Chapter 18: 17.Rain

After a long afternoon they decided to call it a day by eating at a restaurant. Knowing they'd have no energy left to even pick up a spoon at home.

The restaurant buzzed with quiet chatter and the clinking of cutlery. Jaybum sat between Taehyung and Jungkook, swinging his legs happily under the table.

Taehyung patiently spoon-fed Jaybum, who giggled as Taehyung made exaggerated airplane noises with the spoon.

“Open the hangar, Captain Jaybum,” Taehyung said dramatically, earning a wide, toothy grin from the little boy as he opened his mouth.  We

Jungkook watched the interaction with a soft expression, his usual guarded demeanor melting away. “He eats better with you than with me,” he muttered, sipping his drink.

Taehyung chuckled. “That’s because you don’t make airplane noises, Mr. Jeon. It’s all about the theatrics.”

Jaybum laughed, pointing at Jungkook. “Dadda doesn’t know how to fly planes!”

Jungkook smirked, leaning closer to Jaybum. “Oh, really? Wait till you see me build the best paper airplane at home, Bun.”

The table was filled with warmth, laughter, and the shared joy of a peaceful meal.

But that peace didn't last long because something unexpected happened outside ~

The warm ambiance of the restaurant shifted the moment the trio stepped outside into the cool evening air. Jaybum was cradled securely in Taehyung's arms as they walked toward the car.

But the atmosphere quickly soured when a group of alphas and betas loitering nearby turned their attention toward them.

"Well, well, never knew a vampire could look this pretty," one of the alphas sneered, his voice dripping with malice.

Taehyung’s steps faltered, his grip on Jaybum tightening. He turned his head sharply, glaring at the group, but said nothing.

Jungkook, sensing the tension,  was about to intervene when Taehyung raised a hand, silently telling him to stay back.

“Why don’t you spend a night with us, vampire?” a beta added with a vile smirk. “We can give you babies like that one too,” he said,nodding toward Jaybum in Taehyung’s arms.

That was the breaking point. Jungkook’s jaw clenched, his protective instincts roaring to life, but before he could act, Taehyung gently passed Jaybum over to him.

“Hold him,” Taehyung said, his voice calm but dangerously low.

Jungkook obeyed, confused but intrigued by the sudden shift in Taehyung’s demeanor.

Taehyung strode toward the group, his movements deliberate. Without hesitation, he slapped the beta squarely across the face, the sound echoing through the empty street.

“Dare speak to me like that again,” Taehyung hissed, his eyes flashing crimson, “and I’ll drain you dry before you can even scream.”

the same beta, clenched his fists in anger and lunged forward, aiming to strike Taehyung.

Before the punch could land, Jungkook stepped in with Jaybum still cradled in one arm. Using his free leg, he delivered a brutal kick straight to the beta’s groin, dropping him to the ground with a pitiful groan.

Jungkook handed Jaybum back to Taehyung with urgency. “Hold him tight,” he instructed, his voice firm yet calm.

The beta, still hunched over in pain, growled, “You’ll regret that, wolf.”

Another alpha charged at Jungkook, but with fluid grace, Jungkook dodged the attack and retaliated with a punch to his jaw, sending him stumbling backward.

His movements were sharp, precise—every strike radiating fury.

“You don’t touch my family,” Jungkook snarled, his voice laced with dominance that made the everyone flinch.

And you'll know what happened next,

Jungkook’s fists collided with the beta’s face again and again, his knuckles bruised but unrelenting. The beta, already bleeding and trembling, could barely lift his hands to defend himself.

“Say one more thing about my family,” Jungkook growled, his voice deadly, “and I’ll hunt you down even if you’re six feet under.” His eyes glowed with an intensity that made the air around him feel suffocating.

The other alphas and betas, long scattered and terrified by Jungkook’s raw fury, were nowhere to be seen. But Jungkook didn’t stop. His rage consumed him, and the only thing in his mind was the audacity of the insult to his son and to Taehyung.

Behind him, Taehyung held Jaybum tightly, his hand cradling the boy’s head as he buried his face into Taehyung’s chest.

He felt the child’s tiny body trembling, his quiet whimpers piercing through the noise of Jungkook’s punches.

Taehyung quickly approached Jungkook, his voice steady but urgent. “Mr. Jeon, that’s enough. Leave it.”

Jungkook didn’t seem to hear him, his fists still pounding into the beta, who was too weak to even plead for mercy.

Taehyung, holding Jaybum in one arm, reached out with his free hand and grabbed Jungkook’s shoulder. “Jungkook, stop!” he said, his voice firm but laced with emotion.

Jungkook froze at the sound of his name. His glowing eyes shifted toward Taehyung, and for a moment, his fury wavered.

“Jaybum’s scared,” Taehyung whispered, stepping closer to show the trembling boy in his arms. “You’ve made your point. He doesn’t need to see this.”

Jungkook’s gaze softened immediately as his eyes flickered from Taehyung to Jaybum. His clenched fists slowly loosened, his breathing heavy but beginning to steady.

“I...” Jungkook trailed off, guilt flashing across his face as he stood and backed away from the bloodied beta. He looked at Jaybum, who peeked out from Taehyung’s chest with teary, scared eyes.

“I’m sorry, Bun,” Jungkook murmured, his voice cracking slightly. He reached out, but Jaybum only clung tighter to Taehyung.

Taehyung placed a gentle hand on Jungkook’s arm. “Let’s go home,” he said softly, his eyes understanding yet firm.

Jungkook nodded silently, sparing one last glare at the beta before turning to follow Taehyung and Jaybum, his protective instincts now focused on ensuring their safety rather than his anger.

The drive back to the Jeon mansion was heavy with silence, the kind that seemed to thicken the air. Jaybum, still clinging to Taehyung, was quiet,

his small face buried in Taehyung’s chest. The events of the evening had rattled him, the unsettling confrontation with the alphas leaving him anxious. Despite Taehyung’s soft whispers and gentle touches to soothe him, the little one remained tense.

Jungkook, in the driver's seat, stared at the road, his mind lost in thought. His fists tightened around the steering wheel as guilt gnawed at him. He had gone too far with the confrontation, letting his temper get the best of him.

But more than that, he was worried about Jaybum. The fear in his son's eyes had broken his heart. He needed to do something to make it up to him, to make Jaybum feel safe again.

As they neared the mansion, a dark cloud hung low in the sky, and soon, the first raindrops started to splatter on the windshield.

The rain intensified quickly, turning from a light drizzle to a full downpour. Jungkook’s mind began to race with an idea, and without thinking twice, he pulled over in front of the Jeon mansion.

The sudden stop broke the silence. Taehyung, who had been absentmindedly stroking Jaybum’s hair, snapped his attention to the rain outside the window. He was debating how to get Jaybum inside the mansion without getting drenched, but before he could act, he noticed Jungkook had already gotten out of the car.

"Mr Jeon!!?” Taehyung muttered to himself, still unsure of what was going on.

Jungkook, already drenched from the pouring rain, stood by the car, his eyes lighting up with mischievous energy. He turned to look inside the car, his voice cheerful. “Baby, look! It’s raining! Don’t you wanna play?”

Jaybum’s eyes immediately sparkled with excitement as he shifted in Taehyung’s arms, ready to jump. The minute he saw his father in the rain, all of his earlier anxieties seemed to vanish. Without a second thought, he slipped out of Taehyung’s embrace and ran toward Jungkook, laughing as he joined his father in the downpour.

Taehyung, still holding onto Jaybum’s jacket in an attempt to keep him inside, called out,

“Yah! Both of you, you’ll get sick!” His voice was drowned out by the sound of their giggles and the pitter-patter of rain around them.

Jaybum and Jungkook, both laughing like carefree children, danced in the rain, splashing through puddles.

The rain poured down in torrents, drenching everything in sight, but it didn’t seem to matter.

Jaybum, full of energy and free of fear, dashed back and forth in the downpour, his laughter echoing in the night air. Jungkook, already soaked to the bone, was grinning like  mischievous child, his hair plastered to his forehead.

“TaeTae!” Jaybum called out, his tiny voice cutting through the sound of the rain. He grabbed Taehyung’s hand, tugging at it eagerly. “Come on, play with us!”

Taehyung shook his head, reluctant at first. “You two are insane. You’ll catch a cold!” he scolded, though his tone was soft. But Jaybum wasn’t giving up. He kept pulling on Taehyung’s arm, his excitement contagious.

Jungkook, standing a few feet away with a smirk on his face, chimed in, “What’s the matter, Taehyung? Afraid of getting a little wet?”

Taehyung gave him a glare, but before he could reply, Jungkook stepped closer, his mischievous grin widening. “Don’t make me drag you out myself.”

Before Taehyung could protest further, Jungkook reached out, grabbing his wrist.

“Yah! Let me go!” Taehyung yelped, trying to resist. But Jaybum joined in, pushing at Taehyung’s back to get him out of the car. Between the two of them, Taehyung didn’t stand a chance, and soon he was yanked out into the pouring rain.

“You’re impossible!” Taehyung exclaimed, his voice loud but laced with laughter. The cold rain soaked through his clothes instantly, but the warmth of Jaybum’s giggles and Jungkook’s teasing made him forget about the chill.

Jaybum clapped his hands, jumping up and down in the puddles. “TaeTae, look! The rain feels so fun!” he said, spinning in circles with his arms wide open.

Jungkook watched his son for a moment, his gaze softening before it turned mischievous again. “You know what’s even more fun?” he said, glancing at Taehyung.

Taehyung narrowed his eyes. “What?”

“This!” Jungkook shouted, splashing a handful of water at Taehyung.

“Yah!!” Taehyung yelled, dodging but still getting hit. He grabbed Jaybum’s hand and whispered, “Let’s team up against your dadda, okay?”

Jaybum’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Okay!” he whispered back. The two of them took off running, finding the biggest puddles they could. Together, they began splashing water at Jungkook, aiming for his face and chest.

Jungkook laughed, shielding himself with his arms. “Oh, you’re asking for it now!” he said, starting to chase after them.

Jaybum squealed, running ahead as fast as his little legs could carry him, leaving Taehyung to fend for himself. Taehyung tried to escape, but Jungkook was faster. Within moments, he caught up to Taehyung, wrapping his arms around his waist from behind.

“Gotcha!” Jungkook said triumphantly, his grip firm. Taehyung let out a startled laugh, twisting in his hold but unable to break free.

“Let me go!” Taehyung protested, though the smile on his face betrayed his words. His laughter mixed with the sound of the rain as Jungkook spun him around slightly, both of them drenched but too caught up in the moment to care.

Jaybum stopped running and turned around to see the scene. “Dadda, don’t hurt TaeTae!” he called out, giggling as he ran back toward them.

Jungkook finally set Taehyung down, but not before leaning in close and whispering, “You’re not getting away that easily.” His voice was low, teasing, and Taehyung felt his heart skip a beat despite himself.

Jaybum reached them, splashing at Jungkook’s legs to “rescue” Taehyung. The three of them burst into laughter,

the tension dissolving into pure joy as they continued to play in the rain, soaking wet but happier than they’d been ever.