Closer Than This...(vsoo)

The adrenaline of the escape still coursing through their veins, the group rushed through the dark streets, the sound of footsteps echoing in the distance.

The men chasing them weren't far behind, and Taehyung’s mind was spinning with fury. Every step he took felt heavier as his anger and concern grew. Jisoo was safe...for now, but the fact that she had gone behind his back to meet his father without telling him was a betrayal he couldn't overlook.

They eventually found an abandoned building on the outskirts of town, a temporary safe haven. The walls were cracked, and the air was thick with the smell of damp concrete, but it was secure. They huddled inside, trying to catch their breath.

Taehyung wasted no time. His eyes scanned the room, making sure they weren’t being followed. Roseanne and Jungkook went to call for their men, the ones they trusted to get them out of this situation without drawing attention.

As soon as they were alone, Taehyung turned sharply to Jisoo, his jaw clenched and eyes filled with the full force of his anger.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” His voice was low, seething with frustration. “Why did you meet my father? Did you think it was a good idea to go behind my back? Do you have any idea what you’ve put us in?”

Jisoo, still shaking from the ordeal, stood frozen. Her gaze was averted, the weight of his anger settling deep inside her. She could feel the tension in his words, the hurt and the rage, but she couldn’t bring herself to defend her actions...not completely.

“I didn’t mean to keep it from you,” she said quietly, her voice thick with emotion. “I was just... trying to understand. Trying to figure out the truth about your father. You never talk about him, and I thought—”

“Thought what?” Taehyung interrupted, stepping closer. His voice cracked slightly with emotion, and for a moment, his eyes softened, but the anger still lingered. “You thought you could just do this without consulting me? Without telling me?”

Jisoo’s heart pounded in her chest, the weight of his words pressing down on her. She had been trying to understand everything...the years of silence, the mystery around Kim Do-hyun, and how his disappearance had affected Taehyung. But now, seeing the fury in his eyes, she felt like she was drowning in guilt.

“I am sorry,” she whispered, lowering her head. "I thought I was doing the right thing... for you, for us."

Taehyung's hands were balled into fists at his sides, his muscles tense. He could feel the protective instinct rising in him, the overwhelming need to shield her from all of this mess, but there was a part of him that was still angry, hurt by the fact that she hadn’t trusted him enough to include him in this decision.

He paced back and forth, his mind racing, the images of her tied up, helpless, flooding back. "I don’t want you getting hurt, Jisoo," he said quietly, the edge of his anger softening just a fraction. "I’ve spent my whole life trying to protect my family...trying to protect us from all the shit my uncle’s done, from everything he’s ruined. I don’t want you to be part of that... I didn’t want you getting dragged into it."

Jisoo looked up at him, her eyes filled with regret. “I understand,” she said softly. “I didn’t mean for you to feel this way. But I had to know... what happened. I couldn’t just let the past go, Taehyung. We need the truth... and I thought maybe I could find it on my own.”

Taehyung stopped pacing and looked at her, his expression softening ever so slightly. He could see the sincerity in her eyes, the determination, but the worry and fear she’d been carrying with her. He sighed deeply, rubbing a hand over his face. He felt exhausted, mentally and emotionally.