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“Next, Jimin-sshi.”
Jungkook stepped off the weight scale and moved out of Jimin’s way. They were having another medical check up as the managers had to make sure they were completely healthy.
Jungkook disliked the medical check ups, as they always meant prodding and pinching, examining for any wrongs in bodies that were supposed to be perfect. Necessary, sure, but the thing they symbolized was far from pleasant. He also simply didn't feel comfortable standing in only boxers in a cold, clinical room with completely dressed strangers that could cut your lung out without batting an eye.
So what if he was a bit scared and unsettled by doctors and hospitals? It wasn't like it made him lose his professionalism, therefore his inner thoughts were completely okay to have.
Really though, how could someone so freely cut open flesh, and take something out? Surgery freaked him out.
And so did needles. Jungkook felt like retching thinking of someone forcing some fluid into the body that's not supposed to be there, overfilling the veins and causing them to painfully contract, trying to push it out, not to suffocate, not to explode from the pressure.
So when one of the nurses took out a case full of needles, he immediately went into panic mode. Alert alert red signal not alright S.O.S.
“Ok we just need to vaccinate you…” The nurse’s words were lost to Jungkook upon hearing the terms ‘vaccinate’ and ‘you’ together, feeling like in a slight haze. Because no, this couldn't be happening.
Jungkook wasn't sick. He was okay, and the shot would only make him sick, he knew. Namjoon once talked about how vaccinations worked. He didn't need it. He was fine. The others could get the shots if they wanted to and be sick but Jungkook was happy healthy. He will just tell the nurse he’ll pass.
“...Taehyung-sshi,” the nurse finished his speech with a flick of the hand for Taehyung to come over. And Taehyung started grimly advancing towards the table with the needles.
Jungkook’s thoughts all froze for a second, before crashing over him like a hundred meter wave. Because no no no NO Taehyung was delicate and his veins were going to pop from too much fluid and he'd die, but Tae wasn't sick he didn't even need the vaccination…
Before Jungkook even realized he was moving, he was in front of Tae, tears running down his face, arms spread to shield Tae from the evil nurse who wanted to kill him.
“NO!” Jungkook screamed, effectively gathering all the attention that wasn't already on him. He didn't care though, because he wasn't about to let them kill Taehyung. “YOU CAN’T! He's healthy, he's not sick, it’s a misunderstanding.”
Everybody was looking at Jungkook strangely, a mix of shock, confusion, and bewilderment on their faces. Jungkook had to elaborate, they didn't understand.
“He's not sick.” Jungkook repeated. “He doesn't n-need the vaccination.” Jungkook just realized that he was sobbing.
“Jungkook…” One of the managers said, but any thought about responding was banished when the nurse tried to move closer.
“NO!” Jungkook screamed, jumping back and knocking into Tae. Turning around he grabbed onto Tae’s shirt. Pushing himself into the other’s body. “Please…” He wheezed.
That seemed to set everyone in motion. Half a dozen people stimousanously started towards him, including a doctor and one of the nurses.
“No!” Jungkook choked out, clutching Tae harder, trying to get away from the others. The walls seemed to be closing in on him, pushing the people even closer.
“Kook, what's wrong?” He heard Jimin’s worried voice, but he couldn’t breathe, he didn't know how, what was happening, was he dying?
Taehyung wrapped his arms around Jungkook’s shaking shoulders, holding him firmly to his chest.
“Stay back, I think he’s having a panic attack,” Jungkook heard Namjoon say as he was hoarded out of the room, still clutching Taehyung and wheezing.
Once inside another room (completely bare, nothing but white walls, no danger), he finally regained his breathing, sagging into Taehyung’s warmth and sobbing quietly. They survived. The doctors were away and they survived.
Taehyung sat them down with his back against the wall, Jungkook curled into him. Everyone else shuffled into the room behind them.
“You’re okay, Kook, you’re okay,” Taehyung was muttering, stroking his hair. Jungkook nodded against Taehyung’s shoulder. He was okay. He felt a fresh wave of tears rising from relief.
“What happened?” Hoseok asked quietly, still only in boxers from the examination.
Everyone shrugged, equally lost about what had transpired.
“Jungkook, can you hear me?” Namjoon asked after a minute of the members observing Jungkook in silence.
“Y-yeah, I can hear you.” Jungkook answered quietly, his voice hoarse from yelling and crying.
“Ok. That's good. How are you feeling?” Yoongi asked equally as quietly. Tae was still stroking Jungkook’s hair, and he felt drained. He couldn't sleep yet though, not until they were home and safe.
“Tired. Dizzy, a bit.”
“That's alright. Can you tell hyung why you reacted like that earlier?”
“Tae’s healthy.” Jungkook responded tiredly. Didn't they see? Tae shone brighter than any star, his golden skin scintillating. There was no way an unhealthy person could be so vibrant.
“Of course Tae’s healthy.” Seokjin agreed carefully. They all still seemed so lost.
“Why wouldn’t I be healthy?” Taehyung asked quietly.
“The vaccination could kill you,” just thinking about it caused Jungkook to shut his eyes firmly and grimace.
“Of course not! Vaccinations protect from diseases.” Seokjin exclaimed, affronted.
“Namjoon said that they make you sick.”
Namjoon’s eyes alight with understanding. “Oh! Well, yeah, they do make you sick, but just a little bit. Its so that if you get that disease your body knows how to fight it. But you can't die from a vaccination!” Namjoon turned pensive. “Well, actually you can, but -” he was silenced by five glares. Jungkook held Tae closer. He just saved him from death.
“Kook, vaccination’s good for you. It makes you healthier.” Taehyung told him quietly, holding him back just as firmly as Jungkook was holding him.
“How can you…” Jungkook started, but stopped to squeeze his eyes shut in disgust, “how can you stand it? A fluid being forced into your blood… That's not supposed to be there.”
“It’s just a bit so it doesn't really affect you,” Seokjin shrugged.
“I don't want the vaccination.” Jungkook said with finality. A bunch of protests emerged, even Jimin who’s been quiet up until now trying to reassure him it was okay. The stroking in his hair stopped, and he glanced up at Taehyung's face. He was looking at him disapprovingly, but just when he was about to say something Hoseok interrupted.
“Well, we can always take out some of the blood before injecting the substance?” His wry joke received him a shove in the shoulder and a glare from Yoongi.
“Jungkook, you need vaccination.” Yoongi said patronizingly.
“No, I don't. I'm perfectly healthy.”
“If you want to stay healthy, you need it.”
“I don't.”
“Yes, you do.”
“No I don't!” Jungkook said, his voice breaking and tears welling up in his eyes again. They were going to force him. He thought he could rely on them, but they were just as bad the nurses. He felt the white walls closing in on him again.
“Hey, none of that,” Namjoon said sternly, ignoring Jungkook’s rapidly quickening breaths.
“Kook, Jungkook, calm down, everything’s okay, look at me.” Jungkook tore his eyes away from Tae’s top button to look him in the eyes. “Everything's okay, don’t panic, just breathe with me.”
Jungkook tried his best to focus on Taehyung's inhales and exhales, mimicking them. The others had quietened down around them as Taehyung continued whispering encouragements.
“That’s right. Keep on breathing.” Taehyung wiped the tears that had gathered in Jungkook’s eyes with his thumb, holding his cheek and caressing the skin there. “Everything’s okay. Don’t worry.”
“Tae, will you make me get the vaccination?” Jungkook asked hoarsely.
“I’ll show you that there’s nothing to be afraid of. Okay?” Taehyung pecked Jungkook on the nose, looking at him kindly. Jungkook’s grip on him tightened, afraid for Taehyung. Everyone said that everything was going to be fine, but they wouldn’t know until after they got the shots.
“These vaccinations are harmless, nobody ever died, no side effect either,” Seokjin tried to reassure him. The thought of the needle still scared him though.
Taehyung leaned closer to Jungkook, their faces mere centimeters apart, looking deep into his eyes.
“Will you be brave for hyung and get the shot?” He whispered so quietly nobody else could hear but Jungkook. “I’ll be there with you.”
Jungkook took a moment to appreciate Taehyung’s face so close to his. “Will you hold my hand?” He whispered just as quietly, needing all the reassurance he could get.
“Of course,” Taehyung smiled lightly before kissing the corner of Jungkook’s mouth.
Jungkook flushed, gripping Tae’s shirt harder, pressing his forehead against his and closing his eyes.
Taehyung allowed Jungkook a minute to collect himself, before giving him another peck on the nose and leaning away.
“Let’s go,” he said, his eyes holding Jungkook’s gaze. “The faster we get this over with the sooner we can get home.”
Jungkook felt terror once again making its way into his mind, numbing his body. He forced his legs to move, clutching Taehyung as soon as he got up.
Everyone else in the room also got up, surrounding them like a bodyguard unit. Jimin and Namjoon at the front kept on glancing back at Jungkook waringly, while Yoongi outright looked like he was ready to pounce on Jungkook if he tried running away.
They entered the examination room, the doctors, nurses, and managers looking at them carefully, not sure what to expect. Namjoon approached the managers as everyone stared dispersing to different stations, while Yoongi remained standing beside the door, his eyes trained on Jungkook.
Taehyung steered Jungkook over to the nurse with the needles, Hoseok scrambling for a second chair to set beside the one awaiting a patient beside the nurse.
The two sat down, Taehyung rolling up his sleeve as Jungkook held onto his other bicep. The nurse didn’t say anything, simply taking out a needle, going to position it over Taehyung’s arm.
The arm that Jungkook was holding curled around his head, softly pushing it into Tae’s shoulder.
“Don’t look,” Taehyung whispered, caressing his fingers through Jungkook’s hair soothingly.
Jungkook awaited for Taehyung to get the vaccination, repeating a silent mantra of please be okay. However, barely 30 seconds later Taehyung was pulling Jungkook’s head away, showcasing his bandaged arm. Jungkook didn’t even realize that Taehyung has gotten the shot because he did not flinch or tense up when the needle went in.
Taehyung just smiled brightly at Jungkook’s wide eyes. “See, I’m okay,” he said, patting Jungkook’s cheek fondly. “Your turn now.”
Jungkook panicked for a second when Taehyung started getting up, grasping for him, eyes filled with terror, but Taehyung only caught Jungkook’s hands, lacing their fingers together, his eyes shining with laughter and fondness.
“Move over so that I can sit,” he said, pushing Jungkook’s shin with his knee to get Jungkook to relocate into the chair closer to the nurse.
Reluctantly, Jungkook scooted onto the empty chair, letting Taehyung pull up his sleeve as he buried his face in Taehyung’s warm neck. Taehyung wrapped one arm around Jungkook’s side, bringing him close, and held Jungkook’s shaking hand that was to be vaccinated with his own. Jungkook gripped the offered hand, so grateful to Taehyung for the support.
“Everything’s okay, Kook. The needle will sting a bit but don’t worry, yeah?” Taehyung whispered into his ear, squeezing his side. Jungkook didn’t respond, trying to maintain his steady breathing, but he felt Taehyung nod to the nurse in signal to go on.
Jungkook tensed up when the gloved hand took his arm, pressing harder into Taehyung. He outright flinched when the needle went into his bicep, trying his best not to rip away and run. He was clutching Taehyung’s hand so tight it was probably painful. Taehyung didn’t voice any discomfort though, instead holding him closer to his chest and caressing his side with his thumb soothingly. Pressing his face into Jungkook’s hair, he whispered calming words, somewhat pacifying Jungkook.
The needle was removed from Jungkook’s arm, and he sat stiffly as the small wound was bandaged, breathing unevenly.
“You did so good, I’m so proud of you,” Taehyung muttered encouragingly. “You’re alright. It’s over now.”
Taehyung dragged him up and out of the room, as Jungkook tried to keep his throat from closing up, gasping for oxygen but unwilling to take his face out of Taehyung’s neck.
He felt himself being settled down, but as Taehyung moved to pull away he clung to him like his life depended on it. He was feeling just the slightest bit light headed, and although he knew that it was from his wheezing breathing, he couldn’t help but think that the reason was the vaccination. Maybe the nurse mixed something into it. Maybe he was going to die.
“Shhhh, you’re alright, everything’s fine. It’s over now.” Taehyung settled beside Jungkook and cradled him, stroking his hair and kissing his forehead as Jungkook hid his face in Taehyung’s neck.
Jungkook didn't know how much time passed before he was able to completely relax. He heaved a sigh of relief when his panic fit ended, and turned his head to look at the bandage on his arm.
He stared at it for a while, before moving his gaze to Taehyung’s face.
“How are you?” Taehyung asked, smiling softly at him. He didn’t stop his hand ministrations in Jungkook's hair.
“Fine,” Jungkook responded, before clearing his throat awkwardly. “Thanks for the… Thanks for being here.” He finally settled on, not knowing how to express his gratitude for Taehyung understanding his… apprehension of needles, instead of laughing at him.
The gratitude quickly evaporated when Taehyung started to coo at him.
“Oh god, you were so adorable!” Taehyung went to pinch Jungkook’s cheeks, but Jungkook swatted him away.
“Hyung…” Jungkook frowned, lowering his eyes in shame, no longer able to meet Taehyung's. “It might seem stupid to you, but it’s an actual phobia to me.”
Taehyung’s eyebrows pinched in discontent. “Hey, look at me.” He caught Jungkook’s chin, forcing him to look him in the eye. “It’s not stupid. It’s great that you got the vaccination despite your discomfort.”
“It’s all thanks to you,” Jungkook whispered. Taehyung smiled at him fondly.
Jungkook’s eyes raked over Taehyung’s face, pausing momentarily on his lips. Those lips, that kissed him so many times over the last hour. Those lips that touched so many places but never connected with Jungkook’s own pair. Taehyung seemed to get the hint though, for he slowly leaned in, kissing him softly. Jungkook’s breath got caught in his throat. He tried to kiss back, but Taehyung pulled away before he could.
“Sorry I can’t offer you candy. They usually give them to kids after they get a shot. Hope this will suffice,” Taehyung told him mischievously.
“It doesn't,” Jungkook said, before leaning back in, capturing Taehyung’s lips with his.
So maybe needles weren't so bad.