The Boy in the Bubble: A Taekook Story

Hi there! Welcome to the start of Boy in the Bubble. It is based off the song by Alec Benjamin, but I have taken some artistic license with it. I want to let you know this is a mature story with violence, language, mention of rape, and smut. If you don't like any of that, then you might not want to read this. This story isn't meant to insult ANY of the people involved, and I have no rights to the images used. Just the story. With that being said. I hope you enjoy!

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TAEHYUNG POV

Breathe...just breathe... the fist connecting with my nose breaks my concentration and I whimper, my head slamming back into the lockers behind me and I crumple to the ground. I won't give my bully the satisfaction of hearing me scream. I clench my jaw as blood oozes down my face, and I look up at him. There. That's the look I want to see. The anger dissipates from my bully's eyes, and in its place is a flash of concern.

This will end soon. I think as my bully kicks me in the stomach, knocking the wind out of me once more.

"See you tomorrow, kitten," my bully snarls, and I look up at his face, my left eye swollen from a well-placed punch. I can see the fire back in his eyes; I can see the creep of his old personality coming back, so I just nod, spitting out the blood that coats my throat. As I stand, I admire his chiseled features, the sharp angle of his jaw, the shaggy dark hair that covers his forehead where a faint layer of sweat lies. His muscular—dangerous—body is enclosed in our school uniform, my blood spattering his white shirt and his forearms that are exposed from the rolled sleeves. Those arms bring so much pain, and yet I can't hate him...

"Tomorrow...Jungkook..." I rasp, my deep voice showcasing the pain I wouldn't vocalize during the beat down. I don't scream. I don't cry. For two years, Jeon Jungkook has cornered me after school against the lockers and beat the crap out of me. I knew then what I know now: Jungkook needs to do it. For him...it is therapeutic somehow. I want to ask why. I want to know why the only way Jungkook can feel better is to plant his fists against my body. I want to desperately know...but I'm too scared to ask. So instead, I just let it happen to see the relief and normalcy on Jungkook's ever angry face. I'm the only one who sees him smile a genuine smile. Usually right before he hits me. Slowly, I hobble home, my body screaming at me to lie down, my nose still dripping blood onto my white school uniform top.

I'll have to clean that when I get home, I think and pray that my brother isn't home. I don't want a lecture, or to try to explain myself for the millionth time. I don't know why I'm so compliant with Jungkook's fists...I just am. I open the front door, and there, in the living room sits Namjoon and his boyfriend, Jin, reading over one of their textbooks. They take one look at me and Jin lets out a scream.

"Tae! What the hell happened to you?!" Namjoon shouts, rushing to my side, "Was this that Jungkook kid again? Oh, I swear—"

"Don't," I rasp, "It looks worse than it feels. After a shower and some Advil, I should be totally fine..." I walk past the concerned couple and drop my bag by the table, kicking my shoes off with achy groan.

"Tae...was this Jungkook...yes or no?" Namjoon questions and I sigh, confirming his suspicions without answering him fully, "I'm going to kill that kid,"

"Hyung. I'm fine—"

"You're bleeding—"

"But I'm fine—"

"I don't know why you let him do this to you!" Namjoon shouts, and I flinch lightly. This has been the same argument for two years, and I still can't explain it either.

"It's like...like he's lost...or numb...most of the day. He frowns, he doesn't engage, he barely keeps up in class...the only time I see him smile a REAL smile is when he sees me...I can't explain it, hyung, but I like seeing him happy...I like seeing the fire in his eyes that is extinguished in the morning...I don't know why but I do,"

"He beats you, though...that isn't worth it," Namjoon quietly says and I painfully sigh.

"I know...night, hyung..." I whisper, slowly getting to my feet. Namjoon grabs my wrist and I wince.

"We... we've been through too much for me to let another asshole hurt you..."

"Don't worry...it doesn't hurt as bad as you think," I murmur, wandering upstairs to shower and treat my wounds.