they should have known better than to leave jungkook alone.

should have known that he'd find himself on the edge of a bar, hiccuping as he slurped down another shot of tequila in a bid to forget what the day had brought. like a vision in the distance, a beautiful hallucination, he could see his daughter on the swings, see his wife in her white dress- the day she told him that she was pregnant. it was beautiful, all of it. memories worth keeping but now, they were distant. covered up by hatred and pain and yelling. words that would have been better left unsaid.

both him and jennie could get mean when they drank, mean when they were sober- some people just clash in the daytime and the nighttime.

but he still loved her more than words could say. when he spoke those vows, years before, each word was truer than the last. he'd eternally be grateful, for her patience and guidance, for everything she showed him was possible.

looking back it was cheesy but in the moment it had been beautiful and someday, he hoped his daughter would hear something so raw and honest and sentimental- he just hoped that whoever spoke it wouldn't crumble down in under five years and leave her lonely.

"your cab is here mr. jeon!" the bartender leaned over, a forceful finger pointing towards the exit in a bid to get the boy who had been there all afternoon to finally leave.

"i'm going! i'm going!" jungkook yelled to nobody in particular and yet everybody heard it, his figure tripping over itself until he landed softly in the backseat of a cab.

the man at the counter must have already given the driver his address, a direct route headed back to his apartment which he wasn't sure he was emotionally ready to be at. hell, the moon had barely come out to play, the night young but, it was evident his desire for fun would be squashed by the sight of his building's front doors.

"you're here mr. jeon." the driver spoke from the front, quick to hop out and help the man to the front door of the complex.

he didn't expect a thank you, not from somebody with such a vicious scowl.

inside the apartment, high up from the city lights, tae had been up waiting. tea in his hand as he eyed each dustless surface hoping to find another excuse to stick around and wait for jungkook just a minute more. it started to seem hopeless an hour ago, and with each passing minute it became pathetic.

he wasn't coming.

taehyung stood, rinsing the mug and setting it in the empty dishwasher, stunned at the sound of the front door as though he had manifested the man himself, "jungkook?"

instantly the older could tell he was drunk. beyond it. his eyes glazed over, bloodshot and menacing as he scanned tae making him feel merely an inch tall, "what're you doing here?" each word was slurred, drawn out, his scent alone enough to cause the whole building to erupt in flames.

"i was just finishing picking up. did you want something to eat?" he attempted to usher the younger into a dining chair, some food to help calm the manic glare, some food to settle his running emotions.

jungkook refused, his body pushing back with all force until he had knocked the chair on his side and tipped a vase in the process, the glass cracking against the wood grain, "why're you always playing house wife?" his legs stumbled over one another, body tripping until he was flat on his butt against the floor, "why are you even here?"

taehyung flinched at the increased decibel, trying to summon something to say but he couldn't. he felt no anger towards jungkook aggression, overly aware that it stemmed from a place of sadness. he asked again- no demanded, "i'm going to make you some toast, it'll soak up some of that alcohol."

"i don't want toast!" he screamed from his spot on the ground, vocal chords strained as the sound ripped through the kitchen, "i don't want it!"

it was like watching a two year old throw a tantrum except much scarier. he was stronger, able to pull his body up and swipe any contents that remained on the counter including a fruit bowl and a pitcher of water. it was all broken on the floor and taehyung hadn't even realized that he was huddled against the back wall just watching in horror.

"why doesn't anybody trust me? not you. not namioon!" jungkook's expression twisted, "i gave and gave and i made one mistake... and now...." his hazelnut orbs covered themselves, a veil of eyelashes caressing the tips of his cheek like gentle butterfly wings, "i'd be better off dead."

taehyung jumped at that, his heart pulsating in his chest rapidly at the mere idea of jungkook dying or no longer being here, with him or with the world- he brought so much joy to so many. his hand gripped around the younger's wrist, steadying him so he wouldn't fall into the pile of broken glass he had created, "jungkook. don't you ever say that!" they held the moment, staring at one another for what felt like eternity before tae continued, "you can yell and scream and break things but you are- let me repeat it- you are better off dead."

an unwelcome tear rolled down his cheek, his final bid to keep the younger in his embrace, "let me prove it to you."

he swore jungkook's nose twitched, the side of his lip turned to a smile- no a smirk, his arm violently tugging which left taehyung stumbling. neither said a word, the only sound left was the noise of jungkook breaking each picture frame in the hallway before slamming his bedroom door shut with enough force to shake the entire apartment.

taehyung tried to control the bubbling emotion in his chest as he grabbed the broom from the pantry, broken glass being swept away as he mulled.

what had happened in the past twelve hours to leave jungkook in such a state and why did he feel so compelled to fix it?