Detecting Falsehood

Jungkook takes a deep, shuddering breath. "I have no excuse," he says shakily, tugging the mask off of his face with an aggressiveness that emulates his father's, though his is directed at himself. "I should have come earlier, Tae, I'm so-"

"Don't," I say quietly, looking up at him. "Please, don't. We cannot change what happened. We just need to work out how to move on." His eyes widen.
"How are you so calm?" he questions, frowning in confusion. I shrug.
"I have been in a similar situation before," I say simply, standing up and cursing at the way my legs are trembling ever so slightly.

"Why would you-"
"Not a conversation we can have here," I say bluntly. "We either need to get out of here, or figure out some sort of plan. Was he really planning to kill me?"

Jungkook winces. "It wasn't certain, but it will be now, I would think. It is true that the company no longer needs the hostage in order to continue agreements with my father, and there would be no point in keeping you around in his eyes if he can't use you for something. The only thing keeping you alive would be your secrets."

"And he was determined to get those as soon as possible," I say darkly. He nods in agreement, sighing slightly.
"That is true. Well, I can't let you die. I just can't. So we need to figure out whether we can sort something out."
"The sooner the better, may I say?" I say cautiously. "The longer we leave it-"

"The more likely he is to try and hurt you," the raven haired male finishes for me. "Yes, I'm aware."

He looks over at 21, his eyes welling up with tears once more. His hand reaches out gently, turns her onto her back, lifts the mask properly away from her face so we can see it for the first time.

Her expression is peaceful, her silvery grey eyes still open. I lean forward, my hand quaking a little, and close them gently, allowing her this basic courtesy. Her mouth is an average size, her nose a button shape, her skin an average shade. She seems so normal, in this moment, that my heart clenches up.

She was just a normal person searching for somewhere to belong.

"She's beautiful, isn't she?" Jungkook says quietly, and I glance over at him, nodding a few seconds later. "I'm not saying that in terms of pure appearance. She's just a good person. She really does care. That's rare."

I choke on a sob, and he places a comforting hand on my arm. "I'm sorry," he mumbles, "sorry to all of us. I'm sorry that she had to come here to stop feeling like a burden. I'm sorry that I never picked up on her habit as anything other than another addict who had too much for no reason."

He glances over at me, swallowing back some of the tears in his eyes. "I'm sorry I never warned you of what my father would do. I'm sorry you were beaten, and I didn't stop it." He takes a deep breath. "I'm sorry my father chose to kidnap you. If he didn't, you would be completely safe, and 21 could be alive."

His eyes flicker to the ceiling. "I'm sorry that I was never really very good at impersonating my twin. I'm sorry I ever tried, since that seems to be what made things worse to start with. I'm sorry to all of the hostages I tried to be nice to, only to watch die."

He shakes his head, his gaze returning to the fallen friend in front of us. "I know I need to be better. I really do. And I will try. For her. For you. For our friends." He bites his lip, placing a hand on 21's face gently. "For myself, as well."

"You already are better, Jungkook," I tell him quietly, and he manages a sad smile.
"Am I really, though? I've basically ruined your life. You can't exactly say I've been able to help anyone. I still don't understand how you trust me after everything I've put you through. It makes no sense to me."