A/N: I used to do weekly updates, can you believe it?! Neither 😅

Last chapter guys ❤️

Patches of green surround the grey stone and the sun reflects of the granite on the floor. Jungkook stares at his mother's gravestone and finds it to be rather beautiful. Not per say what it represents, but rather, he admires the white roses that surround it. Even the patches of green grass that sprout from its corners are rather pleasant to see. He runs his hand over the block and sighs, not so much in sadness, but rather nostalgia. He feels the wind against his face and exhales before placing his own flowers next to the stone.

"I'll see you next week, Mama," he smiles. "I love you."

Jungkook then slowly retreats from her grave and walks over to the distant figure who's clad in a black hoodie.

Taehyung barely acknowledges him as he steps next to him, his eyes looking a little dazed as he stares at the two gravestones below him. Jungkook crouches down and places a single white rose on each gravestone. Taehyung watches him in silence.

"I miss them." Taehyung whispers. The utter fragility of his voice makes Jungkook look up.

"What were they like?" Jungkook asks, a little hesitant, feeling like he's treading on thin ice.

Taehyung smiles although it looks rather sad. "Wonderful. Dad was the funny one who would mess around and make jokes and mum would pretend to be unamused as she hid her smile. We...we were always so happy, the four of us..." Taehyung trails off, looking down at the stone. His voice is barely above a whisper as he speaks. "But look where we are now." He mutters.

Jungkook watches as a million emotions run past Taehyungs eyes and a twin feeling of sadness and realisation strikes him. He feels sad seeing the hurt beneath his eyes and it's moments like this where he realises how wrong the world makes Taehyung's character out to be. 'A big shot CEO' 'A cold hearted man who only cares about money' 'The king of the business world' 'A ferocious lion". Taehyung isn't any of those things. Under grey clouds, stood over a gloomy gravestone, Taehyung is painting of loneliness. A black smear across a grey canvas. He doesn't stand out and he doesn't blend in. He simply just exists in isolation. A man that was forced to age too quickly and forced to carry a burden too heavy for his shoulders.

Jungkook takes a small step forward and carefully wraps his hand around the older man. They share a moment of silence, listening to the thrum of their pulses and the soft puffs of breaths from their mouths. Jungkook doesn't have words to offer him, there's nothing he can say that can plaster the wounds of a grief struck heart. He simply holds him tighter, hoping the touch transcends the comfort he cannot give with words.

Taehyung burrows his head into his neck and sighs against the soft skin while gripping the boy tighter. Staring down at his parents tomb stones makes the harsh reality that he pushes to the back of his mind a little too real. Taehyung knows that the world is cruel. The universe is unforgiving and life...life itself is unfair.

Once you realise that loss is spelt with the same 'L' love is, the notion of loving becomes a mere aching idea. You realise that maybe it's not such a great thing. Maybe it's something to fear, to run away from, to hide and store away in the deepest burrows of one's heart.

Having lost all that he loved, Taehyung was young when he realised all this. He was young when love wasn't chocolates and roses but rather a bitter taste in the back of his throat. And so Taehyung never really understood why people were so quick to chase love, so reckless to open their hearts and harbour deep feelings. He just didn't get why they would search so hard for that hurt rapped in gold foil.

But somehow things feel different when Jungkook tilts his head up, doe eyes glimmering, big and kind, warm body pressed against his, comforting and present, tearing apart his own isolation with a gentle smile. Taehyung's heart is beating steady, lulled and calm. It feels nice, like a blanket of warmth to cover up the cold, the grief, the hurt. Love to blanket the loss. And in that moment, despite himself, Taehyung feels like he kind of gets it. All this nonsense about love. Maybe he kind of gets it.

~

It took a while, days of tip toeing around each other, of awkward glances and painful small talk before things became a little less tense in the office. It's not exactly how things were but it's something.

Jungkook paces the office while nibbling on his lower lip. "You're nervous," Taehyung states in amusement.

Jungkook stops and stares at the older, his eyes wide. "I...I know. It's just... I don't want to mess...I...I don't understand why you trust me enough not to screw this up. The fate of this company lays in my hands and I..." He starts pacing again, this time with more vigour.

Taehyung slowly approaches the boy and stops him in his tracks. Jungkook barely acknowledges him as he brings his hand up to chew on his fingernails.

"Bun," he says while gripping his wrist, stopping the action. Jungkook looks up, a tiny frown on his face. Taehyung sighs and shakes his head. "C'mere," he says and leads the boy to a seat. He sits him down and crouches below him. Doe eyes stare down at him from where he's crouching and Taehyung can't help but smile a little.

"You might not see it..."he starts, placing a gentle hand on the boy's kneecap. "...But you are highly competent. Not only that, you're smart, quick thinking and..." he smiles, "an amazing problem solver." He gently grabs the boys hands and holds it in his. "Being in front of a crowd won't change that about you. You have to show those people what you're really worth. You will only fall victim if you feed into preying eyes. Understand?"

Jungkook nods, his hair falling into his eyes as he stares down at his lap. Taehyung reaches up and tilts his chin to face him once again. "You've got this, I believe in you. Tomorrow is your chance to get out there and reckon him with you true force."

Jungkook nods again while letting out a ragged exhale. "I've got this," he mumbles quietly. Taehyung smiles up at him fondly.

~

"You sure you don't want a ride home?" Taehyung asks from his desk.

Jungkook shakes his head. "No that's okay. I'm actually going to meet up with someone right now."

Taehyung quirks his brow in curiosity but doesn't ask any further questions. "Okay, Bun. I'll see you tomorrow, yeah?"

Jungkook nods, "Good night, sir."

He slowly closes the office door and heads out. A breeze greets him as he leaves the towering building and he can't help but sigh in contentment. Spring is slowly approaching its end, leaving behind fresh new life that will soon face summer's wrath but right now, the weather seems to be at a perfect equilibrium. The wind is still nice and chilly yet the atmosphere is warmer than usual, it's that balance of warmth and coolness that Jungkook finds gratifying.

He casually strolls down the side walk, letting his conscious submerge into the idle chatter of the crowds around him, he gets lost in it and finds peace in the noisy silence. The ever present crowds have always been a reason he's liked New York. In an odd way, he finds solace being surrounded by concrete and pattering feet. He supposes it's the feeling of being grounded, the lack of isolation at least in a physical sense.

He enters the restaurant and pulls his phone out while the door bell chimes behind him.

>I'm here.

He stares down at the chat, watching three dots appear in the corner of the screen.

>I'm in the corner booth.

Jungkook looks up and spots a tuft of blond hair, sitting in a small booth in the corner. He shuffles over to the booth and then stops in front of the blond.

"Hi..." He says, awkwardly shuffling his weight from one foot to another.

"Hi," the other responds.

They're both silent for a moment before Jimin sighs and gestures for him to sit down. Jungkook carefully slides into his seat and tilts his head down to stare at his hands on the table.

Jimin seems to contemplate what he wants to say for a moment before he finally lets out a sigh. "Jungkook..." he starts, looking conflicted. "I'm... I'm sorry."

Jungkook darts his head up, his eyes widened. "Hyung...why...why are you sorry?"

Jimin's the one that is now looking down at his fingers."Because... I shouldn't have just left like that."

Jungkook furrows his brows. "After all that had happened between us, you had all the right to leave. You were hurt... I... I hurt you."

Jimin shakes his head. "I was hurt. But I also knew you were having a hard time as well. I should have been there to support you but I..." he looks away, his eyes now glassy with unshed tears.

Jungkook frowns and reaches his hand out to rest on top of the other's. "You have always been there for me, you were always my shoulder to cry on, hyung. You also deserve a break, y'know."

Jimin shakes his head, "I know but you didn't deserve to put up with that alone- you- you." Jimin tilts his head down, a tear slipping past his eyes and sliding down his face. "I left you all alone, Kook."

Jungkook bites down on his lower lip. "I wasn't alone, Chim. I had my brother and Brianna and...and even Taehyung," he says the last name a little quietly, finding a small blush emerging onto his features as he speaks.

Jimin notices this and his face lights up, a small smiling appearing on it. "You're blushing."

Jungkook shakes his head and looks away. "N-No, s'just cold." He rubs his arms along his sleeve to emphasise the fact.

"It's nearly summer." Jimin teases, expression turning cheeky.

Jungkook continues to ignore it until Jimin laughs. The younger looks back up to catch the older's cheery expression and finds himself giggling along. Jimin's laughter eventually dwindles down into a soft smile and he stares at the younger carefully.

"I hope you're happy with him," Jimin says, sounding genuine. "I know I should have said this the first time when I found out about you two, but I wasn't in the right state of mind at the time."

Jungkook fiddles with his fingers. "W...we are not together, Hyung. We just..." he pauses, not too sure what label his relationship with Taehyung classifies under.

Jimin frowns a little, noticing the conflicted expression on Jungkook's face. "It might not be my place to ask this but...do wanna talk about it?"

Jungkook nibbles on his lip for a bit before slowly nodding. "Yeah. Well..." and then before Jungkook can stop, he finds himself finally letting out his pent up thoughts from the past few months to his best friend. He talks about confusion, fear, feelings and loss. About betrayal, hurt and grief. He talks about the most minimalistic things and delves into topics sheltered deep in his heart.

And Jimin, with tears in his eyes, just listens. He listens and doesn't interrupt, he lets his friend talk and vent and grieve and when tears well up in Jungkook's eyes, he reaches over and wipes them away.

"Jungkook..." he finally says when the younger finishes. His lower lip is trembling and he shakes his head. "I..."

"I know," Jungkook smiles a little while sniffling. "It's been a pretty crazy few months."

Jimin lets out a small sob. "I...I just... I feel so bad, Kook. I should have been there for you."

Jungkook shakes his head. "You didn't know all this was happening, hyung."

Jimin sighs and they both are silent for a moment, staring down at their empty cups of coffee. "I wanted to talk to you earlier, I...I was going to talk to you at the funeral but...but I...felt it wasn't the right time."

Jungkook nods. "It's okay. Everything was happening too fast these past few months. Honestly, I don't think I was stable enough to hold any sort of conversation." Jungkook says with a small chuckle.

Jimin's eyes crinkle with worry and he sighs. "How...how are you coping now?"

"Better." Jungkook breathes out. "A lot better. I...um...I started therapy a month ago and it really helped me grasp the situation. I still can't really sleep at night but...but I've been feeling better."

Jimin looks a little relieved at that. "That's good to hear."

Jungkook fiddles with his fingers for a moment before letting out a sigh. " You know, I wanted to talk to you too, hyung. To reach out and just talk about...everything." He looks at Jimin, looking a little hesitant. "And I never got to really say it but..." he nibbles on his lower lip before blurting out. "...I'm sorry." A short pause. "For what happened between us. It was never my intention to hurt you." And Jimin knows, with the way there's that glimmer in his eye as he says it, that he means it.

Jimin smiles at the younger, eyes so pleasantly warm that it lifts a foreign weight from his shoulders. "I know, Kook. These past few months I've been thinking and I realised that what happened between us was really not in our hands. We were young. I didn't love myself so how could I have handled someone else's love?" He chuckles. "We were young, dumb and stupid...especially you," he adds cheekily.

Jungkook huffs out in fake offence while biting back a smile. The older laughs and shakes his head, endeared by the younger antics. "What I'm saying, Kook, is that...I really should have been more understanding about what happened. You were probably as confused as I was and that's okay."

Jungkook nods. "I really was confused. I...I still am. I feel like there's never a logical answer to how I feel."

Jimin smiles. "And there never will be. The heart doesn't do logic. The heart does love, warmth, passion and hurt. The heart doesn't think, it just... feels. So stop looking for an answer to how you feel." He smiles, "you'll never find one."

Jungkook nods and let's out a sigh, feeling another weight lift from his shoulders. "Thank you, hyung," he says while looking up. For everything. "For understanding."

Jimin leans over and ruffles his hair, a toothy grin spreading across his face. "Always, Kook."

~

Something about the monochrome sky in the midst of a summer day is fitting. At least to Jungkook. The weather is rather reflective of his mood. Weary, a little dreadful. Rain clouds filter the sky, casting ghastly shadows across the city and Jungkook watches them silently from the large building.

"I'm nervous."

It's funny how it's not Jungkook that voices this thought, despite it being a perfect descriptor of how he feels. He turns around to see Taehyung, his hair slightly falling in front of his eyes as he gnaws on his lips.

"Me too," Jungkook mutters, offering no real comfort other than the mere sense of understanding.

Taehyung sighs and looks out the glass, past Jungkook. "But I believe in you, Bun. I know that you can do this."

Jungkook swallows the lump forming in his throat and looks away. His voice is small, a bare whisper as he asks, "What if I mess up?"

Taehyung smiles, just slightly. "Well then you and I can start a new business together; Begging for money on the streets."

Jungkook's eyes widen. Taehyung notices his panicked expression and shakes his head. "Don't worry, Kook. If you mess up, that's that. We can work things out from there. There is no end to an endless street, just some bumps along the way."

Jungkook nods, taking in his words. "I know, it's just... screwing this up would be a lot harder."

"I know, but just know that it's still going to be okay," Taehyung says as he smiles reassuringly.

Jungkook nods hesitantly before looking down at his watch. His eyes widen and his breath slightly hitches when he sees the time. "It's 2:30."

Taehyung's resolve flickers and a nervous frown slowly settles on his face. "Yeah...um... good luck. I believe in you. Yeah, good luck."

They both stare at each other for a moment before sighing and walking towards the conference room.

~

They say family is supposed to feel like home yet all Jungkook feels when he is with his father is suffocated by the heavy air of hostility that he exudes. He should be used to the sharp eyes and crooked smirks that hold nothing but malice yet he can't help the feeling of trepidation crawling through his skin when he sees the man.

"Son," the words are far from fatherly, there's a cunning note to his tone. Grey is leaning back on his chair, looking rather comfortable despite the tense environment. "Fancy seeing you here."

Jungkook doesn't respond to the man's small talk. He clenches his fist as he walks over and takes his seat. Grey stares at him from the other side of the room and suddenly Jungkook feels a lot smaller than he is, the room growing bigger and his father's eyes growing sharper. He exhales a ragged breath, his fists shaking.

I...I can do this.

"Are we just going to sit here staring at each other for the whole day?" Grey remarks sarcastically.

Jungkook sits upright and clears his throat. "Urr...before we start, we need you to sign this. It's in regards to confidentiality and a few other things. Please read through it."

Grey grabs the paper from across the table and barely gives it a glance. He snorts, "what is it, Kim? You scared I'm going to run away with all your information?"

Taehyung doesn't respond, instead opting to glare at the man. Grey sighs and signs the paper before shaking his head. "You two are no fun at all."

"We're not here for fun." Jungkook states firmly.

"Oh of course not. You know I was wondering what it was that you wanted from me. I heard you were pretty desperate to get in contact with me. I apologise for how long this took, after all, I am a busy man," he smirks. There's something sinister about his words, a sick innuendo.

Jungkook pokes the inside of his cheek with his tongue before sighing. "We...came here to make a proposition."

Grey quirks an eyebrow at that, seemingly interested. "A proposition?"

Jungkook nods and then quickly glances at Taehyunng. Their eyes meet and Taehyung silently speaks through his eyes. Jungkook turns back to the man, his gaze hard. "We want you to give us back the ownership of our car and publicly apologise for stealing our design."

Grey stares at Jungkook for a moment before his lips quirk up in amusement. "Oh? Is that so? And why exactly should I do that?"

Jungkook doesn't wait to entertain the man. "Because if you choose to refuse our proposition, we'll take you to court."

Grey seems even more amused at that. He tilts his head mockingly, his voice condescending as he speaks. "Oh, is that so? And how exactly do you expect that to work? Y'know, with no evidence?"

Jungkook grabs out the blueprint and places it on the table. "Who said we didn't have evidence?"

Grey quirks his brow. "A blueprint?"

Jungkook nods, "The original blueprint of the car."

The man stares at the boy in silence, his eyes zoning in on the younger's. Jungkook hates his gaze. It feels suffocating. He hates how distant yet familiar that gaze is.

"You're a worthless brat, you know?" Grey shoves Jungkook's small body against the wall. "Can't do anything right, not a single damn thing." He slams his body back against the wall and the boy cries out at the sheer force that rattles his spine, hot white pain slapping across his muscles.

"P-Please," Jungkook pleads, tugging at the man's hold on his neck. "Please."