Jungkook was not used to routine.

For most of his life, he had lived moment to moment, fighting to survive. Every day was unpredictable, dictated by violence, hunger, and exhaustion.

But here—in Taehyung's home—things were different.

He woke up early. He trained in the backyard, pushing his body to the limit. He kept an eye on the security system, watched the perimeters, made sure no one suspicious got too close.

And, most of all—he watched over Taehyung and Jiho.

It had been a few days since he had accepted Taehyung's offer, and the feeling of being in one place still felt foreign.

Now, Jungkook sat in the corner of the living room, arms crossed as he observed the scene before him.

Taehyung sat on the couch, his robe loosely tied around his frame, exposing his bare shoulders and soft collarbones. Jiho was latched onto his chest, tiny hands resting against Taehyung's skin as he fed.

Jungkook swallowed thickly, quickly averting his gaze.

He shouldn't be here for this.

It was too intimate, too soft.

Yet Taehyung didn't seem to mind his presence.

"Are you always this quiet?" Taehyung asked, his voice light with amusement.

Jungkook blinked, glancing at him. "What?"

"You don't talk much."

Jungkook shrugged. "Not much to say."

Taehyung hummed, shifting Jiho slightly. "You could ask me things, you know. About the job, about Jiho, about me."

Jungkook hesitated.

That was the problem.

He wasn't sure he wanted to know more.

Because the more he learned, the harder it would be to leave.

But the longer he stayed, the more he realized—Taehyung wasn't an easy person to ignore.

The man was beautiful, for one.

Not just in the way his lips pouted when he concentrated, or the way his eyes shimmered like warm honey when he smiled.

But in the way he cared.

Jungkook had never met someone so gentle. So patient, so willing to offer warmth without expecting anything in return.

He wasn't sure how to handle it.

"Do you—" Jungkook cleared his throat, hating how awkward he sounded. "Do you ever get scared?"

Taehyung's hands stilled, his gaze flickering to Jungkook.

"Of what?"

"Raising him alone."

For a moment, Taehyung didn't answer.

Then, slowly, he let out a soft sigh.

"Sometimes," he admitted. "But not for the reasons you think."

Jungkook frowned. "What do you mean?"

Taehyung glanced down at Jiho, his fingers stroking through the baby's dark hair.

"I don't doubt myself as a parent," he murmured. "I love him more than anything. I'll do whatever it takes to protect him."

Jungkook stayed silent, listening.

"But..." Taehyung bit his lip. "There are moments when I wonder if I can give him everything he deserves. If I can give him enough love to make up for the fact that... he doesn't have a father."

Jungkook's fingers twitched.

He didn't know why, but the thought of Jiho growing up without a father figure made his chest ache.

He wasn't even Jiho's father.

He had no reason to care.

And yet...

"You're doing fine," Jungkook muttered, surprising even himself.

Taehyung looked at him, eyebrows raised. "You think so?"

Jungkook nodded.

He wasn't good with words. He wasn't good at comfort.

But what he did know was that Jiho was happy.

That every time Taehyung held him, Jiho smiled. That every time Taehyung spoke, Jiho listened.

That Jiho didn't cry when Taehyung was near, because he knew—deep in his tiny, baby heart—that he was safe.

Jungkook had never had that.

Jiho did.

And that was enough.

Taehyung's lips curled into a small smile. "Thank you, Jungkook."

Jungkook felt a strange warmth settle in his chest.

He looked away, pretending to be uninterested. "Whatever."

Taehyung chuckled, shifting Jiho in his arms.

Then, without warning—he stood, walking over to where Jungkook was sitting.

Jungkook stiffened.

Before he could react, Taehyung placed Jiho in his arms.

Jungkook froze.

Jiho was warm. Small.

His tiny body curled against Jungkook's chest, soft and trusting.

Jungkook stared down at him, his breath caught in his throat.

"I need to go take a shower," Taehyung murmured, a teasing glint in his eyes. "Think you can handle him for a few minutes, bodyguard?"

Jungkook swallowed. "I—"

But Taehyung was already walking away, leaving Jungkook alone with Jiho.

Jiho squirmed slightly, making a soft noise.

Jungkook panicked.

What the hell was he supposed to do?