music was better a century and a half ago. each bit was laced with emotion that could be felt from tip to top, sprinkled with romanticism, the slightest hint of mystique no matter the tone.

taehyung felt it in the tips of his fingers as he hesitated over each chord, slowly becoming one with the viola he had casted aside ever since returning home from japan. it felt nostalgic, like revisiting an old friend that you had a misunderstanding with. serene even, like drops of rain on a spring day.

the song being played was a mix of upbeat tempos and melancholy exits, swirled together like an untold fairytale. he crescendoed into the midst, hitting the loudest peak before abruptly dropping, a pause just long enough for words to be spoke.

"that's beautiful." a voice broke his concentration, a note falling flat as his instrument hung limp at his side.

taehyung hadn't even heard a knock at the door, much less saw his cousin scuttle by to let anyone in. that's why the voice was so surprising, the figure even more so, "what are you doing here?"

jungkook held out an arrangement of flowers, wrapped beautifully with purple ribbon, "peace offering?"

the gesture felt a tad empty; it immediately reminded him of the flowers bogum had sent the other day before rubbing his new boyfriend in tae's face. he gripped them anyways, setting them on an end table in the living room to die, "thanks."

the tension was thick, like honey fresh from the comb- they were stuck. and staring. both filled with words that were desperately clawing at the back of their throat.

"why're you here?" taehyung placed his viola back in its case, clamping it shut, and shoving it back under the couch where he'd rediscover it again in a few weeks.

jungkook could sense his opposition, the way he held a hint of terror and defense in his stance each time the younger dared to move. his mind was a bit blank from yesterday but it was apparent whatever had happened at the house wasn't good.

it was evident by the stack of photos, busted from their frames. evident by the chair with the missing leg. evident by the absence of tae on the other side of his bed, "came to say i'm sorry for what went down last night."

"do you even remember?"

"not exactly."

"let me refresh." taehyung started to pace, his arms folded to cover his chest which was only coated with a plain white shirt that left little to the imagination. he didn't want to give jungkook the pleasure of viewing every crevice, not yet at least, "you broke every piece of glass you own, threw a tantrum on the floor, and concluded you'd be better off dead. you scared me." his almond orbs looked away, blinking back tears and he cursed himself for being so fucking emotional when it came to someone he had barely known a month.

"i'm so sorry if i scared you." jungkook could see the terror on tae's face, the way he retracted with each step forward the younger took. it hurt his heart, to see the person who had been so desperately working to build something with just stepping away, visibly pained.

that seemed to be all he had done recently was hurt and take and whine about the unfair cards he had been dealt. even though others would say he was the luckiest- he hadn't felt it. not lately.

"can i fix it?"

jungkook was surprised to here him ask, it should have been the opposite. he needed to do the fixing, "what do you mean?"

"whatever is bothering you so much. whatever causes you to lash out, can i take it away from you? can i make it easier? tell me what to do jungkook. i'll do it." the older boy was practically screaming at this point, desperation dripping in his tone; he meant every word.

the younger led them both to the corner of the couch, their hands placed together, studying expressions on each other's faces, a bid to understand what each other was thinking.

"you're too pure for this world, you know that?"

tae huffed, suddenly defensive, "that's a bit offensive, wouldn't you say?"

"why? i don't mean it as such." jungkook had eyes of a baby deer, innocent under the dim lamp and the pulsing television. he looked strangely average in such a bland setting, a regular person just trying to get by.

"all i mean is that i could never burden you with problems i have created myself. these are mine to carry, certainly not somebody with as much talent and as bright of a future as yourself. okay?"

in a way, the social niceties, the way that jungkook acted so much older than all those around him, it was so evident they were simply a barrier. taehyung could see right over it, annoyed yet determined.

he'd be there when jungkook was ready.

"you have to stop thinking it's some sort of requirement to do everything alone." tae felt his hand intertwine with jungkook, lifting it to the his lips as he planted kisses along each knuckle which left the younger a melted mess.

"see what i mean tae, this right here. the world isn't worthy of you- i'm not worthy of you." jungkook pulled his hand away, using it's freedom to move strands of the boy's hair around and take in how soft it all was.

"well i say you are! and you don't always get to be right!"

jungkook laughed at the contorted feature on tae's face, the ones that attempted to look mean and demanding but only came across as sweet, "is that so?"

they sat in a moment of silence, eyeing each other to see who would be the first to crack. the first to take the next step- whatever it may be.

neither were quite sure.