#I love to hate Mother Gothel! All my homies love to hate Mother Gothel!

[a-little-ray-of-fantasy]

Finally! The Dreamlight Valley now has a REAL mother figure that ACTUALLY cares and looks out for you!

[jiminie-and-his-pinky-finger]

lemme start by saying-

MAAM YOU JUST IMMEDIATELY jumped into introducing the characters and i had to take a minute to take it all in ;-; why does Indigo sound like such a wild-spirited but kind name? thats what i imagine the girl being like too u-u

and umm... 👉👈 when tae said that he kind of realizded he was in love... i think i was in love too 🥺 this was such innocent love i cant even get over it

okay now it gets to the good part- well not in my freaking out over how much i love this retelling but of HOW YOU JUST MADE ME COMPLETELY HATE THE WITCH/MOTHER GOTHEL woman EVEN MORE- >:( she laid a hand on my homie tae's cheek and she got what she deserved

:( i almost cried when i read the part about indigo being stabbed... (i think) ;-; begone witch, im glad you tumbled out the window-

"I love you too, Tae," she giggled.

I love you both too T-T *nani cried* yall have a nice life togeth- OH MY I ALMOST FORGOT- when she was shy about wearing a dress uwuwuwuwuw gosh i do NOT have enough time to say everything i want to now...

but also i love when i have my emotions are enhanced or maybe even changed a bit because then i know i'm being engaged and ma'am you have done that again with this story T-T i absolutely love it and i will forever

Beyond the Tower Walls

Pairing: Taehyung x OC

Genre: angst, fluff, fantasy

Rating: PG-13

Word Count: 5.4k (I’m so proud of myself!!)

Warnings: emotional abuse, manipulation, physical abuse, bullying, blood, character death

A/N: the climax is really bloody and pretty graphic, so read with caution.

Summary: Taehyung has spent his whole life living virtually alone in a tower, wishing he could just see once glimpse of the outside world until one day, a girl climbs through his window. That’s the day Taehyung’s life flips on its head.

—————

Taehyung sat in the window, chewing on his pencil as he stared at the sky. He was running out of inspiration. He had so many more notebooks, but nothing to fill them with. He glanced down at the faraway city that was the size of an ant to him, and frowned. He wished he could go out there. He was sure he was missing so much by staying inside. But his mother insisted he stay. It made no sense to him, really. Why could she go outside but he couldn’t? He didn’t bother asking. Even one mention of him going outside had her yelling at him. So, he stayed inside and didn’t ask questions.

It was nearing dusk when the shutters of the window swung open. Taehyung thought nothing of it. His mother scaled the tower every evening and climbed through the window. But he finally glanced up when he heard a gasp. Standing in the window seat was a girl with curly, brown hair. He dropped his notebook and let out a shriek.

The girl cringed and plugged her ears. “Hey! I’m not gonna hurt you!”

“Who are you?” He demanded, grabbing the first item he could reach. That item just so happened to be a broom.

“Me? My name is Indigo. Who are you?”

“T-Taehyung,” he stammered out.

She hummed. “I’ve never seen a man with such long hair before.”

That was odd. His mother always said it was too short. She’d never let him cut it, telling him it would lose its sandy blonde hue and healing powers, but even still it wouldn’t grow past his knees.

“Is it ugly?” He asked quietly.

“Ugly? No! It’s quite gorgeous. Just odd. Anyway, I’ll take my leave. I never realized someone lived up here. Just looked like a nice place to read a book if I could climb it.” She turned around and was about to swing her legs over the edge of the windowsill when a loud voice rang out.

“Taehyung! Mummy is home!”

Taehyung’s eyes went wide. “Shoot!” He exclaimed quietly. “Go hide in my closet! She’ll kill me if she finds out someone else is up here!”

Indigo raised an eyebrow, but followed his directions to the closet willingly.

“Oh, Taehyung! Your new sketches are gorgeous!” His mother gushed as she scanned his notebook.

“Did you bring back strawberries?” He asked, excitement lacing his voice.

“Oh, no, sweetheart, I’m sorry. It slipped my mind today.”

“Oh.” Taehyung’s mood dampened.

“I’ll get them tomorrow; don’t worry.”

“I just. . .was hoping we’d have some for tomorrow morning.”

“Tomorrow is just another day. Nothing important. I’ll bring some home tomorrow night.”

And Taehyung’s heart dropped again, for he recognized that she’d once again forgotten his birthday.

“Right. Did you bring home anything for dinner?”

“Did you do all your cleaning today?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“You didn’t forget to dust again, did you?”

Taehyung shook his head.

“Use your words.”

“No, ma’am. I didn’t forget. It’s done.”

“Good boy. I brought some rolls home from the bakery.”

Taehyung gasped. “Really?”

“Yes. You must eat in your room, though. I want quiet tonight.”

◇◆◇◆◇

Taehyung found himself in his room that evening, silent tears streaming down his face as he ate the cold bread. He looked up when he heard the closet door squeak open.

“You ok?” Indigo asked.

He nodded fiercely before scrubbing the tears off his face. “You’ll have to stay in there tonight,” he whispered. “I’m sorry.”

Indigo sat herself in the doorway of the closet. “That’s all right. It’s my fault for assuming this place vacant.” She paused. “You sure you’re all right? Your mom wasn’t talking to you very nicely out there.”

“What? No. . .she was being nice.” He hung his head.

“That. . .was nice?” Indigo recalled what she’d heard. “Is tomorrow something special?”

“Um. . .no. Just my birthday.”

Taehyung heard a small gasp. He glanced up just in time to see a grin light up Indigo’s face. “Oh! Happy early birthday!” Then her face fell. “Did she. . .forget?”

He shrugged. “Always does. I’ve stopped mentioning it because she always brushes it off. When I was younger, she’d bring me all sorts of gifts from the village and make me my favorite cake. But now. . .it’s not important anymore.” He buried his face in his hands as his eyes brimmed with tears.

“Would you mind if I took you somewhere?”

The room went dead silent. “You want me to. . .leave?”

“Sure. Why not?” After another few seconds, she asked, “have you never been out before?”

He shook his head. “I’m not allowed to leave.”

“Do you have any rope?”

◇◆◇◆◇

The next morning, his mother left at 8 am sharp. As she always did. It took Indigo all of fifteen minutes to decide it was ok for them to tie the rope.

“Ok, so you climb down the rope, I’ll take it down, and then I’ll climb down. How’s that sound?”

Taehyung shook his head, terrified. “I don’t think I can do it. What if she finds out? She-she’ll ground me from my sketch books. And she’ll lock me in my room.”

“Simple. If she finds out, I won’t bring you back.”

His eyes widened. “No! No, please. . .this is my whole life. My sketch books, my. . .my. . . .”

“If they mean that much to you, bring them with.”

He rushed to his room and grabbed the ten notebooks his mother hadn’t burned. He knew why she had to burn them. They didn’t have room in the tiny tower they lived in for hundreds of notebooks. But that didn’t mean seeing his art burn didn’t hurt.

Once he had all the books packed into a bag, he joined Indigo back at the window.

“You ready?”

He nodded. As much as he was terrified what his mother would say, he was curious. He wanted to see the city whose buildings appeared like tiny ants to him. He wanted to see another plant besides ivy.

“Oh. We should probably do something with your hair.”

◇◆◇◆◇

Once Tae’s hair was tied up in a bun and they’d climbed down to the ground, they were ready to start their adventure.

“What’s that?” Taehyung asked, pointing to a small frog by the river they were walking beside.

“That’s a frog. Don’t touch it, though.”

Taehyung squatted down next to the tiny slimy thing. “It looks sticky.”

Indigo laughed. “Does it?”

“Yeah.”

The frog suddenly leapt forward, and Taehyung shrieked, tumbling backwards into the dirt. Indigo giggled.

“Sorry. I forgot to tell you they jump.”

Taehyung sat back up and watched as the frog made once last jump into the river. “I wish I could jump like that.”

◇◆◇◆◇

“So, what do you want to see while we’re out here?”

Taehyung hummed, tapping his chin in thought. “I’d like to see the city. I’ve always been able to see it from my window, but it’s little tiny from there. I want to know what it looks like up close!”

“Oh! That’s a great idea! You’ll love the city!”

“Really? What’s it like?”

“Well, it’s big. They sell all sorts of goodies there, and there’s plenty of cool shops to look at!”

“What kind of shops?”

“Oh, many different kinds. They have clothing stores and appliance stores and paint shops and grocery stores.”

Taehyung stared at her with wide eyes. “They sell clothes?”

She raised an eyebrow. “Yeah?”

“I’ve been making my own clothes since I was seven!” He huffed.

She laughed. “Oh, well I guess we should definitely go there! Do you mind if I visit my parents first, though?”

◇◆◇◆◇

“Mom! I’m home!”

Indigo flung the door open before toeing her shoes off by the door. She dunked her feet in the bucket of water on the floor before wiping them off. Then she wandered towards the kitchen, leaving Taehyung to wash his dirty feet himself. He watched in shock as the dirt on his feet came right off with the wet washcloth.

“Tae! Come in here! Mom made pastries!”

Taehyung poked his head into the kitchen. An older woman was standing next to Indigo at the counter. If Taehyung hadn’t known better, he would’ve assumed they were sisters.

“Oh, isn’t he a doll. Where’d you find him?”

“He was in the forest too! He lives out there!”

Taehyung took a few cautious steps into the kitchen, unsure how to act in someone else’s house.

“What’s your name, sweetheart?”

“It’s Tae. . .Taehyung.”

“Oh, what a lovely name! Come, sit down! I’ve just finished lunch.”

Taehyung found it odd when Indigo pulled his chair out for him and her mother set a plate full of food in front of him.

“I have to eat all of this?” He asked, gulping.

“Oh, no, of course not. If you’re full you don’t have to finish it.”

This contrasted greatly to his mother’s usual, “finish your plate! I spent hours making that! Be grateful!”

The sandwich Indigo’s mother had put on his plate was the best lunch he’d ever eaten. Much to his disappointment, his stomach didn’t seem to have room for more than half it and a few grapes.

“You’re not going to finish that?” Indigo asked.

“Oh. N-no, I’m full.”

“Can I have it?”

He nodded, pushing his plate towards her. He was surprised to find her plate already empty as she bit into the second half of his sandwich.

“You don’t eat much, do you?” She asked as she chewed.

“Mother doesn’t usually have much left for me when she gets home,” he admitted. “And I rarely eat lunch.”

Indigo stopped chewing. She just sat there, gaping at him.

“You’re kidding.”

His eyes widened, and he shook his head.

“Are you sure you don’t want this?” She asked, holding the sandwich out to him.

He stomach growled, and he realized maybe he’d been lying to himself. He was just accustomed to eating so little that eating more than what calmed his nausea didn’t seem right to him. Before he could say another word, Indigo was holding the sandwich up to his mouth.

“Eat it, please. I’ll make another one if you’re still hungry.”

The sandwich was gone in less than a minute, and he practically inhaled the grapes and peach slices that had been left on his plate. He hiccuped before letting out a quiet burp.

“Excuse me.”

Indigo giggled. “You still hungry?”

He shook his head. “I feel like I’m going to burst.”

“Oh. I’m sorry. Did we over feed you?”

He shook his head. “No. It’s just an odd feeling. I’m not hungry.”

He didn’t miss the frown on Indigo’s face.

◇◆◇◆◇

“Tae, welcome to the market.”

Taehyung’s jaw was practically on the ground as he followed Indigo around. There were so many people that he had to stay right next to Indigo so he didn’t lose her.

“Here. I’m sure you’d like this.”

Indigo grabbed his hand and pulled him towards a booth. She grabbed one of the headbands and held it up in front of him.

“I noticed you’ve got this little strand of hair here that likes to hang in your face.” She tugged on the one short, black section of hair on his head. “I figured we could get you a headband to fix that.” She tucked it behind his ears and used it to push his hair back. Then she grinned.

“Lovely.” She turned back to the vendor. “Sir, how much is this headband?”

◇◆◇◆◇

“Oh, I do apologize, sir. I did not realize that this was your square of concrete!”

Taehyung wished he were smaller as Indigo argued with the big, bulky man she’d just ran into.

“I’ve told you before and I’ll warn you again, missy, I own this whole market and I’ll tell you where you can and cannot stand.”

“Nonsense! You don’t pay any of the property taxes on this market, nor do you bother to care for the land! If you’d like that responsibility, I can always tell Mr. Piper that you’d like to pay his bills.”

Taehyung shuddered, backing away slightly as the argument progressed. He didn’t make it far, though, because the man grabbed his arm and yanked him forward.

“Indigo, I see you have yourself a boyfriend here.” He yanked on Taehyung’s hair, freeing it from the bun that Indigo had spent so much effort twisting into his hair that morning. “A man with long hair? I knew you were an odd girl, Indigo, but I never thought you to go for a man with feminine charms.”

Indigo was about to open her mouth when Taehyung grabbed the man’s arm, unfurling his hand from Taehyung’s sandy locks. Then the boy looked up at him.

“Who says long hair makes me feminine?” He challenged.

The man snickered, bending down slightly to meet Taehyung’s gaze. “I see. You’re a child, aren’t you? You’ve got quite the baby face. I’d imagine you’re easy to beat in a fight to-“

Indigo sent her fist flying towards the man’s face, busting his lip open in the process. Taehyung took this opportunity to yank his wrist free. Indigo picked up the headband that had gone flying to the ground and settled it back on Taehyung’s head before grabbing his hand.

“We’re going.”

◇◆◇◆◇

They found themselves heading back to her parents’ house. Indigo was grumbling the whole way, complaining about the man they’d run into back in the market.

“Just like Garrett to ruin a good day. Couldn’t his mother have raised him better?” She kicked a rock, hissing in pain as it cut through her skin. She came to a stop, grabbing Taehyung’s arm as she held her foot up to examine it. “I’m a idiot. Why didn’t I wear my loafers today?”

“Are you all right?” Taehyung asked.

“Yes. I just cut my toe. It’s fine.”

When they entered the house, Taehyung guided her to sit on the couch before insisting he wash her feet. She stared at him, quite bewildered as he used his hair to wash the dirt and the bit of blood off her feet. After a few moments, he examined her feet. Then he ran his hand over her toe. She winced, expecting it to hurt. But then she stilled. She glanced down at him to find him smiling.

“There. Does it feel all right now?”

She reached down, pulling her foot up so she could examine it. The cut was completely gone, not even leaving a scar. She gaped at him, causing him to turn red under her gaze.

“What did you just do?”

He stuttered. “Um. I. . . . I can heal people with my hair?”

“But. . .how?”

He shrugged. “It’s why my hair is so long. It loses the magic if it’s cut.” He reached up and freed his hair from the headband, separating the dark piece from the rest of them. “My mother cut my hair once when I was little. When she saw it turn black, she refused to cut anymore.”

Indigo gasped. “Really?”

He nodded.

“That’s amazing!”

He shrugged. “It’s a curse, honestly. Mother tells me when I was a baby, people tried to kidnap me for my hair. It’s why I’m not allowed to leave, I guess.” He huffed. “I don’t understand how anyone would recognize me. No one today questioned it besides your friend.”

“Friend?” Indigo scoffed. “That man is my enemy. Has been since second grade.”

She stood up, marching out to the kitchen. “Do you want a drink?”

◇◆◇◆◇

Indigo dragged Taehyung through the village.

“You have to try Mama Gina’s cooking. It’s so good!” Indigo exclaimed.

“Where are we going, exactly?” Taehyung asked.

“The weekly cookout! Those of us in the smaller part of town get together and have a potluck every Monday!”

“Oh, really?”

“Yep! We’re like a little family down here. Some of us don’t have much, so other people like to pitch in and share food even during the rest of the week.”

Taehyung grinned. “That’s kind of them.”

Indigo grinned as she skipped along the path.

“Hey, why didn’t you bring shoes with us?” She asked as she caught sight of his feet.

“Shoes? Oh, I don’t have any. I never leave the tower, so there wasn’t reason for me to have a pair.”

Indigo tsked. “I should’ve given you a pair. My dad has many old ones he doesn’t wear anymore.”

Taehyung shrugged. “It’s all right. I’m headed home tonight. I don’t need any.”

Indigo pointed at the jagged path below them. “Won’t you get hurt?” She paused. “I suppose your hair can always heal it, right?” She giggled.

“Of course.” He stared at the sky for a long spell of time before he met her gaze again. “Will your friends not think it strange that you’re bringing someone they don’t know tonight?”

“Nah. We bring guests all the time.”

Taehyung smiled and look up at the lights framing the pathway. “This place is beautiful.”

“Isn’t it? Sometimes there are butterflies out here during the day. We have to watch the paths, though. The butterflies like to lay in the sun.”

Taehyung grinned. “Yes! I’ve seen a few on my windowsill! They like to sit up there sometimes. They don’t come up often, though. I think it’s too high for most of them to want to make the trip.”

They reached the bottom of the winding staircase soon enough, and were met with an open courtyard filled with tables. A tan woman with dark hair greeted them.

“Indigo, darling! You’re early tonight! Who is this you’ve brought with you?”

“Mama Gina! This is Taehyung. Taehyung, Mama Gina.”

The woman smiled at him. “Well, I hope you enjoy our dinner tonight. It’s my night to cook the main dish, and my meals aren’t the greatest.”

“Mama Gina! Don’t be ridiculous! You food is the best I’ve had besides my own mother’s.”

She shook her head. “You’re too kind, sweetheart. Well, I’d better finish up.”

“Of course. Don’t let us keep you.”

Indigo grabbed Taehyung’s hand and lead him around the courtyard. She point to a tree that was split down the middle. “This is my favorite tree. It’s easy to climb.”

“Can we climb it?” He asked.

“Sure!”

Indigo let go of his hand and heaved herself up onto the tree. Then she held her hand out to him. He smiled and grabbed her hand before pulling himself up.

“Is there anything else you’d like to do tonight?”

He shook his head, belatedly realizing his mother would probably get back home before he did. He sighed.

“Is something wrong?”

“I just realized it’s getting very late. My mother will probably be home before we have a chance to get there.”

Indigo gasped. “Oh no! We should leave now! I’m so sorry! I didn’t realize how late it was!” She was about to jump out of the tree when he wrapped his arm around her waist.

“Don’t mind it. At this moment in time, I’d rather not head back.”

She looked up at him. “Are you sure?”

He nodded. “Whatever punishment she has for me tomorrow, I can stand it if it means I get another few hours with you.”

◇◆◇◆◇

“Why doesn’t Mama Gina have any kids?” Taehyung asked quietly as he took a bite of food.

“Oh. She nearly died having her firstborn. There’s a myth that she made a deal with a witch that if she could have one petal of a healing flower, she’d give the witch her baby.” Indigo shrugged as she whispered back. “Who knows if it’s true. She won’t confirm or deny the story. She was never married, though, so if she was ever pregnant, she would’ve gotten kicked out of town. Honestly, if that baby is even alive today it’s because she gave them away.”

Taehyung stared at her for a few seconds, completely shocked by the story she’d just told him. She glanced up at him and giggled.

“It is an odd story, I’m aware.”

“More than,” he murmured before taking another bite of his dinner. “So, what? Does no one know if she was pregnant or not?”

Indigo shrugged. “I wouldn’t know. It was a year or two before I was born that those rumors started.”

He nodded. “I see.”

“It’s a shame, really. She’d be a wonderful mother. I haven’t even seen her with a guy in the sixteen years I’ve been alive.”

He frowned. “It is a shame. No one to feed this delicious food on the daily.”

Indigo giggled, and for that moment, he forgot the dread he’d be facing when he got home. He forgot what it was like to feel lonely. And he realized that perhaps, for once in his life, he might understand what it meant to be in love.

◇◆◇◆◇

“Oh, look, you can see the stars,” Indigo gasped as she stared up at the sky.

“Can you not usually?”

“No. The city is too lit up at night to see most of them.”

“Oh, that’s sad.”

Indigo grinned suddenly. “You know, I think you’re a lot more talkative than you were this morning!”

He laughed. “I’m not used to having the freedom to say whatever I want, I guess.”

She sighed and nodded. “You’re sure you want to go back?”

He looked down at her. “It’s my home. I have to.”

“But do you want to?”

He hesitated, but nodded. She sighed.

“All right.”

They walked in a companionable silence for a while. It was clear that neither of them really wanted to be making this trip. They both walked at a slow pace as they made their way down the dirt path.

“I’m gonna miss you,” Indigo admitted. “Most people my age don’t pay attention to me. They think I’m odd.”

“Why?”

“I climb trees. I wear pants. I read books.”

“Do your people not do that? I thought I saw many people at the market wearing pants.”

“Those are things for boys to do. And clearly, I am not one.”

He scoffed. “Next you’re going to tell me skirts are only for women.”

She gave him a pointed look.

“No! They are not!”

She laughed. “They are.”

He groaned. “I couldn’t imagine not wearing skirts!”

“You’d be the first and last man I’ll ever hear say that.”

He shook his head, going silent as he stared at the ground.

“What is it?”

He wiped a tear off his face. “Oh, it’s nothing.”

“Clearly, it isn’t.”

He let out a bitter laugh. “It’s just. . .I don’t fit in anywhere, do I? I disappoint everyone.”

“Tae.”

When she didn’t speak further, he glanced at her.

“You don’t disappoint me.”

He shook his head. “You’ve known me for a day. What’s there to judge from that?”

“Well, me wearing pants is enough to disappoint someone who’s never even seen me before. I think a day is more than enough time to decide I like someone. I daresay you are the kindest man I’ve ever met.”

He stared at her for a few seconds, breathless. “What?”

She smiled at him. “You’re the kindest man I’ve ever met, Taehyung.” She held her hand out to him. “Now, come on. We still have three and a half hours ahead of us to walk. The sun will be rising before we get there.

◇◆◇◆◇

Indigo began to scale the wall.

“You’re sure this is safe?” Taehyung asked as he watched her. It was pitch black outside, and climbing the wall wasn’t the easiest thing in the world, he was sure.

“I did it the first time and I’ll do it again. I promised I’d get you home, didn’t I?”

“You did. . .but. . . .”

“Shhh. Let me climb.”

Taehyung sat there for half an hour, nervously chewing his nails as he watched her. Eventually, she reached the top and climbed in the window. She hastily grabbed the rope hanging next to the window before tying it to a hook on the wall and throwing it down. Taehyung caught it and scaled the building in five minutes using it. He was panting when he reached the top.

“Thanks. You’re a lifesaver. You’d best be going now.”

◇◆◇◆◇

“You know what? I’m cutting your hair off.” Indigo decided as she was about to climb out the window.

“What?” Taehyung asked.

“You said it kills the magic. If we get rid of the magic, there’s no reason you can’t roam free!” She pulled a pair scissors out of her pocket, leaving Taehyung to wonder when she’d put those there.

She grabbed half of his hair in her hand, grinning widely before slicing the huge chunk of hair off his head. She was in the middle of cutting the second section of his hair when his mother appeared in the doorway to the kitchen.

“What on earth are you doing?” She cried, running straight at Indigo.

Indigo smirked, cutting the remainder of Taehyung’s hair off, marveling at how it all turned a dark shade of brown as it was separated from itself. She dropped the scissors just as a loud bang echoed through the room, causing her vision to go black.

◇◆◇◆◇

Taehyung didn’t have time to react as his mother pounced on him, causing him to fall to the ground. She grabbed a piece of thick fabric laying a few inches from them to tie his hands together before she dragged him to the oven and used the rope to tie his wrists to the handle.

“Let me go!” He protested.

“No. You have been very disobedient these past two days. You snuck out overnight, leaving me to have to find my own way up here, and now you’ve let this little girl cut your precious hair. Do you really hate me that much?”

Taehyung considered it for a moment. “Yes.”

She gasped, slapping him harshly across the cheek. “You are ungrateful. I’ve kept you safe your whole life, feeding you and giving you shelter, and this is how you thank me?”

He felt his head spin at the pain radiating from his cheek. He had barely a clue what his mother had just said. And worse yet, he knew Indigo was laying unconscious on the floor. He’d heard the sound that his mother’s pan had made as it hit Indigo’s head.

His mother seemed to think he was ignoring her, because she crossed the room to pull Indigo off the ground. His eyes widened as he watched her shove the unconscious girl against the tower’s brick wall. He watched as his mother picked up the scissors Indigo had dropped when she passed out.

◇◆◇◆◇

The only thing Indigo could feel was pain as her back slammed against the wall. She briefly heard Taehyung’s horrified scream as a searing pain cut into her abdomen. She glanced down, faintly realizing her shirt was covered in blood before her legs went weak and she slid to the floor.

“No! Stop, please stop!” Taehyung cried, working at the fabric knot with his teeth in an attempt to free himself.

The moment he was untied from the oven, he ran mindlessly towards the woman he’d called his mother, ripping the scissors from her hand. He looked at Indigo, tears filling his eyes as she lay there, nearly unconscious.

“You’re a fool, Taehyung,” his mother growled as she took a step towards him. He took a step back.

“I’ve spent years protecting you by keeping you here, and you disobey me the second you see someone from the outside world!”

Taehyung continued to pace backwards until he was leaning against the window frame.

“This is how you thank me?” She asked, suddenly lunging towards him.

He jumped to the side, landing on the floor. He turned back only when he heard the scream his mother let out as she tumbled out the window. He sat there for a moment, stunned as he realized what he’d just done. But his attention was diverted as he heard the faint groan Indigo let out. He tossed the scissors to the side and crawled over to her, his heart pounding in his chest. He pulled her against his chest, lifting her shirt up to see the damage that had been done.

“Tae. . .” Indigo gasped out, looking up at him. He could tell she was having trouble focusing on him. “I. . .love you. Tell my parents I love them. . .please.”

“I love you. . .too.”

He felt her grip on his shirt loosen, and he let out a choked sob as her eyes fluttered shut.

“No! No, please!” Tears streamed down his face. “Why did you cut my hair? You’d still be here if you hadn’t!” He buried his face in her hair and sobbed, not caring that her hair was getting soaked.

“I’m. . .sorry,” he whispered. “I shouldn’t have left with you in the first place. I should’ve let you go alone. I was. . .selfish.” His lip quivered before another loud sob erupted from him.

The sun was peeking through the open window, mocking him. Everything in him had died the moment Indigo took her last breath. He could feel his whole world collapsing in on him as he held the only person who had ever loved him. She’d shone so much light into his world one day, and stomped that light out the next. He could feel himself shaking as he let out loud, painful sobs. He wound his fingers into her hair, holding her as close as he possibly could.

He startled a moment later as he felt a tug on his collar.

“Tae. . .what on earth did you do?”

He sat up ramrod straight, staring down at Indigo. She appeared a bit woozy, but the wound in her abdomen had disappeared.

“What?” He gasped, running his hand over her stomach in shock. He laughed, tears still spilling down his cheeks. Then he lunged forward and pull her into a hug. “You’re ok!” He exclaimed, another sob bubbling up from him.

Indigo winced. “Ooo, that hurts.”

He instantly flinched away from her, his whole body going tense. “What? What hurts?”

Indigo grinned at him before laughing. “Nothing hurts. I’m playing with you.” She grabbed his collar, pulling him back towards her before pressing a kiss into his lips cautiously before leaning away slightly.

His face lit up like the noonday sun as she pulled away, and he bent down again to capture her lips with his.

“I love you,” he mumbled against her mouth.

“I love you too, Tae,” she giggled. Then she pulled away from him ever so slightly. “Short, dark hair suits you.”

◇◆◇◆◇

“Garrett, if you say one more word-“

“What? You’ll call your little husband? I’ve seen how wimpy he is.”

“Who’s wimpy?” Tae asked, chuckling when Garrett flinched at the sound of his voice.

“Oh. Um-“ Garrett stuttered, trying to come up with an excuse. He looked up at the large clock tower in the middle of the square “Oh would you look at the time! I have some business to attend to!”

Tae laughed as the man ran off. “Does he still think I’m the kid he met last year?”

“Apparently,” Indigo muttered as she brushed off her dress.

“Indigo.”

“What?”

“Is that a dress you’re wearing?”

“What-?” She glanced down at it. “Oh this thing? Nooooo. It’s just. . .a very long shirt!”

“Hmm. That’s odd. It seems to be missing buttons on the front here.” He pointed to the top of her dress.

She grinned sheepishly. “Ok, I must admit. The dress is pretty comfortable.”

He grinned. “I told you!”

She smacked his shoulder. “Oh, lay off it. I’m not wearing this again.”

“Oh yes, of course you’re not!”

“That reminds me. Did I mention that Mama Gina confirmed that the rumor about her was true?”

He scoffed. “Yes. Yesterday. And last week. And a month ago. I think you might’ve mentioned it quite a few months ago as well. . . .” He smiled. “I know you’d like me to discuss it with her, sweetheart, but I’m not ready yet.”

Indigo sighed. “You’re sure?”

“Yep!” Taehyung scooped her up into his arms, causing her to shriek. “Let’s go home! Mom said she’s making lunch.”

Indigo giggled and planted a kiss on his cheek. “All right. Let’s go home.”

—————

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