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Taehyung’s POV.
Filming Run episodes was always fun.They got to create new content for their fans and enjoy themselves at once. But toda, Taehyung had made the mistake of implying that Hobi wasn’t a fair dance leader during the shooting. He had made a comment about the fact that he would correct some of them more than others, and that he never got complimented by him. He had said it as a joke really, but the hurt in Hoseok’s eyes could be seen from across the room. When the older man smiles at the camera, Taehyung knows that it’s fake and he’s filled with regret and shame.
Hobi has always been good at teaching them, helping them and pushing them to reach their potential. He doesn’t know why he said it, perhaps he had been desperate for attention or just not thinking. It doesn’t go unnoticed when the rapper asks the staff to cut his part. Taehyung looks down. They’re filming games now, and whoever finishes the riddles first gets to go home first. He’s supposed to ride with Hoseok of course, and karma really had it out for him today. The second youngest finishes first and he barely finds it in him to feign happiness for the camera. He goes to talk to his hyung the second he’s out of the frame, pulling him aside quickly.
“Hobi-hyung… you know I didn’t mean it! I’m sorry…”
“I don’t care, Taehyung.” he snaps.
“I’ll wait for you in the car, ok? I won’t go home until you do. I hope we can talk later if you… if you want.”
“Just go!”
Taehyung knows he fucked up. He’s not one to insult his friends and Hobi isn’t known to take things personally. Seems like he managed to say the wrong thing at the wrong time. Great. He goes to inform the staff that he won’t leave quite yet. He informs them that he’ll be in the underground parking waiting for his hyung, and leaves to get changed. The way down is quiet on the elevator as Taehyung stares into emptiness. He’s upset. Both airpods are lodged in his ears but he hasn’t found the heart to start the music. Jazz would make him feel better, but he’s not sure that he deserves it.
He reaches the car with a pout and slams the door behind him, sinking in the leather backseat of the vehicle. After a few minutes of silence he allows himself to press play and lets his eyes slide closed in relief as the first few notes of his favourite playlist comfort him. He hums along to Sinatra, letting his head fall back as he waits for Hobi. the rapper could be coming to join him within the next minutes or not for another hour, there was truly no way to know. He doesn’t realise that he’s dozing off until he jumps at the sound of the car door opening next to him. Finally , he thinks.
Taehyung’s eyes remain closed and he decides to pretend to be asleep. He hears the ruffle of clothes next to him as someone gets in and the door closes. He doesn’t budge. Maybe he’s not quite ready to talk to Hoseok, or maybe he’s a coward, it’s just easier this way. When his airpods are yanked out of his ears, however, his eyes flash open in surprise. He knew that Hobi was mad at him, but why would he be that rude? He freezes as he takes in the sight before him. This isn’t hyung-
“Finally!”
There’s a stranger in the car with him. She has her hand pressed to his mouth, silencing him with a smile before he can call for help. She looks young, maybe even younger than him. Taehyung raises a hesitant hand between them when she starts to crawl towards him and then the fingers are removed from his mouth and he watches as she fumbles with the pocket of her jacket. His eyes go round when she finally reveals a sharp pocket knife and raises it to his neck. When she makes a second attempt to get closer, he lets her, lowering his hand.
Sasaengs are really something else. Taehyung really wonders how she even managed to slip here unnoticed. “Years of waiting for the right moment” she says. Years . At this point, he hopes that Hobi changes his mind. He can’t stay in this car any longer and she clearly doesn’t care. Please, hyung, I’m sorry. He screws his eyes closed tightly but she won’t let him. A gentle scold and the growing pressure of the knife against his throat is enough to make him look. She’s straddling him at that point, sitting on his lap and staring. Her gaze is unsettling, obsessed and dark, and Taehynug can’t help but recoil slightly.
“You’re so pretty,” she says. “I don’t don’t know if I want to keep you or hurt you-”
“-please”
He doesn’t know what he’s begging for. He wants it to stop, he wants to leave, he wants to feel safe. The girl doesn’t say much, she doesn’t move too much either. Despite the silence, it’s like her presence is sucking the air from Taehyung’s lungs and he can’t stop himself from shaking under her thighs. He can’t tell if she’s about to kidnap him or murder him, and there’s something weirdly sexual about the whole thing. Please, hyung. Please save me. It’s not long before a silent sob escapes his lips.
“ See ? So pretty… even when you cry.” she says as she raises the knife to his cheek, pressing harder and harder until the skin breaks and she draws blood. Taehyung winces as tears quietly roll down on the fresh cut.
“Y-you’re hurting me…” he mumbles, eyes avoiding hers.
“What a shame! I’ll kiss it better then.”
Lips meet his hot cheeks and withdraw covered in his blood. He looks back up to stare at her deranged smile, swallowing the nausea that’s making its way up. He wonders if that’s what Jimin felt like when a man grabbed him years ago. He feels powerless and disgusted, and his mind is spinning. I hate it. A shudder passes through him. He really can’t move with that knife still pressed under his eye. He only watches as her left hand comes to play with the hem of his shirt, before the door is thrown open, startling them both.
Hoseok’s POV.
He screams out of fear and surprise. Not even a second later and acting on pure instincts, his right fist meets the sasaeng’s face in a successful blow. How he manages it, Hobi doesn’t know. He’s pretty sure his eyes closed on their own when he hit her, because a voice inside of him tells him to look at his dongsaeng and he has to open them to check on him. Taehyung hasn’t moved, his hands are frozen mid air in front of him while he stares at the limp woman on top of him. Shit.
“I- ANYONE? We need help here! She-” he points a finger at the open car door and the poor frightened singer. That’s when Hobi notices the blood. “Tae? Taehyung-ah, are you ok?”
“Hobi-hyung?” the singer murmurs while the assailant is dragged out of the vehicle by security, out cold.
“You’re bleeding, are you ok?” he repeats.
“I didn’t invite her here, I swear -hyung! I wasn’t, w-wasn’t-”
“Taetae, baby, I didn’t think you did.” he replies gently, grabbing the younger’s hand. “I’m not mad at you for earlier either, I was coming down to apologise… are you hurt anywhere else?”
“Is he ok?!” he hears a voice call out. Jin-hyung? What is he doing here…
“What happened?!” shouts Namjoon, running behind with the five other members. They seem worried and out of breath, like they just ran down from the shoot and Hobi realises that that’s most likely what happened. News travel fast.
“Sasaeng.” Taehyung mutters.
They don’t say much after that. Jimin hugs his soulmate like there’s no tomorrow and they’re led to a private room to wait for the medic. It takes a little longer before Hobi registers just what had happened. He lets relief wash over him as he realises that much worse could have happened to his dongsaeng if he had been too proud to go and apologise to him. He curses under his breath. He almost didn’t… At least he’s safe now. When the staff finally gets there, they’re asked to wait outside and he lets himself slide to the ground lazily. Only Jimin stays with Taehyung.
“Wait, did you hit her?” asks Yoongi, grabbing his hand from where it rested on the floor. “You? You did !”
“Hobi-hyung punched her?!” suddenly repeats Jungkook.
“I- Maybe?”
“Hobi, I’m glad you did it… I would have done it if I were in your place too.” replies Yoongi softly. “But… Does it hurt? Your knuckles are all bruised…”
He can feel the sharp pain settling between his bones as Yoongi brushes a gentle finger over his swollen hand. He stares at it in surprise, quite proud of the way he acted although he can’t take much credit for it. He didn’t know he was hitting her when he did. Hoseok shakes his head. He is passed an icepack and he looks up at the person standing in front of them, handing it to him. Namjoon simply nods in a silent “thank you”. To his left, he can hear the maknae mumbles something about him being the coolest. He smiles.
When Taehyung walks out with his fellow ‘95 liner, he stands up in anticipation. Jimin confirms that everything is ok with the younger member, and they all breathe out in relief. The injured man assures him that he’s ok. That he was mostly scared. Hobi doesn’t expect the arms that wrap themselves around him but he welcomes the touch and hugs Taeyung back, hand caressing his back in smooth circles.
“Thanks, hyung.”
“Anytime. No- scratch that! Never again .” he corrects himself, making everyone laugh. “But you’re welcome.”
“I- sorry about earlier… I know you said you weren’t mad but I really didn’t mean it.”
Hobi doesn’t reply but he can read in Taehyung’s eyes that the younger one knows. Of course he forgives him. After today’s events, it really doesn’t matter anyways. Slowly, more arms wrap themselves around the two of them, along with an icepack being pressed on his hand. Yoongi smiles at him and pets his head quickly before looking away. Jin screams “group hug” from somewhere and Hobi fbursts out laughing. He feels much better already, and it seems that Taehyung feels the same.
Screw sasaengs. Nothing can break this.