The Priest's Son

Physical touch was my love language, but it hurts

Third-person pov

It had been roughly an hour since the doctor and nurses checked up on him as Taehyung laid still. He couldn't move without feeling that painful thrum of knives scraping up his arms and legs. The more he thought about how he couldn't move, couldn't touch, couldn't do anything by himself, he began panicking. His tears stung his perplexed skin as they trickled down to his ears. 

He bit his lip harshly trying to stop the loud sobs that continuously echoed at the back of his throat, his whole body aching as each breath felt constricted. His feet and fingers were numb, pins and needles shocking his brain as he continued to attempt lifting and wiggling them. The sobs turned into loud groans and whimpers as he completely broke down. His glossed eyes looked around and saw nothing but a cramped space, his breathing quickening as he felt paralysed.

The walls began closing in and he felt smaller and smaller as he was surrounded by nothing but darkness. He was back in that little room, his knuckles burned at the memory of smashing his fists into that solemn door. He remembers falling back after tripping over this feet and smashing his ribs against a big metallic box, it's sharp edges digging into his side. His eyes poured out buckets of water as his began shaking violently. Then the darkness began burning brightly, any sense of relief quickly vanishing as the red and orange flames licked up the sides of his arms and legs, eating away at his thin clothing.

A loud, bellowing scream ravished it's way through his lungs and squeezed every last ounce of air out of his body. It echoed in his room, as the scream continued, louder and louder. He couldn't feel the multiple hands and the booming shrieks and yells coming from nurses and doctors. "JUNGKOOK!" He screamed, panting. He couldn't breathe, unable to suck in any breathes, his gasping went on for what seemed luck hours as he thrashed about, his burns making him wince and shout in pain. The whimpers were heard all over the hospital floor, people flocking in corridors to hear the screaming boy as he whimpered for his only stability.

"J-JUNGKOOK" he yelled again, almost desperate as he tried to awaken himself from this awful and horrifying nightmare. A warm pair of hands rested against his cheeks, gently caressing them as a soothing voice whispered his name calmly.

Jungkook pov

We were all in my room chatting until we heard a loud scream. It sounded like Taehyung. I quickly became worried and tried standing up, "Stop, it's not him. Calm down Kook," Namjoon and Yoongi stated as they pushed me back in my bed. "JUNGKOOK" the voice yelled again. Tears gathered in my eyes, I ignored the painful sting as I forced my way out of bed, desperately dragging that metal stand out the door and into Tae's room. As I reached him he yelled again, sounding almost helpless. 

I gently reached out my nimble hands, they shook as I placed them on his cheeks. "It's okay, baby. I'm here, it's okay, you're okay," I whispered gently. I noticed how he slowly began calming down, his tears began halting as he focused on my eyes. I offered him a small smile as I rested my head against his. "Sssh, ssh baby. You are safe," I whispered quietly, only for him to hear. "Can you hear me," I questioned, he nodded once, slightly. 

I caressed his cheeks as I eased him out of his panic attack. His body stopped shaking as it racked in heavy breaths, I continued lulling him until he was completely calm. Pulling a chair from his little dining table, I sat beside him, gently holding his hand in mine, attempting to soothe the numb pain that I knew was shocking his fragile heart. "I'm here Tae," I whispered. He smiled happily in response. The nurses left after I assured them that he was going to be alright for now, saying that I would calm them if something happens.

It was then that I noticed the others had been ushered inside, their soft gaze now focused on us. "It's alright Tae," jin whispered gently. "You are-" "No I'm not," he whispered with a hoarse voice. "I can't move my fingers, I-I can't feel your touch Jungkook," he sobbed. "And all my burns are so sore and are burning my insides," he continued, his eyes unable to produce anymore tears. I offered him some water, directing the straw into his lips, watching as he greedily sucked in the liquid.

They all looked at the boy as his body laid limp under those thick sheets, eyes cast down. "I don't like feeling unable to move, I feel," Taehyung said, taking a shallow breath. "...Weak." He choked out. His gaze was directed at Jungkook as the boy's fingers slowly cupped his chin, lifting his head. "You are many things Tae, but weak is not one of them," Jungkook whispered, gaining Taehyung's attention. "You can't say that when I'm stuck in this bed and I am the one trying to reach you," his eyes laid shallow, a blue smog glistening over that raging ocean.

"You lived through worst than this baby," Jungkook said truthfully. "The shit that that man has put on you, done to you, god baby you are so damn strong," he broke down, a glum look in his eyes. They had a perfect pair of glistening stars reaching their eyes as they made eye contact. Taehyung tried to shake his head, but Jungkook held him still. "You have been through hell, and you survived. These burns are nothing but a physical reminder of the mental oceans you had to swim through in order to find the shore. Your lungs hold greater capacity than air baby," Jungkook whispered.

"They are going to scar," Taehyung whimpered, lower lip beginning to wobble. "Well then we will have matching scars till death do us part," Jungkook said, directing Taehyung's gaze to his arms. The boy's eyes widened. "Y-You-" "Have burns, not as bad as yours, but they will scar too. And I'm sure that when we rub burn cream on each other's scars every night from now on, it will be sooo romantic," Jungkook said with a little chuckle. Taehyugn giggled as he sniffed up the snot oozing in his nose. 

The others rolled their eyes, "Only Jungkook could make this traumatic experience romantic," Jin said sarcastically. "We will all help you both, don't think we will leave," Namjoon started, looking directly at Jungkook as he turned to face the others. "We won't make the same mistake twice," Jimin whispered. Jungkook teared up, but for once, it was happy tears. "Thank you," he said happily, a sob still stuck in his throat. 

As everyone gathered to have a group hug they quickly stopped, realising that the two boys had severe burns at the moment. Instead, they opted for an 'air hug', the room erupting in giggles in response. "You've got us, we will get through this-" "Together," Jin interrupted, locking eyes with the others. They all nodded in agreement.

This time, they won't run from things that scare them. This time, they will fix things and heal. 

Together.