Chapter Text
There are moments you cannot erase from your mind, no matter how hard you try. Memories which remain etched in your mind forever. For Jungkook, the image of Jimin howling and crying while he was being rushed to the hospital was one such image. He had never felt pain as bad as having to watch his mate cry in pain, over him. The crying face of Jimin is the last thing he sees before he loses his consciousness.
He cannot remember how things progressed or how long he’s been in the drowsy state. He does wake up once or twice but he cannot open his eyes, they are too heavy. He does hear people talk around him, and amongst all the chaos, he can detect hints of the beautiful vanilla scent.
“I don’t know.. We were arguing and then all of a sudden the car came rushing towards me..”
“It’s okay.. You’re okay..”
“It's.. It’s not.. He.. He isn’t okay..”
“He will be fine Jiminah.. Don’t worry”
He wanted to get up and assure his omega. But he couldn't. So he drifted off to the darkness and let it consume him.
The next time he woke up, he actually woke up. Eyes open. It took him a little time to adjust his sight to the sudden influx of light but when he did, he noticed two things. He was in a hospital room, and his husband was dozing off by the bedside, holding his hands. Jimin looked so small. He had been crying, the tears having stained his face and his hair was all tousled. He looked like a mess. Jungkook gently stroked Jimin’s hair, causing the omega to jerk awake. With wide eyes, Jimin stared at him.
“You’re.. You’re awake..”
Jungkook manages to nod, trying to talk but his husband is out of sight.
Jimin runs out of the room, asking for the doctor or the nurse available and in 5 minutes time, a doctor and a nurse enter the room, to check him. But Jimin doesn’t return.
About half an hour later, after the doctor has thoroughly examined him, he is left alone. 5 more minutes pass in silence, and then Jimin enters back into the room. But he isn’t alone. Taehyung and Namjoon are there with him.
“Are you feeling okay?” Namjoon asks him.
“I am fine.. My legs hurt a little, other than that it's all okay” Jungkook says, but his eyes remain fixed on Jimin who stands behind the other two.
“Your parents enquired about your health. They couldn’t make it, of course.”
“Of course” Jungkook scoffs.
“But Jimin has been here for the last 36 hours.. He just wouldn’t leave.” Namjoon says, pointing towards Jimin, who continues staring at the floor.
“I’m glad you’re doing okay.. I heard what happened and how you saved Minah..” Tae says, a smile on his face.
“I…”
“The doctor said you can be discharged today.. So I will make the arrangements for you and Jimin..” Namjoon says and soon leaves, along with Tae.
Jungkook’s eyes remain on his husband. Jimin hadn’t uttered a single word and he craved to know what was going on inside his mind.
“What happened?” Jungkook’s voice is low but audible.
“The doctor said it isn’t very serious. You suffered from minor injuries in your legs and shoulders. You must rest for at least a week.” Jimin recites, gathering up Jungkook’s things and still avoiding his gaze.
“Jimin..”
“Namjoon hyung has arranged for the car. We will be leaving in a bit. I have to fill in some form details and then we can leave” Jimin keeps reciting.
“Jimin..”
“Also, I have informed your parents and told them that you’d be missing work for a wee-”
“JIMIN..”
Jimin finally stops blubbering but he still doesn’t look up. His scent is laced with sadness and exhaustion. Jungkook can’t help but release soothing pheromones. The change is instant and Jimin relaxes a bit.
“Jimin…” Jungkook whispers. “Are you okay?”
Jimin nods, and before Jungkook can ask more the doctor enters, to check Jungkook’s vitals and Jimin takes the opportunity to leave.
*****
The ride to their home is silent. The silence is uncomfortable. Unbearable, too. They’re in the backseat and Jimin keeps staring out of the window. He cannot bring himself to look at his husband. The past twenty four hours are a blue for him. From being subjected to such emotional stress to having to watch Jungkook in front of a car, for him. Jimin didn’t know where they stood now. He was scared, he was afraid because he knew he was in love. He cannot ever erase the moment of pure fright he had experienced when Jungkook had jumped in front of the car. For a moment, Jimin had thought he’d lost Jungkook. And he cannot console his heart, no matter what he does.
The house staff help him get Jungkook inside the apartment, to their room and in their bed. He spends almost an hour instructing the housing staff about dinner and lunch for the next week to be light. In truth, he had been trying to avoid Jungkook. He just didn’t know how to face the alpha. But he had to, he knew it.
When he enters their bedroom, he almost screams. Jungkook was trying to get down from the bed without anyone to help him.
“Jungkook! What are you doing?” Jimin rushes to him.
“I was thirsty.. The bottle..” Jungkook gestures towards the water bottle kept away from his reach.
“You could have called for me..” Jimin rushes to bring the bottle to him.
“I didn’t wanna bother you more..”
“What are you talking about?” Jimin hands Jungkook the bottle of water, and Jungkook drinks. Jimin remains seated by the bed, flabbergasted.
“I am not blind, Jimin. I can see you’re avoiding me..”
“I..”
“I wanna talk.”
“I don’t know..”
“You know.. You very well know that things between us have been weird… I don’t want them to be. You’ve been so distant, Jimin and I know I haven’t been the best-”
“But that’s what you wanted, right?” Jimin’s wall crumbles and his eyes begin to tear up.
“You wanted nothing to do with this marriage.. You’d told me-” Jimin cries.
“Things can change.. People change.. Perspectives change-”
“You’d told me and yet I was stupid enough to expect more.. I.. I fell-” Jimin stops from completing the sentence. He rubs his eyes, and gets up, trying to leave. But he finds Jungkook pulling him back, hands on his wrists, a tight grip.
“Please stop running away.. Especially now, when I can’t even chase you..”
Jimin stares at Jungkook. For the first time he dares to look into his eyes and he finds nothing but sincerity, aching and longing. His omega is restless, because he can feel the alpha’s restlessness too. But he cannot give in.
“What do you want, Jungkook?”
“I have questions, I need answers to. I..”
“I have questions too.. Why.. Why did you do that?” Jimin sobs now.
“Do what?” Jungkook still doesn’t let Jimin go.
“Why did you save me? Why would you put your life on the line for me? Why would you be so stupid?” Jimin continues mumbling.
“Why? Because I love you. I am in love with you. And people do stupid things when they’re in love. But what I did wasn't stupid. I would do it all over again.”
“Yo-you?”
“I love you. I don’t know how and when, I don’t even know if this is what love feels like, but I know that I cannot imagine my life without you anymore..”
“You’re.. You’re lying.. You have another omega..” Jimin tries to wrench his hands away.
“You are my omega..”
“Where were you..” Jimin hiccups. “You.. didn’t.. My heat” Jimin crumbles further.
“I didn’t what? I took care of you, to the best of my abilities..”
“You didn’t take me.. No matter how much I screamed or begged..” Jimin breaks down. “I.. I get it.. You were forced to help me.. You never wanted the marriage.. And you have Yoona..”
“Jimin, please stop.. What are you even saying? I wasn’t forced to do anything. I helped you because I wanted to. And Yoona? Why would you bring her up?”
“You- She’s your-”
“Just a colleague. Get that inside your head. I tried my best to take care of you.. And do you think it was easy to restrain myself from taking you? My wolf was howling the entire time. I wanted to take you, to breed you!”
“Then why didn’t you?” Jimin screams.
“Because you weren’t in your senses and I didn’t want our first time to be in a state where you’re not in your senses. I already kissed you while we were inebriated. I couldn't do the same with this. I want us to be in our senses. I want us to be in the moment. I want to etch every single moment from it in my memory, memorize your lines and curves and imprint your voice in my brain, in my soul. I wanted both of us to want it, while we weren’t under the influence of any pheromones or heats and ruts.” Jungkook whispers the last line. He says it entirely while staring at his husband, voice unwavering, stare intent.
“You-”
“When I first met you, Jimin.. I was so captivated by you. I had been expecting a snobbish and proud heir to the Park hotels.. But there you were, humble and kind. You left me speechless.”
Jungkook holds Jimin’s face in his palms, gently stroking his cheeks.
“I haven’t had the best childhoods.. But I had a grandma who doted on me.. You remind me of her sometimes. Maybe it’s because you cared about me. I honestly didn’t want a marriage. I grew up with a notion that marriages in our world are for show.. But you.. Jimin, you have shown me that there’s a possibility to be happy, because I AM happy when I am with you. I like you.. And I don’t know what the future holds for us, but I want one where you are right beside me, giggling and laughing. You ground me, Jimin.”
Jungkook raises himself on his elbows before kissing Jimin on the forehead gently. He hisses in pain. And Jimin jerks back.
“Take care.. Please..” Jimin helps Jungkook lay back down, but holds his hands all the same. “You need to be careful.. I.. Do you know how hard it was to watch you get hit by that car? Have you any idea how distraught I was? I thought I’d lost you.. I’d lost you before I could have told you how much you mean to me.. I love you Jungkook.. I am sorry for being a jealous mess sometimes, but I cannot stop myself from feeling drawn to you.”
“Jimin..”
“I was so scared. There you were, cold to me sometimes, but inside you were soft and warm. I was just distraught at the hot and cold treatment I received from you. Your family kept talking about you and Yoona, that night at the dinner party and it didn’t matter that I tried to avoid it, the voices echoed in my head. I felt like I was not the person to make you happy. I just assumed-”
“You assumed wrong, Jimin. YOU are who I love, who I want. It’s always going to be you. And I am no expert at this.. And neither are you.. So let’s just be us and do us.. I wanna try”
“I wanna try too..” Jimin confesses.
“Good.. Because I am frankly tired of watching you be all distant. And it did hurt me to see you not invite me to the showcase..”
“You had a gala..”
“I would have been at your showcase..”
“I’m sorry..”
“It’s okay.. But next time, please inform me.. I wanna be there, the way you’re always with me..”
“Okay” Jimin shies away. “Let me get dinner for you.. It’ll be time for your meds soon”
“As long as you come back to me, you’re allowed to leave..” Jungkook smiles.
Both of them giggle, and Jimin runs from the room, all flustered and pink.
*****
6 months later
“I don’t care that you’re now closer than ever, you two being all lovey dovey is still weird to me” Tae comments from the couch.
“As if watching You and Namjoon date hasn’t been traumatizing for me” Jimin comments from Jungkook’s lap on the couch.
Namjoon chokes on his soda, and all four of them end up laughing.
“It’s hard to believe it’ll be a year since you two got married..”
“Yeah.. But time flies..”
“And so will we..” Jimin stares at his husband, shock apparent on his face.
“What?”
“We’re heading to Tokyo in a week and then Singapore..”
“What?”
“Happy Anniversary..” Jungkook smiles at his husband before they end up kissing.
“You two are stinking up the room with your pheromones..” Tae sighs
“I think that is the cue for us to leave..” Namjoon laughs, before taking Tae’s hands and leaving the husbands alone.