59
Thankyou for being patient and not spamming my board. I was sick so I spent my time watching youtube lol But I'm fine now 3
Third Person Pov
Taehyung opened the door, his hand still resting on Gyubin's small shoulder as they stepped inside.
The boy's usual chatter was missing... no stories about the playground, no excited recounting of new lessons, just silence. His bag hung heavy on his back, and his eyes were downcast.
Taehyung watched him quietly for a moment before taking the bag off and setting it on the couch. "You didn't even tell me how school went today," he said lightly, kneeling in front of him.
Gyubin didn't reply. He just stood there, staring at the floor, clutching the edge of his shirt.
Taehyung's smile faltered. "Binnie?"
The little boy's lips parted slightly, and when he finally spoke, his voice was soft, trembling. "Appa... why is Binnie short?"
Taehyung blinked, taken aback. "Short?"
Gyubin nodded quickly, eyes already glistening. "Everyone in class is taller. Even the girls. They said I look like a baby." His small voice cracked near the end, and he rubbed his eyes furiously. "I'm not a baby."
For a moment, Taehyung couldn't speak. He looked at the boy standing in front of him, his son, so small, so precious, waiting for answers. He took a deep breath, his tone soft as he opened his arms. "Come here."
Gyubin stepped closer hesitantly, and Taehyung pulled him into a tight hug. "You know what I think?" he murmured against Gyubin's shoulder. "I think those kids don't know how special you are."
Gyubin sniffled into his chest. "But-"
"No buts," Taehyung interrupted softly, cupping the boy's face in his palms. "You're perfect, Binnie. Do you hear me? Absolutely perfect."
Gyubin blinked up at him with teary eyes, and Taehyung smiled, even though his heart was breaking.
"You were sick before, remember? You had to take so many strong medicines to get better. They helped you heal, but they also made your body tired. That's why you're a little smaller right now."
He tapped Gyubin's nose gently. "But your heart? That's the biggest one I've ever seen. And you're strong, stronger than all of them combined."
Gyubin's lips quivered. "Then... will I grow tall too?"
Taehyung chuckled, nodding. "Of course you will. One day, you'll look down on Appa and say, 'Hey, Appa, I'm taller than you now.' And I'll have to stand on a chair just to scold you."
That earned a watery giggle from Gyubin, who tried to hide his smile behind his hand.
Taehyung cupped his face gently, wiping his tears with his thumb. "sometimes People forget that flowers bloom at different times... but they're all beautiful when they do."
Gyubin finally cracked a faint smile, pressing his face against Taehyung's chest. "You always say that," he murmured.
Taehyung chuckled softly, his fingers carressing Gyubin's cheeks. "Because it's true every single time."
He held him tighter, eyes glistening as he whispered "You're my little flower. Don't ever forget that."
He held him there for a long moment before pulling away and smiling. "Now come on, my little big man. Let's make some strawberry milk and pancakes. That's what tall people eat, right?"
Gyubin giggled through his sniffles as he nodded.
.
.
.
Jungkook sat in silence, his gaze sharp and unmoving as he studied the man across the table. Seokjin sat beside him, calm but watchful.
"Mr. Jeon, you can't do this to me," the man named Akari said, his voice trembling slightly.
Jungkook leaned back in his chair, amusement glinting in his eyes. He spun the gun in his hand lazily, the faint click echoing in the quiet room. "You tried insider trading under my company's name," he said, voice cold but smooth. "You really thought I wouldn't find out?"
Akari's face went pale. "It-it was a misunderstanding-"
"Do I look that easy to fool?" Jungkook asked, his lips curved into a smirk.
Akari swallowed, throat visibly tight. "It's not like that, sir-"
"Mr. Akari," Seokjin said smoothly, not even glancing up. "We traced every transaction. It's pointless denying it." He shut the file and looked at the man coldly. "You betrayed the company's trust. You know what that means."
Akari's hands tightened into fists. "Mr. Jeon, please. I've been with your firm for nine years. I built several deals under your name. This company... it means everything to me. My entire network, my funding, it all comes from here. If you take it away, I'll be ruined."
Jungkook tilted his head slightly, finally placing the gun on the table. The metallic clink echoed ominously. "Then maybe you should've thought about that before trying to steal from me."
The words weren't loud, but they carried more weight than a threat.
Akari's voice trembled. "I didn't steal-"
"Don't try" Jungkook interrupted, his eyes flashing with annoyance. He leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, and for the first time his tone lost its calm edge. "You used my name. My company. And you still have the audacity to sit here and cry victim?"
The room went still. Even Seokjin didn't speak.
After a long pause, Jungkook exhaled softly and leaned back, his voice cooling again. "From this moment, your rights and shares under Jeon Corps are revoked. Your name will be erased from every deal, every account, every record."
Akari's lips parted, but no sound came out. He knew what that meant, it was the end of his career. Of everything.
"Mr. Jeon-"
Jungkook didn't even lift his gaze. He had picked up his phone, scrolling as if the man before him didn't exist. "Seokjin, see him out," he said flatly.
Seokjin stood, buttoning his blazer. His expression was neutral, but his tone left no room for argument. "I think it's best you leave before security has to escort you."
Akari's jaw clenched. His pride screamed to speak again, but fear kept him silent. He gave a tight nod and rose from his chair, motioning for his secretary to follow. The door opened quietly and shut just as softly but the silence that followed felt heavier.
Jungkook kept his eyes on his phone for a moment longer, scrolling absently. Then, almost to himself, he muttered, "I don't tolerate snakes in my walls."
Seokjin looked at him, a memory flickering in his eyes. "You never did," he said quietly. "Not even when it came to her."
Jungkook gave a faint, humorless smile.
The sound of the gun being set back into the drawer was the only thing that broke the silence after that.
.
.
.
Taehyung walked down the dimly lit street, the soft glow of the evening sun melting into shades of orange and violet.
The air was crisp, and the sound of his footsteps echoed faintly against the pavement.
He had decided to stop by the supermarket to get Gyubin some snacks-maybe that would cheer his little one up a bit.
Gyubin had been quiet all day, worn out after taking his medication, and Taehyung hadn't wanted to drag him along.
Now, with a couple of paper bags in his hands, Taehyung adjusted his grip, the plastic handles biting into his fingers.
His earphones buzzed softly-some random love song playing in the background.
He wasn't even sure why he hadn't skipped it yet.
The lyrics were too warm, too intimate for the kind of ache sitting in his chest.
Still, he let it play. Maybe he needed to feel something tonight.
His thoughts drifted, uninvited, to him.
Those sharp eyes, that calm yet cruel voice that always managed to slice through his guard.
The way Jungkook's hands had gripped his wrist last night-firm, controlled, but not cruel.
The way he'd brushed his hair aside with a care that didn't match his words.
The contradiction of it all made Taehyung's heart race.
He exhaled softly, shaking his head as if to rid himself of the thought. But it lingered. Jungkook always lingered. In the quiet, in the air, in the smallest details that shouldn't matter but somehow did.
Taehyung paused at a red light, his reflection caught faintly in the glass of a nearby store window. His hair ruffled slightly in the breeze.
He took a deep breath, the music still whispering through his ears. A love song. One that hurt a little too much to listen to, yet he didn't turn it off.
But then a push that made him gasp in surprise.
Taehyung stumbled violently, his body jerking forward as a rough shove sent him off balance.
The grocery bags he had been holding tore from his hands, spilling onto the cracked pavement.
A box of strawberry cookies tumbled away, a carton of milk burst open with a dull splash, and chips scattered across the wet road, crushed under the sudden gust from an engine revving nearby.
He blinked rapidly, heart pounding, confusion flooding his mind. "What the-" he breathed out, voice shaky as he looked over his shoulder. Two sleek black sedans had appeared out of nowhere, cutting across the narrow street, engines rumbling low like predators circling prey.
The tinted windows made it impossible to see who was inside, but the air around him felt suffocatingly tense heavy, dangerous.
His fingers trembled as he pushed his hair back, eyes darting around. The streets were empty, too empty. Even the faint chatter from the nearby café had gone silent. The only sounds were the low purrs of those engines and the dull thud of his heartbeat echoing in his ears.
"What the hell..." he whispered again, voice barely audible. He took a small step back, gripping the handles of the remaining grocery bag like it could protect him. His breathing quickened. Something about this didn't feel like an accident.
The car door clicked open.
Taehyung froze.
A tall man stepped out, dressed in black, his face shadowed by a cap. He didn't say anything... just stood there, watching him. Taehyung's pulse spiked, his grip tightening around the bag until his knuckles turned white.
And then
"Jungkook?" he asked, brows furrowed.
But the CEO didn't respond. He was already reaching for the gun in the drawer beside him, sliding it into the holster beneath his blazer with practiced precision. His fingers brushed over the metal, checking the safety, his movements sharp and mechanical.
Seokjin's confusion deepened as he stood. "What happened?"
Jungkook's voice was low - calm but laced with something that made the air colder. "He is in trouble."
Seokjin blinked. "How did you know?"
Jungkook didn't answer then he replied "His ring has a sensor."
The CEO's jaw clenched as he tapped the screen of his tablet, pulling up a map, a blinking red dot pulsing near a quiet highway. His temple twitched as he memorized the coordinates.
Then, in one smooth motion, he grabbed his car keys and headed for the door.
"Track his location," Jungkook ordered flatly, not turning around.
The door slammed shut behind him, leaving Seokjin standing there, stunned, as the sound of Jungkook's footsteps echoed down the marble hallway.
.
.
.
Back on the street, Taehyung's breathing turned shallow as the man in the cap took a slow step toward him. The sky was painted in bruised orange and gray, the last light of evening fading fast.
Taehyung's throat went dry. His eyes darted to his scattered groceries, then back to the stranger. "I- I don't have money on me, if that's what you-"
The man didn't reply. He just smirked, taking another step closer.
Taehyung’s pulse hammered violently in his ears as he turned around and started running. He didn’t dare look back, he could still hear their laughter, sharp and mocking, echoing through the narrow alley like a pack of wolves circling their prey.
His breath hitched as he took a sharp turn, nearly colliding with a wall before stumbling onto the main road.
It was eerily empty, no pedestrians, no cars passing by, just the hum of distant streetlights flickering weakly in the dusk.
His lungs burned, each breath ragged as he tried to steady himself.
His chest burned as he darted into the main road, praying for someone anyone to be around. But it was deserted. Just rows of streetlights flickering weakly, shops closed, shutters pulled down. The kind of emptiness that made his stomach twist with dread.
He slowed for half a second, panting, trying to think. His phone. His phone was in his pocket. He reached for it with shaky fingers, but before he could unlock it, a voice came again, closer this time.
“Running’s useless, sweetheart.”
The words made his skin crawl. He turned sharply, darting into another lane, his shoes slipping against the damp concrete. His breath hitched as he almost fell, palms scraping the ground.
A cry left his parted lips when a hit landed on the back of his head sharp and sudden, the world flashing white before everything turned dizzy. He gasped, clutching the wound, his knees hitting the ground with a thud.
The metallic taste of blood filled his mouth as his vision blurred.
“What—what are you doing?” he breathed out, his voice trembling, confused.
A dark laugh echoed. “Your husband’s a fucking bastard,” one of the men sneered, stepping closer. “And now you’ll pay for what he did.”
Taehyung blinked through the haze, trying to see their faces... three, maybe four of them. His heart hammered painfully, confusion and terror twisting inside his chest. “Wh—what are you talking about?”
The answer came as a kick to his ribs. He choked out a sound, curling over himself in instinct.
“Tell your precious husband Jeon Jungkook he should’ve thought twice before playing god with me,” another spat, kicking the scattered snacks across the street. “Akari sends his regards.”
That name made no sense to him. He didn’t know who Akari was, didn’t know what Jungkook had done this time. All he knew was that his lungs burned, his skull ached, and every nerve screamed run.
When one of them reached for him again, Taehyung acted on pure instinct. "Get off me!!" He shoved the man’s leg, staggering to his feet, and ran.
He didn’t think. He just ran.
The men cursed behind him, their footsteps pounding the ground. “Get him!”
Taehyung turned to the highway, the lights blinding him for a second. His breath came in short, sharp gasps. The blood from his head trickled down his neck, sticky and warm against his collar. His chest burned, but he didn’t dare stop.
He didn’t even know where he was heading, only away. Away from the men, away from the pain, away from the voices shouting threats behind him.
“Bastard thinks he can outrun us!”
His shoulder scraped against the rough brick wall, pain lancing through his arm, but he kept going. His feet stumbled over uneven ground. He didn’t even feel the gravel biting into his palms when he fell and pushed himself back up again.
“Please…” he whispered to no one, his voice breaking as tears burned his eyes. “Please…”
His chest heaved, his breaths ragged and desperate.
He thought of Gyubin. His sweet boy waiting at home, his small voice asking, ‘Where’s Appa?’
That thought alone forced him forward.
The night air was cold against Taehyung’s skin as he stumbled forward, his knees buckling when the car’s bumper struck the back of his legs.
The force made him fall to the ground with a cry, pain ripping through his body. His palms scraped against the rough road, the taste of iron thick on his tongue.
Before he could even process what had happened, two men yanked him up by his arms, forcing him to stand. His legs trembled beneath him, the pain from the hit throbbing deep into his bones.
“W-what have I done to you?” Taehyung choked out, tears already blurring his vision. His voice cracked under the weight of fear. “Please...please let me go.”
The man in front of him, Akari, smirked despite the bruise darkening on his cheek. “Your husband,” he spat the word out like venom, “took my money from me.” His tone grew more venomous with every word. “Now I'll take you from him."
Taehyung shook his head, his body trembling violently. “I-I don’t even know what you’re talking about,” he pleaded, his voice breaking. “Please—”
Akari ignored him, his fury boiling over as he raised the gun and loaded it with a click that echoed through the empty highway bridge. The headlights from his car flickered over Taehyung’s face, illuminating the blood trickling down from his temple.
But before the trigger could be pulled
Bang. A sharp sound split the night.
Akari froze, his eyes widening in disbelief before he stumbled forward, clutching his side. The gun slipped from his hand and clattered to the asphalt. He fell to his knees, blood soaking through his expensive coat.
The two men holding Taehyung stiffened in shock. Taehyung blinked through his tears, breathless and shaking. The echo of the shot still hung in the cold air.
And then the familiar silhouette stepped out from the shadows.
The CEO.
He emerged from behind a sleek black car, dressed in a black coat, his steps slow but lethal. His expression was calm except for the cold fire burning in his eyes. His gun was still raised, the barrel pointed directly at Akari.
Taehyung’s lips parted, a tremor running through his body. “J-Jungkook…” he whispered, his voice hoarse and small.
Jungkook’s gaze never left the scene before him. His face was calm... too calm as he took another step forward.
The sound of the rushing water beneath the bridge filled the silence. The police sirens wailed in the distance, getting louder with every second.
“Let him go,” Jungkook said flatly, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.
The men tightened their grip around Taehyung, pressing the barrel of a gun against his temple. Taehyung whimpered, his heart hammering painfully in his chest.
“Don’t move,” one of them shouted.
Jungkook’s jaw twitched. He didn’t lower his gun. “You’re making a mistake,” he warned, his tone eerily calm.
Behind him, several police vans screeched to a halt. The red and blue lights flashed wildly across the bridge, illuminating the chaos. Officers stepped out with guns drawn, shouting commands through a speaker.
“Put your weapons down! Release the hostage immediately!”
“Don’t!” Akari rasped from the ground, blood pooling beneath him. His voice was weak but filled with venom. “Don’t let him go… He doesn’t deserve—”
Another shot rang out.
This time, it wasn’t to kill... it was Jungkook shooting just inches away from Akari’s hand, the bullet grazing the concrete. The warning was clear. Akari flinched, his face twisting in pain.
“Say another word,” Jungkook said lowly, his voice deadly quiet. “And I’ll finish what I started.”
Seokjin moved closer from behind the police barricade, whispering urgently, “Jungkook, don’t do anything stupid. There’s a gun on Taehyung’s head."
But Jungkook didn’t blink. His gaze shifted only for a fraction of a second to Taehyung. And his grip loosened for a fraction of second on the barrel. The younger’s lips trembled, his tears glistening under the flashing lights, blood painting the side of his face.
“Don’t… don’t move,” Taehyung whispered shakily, terrified he’d make it worse. “Please, Jungkook.”
The men holding him pressed the gun harder against his skull. “You take one more step,” one hissed, “and he dies.”
For the first time, Jungkook’s hand twitched around his gun. His pulse thundered, but his face remained emotionless. The fury beneath it was silent, burning.... like a predator waiting to strike.
The bridge filled with the sound of wind and distant sirens. The tension was suffocating.
“Leave him.” Jungkook stepped closer, cold as ice. “One move and I won’t hesitate."
Even the men hesitated at the venom behind his tone.
The police on the speaker shouted again, “Drop your weapons!”
But no one moved. Only the water beneath the bridge moved freely, crashing and roaring below.
And Taehyung, trembling in their grip, could only whisper brokenly
“leave.... me.”
His knees were trembling, his chest heaving as he struggled against the bruising grip of the men who held him. His vision was spinning, the bridge lights above him blurring into streaks of white and gold.
He could barely make out Jungkook through the fog of his tears and blood standing there in the middle of the road, gun in hand, the headlights cutting through his frame like a scene straight out of a nightmare.
“J-Jungkook…” Taehyung whimpered, his lips trembling. His voice was so weak it almost got swallowed by the night wind.
The voice caught Jungkook's attention. His grip on the gun tightened until his knuckles turned white. His jaw clenched so hard, his veins stood out like cracks on stone.
And then he couldn't hold himself back anymore. He took a step forward. A single step.
“Don’t,” the police officer beside him said firmly. “Mr. Jeon... step back.”
“What do you want?” Seokjin shouted, stepping forward, his face twisted with worry. “What the hell do you want from him?”
Akari chuckled through the blood dripping down his chin, still on his knees from Jungkook’s earlier shot. His laugh was broken... cruel. “Nothing anymore,” he coughed out, smirking. “Just wanted him to scream before you came.”
“Shut the fuck up.” Jungkook hissed, and before anyone could stop him, he started walking forward, each step loud against the bridge’s wet concrete. The men holding Taehyung stiffened.
“Stay back!” one of them barked, pressing the cold metal of the gun harder against Taehyung’s skull.
Taehyung whimpered, tears spilling freely now. “please—don’t come here—” he cried, voice breaking. His legs could barely hold him up anymore. The metallic scent of blood mixed with the chill of the river below.
But Jungkook didn’t stop. His hand lifted, his aim steady, his eyes never leaving Taehyung’s terrified ones. He could see him shaking, could see the terror in every small breath Taehyung took and it ripped something raw inside him.
“Last warning!” the man yelled, but Jungkook pulled the trigger.
The gunshot echoed through the night. One man dropped instantly, his body hitting the ground with a dull thud.
“Shit!” The other one panicked, jerking Taehyung closer, using him as a shield. The gun pressed harder to his temple.
“Don’t—!” Seokjin’s voice cracked through the air, but Jungkook didn’t move.
Taehyung’s wide, wet eyes met Jungkook’s. He could see something dark behind them... rage and desperation. Jungkook’s fingers hesitated on the trigger. One wrong move… one pull… and the bullet could hit Taehyung.
Akari’s chest heaved as he lay on the cold concrete, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. His breathing was ragged, but his eyes, those cold, vengeful eyes still burned. He didn’t need to speak; one sharp glance at his man said everything.
The man holding Taehyung caught the signal.
Taehyung felt it... felt the shift in energy, the sudden tightening of the man’s grip on his neck. He could barely breathe. His vision was hazy, but through the blur of fear and exhaustion, his gaze locked onto Jungkook.
The bridge lights flickered. The air thickened. Even the sound of police sirens seemed distant like echoes trapped underwater.
Jungkook’s heart stopped for a beat. He saw that look in Taehyung’s eyes, pure, silent terror and it tore through him like fire. He didn’t think.
He just raised his gun and pulled the trigger. The shot cracked through the night.
The bullet tore through the man’s wrist. A scream ripped out of him as his grip loosened. Taehyung stumbled, his body jerking away, chest heaving as he tried to get free.
"TAEHYUNG RUN!" Seokjin shouted.
But before he could take a single step, the man grabbed his collar again, yanking him back with every ounce of hatred left in him.
“Push him off the bridge.” Akari snarled, voice breaking.
“NO!” Jungkook’s roar shook the air... too late.
Another shot rang out. Jungkook fired again, the bullet tearing into the man’s side.
Taehyung’s scream echoed, sharp and helpless, as his body lurched backward over the edge.
For a moment, everything slowed to nothing.
Jungkook’s world blurred, the gun slipping from his hand, the blood on the concrete, Seokjin’s voice shouting his name. The sound of police yelling orders faded into a dull, distant hum.
All he could see was Taehyung... arms flailing, his eyes wide in shock as his body fell through the open air.
“TAEHYUNG!” Jungkook’s voice cracked into a desperate growl as he sprinted forward. His boots slammed against the bridge, his body running on instinct, not thought.
Without a second’s hesitation, he climbed the railing and jumped.
Taehyung’s eyes fluttered shut as if he had accepted his fate. A tear ran down his eyes as it mixed with air.
A sharp, bone-jarring impact tore through him as his body hit the freezing water.
It stole the breath straight out of his lungs.
His chest burned. He gasped, bubbles escaping from his lips as the cold wrapped around him like knives.
And then... another impact. His head struck something hard beneath the surface.
A muffled cry escaped him, swallowed instantly by the river. The world blurred into dark waves and pain. Red ribbons of blood bloomed around him, swirling like ink in water.
Above, another splash echoed through the night.
Jungkook’s body hit the water hard, the cold biting into his skin as he surfaced. He wiped the water from his eyes and froze. Just a few feet away, the river glimmered red under the faint streetlights.
His jaw tightened and he dove forward, cutting through the water with desperate strokes.
“Taehyung!” he shouted, his voice hoarse, echoing across the bridge.
“Sir, they’re already on the way!” a police officer yelled back, as a few of them jumped into the water, flashlights piercing the dark waves.
“TAEHYUNG!” Jungkook’s voice cracked this time.
His breath came out uneven, the river stinging his eyes, his arms moving furiously as he dove again.
He searched, his hands sweeping through the murky cold but there was nothing.
Only the heavy silence of water and the faint taste of iron on his tongue.
He surfaced again, breathing hard, his heart hammering against his ribs. “Taehyung!” he roared, the sound ripping through his throat.
And then something.
A faint tug.
Jungkook froze mid-motion. He felt it again, a weak pull against his hand, so faint it almost could’ve been imagined. He turned sharply, diving in that direction, his body slicing through the water until his hand brushed skin.
Fingers. Cold. Trembling.
Jungkook instantly wrapped his arm around Taehyung’s waist as he kicked hard, dragging him upward with all the strength he had left.
When they broke the surface, Jungkook pulled the person tighter against him
And then he saw him.
Taehyung.
Unconscious. His lashes stuck to his wet cheeks, lips pale, and a dark streak of blood still seeping from the side of his head, mixing with the water. His body felt weightless... too weightless.
Jungkook’s chest constricted. Everything around him sirens, shouts, splashes blurred into nothing but static.
“Taehyung,” he whispered, shaking him slightly, his voice breaking.
There was no response. Only the soft sound of water rippling against them, and the slow, haunting trail of crimson spreading wider and wider beneath the night sky.
Jungkook tightened his hold around Taehyung’s waist, dragging him through the freezing current with every ounce of strength left in his body.
“Come on…,” he rasped, his breath shaky, voice raw.
As soon as they reached closer to the riverbank, flashlights surrounded them police officers splashing into the water to help. But Jungkook wouldn’t let go.
He pulled Taehyung up, one arm under his knees, the other around his back, lifting him against his chest as he stumbled through the shallows. His shoes slipped against the mud, but his grip didn’t waver.
“Sir, we’ll take him!” one of the officers shouted, reaching out.
“Don’t—touch him!” Jungkook’s voice was guttural, almost unrecognizable. His glare cut through them like ice.
“Jungkook...!” Seokjin called, running down the slope.
Jungkook didn’t even look at him. His arms clutched Taehyung tighter, the younger’s head resting limply against his shoulder. Water dripped from his hair onto Jungkook’s shoulder.
He carried Taehyung up the last stretch of the bank, staggering but refusing any hand that reached toward them. Every cop that stepped forward stopped instantly when Jungkook’s eyes snapped in their direction... cold, warning, wild.
It wasn’t the CEO they knew anymore. It was something darker.
The sirens wailed in the distance, growing louder, lights flashing red and blue over the river. “Sir, please, the ambulance—”
A medic rushed forward the moment the van screeched to a stop, but Jungkook still hesitated, still hovered protectively over Taehyung as they opened the stretcher.
His hand brushed Taehyung’s cold cheek. “Stay with me,” he whispered under his breath, his words trembling with a fear he hadn’t felt in years.
And for the first time that night, the monster everyone saw in him looked utterly human.