Chapter Text
One, two, three.
Forty-five, forty-six, forty-seven. Stop.
There were exactly forty-seven steps from his new bedroom to his kitchen. Jimin crunched his nose, his nostrils filling with the scent of cleaning supplies. He released his breath and, firmly holding his stick, he started walking again.
One, two, three.
Six, seven, eight.
His stick hit against a hard object.
Stop.
Jimin slowly placed his hands on it and slid them over the surface. It was cold and clean, almost empty. Taehyung must have not started unpacking , Jimin assumed. He smiled and lifted his arms, searching for a glass on one of the shelves. After some minutes of searching, the sound of the door opening caught his attention.
“Jimin? I’m home.” Taehyung’s low voice appeared on the scene.
“In the kitchen!” He could hear his best friend’s steps closer and closer until his scent filled the entire room. It was soothing, it has always been. Maybe that’s why Jimin has trusted him since the very first time.
“Can you give me a glass? I cannot find one.” Jimin’s voice was soft, an instinctive routine.
However, he knew for sure Taehyung was smiling. His scent was fresh and sweet, like strawberries and mint. It could be the best or worst combination but, of course, it fit the taller so well in a really unique way.
Jimin and Taehyung had met in school and since the very first moment they connected. It was like when you talk to someone and you have the sense that you know them since the very beginning? Jimin would always describe it like that, as if meeting Taehyung wouldn’t have been discovering something new. Instead, he found something he craved for a long time. A home.
Since the beginning of his life, all that Jimin has seen was nothing. He had been born with, or better said, without sight. He has been blind his entire life and it was okay . But people will always be horrified with that. Jimin has always known, it was the shift in everyone's scent when he would enter a room: the unmistakable spike laced with pity. No matter what strange combination, whether it was a sweet or a strong one, they would all have the same reaction. And it drove Jimin crazy, the way people were sad for him where he wasn’t even sad for himself.
That’s why he was surprised when his new classmate’s scent in 4th grade was filled with excitement when the teacher asked him to introduce himself.
“Hi! I’m Taehyung, nice to meet you!” His voice was low but childish and joyful. His scent was sweet and fresh, strong but soft. It was contradictory yet at the same time, complementary. It caught Jimin’s attention immediately. So, he smiled, like his mom always taught him to, and stretched his arm, trying to guess where the boy was.
“Nice to meet you! I’m Jimin,” he answered softly, and a laugh filled their conversation. Then, a warm hand caught his wrist and moved his arm in 90 degrees.
“I’m here! Don’t worry, the teacher told us that you cannot see. It’s okay, I can be your eyes,” he commented innocently and Jimin puffed.
“I don’t want some eyes.”
“Then I can be your stick, just hold my hand and I’ll start kicking people.” Taehyung laughed and it made Jimin smile, for the first time in his entire life, in a sincere way.
From that moment, Kim Taehyung became Park Jimin’s stick.
And, with time, Park Jimin’s arms, saviour, best friend and soulmate. They became inseparable, each other’s safe place, all along school and high school. Tae would always be there for Jimin, and not due to his disability, but because he genuinely enjoyed the smaller’s presence. And it made Jimin safe from the very first moment.
When they were fifteen, both were too afraid of their presentation. Jimin was sure he was going to be an omega; his physical complexion was tiny and delicate, and his condition didn’t help in any form to change it. So, no one was surprised when he presented as it. And it made him happy, because Jimin was not ashamed to be an omega. Instead, he really wanted to be one. But he also expected Taehyung to be an alpha and knowing the world they had to live in; their friendship might be ruined.
So, for the first time in his life, Jimin was afraid.
Because he had something to lose. And he was not sure he could stand losing his platonic soulmate.
But, despite everyone’s expectation, Taehyung was presented as an omega. Jimin knew, the first moment he put his feet on the high school ground that Monday after his best friend’s presentation, that the taller one was an omega. It was the way his scent was still his, but a lot sweeter. Like a summer night, characteristically warm but eased with a cold breeze, the type that soothe your body in the middle of the heat. And sweet, so so sweet but not enough to make him feel sick, leaving Jimin in a cloud of happiness and homeliness that only one person could provide it.
Taehyung.
“Min, there’s something I need to tell you…”
“You’re an omega,” the smaller one said steadily. He didn’t need his friend to confirm it to be sure. “Oh my god Tae you’re an omega! I am not going to lose you; we can still be friends and-”
“You were never going to lose me Park Jimin!” Taehyung exclaimed, punching his best friend’s shoulder. “Yeah, I’m an omega and I’m super happy with it but even if I was an alpha or a beta, you were not going to lose me, you dumbass. I am going to be your stick forever,” he complained, and Jimin was sure there was a pout on his lips. The smaller gulped, trying to contain the emotion in his throat and ran into Taehyung’s arms, rubbing his nose against his neck softly. The taller reciprocated the hug, placing his arms around Jimin’s waist. He took a deep breath and his eyes filled with tears when he heard the next words his best friend said.
“You’re not only my stick, Tae. You're my eyes.”
.
“Are you excited for university?” Taehyung’s voice took Jimin out of his mind. They were on their couch watching some random sitcom on their TV, his best friend’s nose on Jimin’s scent gland, rubbing it like he always did when they were cuddling.
“Not really, I’d rather have even more holidays. I miss Taiwan.” Jimin pouted.
“Oh man, I miss Taiwan a lot. We should have stayed one more week, I’m sure that I could have gotten that alpha within one more week.” A pout was formed in Taehyung’s lips.
One of the million things Taehyung and Jimin had in common was their love for travelling. When they were fourteen, they made a promise to each other to travel all around the world together; and even though it had been complicated and they did not travel that much yet, they’d been able to manage a little vacation to that island.
And of course, during their trip, they had not only enjoyed the place itself but also the people there. Taehyung had met a handsome alpha - apparently, from what Jimin was told - and they’d flirted the entire trip, making Jimin feel nauseous due to the stranger’s scent.
“He smelled horrible.” Jimin mumbled. It was true that that alpha’s scent was just so weird. It was too strong, and it made him feel sick in the worst way possible.
“It was not that bad, maybe a little too strong. But Min, believe me, he was so handsome and so strong oh my god I wanna go back and ask him to eat me out.”
“I’m actually glad you didn’t fuck with him, imagine if he scented you.” Jimin placed his hands on his own head, exaggerating. “My poor best friend smelling like that horrible thing! I would have left you there for sure.”
“Hey!” Taehyung punched the other’s arm, making the smaller exclaim an ouch . “You know, I would have never let him scent me. He was not THAT handsome.” Jimin laughed. “However, as much as I would’ve loved being in Taiwan for one more week, we had to come back to uni, baby. I hope this year we can meet some new hot alphas.”
“I hope this year they actually smell nice or I’m going to puke in the middle of class.”
“Again,” his best friend remarked.
“Again.”
.
“His breathing is erratic.”
“WHERE IS THE FUCKING AMBULANCE?”
“Jungkook it’s me Hoseok. Jungkook, please stay with me. Jungkook, please don’t leave.”
“JUNGKOOK!”
“PLEASE BREATHE.”
“Mom, why can’t I feel my legs?”
“MOM!” Jungkook opened his eyes and immediately lifted his body, trying to adapt his sight to the darkness. He swallowed, a stabbing pain running over his throat. It was a nightmare; it was all in my head. He repeated to himself, trying to calm his breathing. But when he tried to touch his legs, to punch them -like every single night since that day- he remembered it was not a nightmare.
It was a memory.
“Hey.” Hoseok’s voice filled the entire room, covering Jungkook’s rapid breaths. “I heard you, are you okay?” His voice was sleepy, but his eyes were fully opened, aware of every single move the younger alpha could do. And Jungkook hated it, he hated the way people looked at him: terrified, like if Jungkook were a precious fragile object in the edge of an abyss, always ready to fall and break into a million pieces.
As if he wasn’t already broken.
“Hey. Yeah, I’m okay. Just had a nightmare,” the dark-haired boy said softly.
“You sure? We can talk about it if you need to. I don’t even feel tired.”
“Absolutely. Just go to sleep, Hobi. Tomorrow is my first day and I’m just nervous. I’m doing okay. Don’t worry about it.”
“Mhm.” Hoseok mumbled, doubtful. He was not believing a single thing Jungkook was saying. But, if he had learned one thing that year, it was that the person who was in front of him was far from the Jungkookie he used to know. The boy who was in love with Spirited Away and who would always hug him and scent him whenever he had the chance disappeared in the accident and now all that remained was a shell of someone he once used to know. And there was nothing that could be done about it. Hoseok felt as if he had lost someone that had never left, he craved for a friend that was in front of him, but far from reach. “Okay, I’ll go to sleep. Do you want me to wake you up tomorrow?” he asked, concern hitting against his throat, hindered his speech. Jungkook nodded. “Goodnight then, Jungkookie.”
“Goodnight Hobi.”
.
Jungkook could even remember how it felt to walk down there. How it was running through those halls to get on time to his classes, how people would look at him, admiring him for his strong complexion and fresh scent. But now, all that Jungkook could capture were sad glances and half-told whispers.
“Is he Jeon Jungkook? He was so manly last year…”
“Poor boy he must be feeling horrible.”
“I don’t think my omega sees him as the perfect alpha after what happened.”
“I heard he was high while driving…”
“Bullshit. Fucking bullshit,” the alpha whispered, trying to roll his wheelchair as fast as possible in an attempt to get to his class sooner so he couldn’t hear any other rumour about his condition. He just wanted to be invisible, or to entirely disappear.
He arrived at his class almost ten minutes before it had to start, wishing there wasn’t anybody inside yet. But sadly, his wish was not granted and there were already a bunch of people, who immediately turned their heads to him. He avoided his classmate’s eyes and intended to roll himself to the adapted places of the class. But when he was about to do it, his wheelchair was stopped by some random person, trying to take control of it.
“Hey, let me help you, man.” It was a low voice of a male, and when Jungkook looked at him, the stranger was not even looking at him. Instead, his eyes were on some omegas who were in front of the alpha. His scent was too strong, irritating Jungkook even more.
“I don’t need your help.”
“Oh c’mon, you must be tired, let me take you.” He didn’t even wait for an answer and began to move Jungkook’s wheelchair under the gaze of his companions praising him and sweetening their scents. It drove him mad, how could that random prick think that he was some helpless puppet¿
“Get your fucking hands off me!” He growled, making the alpha step back a little bit. The crowd, now bigger than before, turned again to Jungkook and the boy.
And Jungkook just couldn’t stand it more for that day.
So, when the stranger tried to pull his chair again, he escaped, rolling with all the strength in his well-trained arms to the exit of the class. And then across the hall, to the exit of his faculty. He needed to get far from there so he ran away from the crowd, the rumours, the scents, the people, the fake emotions. He scooted himself away from everything and everyone.
Even from himself, too.
.
“I don’t need your help.”
Those were the first words Jimin heard when he entered the classroom holding Taehyung’s hand. He could hear different conversations about the same topic, and he was highly confused about not knowing what the hell was happening in front of him.
“What is happening?” he whispered against Tae’s body and the taller moved his head, approaching Jimin’s ear.
“Jeon Jungkook is back.” It was almost inaudible, and Jimin guessed that it may have been a really sensitive topic, so he furrowed his eyebrows to let his friend know he was as lost as before. The other omega tilted his head, pushing softly his friend to the door’s frame. “I’ll explain in a few minutes, let’s just stay here for a while, okay Min?”
“Okay.”
The entire class was filled with numerous scents and voices and Jimin was highly focused on trying to understand what was going on. He could smell some omega’s especially sweet scent, which was making him even more confused when it was compared to other scents filled with fear. He tried to search the person who was creating all the fuss between the large audience.
“Get your fucking hands off me!”
Him .
Just by his voice Jimin knew that Jeon Jungkook boy was an alpha. He sounded aggressive and angry. It made him even more curious, to know why he was so mad. He tried to keep up with the conversation when a sound of a wheelchair appeared too close to him. And then a scent filled his nostrils so much that the omega almost felt intoxicated.
It was a mix of lavender and wood. He smelled fresh, so natural for an alpha. He smelled like the earliest beginning, when everything is waking up from the sleepy winter. But it was also bitter, so bitter that it felt like spring was sick, and instead of blooming trees they were dying again. It was an intoxicated scent, a remnant of a beautiful one that once was so sweet; but now it was so faded, and only bitterness and fear had remained.
Jimin could smell so much fear that he felt scared too.
But that scent, it went away as fast as it had appeared. It left behind a crowd filled with expectations, whispers, and a Jimin very affected for a person he didn’t even know anything about.
Just how he felt.
“His name is Jeon Jungkook and he’s a year younger than us. He is friends with Hoseok, that hottie alpha that studies Veterinary. Jungkook had a car accident in June and he had to drop the entire course. This was his first day back, I suppose. And Changwoo tried to use him to play the hero so…” Taehyung explained to Jimin once they were able to sit after the whole scandal faded. The smaller nodded, paying attention to his best friend.
He knew Hoseok, it was not the first time Taehyung talked about him and how hot he was. But he had no clue about that Jeon boy. The omega hadn’t heard his name before today’s incident and he sure didn’t know about his car accident. Jimin was not really interested in other people’s drama, it was an invasion of their privacy and he knew too well what it was like to feel pitied by people who didn’t even give a single fuck about you. Every person has their demons, and it’s their own problem to fight with them.
However, he could not repress the concern he felt in the pit of his stomach since the boy passed by him. Jimin could still feel it on his nostrils, the combination of smells and emotions on his scent, how they were so strong even if they only stayed in the air for a few seconds. The omega had to remind himself that it was not his business, that it was not his life and, no matter how much he felt like he understood how Jungkook was feeling, Jimin didn’t know him at all.
Although, he did reach for Taehyung’s arm and whispered, more to himself than to his best friend, “do you think he’s okay right now?”
“I don’t know, Min. Let’s think he is, okay? He sure is with Hoseok right now. Don’t worry about it.” Taehyung reassured his friend and they tried to pay attention to their class, both hoping the taller was right.
.
Jungkook kept rolling and rolling for hours. His hands were already hurt and wounded, but his heart was beating fast, pumping the anger along his body without a single moment of rest. He was not sure where he was going, nor what he was doing at all. He just wanted to run, to escape from that reality fate had imprisoned him in that horrible night. Jungkook just wanted to be alright.
Because right now, the alpha was far from being okay.
Whenever someone had an accident and it affected their physical condition, people always said that it would get better. “You only need to get used to your new normality.” “After all, it is not the end of the world.” “Think of it as a new beginning.”
For Jungkook it was all fucking bullshit.
How could someone come and lie to his face saying that “everything will be better”? How would they know it? Do they have a time machine so the boy could go back in time and change that night?
“No, they don’t, they are just fucking bullshit, trying to help me when I don’t need it .” Jungkook thought out loud, his hands aching even more while he kept moving further and further.
But then, that red stop signal appeared in front of his eyes.
And Jungkook just felt like he was getting hit by a car all over again.
He abruptly slowed down the wheelchair, stopping in front of the road where his nightmare began. It was an intersection, and, on the corner, there were some flowers already withered, as if they were left a long time ago.
Jungkook’s eyes wandered around the scene. He was almost able to see his car and himself on that road.
“Hobi I just left you at home, why are you calling me?”
“Yeeees, I’ll pick you up tomorrow. Yeees, we can go to your café after.”
“I’ll be home in five minutes why don’t you…”
His voice was playing in his mind over and over again, attacking him. His words felt like real bullets that were attempting to damage his body even more and Jungkook simply felt like he was not able to bear it any longer. He started screaming, in the middle of the deserted street, both of his hands on his head, squeezing it, as if they could smash it. He just wanted the memories to stop, he didn’t want to hear it again or to remember how terrifying it had been, not only the confusing noise but also the silence right after the crash. He didn’t want to remember how the emptiness invaded his ears, the shocking calm before the real storm.
Jungkook didn’t want to remember how his life had been destroyed in the blink of an eye, leaving him with an irreversible condition he was not sure he could stand the rest of his life.
He needed to walk, to run, to play basketball and take a lot of pictures of his best friends and him in incredible places again. Jungkook wanted to be the alpha he always dreamt of being, the strong and protective person he was taught to be. But not only that, the brunet just wished to be Jungkookie again, his hyungs’ favourite kid, the boy he loved to be, and not this angry-with-the-world version he had become and that was slowly drowning him in a sea of sadness and desperation.
The alpha wanted to cry, to ask to the sky the reason he had to suffer that, to demand an explanation of why he had to be the one to lose when he was not even guilty. He wished he could go to his hyungs and asked them to protect him, to hold him, to save him, but whenever he tried, his body froze, and it felt as if a wall was built between them. So, at the end of every day, Jungkook hated himself more and more, the person he was now: lost, scared, cold and weak. Too weak.
Jungkook knew between the yells and the tears rolling wildly down his face that he was not in the right state of mind, but the alpha needed to stop his mind, the nightmare he felt he was living in.
And, in the chaos created by his mind, Jungkook lifted himself with both arms and tried to stand up, not even thinking about the consequences before leaving his only support.
Next thing he felt was the cold pavement against his face and abdomen.
.
As much as Jimin loved -and needed- people by his side, he enjoyed a lot being alone, too. So, on Mondays, while Taehyung was in his photography club, Jimin spent his time walking around the park and the streets near it, with his second favourite stick (Taehyung would always be the first) in his hand. It was relaxing, especially now that he had memorized the zone and he didn’t need to be too focused on the fact of walking, letting himself just wander around the place.
As usual, the spot was quiet, and the omega could only hear cars passing by randomly and some bird singing alone. It was still a winter day, though it was not as cold as usual, a proof of the spring coming soon. Jimin was relaxed, his mind filled with the sense of the slight cold against his hands and the contrast with the sun warming his face.
But, as much as he wanted to just let himself go, there was this slight pain in the pit of his stomach that simply can’t go away. The omega knew the exact reason: that Jeon boy. It had been hours since the incident and the brief encounter but the stranger’s scent, every single emotion behind it, was unforgettable to Jimin. And he couldn’t help but worry, even if he was not sure what he should be worried about.
His thoughts were interrupted when the sound of someone crying filled the quiet place.
Jimin stopped dead, trying to figure out where it was coming from. He furrowed his eyebrows and gripped his stick, as if that could help him to sharpen his senses. The omega kept that position for minutes, until he was sure where to go. Then, slowly but steady, walked closer to the origin of the crying. It was when he was a few metres apart when his nostrils were filled again with that specific scent that was still lingering on the back of his mind.
It was exactly the same as some hours ago, maybe even bitter, but it made Jimin feel as if it was the first time. He felt again scared, angry, and this time, sad. He was sad for something he couldn’t comprehend and if trees could cry, the omega was sure they would smell like that.
Jimin came closer to what he believed was Jungkook, trying to guess where the alpha was. He advanced carefully until his stick touched something tender, and a growl echoed.
“Hey, can’t you look where you’re going?” Jungkook groaned. He was still on the ground, his hands scrapped because of the fall and the following attempt of getting back to his chair. He couldn’t remember clearly the last few minutes, only his mind full of intrusive thoughts and the uncomfortable feeling of the tears spilled on his wet cheeks. The alpha realized he had his eyes closed when he heard a laugh.
“Can’t you move from the ground?” Jimin answered laughing. The omega couldn’t care less about the comment, first because he was sure Jungkook didn’t mean it at all and second because it was funny, after all. He heard another growl, this time an angrier one until Jungkook caught his breath loudly, and then Jimin knew.
That Jungkook just realized he was blind.
“Oh my god, I’m so sorry I didn’t mean to- ” Jungkook started to apologize, his voice sore and worried, not even caring how he was on the ground or how Jimin stick was still on his belly.
“Now you have ruined all the fun, I’m not gonna take back my words.” Jimin interrupted him with his playful tone. The alpha was speechless and slightly hurt, how he dared to talk him like that?
“I don’t understand where you see the fucking funny part in this.” He reproached coldly. The omega couldn’t help but smile, tilting his head and moving away his stick from Jungkook’s body. Then he bends down carefully.
“Do you want me to cry then?” Jimin said serenely. “It may seem strange, but can I touch you? I just want to know where you exactly are to see if I can help you myself or if I should call someone.”
“I don’t need your help.” Jungkook answered, his tone even more sharply. He was lying, he really needed help, but it seemed like those words could not leave his mouth, lingering on the tip of his tongue and easily replaced with cold and stupid answers. He regretted the moment he said that, scared of being left alone. He couldn’t get back to his wheelchair alone and it was starting to get darker, and if that stranger left, the alpha was not sure what he would do.
Jimin stopped his traces after Jungkook's last sentence. It was exactly the words the omega had heard some hours ago. And even though they were directed to a different person in a totally different situation, they held the same anger and pride as back then. Jimin thought of leaving, of showing the boy what would happen if he didn’t get help, of being loyal to his own words about not caring of what it doesn’t concern him. But the omega didn’t even need to take a deep breath to smell entirely the alpha’s scent, to sense again every single emotion portrayed in it.
To know how scared the boy in front of him was.
So, the older tilted his head and, trying not to show his real emotions, smirked.
“Did I really ask you?”
Jimin placed his hands on the road and moved carefully until he touched Jungkook’s arm. The alpha didn’t make a single sound or moved a little bit, so the omega kept trying to analyse the situation. They stayed like that for some minutes, Jimin trying to feel and understand everything and Jungkook staring at him quietly, confused but somehow calm.
“Okay, I don’t think I can really help you; you know, I don’t really calculate well distances.” He said with his characteristic playful tone, but Jungkook didn’t laugh. Jimin furrowed his eyebrows hoping to make the alpha react in any way, but after realizing it was an impossible mission, he continued. “I am going to call my best friend, okay? He would help you to get back in your chair and then-.”
“I said I don’t need your help.” Jungkook interrupted him.
“And I said if I asked you, which I didn't, so I don’t know why we should have this conversation again. Now shut up.”
Jimin took his phone out of his pocket and pressed the lock button, ordering the assistant to call Taehyung.
.
It took at least ten minutes to Taehyung to get Jimin’s location, anxiousness spread along his body since he wasn’t sure of what was happening, and the brief explanation of his friend playing over and over in his head was confusing him even more.
But, out of every possible scenario in his head, Taehyung was surely not expecting Jeon Jungkook laying on the floor holding a grudge look at Jimin, who was standing next to him, playing with his stick.
“Oh my god Jungkook! Are you okay?” The omega immediately placed his arms around Jungkook’s body, lifting him in order to help him get back to his wheelchair. Jungkook nodded, he felt useless and wanted to fight back, to shout to them and tell them that he didn’t help; but the alpha was exhausted, so he mumbled a thanks against Taehyung’s shoulder.
Once back in his wheelchair, Jungkook took a deep breath. He was not sure of what he was thinking the moment he tried to stand up, but only being in that damn chair was making him nauseous. He was about to get lost in his thoughts again when a soft voice appeared in the conversation.
“Thank you so much Tae, I know you love your photography club.” Jimin walked towards him, so firmly that Jungkook thought for a moment the boy could actually see the other omega. This one kissed his best friend’s cheek and mumbled a short answer, something about his club already finishing and how he didn’t care at all, but Jungkook couldn’t properly hear it, his gaze still on Jimin’s cheek where Taehyung had kissed him.
It was uncomfortable, the angsty pain in the pit of his stomach, not because they had done that action but because it reminded him so much of Hoseok. Of how Jungkook would always kiss him and his hyungs on the cheek to say thank you for something, how they would always make fun of it but still expecting a next time. How Jungkook was their hyung’s baby and how much he had said he hated it, but truth be told, it was the best part of his life.
And the alpha had to lose that thing too in that damn accident.
“Hey Jungkook, do you want me to drop you at home? My car is there.” Taehyung said, pointing at a black car parked. Jeon denied, the thought of entering an unknown car spread a panic wave along his body.
“I am okay, I don’t need any more help, sorry for the inconveniences caused.” He answered, forcing a smile on his face.
“It was really nothing, my club had already ended, and we have to drive back home.” A brief silence appeared. “At least, let me make sure you stay safe before we leave. Are you calling Hoseok?”
Jungkook knew for sure he should, but would he? Would he admit to his friend what had happened without feeling like he was fucking up more and more his life?
“My phone ran out of battery; can you call him for me?” He lied, an unsure tone in his voice. “I can give you his number.”
The omega blinked without saying a word and Jungkook could almost observe him blush. “Yeah, sure, I can call him. It’s no big deal.” Taehyung laughed nervously. “Just tell me.”
Jungkook nodded, the numbers of Hoseok’s phone slipped out of his tongue almost like a song he had learned a long time ago. The alpha caught his breath, his heart bumping hardly on his chest because of the fact that his friend will definitely come and see him like this: his hands and arms scraped, his eyes puffy and body guarded by two men as if he were a fragile object that mustn’t be left alone.
What a fucking joke his life was .
Since he was young, Jungkook knew he was going to be an alpha. It was the way everybody looked at him: as if he were a powerful, rebellious person. His complexion had always been strong, and his voice was steady. He was eager from a very young age to be the strong alpha everybody expected him to be.
And so it happened a little bit after his 16th birthday.
After his presentation, Jungkook changed physically and mentally. His shoulders become broader, his waist thinner and his scent sharpened, the smell of wood now covering the characteristic detail of lavender. His voice was lower, and his chest was always filled with the pride of his rank. He was the definition of happiness.
His mom, with the same rank, had shown him since the first day what it meant to be an alpha. How it was not only about dominance, but also the protectiveness. How the instinct pushed you to the limit of defending what you think is right, how he must protect physically and emotionally his surrenders, no matter if they were alpha, omega or beta. Jungkook listened to every word of advice his mother said, promising to himself that he will always be the perfect alpha, since he was lucky enough to get it.
But right now, with the two omegas by his side sharing worried gazes and gestures, instead of him protecting them; the alpha felt like he was failing at that too.
Jungkook wondered if there was still a thing he could do right after all.
.
“Are we going to talk about what happened to you today?” Hoseok’s voice resonated in the entire car.
Jungkook sighed.
“Nothing happened to me today.”
Hoseok held his breath, his hands gripping the steering wheel so hard until his knuckles were fully white. It had been a tiring day for him since the very first moment he stepped into the university — the rumors of Jeon Jungkook back, his encounter with Changwoo and the runaway were the main topics in the faculty and when the alpha found out, Jungkook was already totally gone. He tried calling once, twice, three times and so many more that he lost the count. Hoseok was terrified, not knowing what to do or where to look.
Until he received Taehyung’s call.
When he picked up the phone, Hoseok was sure not expecting to hear the voice of the cute omega who had been checking up on him for more than a year. He was caught in a surprise, and if it weren’t for the next three words he said, the alpha would have hung up on him, saying that he was not in the right moment for a chit-chat.
“Jungkook is here .”
Every Hoseok’s muscle froze, his mouth instinctively demanding the location. Taehyung answered nervously, and it only took one second for the alpha to realize where it was, panic spreading along his body.
“You were there.” The sentence floated in the ambient, as if it had been a question more than a fact.
“I don’t know what you are talking about.” Jungkook uttered with an emotionless voice.
The older sighed, and he felt the need to close his eyes and rub his temples.
“Can you cut the bullshit for five minutes?” Hoseok tried hard not to raise his voice, but the exhaustion in his body took control. Jungkook looked at him hurt, clearly not expecting that reaction. “Kook, I am not stupid, and you aren’t either. We both knew what place it was, and it is in your hand to talk to me, the psychologist or whoever you wanna, about what happened today. You are not alone in this, okay?” He continued, trying to ease the uncomfortable silence.
Jungkook looked at his best friend. His face was thinner and pale, the bags under his eyes were more pronounced than usual and his characteristic smile was replaced with a straight line. The younger tried to avoid any intrusive thoughts, but no matter how much he tried to, he could clearly hear the little voice behind his ear, in the back of his mind, repeating over and over again that it was his fault. He tilted his head, and the words of help lingered on his tongue, like every time Hoseok offered it, but, as always, they never went outside.
“I said I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Hoseok didn’t answer, tightening more, if possible, his grip on the steering wheel. He was completely exhausted, and it didn’t matter how much he loved Jungkook, there was no way to help someone who didn’t want to be helped. He knew that his best friend had changed, but the older firmly believed that it was a matter of time that his Jungkookie would come back and light everyone’s life up again.
But in those emotionless words there was no trace of his lovely friend, and Hoseok was terrified of admitting that maybe his Jungkookie had truly disappeared at all.
.
“I still cannot believe it.” Taehyung said while walking across the main hall of their faculty.
“You have said that like a hundred times already, Tae.” Jimin answered laughing.
“I just cannot believe it! Hoseok asked me out!”
“He didn’t do that. He just wanted to thank you for helping his friend with a coffee.” Taehyung punched his best friend. “Auch! Why do you hurt me? I’m telling the truth.”
“I don’t want the truth, I want Hoseok to ask me out on a date.” Taehyung commented, pouting, like a kid asking for a cool toy in a store. “Also, you should be thankful I am crushing on someone who smells well.”
“His scent is so refreshing.” Jimin mumbled, remembering the alpha’s scent. The boy smelled so fresh, like the moment after a big storm finishes, when everything is still wet from the rain, but the sun is out and everything feels warm, a soft reminder that everything can go okay. “I would not mind about you dat-”
“Why did you help me yesterday?” A voice interrupted Jimin. He didn’t need more than a pair of seconds to recognize that melodious but angry voice and that beautiful yet intoxicated scent.
Jeon Jungkook.
Taehyung stopped their walk when he realized the alpha was in front of them, but it seemed like Jungkook didn’t even care about his presence at all, his eyes fixed on Jimin.
“Umm, Minnie, my class is about to start. We don’t have any common classes today, so what about we meet for lunch, yeah?” Taehyung said, trying to break the uncomfortable silence produced between the three of them. Jimin nodded and his best friend leaned in to kiss his cheek. “You’d better tell me what the hell is happening here afterwards.” He whispered subtly against his ear before leaving, saying goodbye to the alpha.
“Why did you help me yesterday?” Jungkook repeated. Jimin tilted his head, confused about what was happening and wondering what the correct thing was to say.
“Because you needed it.” Jimin answered as if he wasn’t a big deal. And in fact, it wasn’t for him; people needed help all the time, there was nothing good or bad, it was just help.
“I didn’t and I told you. But you still helped me.” The alpha pointed out. It didn’t seem like he was reproaching him something but instead Jungkook sounded incredulous.
“What was I supposed to do? To leave you there? You needed help and I gave it to you. Simple. Why does it seem so hard for you to understand?” Jimin asked with a sincere tone, a little tired. The omega curiosity was increasing more and more after every encounter with that boy and his strange way of analyzing things.
“I told you I didn’t need help.” Jungkook’s voice became colder.
“Oh really? What was your plan? To wait on the floor until you were able to get up on your own? Are you here to tell me that you were gaining strength to do it alone?” Jimin joked, a confident smirk on his lips. Jungkook hissed , why was that omega always trying to make a joke?
“Why are you like that?” The alpha growled. “It is not funny. I don’t see the joke here! I told you I didn’t need help and you still did it, not caring about if I wanted to be on the fucking floor or not.” He was clearly mad, and it only got worse after hearing Jimin’s laugh.
“What do you want me to tell you, Jungkook? That I’m sorry for not letting you there on your own? What were you expecting when you came here, to hear an apology?” The omega asked in an exasperated tone. Honestly, what was the point of Jungkook there? How he dared to turn Jimin’s sincere act into an evil move? The omega wanted to leave that boy alone, but nothing in his body responded to his wish, so he gripped his stick eagerly, trying to contain any type of emotion in that object.
“You… You act so full of yourself, as if you didn’t have any problem and your life was perfect; as if you were completely normal or worse, as if you were happy of not being it.” The alpha fought, some tears in the corner of his eyes. Jimin stepped back as if the words were real bullets directed towards him — but there was no way to dodge them.
“The fuck do you mean that I’m not completely normal? Honestly, have your parents shown you how to not overstep boundaries? Because you’re assuming a lot from me by just one fucking encounter.” Jimin was angry, angrier than he had ever been in a long time. All he did for that half stranger was to help him and worry about him and the only thing that he had received was a ton of bullshit.
“Are you not blind?”
“Yes Jungkook, I am. I was born without sight.” Jimin answered, for the first time in years, coldly. “And I’m not happy or sad about it, I just don’t care at all. I am not going to be defined by my condition or by the way people have been taught to live their lives. So sorry for not being a fucking prick like you are, angry with every being that orbits around. Goodbye.” He didn’t wait for a response, walking in the opposite direction and hoping that he could get in time to his class.
Jungkook stood there, arms resting in the wheelchair’s armrest and hands forming a fist.
There weren’t too many things that the two boys had in common, not more than some shared classes. But after that talk in the main hall of their faculty, they both found one thing that connected them stronger than anything.
Jimin and Jungkook hated each other’s gut.