You step out into the living room, and immediately see Taehyung by the window. He has his back to you, and seems to be gazing outside.

But no--- you quickly realize that it's not Taehyung at all, but V.

Whether it's the way he stands, or the subtle tension coiled throughout his posture, you're not sure how exactly: you just know it's V.

"Don't be shy. Come join me here," he says, twisting around to shoot you a wry look.

After a moment's hesitation, you cautiously approach, stopping roughly a meter away from where he stands.

"You can come closer, you know? I don't bite." He pauses, then smirks. "Well, unless you ask me to."

"Wh-why in the world would I ask you to--- to bite me???" you sputter.

He laughs that gravelly laugh again, a rougher, deeper counterpart to Taehyung's light, airy giggles.

"So, what did you want to discuss with me?" he asks, a small, amused smile curving his lips.

"How are you so sure I wanted to discuss something?" you challenge, lifting your chin an inch.

"Oh, so you came out here at midnight merely to bask in my charismatic presence?" he jokes, a wolfish grin on his face.

"Th-that's--- You really are impossible!" you exclaim, turning your head away as you feel your cheeks heat up.

"And you really are cute," he teases, "especially when you're all flustered like that."

"Stop saying weird things!"

V cocks an eyebrow, which for some reason makes him look more ridiculously... sexy?

"Since when has the truth been weird?"

He bends down to peer into your face.

'H-he's too close again!'

"Hmm..." he hums, "I guess you're not used to handsome men telling you that you're cute." He straightens back up, and you let go of the breath you didn't know you've been holding. "Well, you're going to have to get used to it now."

"Puh-lease," you roll your eyes, "who ever told you that you're handsome?"

V's knowing smirk makes you even more flustered.

'Ugh, who am I kidding? One would have to be blind not to recognize how handsome this man is!'

"I would have you know," you say in response to his smug silence, "I'm actually used to being called cute by a handsome guy."

"Oh?" he utters, eyebrow cocked once again. You will your cheeks not to turn red under his amused gaze.

"Yes! My best friend Seokjin, he's very handsome. And he calls me cute a lot!"

'There's no need to mention that Seokjin only calls me "cute" in a joking manner...'

"He has good taste," V says simply, "No wonder you're best friends."

All of a sudden, he turns towards the windows once more, gazing out towards the night. Biting your lip, you step beside him, surreptitiously studying his (perfect) profile. His eyes have a faraway look in them, and you know his thoughts have drifted somewhere you can't reach. For a long while, you stand together, side-by-side, in silence that is surprisingly... comfortable.

Then, V breaks the stillness.

"The city looks beautiful at night, doesn't it?"

You follow his gaze out towards the skyline. You look out at the city lights, at the stars punctuating the darkness. It is beautiful in its own way.

"I have vague memories of running through the streets at night..." V shares in a low, quiet voice. "The feeling of freedom as the wind whips through my hair, the rush, the high..." His eyebrows draw down, and for a moment, he looks almost as though he's in pain, "I don't even know if these memories are real, or if they're just dreams, fantasies..."

The profound longing and confusion in his eyes tug at your heart. You want to offer solace, but can't find words that wouldn't ring hollow, merely empty condolences. You can do nothing but clench your fists and hurt for this beautiful creature before you.

"You can tell Hobi, you know?"

These words, seemingly out of nowhere, surprise you.

"Huh?"

V turns to look back at you.

"Isn't that what you wanted to discuss with me?" He tilts his head. "Are my instincts wrong?"

"S-seriously... Is mind-reading actually one of your Hybrid skills?" you say, gaping at him.

"Well, you were suddenly really nervous prior to Hobi coming over," he reasons, "and that was shortly after you realized that our meeting wasn't a dream."

"I guess if you put it that way, it's pretty obvious, huh?"

V shrugs, and even that looks graceful when it's him who does it. Languid. Feline.

"Don't worry. I've met Hobi as V several times before. He's been very straightforward about needing to observe and gather data on me. I trust him. He also wants what's best for Taehyung."

"I trust him too," you agree, "I just... don't know what to tell him, exactly." You frown up at V. "It's not like I know all that much about you for me to share with him."

V leans towards you again, and to your credit, you don't blush this time.

"What do you want to know?" he asks.

'Everything! I want to know everything!'

"But ah, little one," he warns, drawing back "don't get greedy, okay?"

"What--- Seriously, just admit that you can read my mind!" you snap.

"You wear your thoughts and emotions on your face," V says with a small smile, "You make it easy."

'Seokjin says that as well... I guess it's an acceptable explanation.'

"Well?" V prompts.

With V's eyes fixed intently on your face, the full force of that piercing amber gaze solely on you, you find it a bit difficult to concentrate.

'Get it together, self. Now's your chance to find out what you want about V!'

You have so many questions, but you're not sure for how long V will be in a confiding mood, nor how deep he is willing to go, so you decide to go with the most straightforward question you can think of.

"What are you, exactly? Why are you so different from Taehyung?"

V's eyebrows knit together, and for a moment, you're afraid he's going to refuse to answer. But you realize quickly that it's because he's thinking hard.

"My memories..." he begins, "...they only go back as far as Taehyung's do." He shakes his head ruefully. "I wish I could answer your question, but I don't know the answer myself. All I know is, I'm here to protect Taehyung."

"Protect him from what?" you ask, surprised.

V's expression suddenly darkens, and you're afraid you've offended him. But the darkness reveals itself to not be anger, but a... bitterness, deep-seated and sharp.

"From the world."

"The world?" Your eyes widen. "What do you mean?"

Once again, V turns his gaze out the window, towards the cityscape beyond.

"There are people out there who..." he pauses, as if struggling with choosing the right words, "...aren't very good. Not everyone is like you, or Hobi. The world can be a very difficult place when you're..." another strangled pause, "...different."

The pain in V's voice makes your heart ache. Once again, you feel helpless. It sucks to be unable to comfort the very person who is the source of your own comfort.

V trains his eyes back on you. You know your feelings are reflected plainly on your face, since his expression softens. Flustered, you look away.

You almost prefer the cold, mysterious V of your previous encounters. That one, you know the right way to react to. You don't know what to do with this V: raw, vulnerable, almost... tender. Somehow, this version of V poses a greater threat... to your heart.

V sighs, which pulls your gaze back to him, wondering at the cause.

"It's getting late, little one," he says in hushed tones, barely above a whisper, "You need your sleep."

You try to cover up the turmoil you're experiencing with a sad attempt at humor.

"So eager to get rid of me, huh? Fine, fine... I'll stop pestering you."

You start to turn away, but a grip on your wrist pulls you back in place.

"Surely... surely you don't mean that?"

You look up at V in surprise, his expression thunderous. Oddly, it looks like a mix of anger and... heartbreak.

"Huh? V---"

"If it were up to me, there would be no end to these little 'meetings' of ours," he snarls, "If it were up to me, we'd be together 24 hours a day, 7 days a week." His eyes fall closed as he takes a sharp inhale. "That would be my very definition of 'heaven'." He opens his eyes again, piercing you with his sharp amber gaze. "But as it is, these brief snatches of time that feel stolen... are all I get." He peels his lips back, exposing his canines. "So don't ever, ever think that I would rather be without your presence, because that couldn't be farther from the truth."

He slackens his grip, slowly letting your wrist slip out. Your first instinct is to bolt back into your room, but you make yourself stay.

"I know I said my main purpose is to protect Taehyung," he continues in a calmer voice, "and it's still true, but... now, things are different."

"Wh-what do you mean? Different how?" you ask, though a part of you is afraid of what the answer might be.

"Now, we have you."

You suck in a breath through your teeth, rendered speechless even though you're not truly surprised by V's answer.

"With Taehyung... you're his number one priority now ---no," he quickly corrects himself, "you're our number one priority now."

You shake your head.

"No, that doesn't make sense. I-it can't---"

V's smile straddles the line between bitter and sad.

"I'm sorry, but there's nothing you can do about it. He's chosen you." V turns away. "That's all the answer I can give you. Off to bed you go, little one. Sweetest dreams."

You still have so many questions, but you know that this conversation is over. V is done talking.

Your footsteps are heavy as you head back to your room. You found answers, yes, but those answers only gave birth to even more questions.

Finding yourself at an impasse, you seek comfort in the blissful emptiness of sleep.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Come morning, you once again find Taehyung in the kitchen, preparing breakfast. He calls out to you.

"It's omelettes and toast today!"

As always, Taehyung's presence is a balm, soothing your anxieties. A smile immediately blooms on your lips in answer to his. You are a sunflower to his sun.

"What did you put in the omelettes?" you ask, taking the plate Taehyung offers.

"Just the pork belly leftover from last night, plus some cheese and mushrooms."

"Waaa! That sounds so yummy!" you exclaim. Looking down at the omelette on your plate, you squeal. Taehyung drew a smiley face on using ketchup!

'And just like that, I'm in a good mood again.'

In Taehyung's comforting presence, last night's worries seem... surmountable. At that very moment, you make up your mind.

'I'm going to tell Hobi all about V.'

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A/N: Next chapter will be mostly Hobi, with a sweet little surprise at the end!

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