The Ugly Duckling [Jinkook, Minjoon, Taegiseok]

24: Excuse Me, What?

Ages at the moment:

Jin: 21

Yoongi: 20

Hoseok and Namjoon: 19

Jimin and Taehyung: 18

Jungkook: 16

~~~~~

Jin was knelt in front of his parents, confused, and still traumatized from what had just almost happened.

"What?"

"Oh, this is so exciting!" His mother cheered. "You're so beautiful, baby!"

Jin frowned, wiping at his tears.

His mother did not treat him like this. What happened to her? Did she hit her head? Was this someone who kidnapped the real queen and is pretending to take her place?

"Excuse me, your majesties," Jungkook cut in, wiping blood from his lip and rolling his shoulder back so that it wouldn't cramp from all the use. "I think Jin needs some time to himself. He's a little out if it at the moment. Whatever you want to discuss can surely wait, right?"

"Of course," the king nodded. "We'll discuss it at dinner this evening then."

"Come on, Jinnie," Jungkook whispered, helping him up. "Let's go back to your room. The date can wait."

"Thank you so much, Kookie," Jin smiled and whispered back. "I don't know what I would have done if you didn't get here on time."

"Don't think about it. It's okay. Nothing happened. For your sake, it would be best to forget about it."

"Look at you, being all mature and stuff," Jin giggled, leaning on Jungkook as they walked back to his room together.

Jungkook huffed and rolled his eyes, opening the door to Jin's room.

"I've always been mature."

"Sure you have."

Jungkook just frowned and dragged Jin over to the bed to sit down.

There was a long moment of silence.

Jungkook sighed. "Are you okay?"

"I'm tired. Can we just lay in bed and cuddle today?"

"Of course." Jungkook got under the covers and made room for Jin.

Jin laid down next to Jungkook and curled into his side, wrapping himself around Jungkook's body as if he were a body pillow. "You know... I think you finally reached the same height as me."

"Did I?" Jungkook smiled. "I didn't even notice."

"Really? You used to be so focused on that. How did you not notice before I did?"

"Well I was a little occupied with something else when I got here," Jungkook frowned.

Jin frowned, knowing what Jungkook was getting at. Suddenly, the room became quiet and heavy. Jungkook decided to bring up the problem.

"You know, it's okay to not be okay. If you need to cry I'm here for you. You don't need to hold it in all the time."

And like that the waterworks started.

Jin slowly started tearing up, trying to still hold back. But when he realized it wouldn't work, he buried his face into Jungkook's shoulder and sobbed.

Jungkook held Jin tightly and rubbed his back, wanting to comfort Jin the best he could. It hurt to hear Jin sound so broken.

"I've been scared that he would come back for years!" Jin confessed between choked breaths. "He told me years ago that the next time he saw me he would do inappropriate things to me. I didn't tell anyone because I didn't think anyone would do anything about it."