jungkook made a detour on his way back, unaware the comedown of such an emotional interaction would be so telling.

he felt free, unrestricted- maybe it was cliche to feel so much so suddenly but he saw a second chance in front of him. one that had you asked him a month and a half ago he wouldn't have seen.

on the other side of the door he could hear namjoon, awake and at work. standard practice for the man who lived and breath his job.

jiwoo's little giggles echoed against the wall and tae's morning voice- the one had he missed so much- was the cause of it. how perfect that the two were getting on so well already.

despite being gone merely an hour, everything inside looked different. it was cleaned up and organized, the smell of breakfast wafting through the open concept space and for the second time in twenty-four hours, everyone looked absolutely elated to see jungkook at the door.

"you're back!" tae flashed a familiar boxy grin, the bags under his eyes reiterating that he had been asleep for a restless thirty minutes.

"where have you been?" namjoon's tone was sharp, his hand covering part of the phone to muffle his own voice from whoever was on the other line.

"is nobody happy that i brought back donuts?" he held a box up, rolling his eyes playfully.

"me! me!" jiwoo left her spot by tae to rush towards kook, small hands clawing at his leg in a bid to get closer.

he led the two of them to the counter, "i was at jimin's if you really need to know!"

"i'm sorry, it sounded like you said jimin?" namjoon practically dropped the device in his hand.

jungkook stalled for a moment, enjoying the shocked expressions of everyone around him. he ripped a piece of the sweet morning treat off and plopped it in his daughters mouth, using his thumb to dust off the lingering powdered sugar, "you're a mess kid!"

"jungkook!" namjoon interrupted the moment, "park jimin?"

he gnawed at his lip wondering if it would make sense why he went there to anybody but him, "i needed to let him know that i forgave him."

"forgave him?" every sentence namjoon was able to form ended up as a question, annoyed that the younger wouldn't just fucking elaborate already.

"forgave him, yes!" jungkook was pleased with himself, "we have all made selfish choices. many of mine were and obviously what jimin did was but, if i can forgive myself, i can forgive him!"

tae beamed with pride from his spot on the couch, proud of the growth he had seen in such a short period, "you're incredible."

"thank you." jungkook blew a kiss in his direction before helping jiwoo with another bite, "any further questions your honor?"

namjoon rolled his eyes, annoyed but it quickly faded, replaced with golden stars in his stare, "your song is dominating kook. everyone loves it!" at some point he had clicked from the call, disregarding the mound of others that were pouring in. people looking for comments from his client, looking for info on the new album and more.

as fast as he had disappeared from the spot light he had reappeared.

jungkook wasn't sure he wanted it, "wh- what do you mean?"

"it means this is your second chance at success. your name back on billboards, sold out venues, you're back on top." joon could sense the hesitation, "if you want it."

the younger looked to tae, hoping that he had an answer of some type. hoping that his face would tell what should be said but it was blank. almond orbs focused on the window, the city- what was running through his mind. jungkook had to know.

"what does that mean for me right now? like today?" jungkook picked his daughter up and cradled her like a teddy bear, finding comfort in the scent of her shampoo- she smelled like home. his old home. like jennie cooking dinner and washing clothes and dancing with him in the dining room. like everything did before things went south. like a taste of stability that could never last.

his house of bricks was crumbling again, but this time, it wasn't because of a scandal or the fact that he ruined it. in fact, it was the opposite.

how could both scenarios leave him with a knot in his stomach, anxious palpitations, and sweaty palms. he hoped to find more comfort in this moment and yet the only thing holding him down was a vivid memory of the past.

"they want you to do a few talk shows if you're up for it? they want a live performance-," namjoon glanced towards tae for that, "if you're up for it?"

the brunette was in his world still, pondering what this meant for him, for kook, for him and kook. was this the way it all fell apart?

"tae, babe, what do you say?" jungkook used only his softest voice, "you wanna perform with me?"

the way he spoke his name so gently got the older boy's attention and the entire room melted away, leaving them with only one another, "i'll do whatever you wanna do."

and he meant it.

"then, le- let's do it!" jungkook beamed, swinging jiwoo around and pulling namjoon in for a hug, "can you believe this?"

"i'll call the car, line up a stylist- tae, do you know your suit measurements?" namjoon was back on his phone immediately, making demands he couldn't have imagined he would ever need to.

jin had stayed quiet from the kitchen but watched as the scene unfolded in front of him. years spent with his cousin made it obvious that the boy wasn't exactly thrilled right now- although it was unknown why.

"tae? can you help me get this stuff put away?" he motioned to the forgotten mound of food he'd prepared.

"s- sure!" the boy shuffled over, timid with everything he touched.

the older boy's voice fell to a whisper, well aware that noise traveled quickly through a space so small, "you okay?"

taehyung narrowed his eyes, hyper focused on his task, afraid what his reaction would be if he wasn't, "what do you mean?"

"i mean, are you okay with performing? with jungkook being back in the spotlight and just everything moving so quickly?"

the younger paused, "do you think he'll be okay? do you think he's ready? because this is a lot... and maybe i'm just inexperienced but it seems... never mind."

"are you worried about him? about you? about the two of you?" jin's pointed elbow nudged his cousin's side.

"do you remember what i said about the job in greenland? about needing to leave and to focus and-," tae's hands were grinding against the edge of the counter, holding it for dear life like he'd fall into the floor if he let go, "they offered me the job. it's better than stated! i'd be working with top composers, the most gifted students of them all- i beat out hundreds of applicants."

"i- i had no idea you were still pursuing that."

"because i didn't want you to know." taehyung didn't mean for it to sound so harsh, the way it slipped out, "once i found out how competitive it was, i wasn't sure i had a chance but, i do."

"tae, why?" jin couldn't comprehend his cousin's desire to skip town, not when everything was starting to fall in his lap so smoothly, "you finally seemed- i mean last night you were so-," he couldn't form the words.

"jungkook is great but, so is this. and what's more consistent in this world? a relationship with yourself or with somebody else? we both know the answer."

jin had never seen such determination and spark in the eyes of somebody so soft, "but the song is doing so well and this is what you wanted, right? to perform, to be recognized. tae it's happening here! in your own city!"

neither had realized the raise in their voice, the fury that enveloped the two of them in a bubble entirely their own, "but i can learn and improve from the best! i spent hours in interviews and performing and should i just throw that away?"

"it's not throwing it away, it's trading opportunity!" jin had a scolding tone in his voice, stemming from love and adoration for the younger, the desire to not see him walk away again.

"but what's more permanent? what's better in the long run?" chestnut orbs bounced back and forth, racking his brain for momentary pros and cons to have some sort of defense.

"what's going on?" jungkook had heard the vocal knives being thrown, creeping out with a half buttoned shirt on, urging jiwoo to stay behind and play with her toys while he dealt with the commotion- he wished he was her, distracted by dolls in an imaginary world.

"tell him tae! if you're so serious about saying yes, he should know." the eldest of the group was stubborn, guided by temporary rage, and poor communication skills.

"yes to what?" jungkook was getting annoyed, the clock ticking for the arrival of his car and yet nobody seemed to be anywhere near ready, "tell me."

"it's not important right now!" taehyung spoke through clenched teeth, annoyed that he was being urged to do this on someone else's time.

"it clearly is- jin looks a second away from popping a blood vessel in his eye, so just tell me. i'm a great listener!"

"i got offered a job in greenland as an assistant director." tae's eyes couldn't meet the younger, "i'd get to work with the best of the best and help train the next generation. it would be a time to elaborate my skills and just-,"

jungkook felt the vein on his forehead pulse, felt the besting of his heart all the way in his toes, and he could feel the tips of his ears turn red. in no sense had he really been betrayed yet the child within him felt it. felt like tae was on the brink of leaving him like everyone always did. he didn't care- he did. he couldn't think about it- but he was. it wasn't how he had expected this day to go at all and neither were the words that flew from his mouth faster than he could catch them, "then go."