VIII

He reached his house despite the crushing feelings of failure and despair that threatened to consume him. He didn't bother to unlock the door, simply kicking it open worked just as well anyway.

He set Jimin down on his bed and pulled the covers up around him to ensure that he was as comfortable as possible. Jimin's hair lay in gentle waves across the light blue pillowcase and his skin was way paler than Yoongi had ever wanted to see.

But somehow despite everything, like this it looked like he was only sleeping.

Yoongi sat on the edge of the bed and slowly ran his fingers through Jimin's hair. He supposed it was soothing for some people.

He lost himself in the repetitive motions and forgot the time as it slipped through his fingers like the sand of an eternally full hourglass. There was nothing that existed in that world but him and Jimin.

He stared somberly at the other and removed his hand from Jimin's blond hair.

"I'm sorry." He said again and felt himself become choked up again. Yoongi laid down on top of the blankets next to Jimin and wrapped his arms around him. Jimin couldn't be cold, Yoongi wouldn't let him. He had to warm Jimin up.

He laid there for a few moments, lost in thought. How would he tell Jimin's parents? What would he tell them?

He shifted slightly and froze immediately when he noticed something.

Yoongi moved his hand slightly and waited, he didn't dare to hope or hold his breath.

With a gasp, Yoongi pushed himself up and moved his hand underneath Jimin's nose. The temperature was changing and he could feel shallow puffs of air on his finger.

He was breathing.

He was alive. Jimin was alive.

Yoongi sat him up and swiftly drew Jimin into another tight embrace. He knew he was trembling but he didn't care. It wasn't important. Jimin was okay. There was nothing more important than the relief he felt in that moment.

His breaths were ragged and shallow as he cried into the fabric of Jimin's shirt and held onto Jimin's arms tightly.

"...Yoongi..?" A soft voice whispered from next to his ear. "Is- is that you..?"

Yoongi let go reluctantly and moved back so he could see Jimin's face.

Jimin's eyes were fluttering open and he shivered as he registered the slightly cool temperature of the room. Yoongi gasped once he realized and immediately pulled the blankets up to surround him.

"You're... You're ok," He breathed, more tears arriving as quickly as he could wipe them away, "Thank god. You're ok... You're ok."

Jimin gasped as Yoongi hugged him again and held him tight enough that there was no way he could slip out of Yoongi's grasp.

"I'm sorry."

"Hey," Jimin slipped an arm free of the blankets and used his thumb to wipe away the tears that gathered on Yoongi's cheeks. "Why are you sorry? I should be the one saying that."

Yoongi reached up and held Jimin's hand against his cheek with a broken look in his eyes. "I could have lost you."

Jimin looked down and the small smile slipped off his face.

"But you didn't," He looked back up with a serious expression. "I'm here now, I'm alright. Could we just… take this one day at a time?"

Yoongi noticed Jimin shiver slightly and walked over to his dresser to grab a large sweater. "Take it," he aimed to toss it onto the bed near Jimin's hands, but instead it landed on the blond's head. Jimin laughed as he shot Yoongi an amused look, but slipped it on nonetheless.

"One day at a time sounds good," Yoongi reluctantly agreed after smiling at Jimin. "Don't take anything for granted, right?"

Jimin nodded and snuggled into the sweater before wrapping himself back into a blanket burrito.

"Probably our best bet for now."

"So," Yoongi said as he sat down on the bed beside Jimin, "why were you even out there anyway? You know it's dangerous."

Jimin's mood darkened and he anxiously fiddled with the blanket, refusing to meet Yoongi's gaze.

"I don't want to talk about it."

"I'm not gonna make you tell me," Yoongi said as he reached up and gently ruffled Jimin's hair, "But I'm here for you. Always."

Jimin hid his face in the mass of blankets and seemed to squeak a bit. His voice was so muffled when he spoke that Yoongi couldn't understand him.

"What was that?" Yoongi teased, poking Jimin's cheek with a finger and laughing when Jimin squirmed.

"I said thank you," Jimin whined, turning his face to the side to avoid being poked. "Stop that- Yoongi!"

Yoongi laughed loudly and Jimin smiled fondly as he watched Yoongi. It was honestly hard to remember how tense things had been between them just the day before.

Yoongi looked so carefree. It was refreshing, to be honest. He had an adorable gummy smile and while his normal expression was cool and attractive, this expression of joy was even better. Jimin felt like he was seeing Yoongi when he was actually himself, the him that he had been before Seok's death.

It was adorable. What wouldn't he give so that he could see that smile every time he woke up in the morning?

In that instant, Jimin knew he would give up the world.

He would give up anything.

He inhaled sharply and averted his gaze, his cheeks burning as he struggled with the realization. It wasn't anything complicated. The complete opposite, in fact.

He liked Yoongi, plain and simple.

The feeling wasn't overpowering or life-changing like in all the stories he had read. Instead, it was like a spark of warmth inside of him, reassuring and pleasant.

He just knew. The same way he knew the sky was blue and that there were 24 hours in a day. He knew he liked Yoongi.

Yoongi turned back to him and he felt his heart melt at the sight.

"Are you all warmed up now?" Jimin hesitated. He was feeling much warmer, but on the other hand, he was comfy right where he was and he wasn't sure if he wanted to leave just yet.

"Not completely."

"I'll go make you a drink. Do you like coffee?"

"Uh, not really. It's too bitter for me." Jimin admitted sheepishly.

Yoongi hummed in thought.

"That sucks. I'll see what else I have, kay?" Jimin just nodded shyly.

Yoongi left the room and Jimin exhaled deeply. He felt conflicted and wasn't sure what to do about it.

He thought back to his smashed phone and couldn't help the worry that consumed him. Something was up with Tae and it scared him. They hadn't ever kept secrets from each other, not even as seven-year-olds.

It made the distance between them more obvious, and not just the physical kind.

He had never been without Tae before.

They had always relied on each other and he felt like his support had just been ripped out from underneath him and he was falling without anything for him to hold onto.

Despite that, Jimin didn't want to impose on Yoongi with all of this. He was doing enough already.

Yoongi popped his head back in and held up a green tea bag in one hand.

"I found some jasmine tea if that's good for you."

"Ah, yeah, that's fine," Jimin replied distracted. He honestly didn't care as long as it wasn't coffee and he didn't have to move from where he was for as long as he possibly could.

He was slowly getting feeling back in his fingers and toes and he was forever grateful that Yoongi had found him. The night had been absolutely freezing and Jimin couldn't be sure how much longer his body could have endured that.

Yoongi returned shortly with a mug and a plate of toast. He passed Jimin the tea once he had pulled his arms out of the blanket pile and then he set down the plate next to the bed so that Jimin could easily reach it.

"I know it isn't much, but I wasn't exactly expecting company," Yoongi admitted somewhat awkwardly but Jimin only shook his head and took a sip of the tea.

He then set the mug down beside the plate and smiled gently. "Sorry. You really didn't have to go looking for me."

Yoongi grabbed his hands and clasped them together. "But I did."

Jimin looked away but secretly cherished the warmth that flowed from Yoongi's hands to his.

"Do you have any clue how fucking worried I was? You could have died!"

"I would have been fine," Jimin huffed but Yoongi just looked skeptical.

"Jimin, I thought you were dead when I found you. You were that cold." Jimin looked away again. He couldn't face Yoongi when he had that raw expression of desperation and it made him feel so guilty.

"Don't ever scare me like that again."

Jimin looked back and sighed.

"In our situation? I can't guarantee anything and you know it Yoongi."

"I'm fully aware of it," Yoongi admitted, staring into Jimin's eyes, "Just promise me. Please."

"Fine," Jimin relented, "I promise."

Yoongi sat back and relaxed a bit. "I'll protect you this time. I promise."

"My hero," Jimin rolled his eyes and jokingly placed his hands over his heart.

"I know, I'm a real Prince Charming. You don't have to rub it in."

"Oh but I do," Jimin laughed, happy to tease right back. "Everyone needs to know that I now have a knight in shining armour to protect me and save me."

Yoongi rolled his eyes. "Just finish your food and then I'll walk you back home."

"Oh wow I get an escort too? Aren't I special," Jimin laughed despite Yoongi leaning over and flicking his forehead.

"The most special," Yoongi confirmed. "Hurry up a bit. Your mom is terrified."

"Yeah yeah, I'm hurrying," Jimin grumbled around mouthfuls of food. Yoongi just sighed in exasperation but sat and waited for him to finish.

He held out a hand for Jimin to stand up, and he took it willingly. The change in temperature from the blankets to the room was enough to make Jimin shiver slightly.

"Are you coming?" Yoongi asked as he walked out of the room towards the front door. "I'll leave without you if you don't hurry up."

When Jimin didn't arrive, Yoongi walked back into the room. "What's wrong? Does the princess need to be carried?"

Jimin crossed his arms with a huff and glared.

"I'm not a princess, Yoongi."

Yoongi just shrugged and smirked in amusement. "Offer still stands. Take it or leave it."

"I'll take it," Jimin answered without hesitation. "On one condition."

"And what is it?" Yoongi asked. Jimin could see the amusement dancing in his eyes and he smirked slightly.

"I get to keep the sweater."

Yoongi scoffed and rolled his eyes in the most dramatic way possible. "First you're making me do manual labour-"

"I'm not that heavy!"

"-and then you steal my clothes," Yoongi gasped and placed his hand over his heart. "I see how it is."

"Can you just stop, thanks," Jimin grumbled, blushing fiercely. Yoongi only chuckled and turned back towards the door.

"Yeah, whatever. Take the sweater. It looks good on you anyways."

They walked out of the house quietly and Jimin immediately regretted it.

"God, it's freezing out here!" Jimin exclaimed. His teeth were chattering and he rubbed his arms in hopes of getting some warmth from the friction.

"Well?" Yoongi asked him after a moment.

"Well, what?" Jimin asked. Yoongi was just standing there and he honestly had no idea what was going on.

"You getting on, kid?" He motioned to his back and Jimin stared at him blankly.

"Not a kid," he protested weakly.

"Not the time," Yoongi shot straight back.

"And I didn't think you were serious."

"Too bad. Get on," Yoongi said with finality. Jimin got onto his back with a sigh and held on tightly.

"I should ask for a refund," Jimin mused jokingly.

"And why's that?" Yoongi asked him.

"I thought I was going to get carried bridal style. Not a piggyback," Jimin pouted and Yoongi groaned.

"I carried you bridal all the way to my house. Give me a break."

"Nope," Jimin joked, "Knights don't get breaks."

"I thought I was a prince," Yoongi lowered Jimin to the ground carefully but Jimin just shrugged.

"Ok I'll stop piggybacking you now," Yoongi said while Jimin sighed.

"No bridal carry? I'm not that heavy," He protested. Yoongi shook his head and Jimin wasn't sure if he liked the flicker of mirth in Yoongi's expression. He shrieked as Yoongi scooped him up and flung him over his shoulder, holding onto his lower back and knees.

"Let me down!"

"Nope," Yoongi began to walk again, ignoring the light pounding on his back.

"I feel like a sack of potatoes," Jimin grumbled and Yoongi couldn't help the bark of laughter that escaped him.

"A cute sack of potatoes," He pointed out and Jimin slapped him on the back for it.

"Just shut up and let me down before we get back to my house," Jimin relaxed. There was no point in fighting when he couldn't do anything anyway.

At the end of the street, Yoongi let him down but held onto his hand until they reached the front door.

Yoongi knocked and waited when they heard the sound of footsteps approaching. Jimin's mother opened the door and gasped when she saw her son. She embraced Jimin tightly and repeatedly thanked Yoongi in between sobs.

After a few moments, she drew him into the hug as well. Jimin's father joined in the second he saw his son again and all of them could tell he was shaking.

Nothing could be more perfect, Jimin thought.

Until a piercing scream ruined the heartfelt moment.

All of them jerked back and looked around fearfully.

"What was that?" Jimin's mother asked, eyes blown wide and face pale, "Who was that?"

Yoongi turned and stared in the direction of the scream. In the direction of the center of town.

"Jimin," He hissed without turning back, "get inside and stay there."

"And leave you to go see what happened alone? No chance in hell," Jimin's tone was serious and he was sure that Yoongi could understand the implied message.

'If you leave without me, I'll follow whether you like it or not .'

Yoongi sighed, knowing that he would be fighting a losing battle, "At least put on a coat first."

Jimin dashed in the house and threw on the first coat he could find. He didn't care if it looked good or if it even belonged to him in the first place, there was no time.

"Let's go," Yoongi grabbed his hand and squeezed as they took off running. His parents looked horrified but there was no way they would go back. There was no way they could. Not in a situation like theirs.