Can't breathe in the sunlight

[monie]

Comments

[vante]

"Hi." Tae held a hand out to touch the tiny boy's shoulder. He looked so sad! "I'm Tae. Or TaeTae. I think I'm your hyung." He had no idea what was happening, Cheon and Kangwoo were talking and no one was really paying attention to the children. That always happened. "Come with me, okay? I'll show you something."

He hadn't quite decided what just yet. There wasn't that much to show. But being away from those two was always a good idea.

[jungkool]

Jungkook was scared. Eomma wasn't moving and the mean man kept yelling, he didn't know where he was and he was terrified. He was in his pyjamas still, they were frayed and had holes in them, the knees were scrapped up now. They never had a lot of money but he always kept clean and tidy - then the mean man pushed him around.

Tears ran down his face, he sniffled and whimpered but he didn't speak. He was scared and unsure what was happening, he held out his hand because he didn't know where to go. He wanted Eomma.

[vante]

"Shh, it's okay." It probably wasn't okay, but Tae didn't know what else to say. He just led the boy along until they couldn't hear the older boys anymore and then he wrapped his arms around Jungkook, trying to give a good hug. Jiho said he could give good hugs, he wanted to tap into that power now. "You are not alone, okay? Because I'm here and I'm your hyung!"

[jungkool]

Jungkook whimpered and fell into the hug so easily, gripping the other boy and pressing his face into his shoulder, tears soaking his shirt. His head hurt from crying, he was very sleepy and very scared - it didn't make for a happy boy. His face also had an owie because Cheon slapped him really hard there. He had a lot of owies. Cheon came over before a few times, he always hit.

This time it was different. He hit Eomma too hard. He still didn't say anything but eventually, he stopped crying as hard and settled a little, muscles relaxing.

[vante]

"What's your name?" He supposed as his hyung, he should know what to call him. "You look like a cute bunny." That could be his name, if he didn't find any other. He smiled and hugged him close, running a hand through his hair. "I can show you my room!"

It was late. Little boys had to sleep now.

[jungkool]

Jungkook sniffled and wiped at his eyes, following after Tae and holding his hand. He liked bunnies. He had a stuffed bunny... he had to leave it behind cause Cheon said no stuff, just come with him. He wanted his bunny more than anything now. Once they were in the room, Jungkook looked around and then whispered very quietly. "Jungkook."

That was his name. He rubbed at his eyes and made a small, distressed noise. He was too tired to think straight.

[vante]

"Hello, Jungkook. This is TaeTae's bed and I am TaeTae." Obviously. He pulled Jungkook toward the bed and then on top of it. "You can always be in hyung's bed when he allows it and I allow it!"

There, that was the lesson he took away from everything Jiho had ever said to him. He wrapped his arms around Jungkook and cuddled him close. "I can sing to you until you sleep, but it has to be quiet, so everyone else can sleep too."

That said he already started to sing quietly, even if half the lyrics were made up words. He didn't get to listen to music that often.

[jungkool]

Jungkook found the whole thing kind of odd but there was a soft bed and a nice boy taking care of him. A hyung. He had a hyung. He curled into Tae and buried himself against him, his tears slowly disappearing as he listened to the other sing, settling just a little. He was just glad to be away from Cheon, as long as he was away from him, he was safe.

"Hyung...?" Jungkook's voice was still quiet, he wasn't feeling very brave. "I'm scared."

[vante]

"I know. But that's okay. You can be scared, cause hyung is here and he will always try and protect you, yeah? Hyungs can't always do it, but they always try and that's a lot." Tae wished he knew more about what was going on and he really, really wished he knew how to help Jungkook properly. He wished he had someone to go to right now, but he couldn't wake Jiho and there was no one else, so he had to pretend. "Also, it's better to be scared together. We'll be scared together and hug and then it helps us sleep. Okay?"

[jungkool]

"Kay." Jungkook sniffed and rubbed his bruising cheek, whimpering lightly as he wriggled closer to Tae and nuzzled against him. He was so scared, he didn't want Cheon to get him. He closed his eyes and tried to focus on Tae, on his breathing and how he held him. He would protect him? How? He was a little boy too. He needed an adult like Eomma or Mr Policeman. Closing his eyes, he tried to relax. "If he comes, hide me. Don't let him take me."

[vante]

"I will fight him." Tae said it with determination and he meant it too. He didn't have to tell Jungkook that he was sure to lose the fight. "And you can hide in the closet behind the hanging pants. No one ever looks there if you curl up into a ball." Secret tip, passed on from hyung to hyung.

"Sleep well, Jungkook. Jungkookie. I'll watch out for you." Even if he was quite sleepy himself.