Ch 13: The Line Between Freedom and Possession

A Failed Escape

Taehyung had always been good at surviving.

It was instinct—something ingrained into his very bones.

So, when the suffocating presence of the Jeon brothers became too much, his first instinct was to run.

Again.

It wasn’t that he disliked them—no, that wasn’t the problem.

The problem was the way they looked at him.

Like they already owned him.

Like his struggles were just an amusing delay before the inevitable.

And worst of all?

He was starting to believe them.

That scared him more than any zombie ever could.

So, he waited until late at night, when the mansion was eerily silent, when even Jungguk wasn’t sneaking around his room for once.

Taehyung slipped into the hallway, moving swiftly and quietly.

He had one goal.

To get out.

He just needed a few hours away—just some time to breathe without their piercing gazes burning into him.

But before he even reached the exit—

A hand grabbed his wrist.

Taehyung’s stomach dropped.

Slowly, he turned his head.

Jungkook.

Of course.

Of fucking course.

The eldest Jeon stood there, shirtless, his hair messy from sleep, but his eyes—his eyes were completely awake.

Watching.

Waiting.

His grip tightened just slightly, not enough to hurt but enough to remind Taehyung exactly who was in control here.

Taehyung forced a smirk. “Couldn’t sleep without me?”

Jungkook chuckled, low and deep. “You should know by now, baby,” he murmured, stepping closer, “you can’t leave without saying goodbye.”

Taehyung’s heart pounded. “I wasn’t leaving. Just taking a walk.”

Jungkook hummed, unconvinced. “At this hour?”

“Couldn’t sleep,” Taehyung shrugged.

Jungkook tilted his head, studying him.

For a brief, terrifying moment, Taehyung thought he would let him go.

Then—

Jungkook smirked.

“That’s fine,” he said casually, still holding onto Taehyung’s wrist. “I’ll walk with you.”

Taehyung’s fingers twitched.

He had lost. Again.

But he refused to let Jungkook see his frustration.

Instead, he huffed. “Fine. Let’s go, then.”

Jungkook chuckled, finally releasing his grip.

And just like that, Taehyung was right back where he started.

Trapped.

Owned.

And maybe—just maybe—he was starting to like it.

A Game of Control

The next morning, Taehyung woke up to find his door locked.

From the outside.

He blinked at it for a moment.

Then he groaned.

Those bastards.

He stormed to the door, twisting the handle just to confirm that, yes, he was literally imprisoned in his own damn room.

Just as he was about to kick it down, the lock clicked from the outside.

The door swung open—

And Jungguk leaned against the frame, grinning.

“Good morning, sunshine,” he teased. “Sleep well?”

Taehyung crossed his arms. “You locked me in.”

Jungguk shrugged. “Yeah. And?”

Taehyung narrowed his eyes. “That’s kidnapping.”

Jungguk laughed. “No, that’s making sure you don’t run off like an idiot and get yourself killed.”

Taehyung scoffed. “You think I can’t survive without you?”

Jungguk smirked. “Oh, I know you can.”

His voice dropped to a murmur.

“But I also know you don’t want to.”

Taehyung’s breath caught.

For a second, he couldn’t move. Couldn’t speak.

Because Jungguk was right.

He didn’t want to admit it.

But deep down, beneath all the irritation and frustration—

A part of him liked the way they fought to keep him.

Like he was something worth holding onto.

Jungguk’s eyes softened, just for a moment.

Then—his smirk returned.

“C’mon, breakfast is ready,” he said, stepping aside. “Unless you want me to carry you down.”

Taehyung shoved past him, ignoring the way his cheeks burned.

And Jungguk—

Jungguk just laughed.

Jae-hyun’s Warning

Later that day, Taehyung found himself alone in the library.

Or at least, he thought he was alone.

Until Jae-hyun’s voice broke the silence.

“You’re losing, you know.”

Taehyung turned his head.

Jae-hyun was sitting at the far end of the room, flipping through a book, not even looking at him.

Taehyung frowned. “What are you talking about?”

Jae-hyun finally met his gaze.

“I mean, you’re fighting a battle you can’t win.”

Taehyung felt his stomach tighten.

Jae-hyun closed his book, standing up. He walked towards Taehyung slowly, deliberately.

“You can keep running. Keep pretending you don’t belong here.”

He stopped in front of Taehyung, tilting his head slightly.

“But eventually, you’ll realize—”

He leaned in.

“There’s no escaping us.”

Taehyung clenched his jaw. “You talk like I’m some prisoner.”

Jae-hyun smiled. “You’re not.”

His eyes darkened.

“But you’re not free either.”

Taehyung’s breath hitched.

Because deep down—

He knew Jae-hyun was right.

And he wasn’t sure he even wanted to fight it anymore.

A Dangerous Realization

That night, as Taehyung lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, a terrifying thought sank in.

He had spent so much time trying to escape them.

But maybe—just maybe—

He wasn’t running away from them.

He was running away from himself.

From the part of him that wanted to stay.

The part of him that liked the way Jungkook’s gaze burned into him.

The part of him that enjoyed Jungguk’s teasing, his relentless presence.

The part of him that felt strangely safe when Jae-hyun spoke in that cold, unshakable voice.

Because for the first time in years, Taehyung wasn’t just surviving.

He was being wanted.

Claimed.

And worst of all?

He didn’t want them to stop.

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