Chapter Text
The car was silent except for the low hum of the air conditioner, a fact that Jimin welcomed as his head pounded uncomfortably. He felt slightly nauseous, but mostly stressed out and exhausted from the day’s schedules. It didn’t help that they weren’t even close to being able to go home, seeing as they were headed to a fan sign that would probably go on until well into the night.
“I’m so tired Guk,” Jimin groaned as he lay his head against Jeongguk’s broad shoulder, closing his eyes and snuggling into the warm puffy jacket that Jeongguk was wearing. “I’m gonna sleep, m’kay? Wake me up when we get to the venue.”
Jeongguk chuckled, wrapping an arm around Jimin and tugging him closer. He pressed a kiss to the crown of Jimin’s head and hummed into his artfully tousled mess of blonde hair. “Sure, baby. You worked way too hard today you know that? Go to sleep now, we have another 30 minutes before we get there, but you gotta wake up when I call you okay?”
“Not a baby, Guk,” Jimin mumbled, before dropping almost instantly into the comfortable arms of slumber. Jeongguk watched him with a fond smile on his face, dropping another quick kiss to his forehead before a another voice startled him.
“We’re here too you know? Don’t do that couple shit in the car, we don’t have any bleach in here.” Yoongi said drily, the judgmental stare on his face quickly dissolving when Jeongguk stretched out an arm and punched him in the shoulder.
He glared then, face like thunder and eyebrows drawn together. The look disappeared as quickly as it had come though, and then Yoongi just sighed, a sigh of someone whose pain was hard and suffering long. “Aish, this brat,” he complained to Jin, who just shook his head and patted Yoongi on the shoulder.
“Don’t even bother, Yoongi, it won’t do any good. Might as well ignore them, because Jeongguk always does what he wants and you can’t stop him.”
Yoongi groaned miserably as Jeongguk laughed. “Listen to him, Yoongi hyung, he’s right. You won’t—Oh, sorry baby.” he cut off, because Jimin was wriggling uncomfortably where he was tucked into Jeongguk’s side, disturbed by his constant moving and talking.
“Mmm,” he whined, turning his head and stuffing it against Jeongguk’s ribcage. “Don’ move pleas’, my hea’ hurts real bad,” he mumbled into Jeongguk’s shirt, voice pained, before his eyes dropped shut again almost immediately.
Jimin’s sleepy, discomfited request worried Jeongguk, as did his cut off speech. Jimin didn’t speak like that unless he was in Little space, extremely Little space. He also only did so when he was stressed out, drained and hurting.
Which he probably was at the moment, as Jeongguk realized, but he decided to focus more on Jimin’s uncomfortable admission of a bad headache.
Why would that be? Had he eaten that day? Exercised too much maybe, and over-exerted his body? Jimin did have a tendency to practice until he was about ready to drop dead from exhaustion. And he had had all those separate dance practices today with Seokjin, Namjoon and Hoseok, helping the two less abled hyungs with the choreography and practicing his solo with Hoseok. Not to mention his hours of vocal lessons and his solo photoshoots.
Jeongguk suddenly felt bad, his boyfriend had been working through so much stress the entire day while he had just sat in the dorms and played Overwatch with Taehyung. And all of a sudden it struck him that Jimin hadn’t regressed in almost two months. And he hadn’t tried to get him into Little space once in those two months.
Fuck, Jimin must be so fucking drained. He could never go without regressing for more than a week or so, or he could but it greatly affected his stress levels and anxiety. Jeongguk sighed. He felt terrible, but he couldn’t fix what had already happened, so he promised himself that he would get Jimin to regress once they got home. He would give Jimin a warm bubble bath and make him hot chocolate, and they could watch a movie together. Or he could dress Jimin in one of his fluffy onesies and they could climb into bed after the bath and cuddle.
Jeongguk was so lost in thought that he didn’t even realize the van had come to a stop, until Namjoon yelled at him from the front.
“Hey Jeongguk! Why aren’t you moving? Wake Jimin up, come on, we have to get to wardrobe, the sign is gonna start earlier than expected. Hurry!”
The others had already began climbing out of the van, and now only Namjoon was left, standing beside the car and holding the door open. He was usually very calm and mellow, so seeing him this flustered prompted Jeongguk out of his reverie. “Sorry hyung, I’ll get him up. One sec,”
He turned gently in his seat until Jimin’s face was pressed into his chest. “Hyung, c’mon, we’re here. You gotta get up now.” he leaned down a little bit further to whisper into Jimin’s ear. “Baby, why don’t you get up now, and then you can regress when we get home, hmm? We’ll have so much fun, and you can sleep, hmm? I know you’re tired but you have to get up hyung.”
When there was no answer except a soft whine and Namjoon’s expression began to get more harried, Jeongguk tried to shake Jimin awake gently.
Jimin wriggled and squirmed, trying to get away from the firm hands while simultaneously burying himself further into Jeongguk. “Nooo, Daddy don’t wanna. Hea’ hurts Daddy an’ I’m cold. Wan’ sleep pleas’ Daddy.” was Jimin’s soft muffled complain against his chest, and Jeongguk would have thanked God that Namjoon was too far away to hear if he hadn’t been so shocked.
Fuck. Jimin had slipped. Not really surprising, in fact he should have expected it, but he definitely hadn’t. Fuck. He had to get Namjoon away, or at least get out of the car and into a private area where he could coax Jimin out of headspace. He really didn’t want to force Jimin to snap out of Little space, but the fan sign would start soon, and they would be forced to attend. Along with the fact that Jimin probably had a fever, judging from his complains about a headache and feeling cold, they were in a massive cluster fuck.
He was worried to death about Jimin and how he would handle the fan sign in his current state. Sick and in Little Space, was a truly lethal combo. But he couldn’t freak out completely over his boyfriend right now and do something crazy like skip the sign, he had think about the good of the band as well as Jimin’s. He had to be calm.
“Ok, baby you have a fever I think, hang on,” He looked around frantically for any fans, before thinking fuck it, and slipped his arms under Jimin’s thighs and picked him up, holding him flush against his chest. Jimin was warm to the touch, which meant his fever wasn’t terrible yet, but Jeongguk had no doubt it would spike soon.
When Jimin got sick, he got really sick. That only added to his worries however, as he climbed across the rows of seats with Jimin cradled against him, being careful to try and not jostle him too much and worsen his headache, a task that was easier said than done.
“What are you doing?” Namjoon looks absolutely bewildered. Well fuck. Jeongguk forgot he was there. “He’s sick, Joon hyung. Has a fever.” Namjoon’s expression distorted into a mask of concern.
“Wait, really? Fuck, this is all that’s needed to fuck this up more. Ok, Guk, you do what you have to and I’ll buy you time; pump Jimin full of meds if you need to, just please get him to the sign in time. I’m getting you half an hour, and you better thank god your makeup is done, and get to that fucking sign as soon as you fix him up. Get better soon, Jimin, like really soon.”
He hurried off, and Jeongguk might have been annoyed at his wording if he hadn’t known what kind of pressure Namjoon was under. Jimin whined in his arms, cuddling deeper into his chest. “Daddy, ca’ we go to bed an’ cuddle? M’tired an’ my hea’ hurts. Please?”
Jeongguk’s heart almost broke at the words. He’d like nothing better than to go home with Jimin and tuck them both into bed together, but they were a fucking world famous band with fans that were there to meet them and they couldn’t wriggle out of it even if they wanted to. Not that he wanted to, he loved their fans to death and so did Jimin, but there were times when he wished he could skip an event or two, and this was one of those times.
“No baby, I’d love to cuddle with you, but I’m sorry we can’t. We have to do something right now, it’s important.”
“Can’t you do it, Daddy, please? I’m real’ dizzy, an’ I wanna sleep. Please?”
An innocent question, asked into the folds of Jeongguk’s jacket. Jeongguk tried not to sigh worriedly as he walked across the parking lot, grateful that it was at the back of the building. “No baby, I’m so sorry, this is really really important. I know you’re feeling sick, but we have to do this okay?”
Jimin whimpered a soft ‘Okay, Daddy” that tugged at Jeongguk’s heartstrings as he slipped in through the metal door marked ‘Back Entrance”. He hiked Jimin up farther into his arms, carrying him through the maze of hallways until they reached the dressing room that was specifically set up for Jimin.
They each had their own rooms, for hair and makeup and outfit changes, fully equipped with bottles of water and small snacks. There was a small leather couch in a corner of the room that he beelined towards immediately, setting Jimin down on it carefully before sitting down himself.
The moment he was seated, Jimin crawled into his lap and curled into a shivering ball, burrowing into his arms for warmth to soothe his freezing body.
Jeongguk hugged him closer, rubbing a hand in circles over his back. Now he would have to coax Jimin out of Little Space, carefully so as not to shock him, and feed him medicine, all in the span of 20 minutes. He was completely fine with taking care of his boyfriend, but he just didn’t want to jerk him out of head space when he’d finally fallen into it after months. But it had to be done, so Jeongguk sat up until his back was pressed straight onto the back of the couch and pulled Jimin up into an upright position.
“Baby,” he started softly, running his fingers through Jimin’s hair in the way that he liked, “I hate to do this sweetheart, but you have to come out of Little Space now, okay?”
“No.” was the muffled reply into his sternum and Jeongguk sighed.
“I’m so sorry, baby, but it’s important, you have to.”
A betrayed look flashed across Jimin’s face right away, and his eyes quickly filled with tears. “Why?” he demanded, voice thick and rough, probably from his fever. “I don’ wanna Daddy, I’m tired and cold and can we please cuddle? Minnie was a good boy, he worked all day, and he wasn’ little for ages and ages. Please Daddy can I be little today? M’head hurts and I’ll be a good boy, Daddy! Please?”
He sounded almost frantic and Jeongguk felt terrible, but a Little Jimin would not be very widely accepted with their fans. He had to do this, and he had to calm Jimin down.
“Jimin,” he made his voice sterner. “Listen to Daddy, are you listening?”
Jimin nodded shakily, eyes glossy. “You are such a good boy for me baby, the best boy. So can you be a good boy for me now and come out of headspace? Do it for Daddy baby, and I promise you can be Little again when we get home tonight. I’ll give you a hot bath, and then we can watch a movie together, or just cuddle since you’re sick today baby. But you have to come out of headspace baby, it’s so important right now. For Daddy, hmm?”
Jimin sniffled. “I’m a good boy?”
“The best boy.”
“And I can be Little when we go home?”
“You can be little all day tomorrow baby, I’ll get Namjoon hyung to ask for a day off for us. Now will you slip back out? Such a good boy for me, slip out baby.”
Jimin nodded softly and closed his eyes, sucking in a deep breath. Jeongguk almost closed his own eyes in sympathy, he knew how hard it was for Jimin to force himself out of headspace.
A few seconds passed before Jimin opened his eyes again, and when he did he looked visibly shaken. A few more seconds went by until the hazy look was gone from his eyes, and all that remained was fever glaze. He groaned and pressed a sweaty forehead to Jeongguk’s chest. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I shouldn’t have slipped. That wasn’t fair to you Guk, I was just really tired and stressed out and just felt really sick. I’m sorry.”
“No, hyung don’t be sorry, it’s not your fault. I’m your boyfriend, I love you and I want to take care of you. Baby, I—what are you doing?” Because Jimin had suddenly shot out of his lap and jumped to his feet, hands pressed to his ears and legs trembling crazily under him him.
“Fuck, dizzy,” was all he said, before he almost fell backwards, saved only by Jeongguk’s arms catching him. “Jimin, what was that? You could have fallen!”
“I was gonna slip again,” Jimin whispered tiredly, “when you called me baby. I almost fell back into headspace, so I had to shock myself out. Don’t be mad.”
Jeongguk’s heart cracked in his chest. “I’m not mad hyung, just worried about you. And I shouldn’t have called you that yet, I know you’re not stable in your headspace. But you have to be strong hyung, and then we can go home, and you can slip back, okay?”
“Okay, I-“
“Jeongguk! Jimin! Where the fuck are you guys?” Taehyung’s voice rang out from behind the door. “Hurry up we’re on in 10. The fans are waiting, and Joon hyung is going crazy. Hurry the fuck up please.” And with that he was gone, footsteps echoing as he went down the hallway, probably to yell at someone else.
Jeongguk looked down at Jimin who was still on his lap. “Do you think you can get up now? Without falling, I mean. I still have to get you the fever meds, or do you feel better now?”
“No, I still feel like crap. My head fucking feels like it’s going to explode and I’m 90% sure I might throw up when we get home. But I’m used to it. The meds will help though, do you mind getting them for me?”
Jimin’s dry statement didn’t make Jeongguk worry any less, but he nodded and stood up, setting Jimin down on the couch. “Sure, hyung. One sec,”
He hurried over to the medicine cabinet that was present in every single dressing room in case of emergencies, and rummaged around in it, pulling out some aspirin and painkillers. He hooked up a small bottle of water on his way back to Jimin and cracked it open, offering it to him along with the medicine. Jimin took it gratefully and placed the tablets on his tongue, washing them down with a few swallows of the water.
“Thanks. Can you, um.. pull me up please? My legs feel like jelly.”
Jeongguk winced and held out a hand to help him to his feet. “That’s not good. And I can’t help you into the sign, either. Should I tell one of the staff or something?”
“Thanks for worrying but I’ll be fine, Jeonggukie. I’ve danced with worse, you know? The sickness doesn’t doesn’t really bother me, it’s the headspace. I can’t fucking wait to slip tonight, I’m so tired. If that’s okay with you?” His head suddenly whipped up, as if he wasn’t sure that Jeongguk, his boyfriend, would want him to regress.
Jeongguk chuckled. “Of course it’s okay with me, in fact I want you to slip hyung, I said so! You know I love taking care of you, and as soon as this is over we’re going home, you’re slipping and then we’re having a nice hot bath and cuddling. Sound good?”
“Sounds amazing, but please stop, if you keep talking about it I feel like I’m going to slip right now.”
“Gotcha hyung. Now, I think we should head out before Joon hyung has an aneurysm. Can you walk?”
Jimin grimaced. “I’m really dizzy, but I can. Let’s go.” He struggled up from the couch, and stood still for a second, waiting for his head to stop spinning before he started walking again, albeit unsteadily.
Jeongguk resisted the urge to scoop him up and carry him the rest of the way. He’d already risked it enough by carrying him in from the car. As they walked down the hallway together, Jeongguk an acceptable few feet behind Jimin, a shout suddenly came from the front.
“You guys finally ready? Thank God, we’re on in 2 minutes and Namjoon looks like he’s going to wear a hole in the carpet.” It was Hoseok, voice cheery and tone joking before it delved down into a more serious note. “Jimin how are you feeling, Joon said you had a fever?”
“I’m fine Hobi hyung, just a headache and a fever but I got some aspirin, so I’ll be fine until we get home. Do we go in this way?”
“Glad to hear you’re feeing better, Jiminie, and yeah. You guys ready?”
“Yeah, let’s go.” Jimin answered, waiting his turn to step into the elevator.
Hoseok pressed the button and they began to climb floors.
As they reached the second last floor to the top where the sign was being held, Jeongguk moved to the side a little, behind Jimin, and dropped a kiss onto the top of his head. “Ready, hyung?”
Jimin smiled and reached an arm around himself to pat Jeongguk’s thigh as a ‘ding’ sounded and the doors slid open.
“I’m ready. Let’s do this.”