Detective Seokjin

There, Seokjin also made the same decision to depart and consider his options after receiving no response. He ascended the main staircase, which he had previously used. It joined the back staircase on the same street. Just as Taehyung was taking his final three steps, he turned the corner of the building and saw Seokjin directly. He stared at the tall detective, his eyes like a deer caught in a flash of light. To see who would blink first was the question.

In just three seconds, Taehyung was on the move again, and after taking several long steps to cross the narrow street, Seokjin followed, resuming the long-running chase.

They ran, evading and pursuing. The ridiculousness of this was always funny, and their chases usually defied logic but went like a well-rehearsed play. Around the next corner, the game could end or just go around in a loop forever.

In the dim light, Taehyung's eyes were wide and his breaths silent. He sprinted down an alley. Detective Seokjin trailed behind, his determination a strong force. Seokjin mirrored Taehyung's every move. Today, Seokjin had all the right reasons, and Taehyung had clearly crossed the line. This time, Seokjin wasn't going to give it up.

As Taehyung moved across the market square, he ignored the shouts of their vendors and turned stalls into mere barriers.  Seokjin directed all of his senses towards the figure in front of him.

Taehyung's footsteps had led him to the train tracks that wound through the town's narrow streets and marketplaces. Nevertheless, there was no train in sight, and there was an abandoned trolley on one side, it was a wooden platform on wheels that was used for track inspection. After picking it up and placing it on the train track, Taehyung grabbed a bamboo stick from a store to use as an oar and exerted all of his strength pushing himself. Seokjin was aware that he had once again lost Taehyung in the chase.

Taehyung made several turns and drifted off into a trance across the railway tracks. He felt a much-needed respite from the cool breeze on his face. But this, like everything Taehyung has been through lately, didn't last. Seokjin's jeep stopped abruptly where train tracks went through the town, and they both looked at one another. Seokjin ran with all of his strength, unwilling to give up.

Similar to the previous chase, Taehyung was well in the lead when all of a sudden he needed to apply both brakes—that stick and his legs. Jeon Jungkook was standing in front of him, in between the railway tracks. "Oh my God, why. How? I just dropped you home" he cursed and thought.

However, now was not the moment or the venue for conversations. He moved back a little as the trolley came to a stop and motioned for Jungkook to sit. In between Taehyung's legs, Jungkook sat crossing his legs, unfazed by the surroundings. This was not something that Jungkook typically did in public. All the commotion, noise, and crowds were triggers for him.

This time, though, that was not the case. He laughed and sat quietly while Taehyung pushed them once more as quickly as he could. As far as possible away from Seokjin.

Taehyung was not only concerned with keeping himself safe but trying to steer it straight to avoid hurting Jungkook as they travelled. However, Jungkook was having fun on that ride. He was getting butterflies in his stomach from the turns and speed.

**†*********************************************

Taehyung ran straight for his house door. He was breathing very hard, but not only from the chase. There was a storm brewing within him. He opened the door and got in, waiting for the other boy. Behind him, Jungkook came, dragging his feet. His motions were in stark contrast to Taehyung’s - no urgency, no anger, nothing.

Eyes wide and anxious he entered and as soon as he did, Taehyung shut the door loudly. The noise startled Jungkook, and his shoulders jumped and eyes closed shut. Taehyung did not spare him a beat, he quickly turned towards Jungkook and held his left arm. Taehyung’s movements were loud, sharp, and urgent. Why? He kept asking with gestures, WHY??. He needed an explanation—something to make sense of this whirlwind they were caught in.

Jungkook’s gaze stayed glued to Taehyung’s hand. His eyes darted with every motion. He stood still, a very quiet and stoic statue. He maybe thought his presence would be more of an answer than the words. Taehyung’s breaths were loud and staggered, and though he couldn’t hear it himself, Jungkook could. “Why have you returned, Jungkook?” Taehyung gestured, this time with more patience and calmness.

Jungkook’s demeanor was quite charming, Taehyung felt. With all the commotion and madness of the last two days, he was unfazed. Something so childlike that it felt formidable. Jungkook moved his head from side to side in a firm dislike for Taehyung’s questions and aggression. His chest seemed to spin some answers, but they lost their way by the time he wanted to speak. With a few more head shakes and cheat heaving, Jungkook used all his effort and strength to communicate. “No home. No Home. Here,” he finally managed to say, his hands mirrored the “here stay” part with sharpness.

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