Chapter Text
☽
“Go, Taehyung!” Hoseok hisses and pushes the boy lightly.
“Don’t panic, coming.” Taehyung smiles to himself and goes forward to the stage.
That stage where he’s performed so many times that now it’d be ridiculous if Taehyung would be nervous. But he is . And he blames Hoseok who always rushes everyone around him. Taehyung has never been late even if he likes to take his time but he also knows that if he messes anything up, then no money for him. And he needs money.
So, when he finally comes to his spot and faces the audience, his anxiety vanishes right away. It’s not that he notices new faces among the crowd-—no, they are all the same people—and Taehyung knows that they come here every day for him. He takes a deep breath and takes the microphone erasing every intrusive thought from his mind.
Taehyung doesn’t have a tendency to belittle himself. He knows what he can do, what he can’t do and that he can learn if it’s needed. He has been always quick to memorize things. And maybe it’s not really helpful to be able to recognize every face in the audience but there are particular occasions like…
“Tae, there is a man… a fan… uhm,” Hoseok points behind him where the said person stands turned his back to them, so Taehyung can’t tell who it is. “He has a gift I think.”
Taehyung averts his eyes to the black figure who shifts on its spot and glances down at the watch.
“I’ll be here in case.”
“You’re always talking about cases but nothing ever happened.” Taehyung smiles and goes past Hoseok.
“You never know.”
Taehyung can’t agree more. Even if he’s sure their visitors are decent but who knows when a creep shows up and kills you in the worst scenario. Taehyung cringes at his own thought and shakes it off.
“Hey.” Taehyung taps lightly on the man’s shoulder, and he turns around to face the singer with a bright smile. Well, he doesn’t look like creep for now.
“Good evening, Taehyung,” He offers Taehyung a hand, and the singer shakes it while eyeing the roses in the man’s other hand. Not that Taehyung rarely receives roses but the color of these… dark red. They’re beautiful. “We’ve seen each other many times before,” he chuckles awkwardly. “But it’s time for me to introduce myself. And that’s for you...”
“Thank you.” Taehyung takes the bouquet holding it tight to his chest and waiting for the man to continue.
“I have watched your performances so many times that I can call myself a fan.”
“Do you like it?”
“Very much,” He looks around briefly and then returns his gaze back to Taehyung. “Not many things make me so excited, and I’m thankful that you are one of them.”
Or maybe he is a creep.
Taehyung keeps smiling but something seems off. He doesn’t know what exactly makes him uncomfortable—the stranger’s words or his eyes that literally see through Taehyung. At least, Hoseok waits for him somewhere.
“Oh,” The man’s face suddenly falls, and Taehyung flinches when he takes his hand into his squeezing. “Don’t be afraid.”
“I’m not—”
“Your eyes tell otherwise,” He takes a step back and lets go of Taehyung giving him space. “I’m not here to hurt you. Actually,” The man fishes something out of his coat pocket—a small black box. “I want to ask you a favor.”
“A favor?” Taehyung frowns.
“Yes. I suppose it’s our last meeting before I leave,” He opens the box, and—as Taehyung’s guessed—there is a ring. Nothing too fancy. It’s a plain silver ring with engraved flowers in it. “This thing has always been with me though I couldn’t find a use for it. But now…”
“I can’t accept it,” Taehyung shakes his head. “That’s too expensive.” Even if it doesn’t look like it.
“I’m not sure… I only know that it’s too old but still precious to me,” Stranger looks down at the ring and smiles so warmly that Taehyung feels a pang of shame for considering him a creep. Though he’s still acting like one giving Taehyung a ring without a reason. “I’d probably lose it during my trip, so please keep it safe for me.”
“I don’t know… Why don’t you give it to your friend?”
“If it’s a problem, then you’re my friend, Taehyung,” He holds the box out to the singer looking at him with pleading eyes. “I’m begging you.”
Taehyung is confused. Not every day a total stranger would come to him and give him an old ring that—Taehyung is somehow sure of it—costs a lot. And he just offers it to him when Taehyung can easily sell it or lose it.
“You’re sure? And it’s not a joke, right?” He carefully takes the box but fixes his gaze on the man’s face.
“I feel like it’ll be in the right hands,” He smiles at him voice sounding melancholic. But Taehyung brushes it off averting his eyes to the ring. “Thank you, Taehyung.”
“But when are you going…” When he looks up, he’s all alone in the corridor. Taehyung turns around but there is no sign of the strange man. “...back?”
Taehyung doesn’t even know his name.
☽
When Taehyung comes back home later that night, he puts flowers in the vase and sets the box down on his dresser. He doesn’t know what to do with it. Should he think of it as a present and wear it? Or just keep here for the sake of it? But if this uneasy feeling inside of him is a sign to not touch the ring, then Taehyung will gladly listen and follows. He doesn’t even need this ring when he has many others inside his drawers. And so, Taehyung closes the box and heads to the bathroom washing worries away.
Days go like they usually do. Taehyung sleeps until afternoon, walks around the city if he’s not lazy or just eats whatever he finds in the fridge lying on the couch if he is lazy. When evening comes, Taehyung goes downstairs entering the bar and starting his shift. Everything seems fine mostly whilst Taehyung can’t help but take a look at the ring every time he dresses or before he leaves his apartment fighting with the wish to touch it. What is wrong with it anyway? He won’t break it suddenly if he puts it on. The worst that might happen is him losing the ring. Taehyung huffs and closes the door deciding that he will try it later.
But that later didn’t happen. Taehyung managed to find excuses for every time he actually wanted to open the box. It didn’t match, it looked too old, I’d lose it, I didn’t need it. He knows he’s just making a problem out of nothing but that feeling. As if it almost screams at him to not even try. Taehyung even spends more time in the bar than in his apartment just because there is no that damn ring.
He walks into the bar engrossed in his thoughts so deep that he misses the voice calling for him.
"Taehyung!"
He snaps his head up and meets Jimin’s bright smile— the boy stands at the bar counter waving him.
"Jimin..." Taehyung smiles weakly coming closer to his friends.
"Wow, nice greeting," Jimin frowns and elbows him but Taehyung just shrugs without response. "You aren’t happy to see me?"
"Just... tired, I guess." Taehyung rubs the back of his neck feeling slightly guilty. Because he’s lying… well, partially. He is tired because of the work but he’s also too concerned about the box on his dresser to act cheerfully.
"Obviously," Jimin deadpans observing his blank face. "When was the last time you had a day off?"
"Mm... two weeks ago if I’m right." Not that he needs days off anyway.
"And you think it’s alright?"
"I need money, Jimin," Taehyung frowns when the other doesn’t look pleased with the answer. "I have to buy an apartment where I won’t hear any kind of noise at all ."
"I understand," Jimin gets closer to him and rubs his back in a soothing manner. "But it doesn’t mean that you should overwork yourself, Tae. Take a break, it won’t hurt."
"I’ll consider." Taehyung laughs a little when Jimin furrows his eyebrows and clicks his tongue. “Jimin, can I ask you something?”
“What is it?” Jimin leans on the counter observing the alcohol on the shelves, and Taehyung mirrors the action getting closer to his friend’s face.
“That may sound stupid… and it is stupid but I can’t tell anyone,” He doesn’t know how to say it. How to say that you can’t live in your own apartment because of the old ring . Taehyung sighs. “Someone gave me a ring after one of my performance… a week ago.”
“You accepted it? I thought you didn’t?”
“He said he would lose it and it’d be safe with me, and he begged me for real.”
“And what’s wrong then?” Jimin raises his eyebrows at his friend’s doomed expression. “You lost it?”
“No, fortunately…” Secretly, Taehyung prays to lose it and return his peace back. “It’s weird like… I don’t know. I want to wear it but I’m kinda scared.”
“To lose it?”
“Scared of the ring.”
Jimin hums and turns his head away from Taehyung before he bursts out laughing.
“What’s so funny?” Taehyung almost feels offended at such reaction but he knows that his words sound as weird as his situation. And he’s expected this reaction. He’d laugh too, to be honest.
“Tae, believe me…” Jimin bites his lip to stop himself from laughing. “You shouldn’t be afraid of… rings.” He straightens and puts his hands on Taehyung’s shoulder. “Rings can’t and won’t bite you.”
“I feel like this one can.”
Taehyung exhales and decides that he will open the box. Not tonight but perhaps tomorrow.
☽
It’s been four days when Taehyung finally finds himself sitting in front of his dresser boring holes in the open box.
“Am I going crazy?” He sighs covering his face with his hands.
Today Taehyung doesn’t have any more excuses to run away. He sits on the stool fully dressed already, he still has 15 minutes before Hoseok starts whining and looking for him.
“Whatever,” He stands up rapidly and takes the ring out of the box hesitating for a moment before putting it on. “Rings can’t bite, huh?”
For now, Taehyung believes it…
“I was about to call you.” Hoseok waves him standing near the curtains peaking through them at the stage where someone’s performing.
“I still have 10 minutes.” Taehyung rolls his eyes playfully and gets slapped on his forearm from the other man.
“Because you know what happens when you don’t control everything.” Hoseok quietly mutters more to himself but Taehyung’s still able to hear him.
“We die?” The singer asks seriously only to tease Hoseok more. But he doesn’t look amused.
He pouts and pushes Taehyung away from him. “Get ready, idiot.”
“I’m always ready.”
Taehyung comes closer to get a better look at the stage too where one of his colleagues performs. He observes him for a while before moving his gaze to the crowd. Nothing new. Except he doesn’t see a face of that unknown man who somehow managed to make Taehyung suffer recently.
“Ouch!” Taehyung’s left hand jerks automatically when he feels a pang of sharp pain in his wrist.
“What?” Hoseok turns to him half bewildered half worried watching Taehyung’s pained expression. “What happened?”
“N-nothing, just…” He brings his hand closer to observe what’s wrong but it looks fine.
“You good?”
“Yeah, totally,” Taehyung cracks a smile and waves Hoseok off. “I think I need a massage for my poor wrists.”
“I can try if you want…”
“I’m joking,” Taehyung laughs and turns to the stage again when the artist ends his performance. “My turn.”
“Wait! Announ—” Hoseok grabs his arm but the singer quickly escapes his grip and runs away.
“No need!”
Hoseok sighs dramatically. Someday Taehyung will be the death of him if he won’t learn to say ‘no’ to the singer. Though it seems to be getting harder.
Taehyung knows that causing troubles for Hoseok means causing troubles for everyone. Because if one fails, then everyone fails too. That is some kind of an unspoken rule in their place of work. He still remembers those days when they didn’t get paid because of someone’s mistake. And Taehyung didn’t even know what happened; still doesn’t and likely never will. Maybe that’s why he’s so reckless—he has no idea where the line is thus he keeps pushing limits. Taehyung’s been lucky so far but one day he can cross that line and will have to face consequences. He really needs to get out of this place. The sooner, the better… Taehyung shuts every thought down and concentrates on the song. Typically, he doesn’t really think of anything while performing but today he keeps wondering about this man. His gaze occasionally drifts to the spot where the stranger usually sat. Why does he feel lonely all of a sudden?
Taehyung senses throbbing somewhere in his palm again when the realization downs on him. It’s just right here — in his ring finger. He holds the mic tight and tries examining the spot where he feels dull ache but it looks perfectly fine—it's not red, it’s not swollen. It just hurts so much.
It’s not just a finger; it spread further and further. Taehyung feels his wrist getting numb, he can barely hold his mic tightly. Taehyung focuses his eyes on the table lamp trying to distract himself from the pain. He can’t stop halfway through his performance, and while he concentrates on something else, it helps a little. But just a little...
Taehyung feels something wet dripping down his wrist and when he glances at his hand, he sees blood oozing from his finger where he has a ring on it. Taehyung immediately lowers his hand down hiding it behind him so no one among the audience will notice and make the unnecessary fuss about it. He can endure the pain till the end of the performance, Taehyung is sure of it. Just a little while longer… Just five minutes, ten minutes, fifteen… It feels too much, and Taehyung wants to cry. He wants to take the ring off right now and throw it away and forget and never remember about it again. His eyes start watering, and he just can’t.
Taehyung stops singing while the music is still on, and that doesn’t seem right at all. Everyone looks at him curiously, and the singer mumbles a little ‘sorry’ that no one probably can hear and paces to the backstage where Hoseok is already waiting for him. He is shocked obviously —even if Taehyung likes to joke around, he has never ended his performance so abruptly. Hoseok moves his hands up and down having no idea what to do with them and looks Taehyung up and down trying to figure out what’s just happened.
“Taehyung? Are you hurt? What’s happening?” He comes closer to get a better look at the singer but he just shakes his head and pulls the sleeve down to hide his bleeding finger. “Why did you stop?”
“I-I feel dizzy…” He really does.
“Dammit, let me help y—”
“No, you don’t have to!” Taehyung steps back. “I want to go home and sleep. That’ll be enough.”
“Taehyung, I’m not sure…”
“Hoseok, please.”
Taehyung tries to squeeze his palm hoping it’ll ease the pain away but it only gets worse and he winces. “Please.”
“O-okay, but if something goes wrong… call me.”
Taehyung knows that if he tries to respond now, he will totally cry because of the pain so he just nods and paces past Hoseok hoping that blood won’t drip down on the floor while the man’s looking at him go.
☽
Taehyung barges into his apartment closing the door and running straight to the bathroom. He puts his hand under the water watching blood wash away; he feels sick. There is so much blood—Taehyung’s not even surprised when he looks up in the mirror and sees his pale face.
When he thinks that it’s finally clean, Taehyung observers his palm again. It hurts like hell but it looks as if nothing is wrong. Except for blood. Taehyung pulls the ring— just a little —and cries out in pain when it shoots through his whole arm, blood dripping from underneath once again.
“What the fuck…” He breathes in and out and tries to pull one more time but stops when there is only sharp pain. “What the fuck?!”
Taehyung finds bandages in one of the drawers but he can’t even treat his wound with the ring still on.
Rings can’t bite …
“Shit.” Taehyung sits down on the bed turning his palm from side to side. There is no point bandaging it.
That’s why he didn’t want open the box; why he was feeling uneasy about it. He shouldn’t have done it in the first place. He didn’t need this ring.
Taehyung falls down on the mattress, and he doesn’t notice when he falls asleep.
He wakes up at some point but he can’t bring himself to open his eyes. Taehyung knows it’s around 2-3am as he still can hear music outside. But something tells him that he must open his eyes. Even if Taehyung is sure he’s imagining things again, he tries to ignore his conscience and proceed to sleep. Until he feels shifting on his bed. Taehyung freezes and stops breathing for a moment. He tries to listen but there is no noise except the weight on his bed. There is someone .
Taehyung is aware that there is no way of him running away from the intruder but he can’t give up without even trying to fight. And so, he slowly opens his eyes and sucks in a sharp breath when he sees a man hovering above him, leaning on his hands from both sides of Taehyung’s head. He opens his mouth but no words escaping it. He’s scared. Who is it?
“So,” The man narrows his eyes watching Taehyung without blinking. “It’s you who is betrothed to me.”
Taehyung’s head is spinning . Shining red eyes, fangs poking out of the mouth, pale skin and melodic voice…
It’s all he can register before he falls into darkness.
☾