yoongi enters the kitchen. "By the way Taehyung, thank you for the biscuits. I'll make sure to eat them all before they get soft."Taehyung stops chewing his food and stares at him for a moment, a few grains of rice hanging from his bottom lip.When he decided to give him a small detail—grabbing a whole package hidden in the kitchen, opening the box to grab a smaller size—he didn't think Jungkook would comment about it. Taehyung thought it would stay between the two of them, as the dislike is mutual."Aww, Tae, that's so sweet of you." Namjoon says, showing his dimples. "Sorry, Jungkook, we got to know about it late. We can still do something if everyone agrees.""Oh, there's no need to," Jungkook shakes his head. "Perhaps ... next year if we're still alive and somehow in the same team?""Alright, but you can't change your mind next time—what's said, it's said.""That's bullshit." Yoongi mutters from a corner of the kitchen."Good morning to you too, petal." Namjoon softly smiles, but it doesn't take a reaction from Yoongi. "Coffee?""No.""Yoonie, why your eyes look like balloons too? Have you two slept together?" Taehyung points between the blond and black hair males. "How many hours have you slept? Fifteen? Oh, wait," he starts counting with his fingers, catching everyone's attention, "wait a minute, I went to sleep first and I only slept eight hours and a half ..."Seokjin scratches the back of his ear."I forgot, " Jungkook begins, "the note really reached my heart, more than the food. Thank you, Tae." his bunny smile comes into play, confusing Taehyung completely."Aww, love, I'm so proud of you. Why don't you buy biscuits for all of us in the convenience store so we can celebrate it all together?" Namjoon proposes softly, understanding Jungkook's game. "He can come with you.""Hold on, why me?""Um—you're welcome." Taehyung keeps eating his food with a pout.He only wanted to be at peace with himself by doing a small but good action, but by no means he thought he would have to spend a not so desired time with a not so desired person. Taehyung feels Tiger on the back of his mind and he only concentrates on his food, but the more he thinks about Jungkook, the more Tiger wants to take over."Someone wants to fuck?" he blurs out to distract himself and everyone freezes. Even Yoongi, who doesn't want to form part of the conversation, can't hold back a snort."Taehyung, are you alright? Your cheeks are -""Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!" Taehyung yells, his hands pressed against his head. "This is my body!"Seokjin places the cup down and runs to him. He caresses his back and places kisses on his forehead. "It's okay lil bear, Seokjinnie got you."Jungkook makes eye contact with Hoseok and silently asks, "He mental?""Tiger." Hoseok replies the same way.* * *"I don't make myself responsible for Tiger's actions. Joon, are you sure - ohhh, why me? Why do I have to go with him? Can anyone else go? Why me, why, why me?!" Taehyung protests, bouncing his body and squeezing Namjoon's hand.Namjoon bites his lips to hide a grin. "My love, you two need to spend time together to resolve your differences. He's not a bad guy and you know it.""I don't promise anything, Tiger hates him more than I do," he shivers, "just thinking about him makes Tiger arise, it's so uncomfortable.""Change doesn't come without it, love. You need to get used to Jungkook, so Tiger gets used to him. Try to find something you both have in common, alright? It will bright the situation, trust me.""Keep it down, Joon. We're only going to the convenience store, not to a blind date." Taehyung says seriously, shaking his head.Namjoon pecks his lips, cuteness overloading his chest. "I adore you."* * *Taehyung and Jungkook only share a word when they reach the convenience store."My favourites are this way," he points at the end of the shop and Jungkook follows him.Taehyung studies the shelf while Jungkook studies him. He's not quite sure how all the Tiger situation works, he hasn't met anyone before with it. He knows the basics, but that's not enough to understand how it feels, Is like having two different people living inside his head? Himself and Tiger? Does it feel like having two heads instead of one?"Hold on," Jungkook grabs his wrist as Taehyung reaches for the familiar package, "we should change, don't you get tired of eating the same ones over and over again?""Remove it," he says reluctantly.A glint of darkness sparkles in Taehyung's eyes and Jungkook doesn't miss it.Jungkook smirks. "Do I bring the worst of you?""Yes." Taehyung growls under his breath. "Those are my favourite and we're buying them."Jungkook waits a few more seconds with the hope Tiger may appear, but he doesn't. He lets go of Taehyung and he hears him let out a sigh."Choose whatever you like, as if I -""Run.""What?"A hand reaches Jungkook's wrist and pulls him towards the other side of the hallway, running down a different aisle. Jungkook almost trips with his own feet, but keeps up the pace and avoids asking questions. He unsuccessfully tries to get himself free after running down a few streets to the opposite direction of their shared flat. Taehyung hides under the stairs of a building, his hand still presses tightly Jungkook's skin.Jungkook pants. "What the - what the hell?! Just for a stupid pack of -"Taehyung presses a hand on his mouth, a moment later red boots run in front of them. Taehyung moves his body along with Jungkook's behind a wall. He raises a finger to his lips and lets out a soft shh while he slowly removes his grip.Jungkook snaps back to reality, he saw those eyes before. "Tiger?"Tiger moves his head, the woman keeps standing in front of their hideout. Her feet hesitantly move around. Tiger prays she hadn't seen them, they can only defend themselves with a pack of -"What the hell?" he whispers to himself, putting the cardboard package down. Taehyung.A minute later she runs down the street, the heels crushing with the cement. Tiger lets his body rest completely against the wall when the sound fades away."She's looking for us. We must get the hell out of here before she comes back.""She? Who's she? Can you at least tell me what's happening - oh, no no no," Jungkook shakes his head in disbelief. "Don't you tell me you made me do this run away for this?" he lowers his gaze, still staring at him. "Of course the worker's going to chase us, you've just stolen something dickhead!"Tiger blinks rapidly, shaking his head. "What? That's Taehyung. He must have been holding that package when I took over," he clenches his jaw, "oh no, but sorry if I didn't put it back, I was too busy saving our lives. You're welcome."Jungkook wets his lips. "Can you tell me what happened? Why are we hiding?""You didn't see her?"Jungkook stares at him for a moment. "Oh no, but sorry if I didn't notice, I was too busy getting dragged out by a fanatic of biscuits. You're welcome.""Are you copying me?""Are you copying me?""Stop it, this is serious," he stretches his neck, "that woman kidnapped Taehyung once. She kept him for a whole week—full of torture. He has a scar on his back, the boys rescued him thanks to the small one -""Jimin.""Yeah, that one. I don't remember much of what happened later.""How do you know all of it? Can you talk with Taehyung? Do you both see and hear what the other sees and hears?" Jungkook frowns, not catching up in that matter.Tiger scoffs, "I took over once Taehyung woke up. I didn't take me too long to realise he got himself kidnapped.""Did Taehyung snap backwards and throw you under the bus in the convenience store?""Don't be a freak, he can't make me appear, only suppress me down. I decide to take over when Taehyung can't deal with a situation himself. He saw that woman's face before, that's why I took over instantly.""But you were already there, weren't you? I saw your eyes.""Huh? My - my eyes?" Tiger taps his hands on his face.Jungkook snorts, shaking his head. "Have you stared in a mirror?"Tiger frowns. "What kind of insult is that?""Taehyung's eyes ... the brown is dark but soft, yours are completely black. Someone I know used to say the eyes are the mirror of the soul, that's why he could tell every time I got upset even if I pretended to be fine."Tiger blinks slowly, Do I have my own eyes? Am I gaining my own body? He shakes his head at his own thoughts, that could never happen. "Muscle bunny we don't have all day, let's go.""Hold on, one last question—why do you live inside Taehyung? You didn't answer me, does Taehyung sees us right now?""Didn't you make up your own mind after the kidnapping story? No.""Hear us?""No. We don't share memories, I've no idea how you joined the team, but I can guess," he looks at him up and down, an eyebrow raised."Have you ever met Taehyung? Talk to him?"Tiger shakes his head."You've never tried?" Jungkook blinks. "I would if I had a muscle bunny inside me.""You wouldn't because you wouldn't be able. We only sense each other, that's the closest we can get.""Don't tell me you've never met Taehyung Tae Taehyungie Taetae Lovely bear Bear boy Little bear?" Jungkook recites in a silly voice."Are you making fun of him right now?" Tiger growls and clenches his jaw.Jungkook shrugs. "Do you care for him?""If he dies I die.""Why are you here?""To protect Taehyung."Jungkook grimace, but it slowly changes to a smirk. "Did you protect Taehyung from a bathroom fight ... you protected him from me?"Jungkook leans into the wall ending face to face to Tiger, he crosses his arms on his chest waiting patiently for an answer. Is perhaps Tiger scared of muscle bunny?Tiger feels a lump in his throat and his cheeks warm up. He looks away, What does he do to me? Tiger senses Taehyung closer and he suppresses him down as much as he can, they won't be safe until they don't reach the flat."Well?" Jungkook raises an eyebrow, the smirk intact.Tiger clears his throat. "Come on, Bunny. Let's get out of here before the lunatic comes back."