#au:demon!tk

way of loving got me sleeping without you. (i was getting kind of used to being someone you loved)

there’s an insufferable pain that burrows in his chest deeper than that of his banishment from Heaven. an ache so distressful that he can’t rest easy, not when his love isn’t relaxing beside him, making snarky remarks at things he says before kissing him senseless and God, it hurts so fucking much. the day jungkook vanished, burning and disappearing into ashes, taehyung hasn’t been the same.

his days are full of crying, spent curled up into the sheets that his lover left behind. he has to dig his nose deep in his pillows in order to not forget the scent he always carried. his clothes still settle in his closet, his bathroom untouched, and the throne room is nothing better. the memories that flood only remind him of how happy they used to be, and if he had known, he would have appreciated every passing moment they had together. 

‘he’s in love with you too.’

the black feather from his wings, he presses it delicately against his cheek, closing his tearful eyes. human!jungkook’s words echo louder than any other he’s heard in ages. jungkook from the underworld was known to not fall in love, unable to bring himself to be soft and do feelings due to his rank as leader. he doesn’t know what changed when he came along. in fact, the fallen angel had the nastiest attitude towards this devil (for reasons) in the beginning, yet the rest that came after is history. 

it was meant to be them. 

taehyung was taught, ingrained to believe in miracles from the moment of his creation. but God is so cruel, taking the person that was most important to him when he was still an angel, only to find another that became his all just to take them away again. maybe miracles aren’t miracles at all. they can be confiscated at any chance, slipped right underneath your fingertips as you’re reaching for that sense of security. they’re false hope, but he still craves to trust, so he can figure out how to bring the love of his damned life back. 

because maybe– maybe jungkook has been his miracle all long, and he’ll move heaven and earth to bring him back. 

it’s a faint whisper in the throne room, surrounded by belongings of his love. a promise to the underworld that their king will return once again, no matter the length of this journey. 

kim taehyung swears on everything he loves. 

i will fight for you. (i always do until my heart is black and blue)

he failed. 

he failed to conjur jungkook back to the real world, and he’s bleeding out by the minute. he’s not sure what’s hurting him more right now. the emptiness in his chest or the wound on his bloody right wing. joohyun, the alchemist he searched large and wide for, is holding him up, cursing aloud, finally sitting him down on a spare bed.  “i’m so sorry, taehyung..” the woman musters, apologetic. she may not have liked the idea of helping a demon before, but getting to know him throughout the process made her realize he’s not so bad after all. noting the way he cared for his lover that he spoke much about, and yes, mentioning how jungkook is the king of hell didn’t make it any better for her, but he seemed too genuine when he spoke of the immortal.

she bandages him up, laying him down on his back with a grimace. “you’re in and out of consiousness, tae. i can’t let you return like this. you have to rest for at least a few days.” and the demon can’t protest. 

he’s already knocked out. 

- - -

his eyes flutter open on the third day, groggy and striken with a sharp pain when he attempts to sit up. his hand clutches onto the bandaged wing, wincing. he’s too weak. of course. the reason why he couldn’t revive his lover was because of his fragility. he has to laugh. how will he face jimin and yoongi now? the kingdom will despise taehyung for breaking a promise he thought he’d be able to keep. will his lover hate him too?

“you’re awake.” 

he looks up, nodding, trying to stand up. his stance is wobbly and it only results in plopping back down on the mattress, hissing. joohyun sighs, pushing his forehead back with two fingers. “you need to take it easy. your wing is in badder shape than i thought. stop straining your body or you’ll never heal properly, idiot.” 

“how much longer will this take? i have to get home soon. something is off, i feel it.” 

“wait some more. healing takes it’s time.”

- - -

it’s been close to two weeks.

the day he can return peacefully to the underworld is one he was wishing for to come quickly. his wing healed as promised. he bids his new friend good bye, thanking her for everything and promising he’ll visit soon. the short female smiles, “take care of yourself, tae. i wish you luck on your journey.” 

with a snap of a finger, taehyung teleports himself in front of the throne room and he sighs, the burden buried deep within, but that’s when he feels it. that familiar energy just past the two heavy doors. he wastes no time in shoving them open, making his presence known. 

“taehyung!” 

jimin throws himself onto the demon without warning, hugging him close. “where the hell have you been? we’ve been searching all over for you.”

he gulps, too entranced by the other person in the room, back turned to the pair, and his eyes begin to water. is he hallucinating? “i- i thought..” taehyung untangles himself from his best friend who’s smiling widely at him, eyes traveling from between the figure across the room and him. 

 taehyung strides over, his pace quickening when he finally reaches, his fingers on the other’s shoulder, forcing him to turn.

his eyes begin to water heavily, spotting that familiar face and cupping it with his hands to prove that he indeed is the real thing. 

like troubled water running cold. (well time can heal but this won’t)

it’s been over a year since he’s had any interactive dreams til last night. human!jungkook isn’t the one meeting him in the dream world however, and taehyung is distraught from the moment he awakens, tears trickling down his cheeks. he recalls jungkook being so calm, evading his sadness with his wittiness. even as an entity in his dreams, he’s still the same devil he’d come to know and love. 

‘how are you?’

‘you don’t want the answer to that.’

‘why not?’

‘i’m not holding up well.’

‘you’ve done it before, angel.’

he’s done it before, but it doesn’t mean he’s learned to withstand the pain of being left behind. if he thought the first time was heart wrenching, the second time is even worse. taehyung hates how much it affects him, how his stomach churns at any mention of jungkook and how his gut felt like it was hit by a huge blow when jungkook appeared. 

they speak of jimin, how he’s holding up. he has to tell him that he’s on the edge, trying to keep up with all the duties that make the underworld thrive. of course he’s not doing it alone. yoongi is there to help him with anything he can, and taehyung lends a hand as much as possible too. hell isn’t the same without you, he had whispered oh so quietly. 

‘why do you love me so much?’

jungkook didn’t take his one sentence explanation. it wasn’t the response he wanted. when taehyung gave him the longer reason, jungkook seemed content, yet evaded having a direct answer towards it. taehyung tends to forget that he’s not as vocal of his emotions as he is, and understands so he shooed that negative thought creeping inside his head away. 

‘are you in love with me, kook-ah?’ 

i am, with you, he desperately yearned to voice, but he needed his lover’s answer first. needed to hear how he felt, hear those words. he hated to doubt, he knows the other adores him, however he received no proper good bye when he decided to cease to exist. didn’t consult him, decided it on his own when he would have supported his decision 100% regardless. 

‘don’t ask me a silly question.’

his heart dropping was louder than the sound of rain falling on pavement. he had to look to the floor, his demeanor fading into that of disappointment. jungkook isn’t in love with him. yeah. how silly of him to ask such a question. the knot in his throat prevented him from saying anything else and he kept his smile in tact, pretending to not have been affected. 

bright light engulfed them both, not giving enough time for proper goodbyes (again, again, again). the world is cruel. the world is so cruel, and jungkook isn’t in love with him, but that’s okay. taehyung is and he’ll do whatever he can to bring him back even with a heart that’s beginning to break for the second time. he isn’t allowed to have what he wants. 

(i fell by the wayside, like everyone else.

i hate you, i hate you, i hate you,