❝ʜᴏᴘᴇʟᴇss❞|| vkook

3. missing

"Ah, there you are. I made breakfast," Jin said, putting waffles onto plates as Taehyung came downstairs.

"It's been a while since you've cooked," Taehyung commented quietly.

"Yeah, well I can't keep my boys hungry forever," he smiled.

Jin looked at Taehyung's outfit.

"Isn't it a little too hot to be wearing a long sleeved shirt?"

Taehyung tugged at the cuff of his shirt.

"I get cold sometimes."

"Oh," Jin nodded, dropping the matter.

"So are you excited for school?"

Taehyung shrugged.

"Don't worry too much," Jin said.

"The teachers know and will understand if you have to go outside to take a break."

"Ok," Taehyung said, sitting down on one of the dining chairs as Jin put down four plates.

Taehyung's heart dropped.

"Who's that plate for," he asked, trying to keep it together.

"It's for Namjoon," Jin said as he sat down in front of Taehyung.

"No," the boy said, not wanting bring anything up,

"The other one," he glanced at the seat beside him.

"Oh, that's for-" Jin stopped mid sentence, realizing his mistake.

He bit his lip.

"Force of habit," Jin laughed sadly as he reached for the plate.

"No, it's ok," Taehyung said,

"Let's leave it out for him."

Jin smiled.

"You're a wonderful boy."

"I wouldn't say that," Taehyung said,

"You, on the other hand, are a very strong person and I look up to you very much."

"Well when I see you everyday, it keeps me going," Jin held his hand.

After a little moment of quiet, Namjoon came downstairs.

"Morning, you two," he said giving Jin a kiss on the cheek and tousling Taehyung's hair.

He sat down beside Jin and picked up his fork and knife.

"Oh, how I missed your cooking."

"Hard not to," Jin replied.

As the boys were eating, Namjoon looked at the empty seat.

He looked at his husband.

"Aw, babe, I think you-"

"I know," Jin said, putting down his utensils.

"It didn't even occur to me that no one would be sitting there."

Namjoon put Jin's head on his shoulder and kissed his head.

"I think it'll be like this forever," Jin said.

"Like something's missing."

Taehyung looked down at his hands, appetite lost.

"Is that for me?"

Taehyung head shot up to see Jungkook pointing at the waffles.

"Is something the matter," Jin asked, concerned.

"N-no. Just shivered from the cold, I guess."

"Oh, let me make you some warm milk," Jin got up and went to the kitchen.

"No, it's ok, I'm-"

"No, it isn't ok. I'm not going to let you go to school freezing cold! What kind of a father would I be?"

"Why are you lying?"

Taehyung looked to his right to see Jungkook sitting in his chair.

Taehyung jumped in his seat, surprised.

"Are you that cold," Namjoon asked.

"I'd better turn down the AC."

"No, it's-" Taehyung didn't bother continuing as he knew he was going to do it anyway.

"Just tell them the truth. Tell them what you're going through. You know they can help."

"But they're going through it too and much worse! You were their son and my friend. There's a big difference," Taehyung mumbled.

"But look at you! You're a mess," Jungkook reached for his arm.

"I don't care about me. I care about them," Taehyung said, pulling his arm away.

"And right know, they're hurting. They're hurting so bad. I am not going to tell them my problems when they're going through bigger problems of their own."

"Fine," Jungkook crossed his arms.

"But today is your first day back at school and I don't think you'll be able to handle that alone."

"No," Taehyung said.

"I can't. And that's because you aren't going to be there."
---
side note:
when taehyung said jin hasn't cooked in a while, it doesn't mean that they haven't eaten at all. they've been ordered take out and stuff like that so don't think they've been starving for weeks.