Sempiternal: •D.E.A(live).D• || BOOK 4#

14. Patient and caretaker

"I thought I'd call him-"

"It already has a name, it's Bam."

"Bam? Why Bam?"

Taehyung finds it strange that Jungkook is attached to this dog. He usually just hunts them down and leaves them in charge. Except for Songie and Paengie who are indirectly adopted by him. Bam jumps up and teases the pair, who are about the same size as him despite the age difference. Jungkook wrinkles his nose.

"He showed up in the night and sleeps with me. I think it looks pretty good on him" Taehyung nods. "I found all this on a plane" he informs handing over the tightly packed backpack. "I thought it would be useful since there will be puppies and the ones we meet are always freezing to death."

"Don't bullshit me, you just want to see dogs dressed as dinosaurs."

"It's not a lie and not a bad idea." states Jungkook and Taehyung laughs through his nose. He pulls out everything Jungkook brought, spreading it out on a table to look through. They're cute clothes, some are even baby clothes, but they work for their nests and stuff.

As well as giving it to the babies in the group. Growing up nice and strong despite the adversity they live in.

A hug from behind makes him lift his head up. Jungkook gives him a kiss on the back of his neck and presses his hands on Taehyung's abdominal area, lays his cheek on his shoulder and closes his eyes.

"How have you been?"

"Fine."

"Liaaaaaaaaar."

"What do you want me to tell you?"

"The truth." he replies simply. "I haven't been well...just because of Bam I feel a little better, but...I keep dreaming that I let go of Yoongi's hand" he muses softly"...and that I should have done more, that I could have always done more than I have" He opens his eyes and looks at Taehyung's trembling hands holding a pair of pink pajamas. "I don't feel very well and I feel lonely."

Taehyung is bothered by his frankness. That he is able to say it with such calmness. He can't. He doesn't dare. He feels he doesn't deserve to say it. The reason why they have been restless and bad these days is his fault and for that, he must keep inside him that anguish, that sorrow. Jungkook gives him several kisses on his shoulder.

"Are you coming to my room?"

"Yes. Sure." Jungkook replies, giving him a kiss on the head.

Though maybe... If he's with Jungkook, he can admit it and stop feeling like his chest is going to explode at any moment.

~ * * * ~

"Is there something on my face? They haven't let me see any mirrors and they won't stop bandaging it." mutters Yoongi suddenly. Hoseok stops what he's doing and looks at him indecipherably. A mix between guilt and nervousness at being exposed.

"Just... a scratch. It takes a long time to heal." excuses Hoseok going back to what he was doing. Settling Yoongi's room costs more every day. He asks to be left to sleep alone, to settle back into an independent life.

But when he arrives in the morning, he's a mess. Yoongi's dark circles under his eyes have also gotten bigger. He says he sleeps and it bothers him when he's supervised at night, so it's complicated. He's become that kind of patient: the grumpy one who won't let himself be helped.

"Such a big bandage for a simple small wound?" retorts Yoongi who obviously doesn't believe Hoseok's answer. The dancer nods, convinced and quite well acted.

"It was a very complicated process you know? We don't want to tempt that, being your head, something bad will happen to you. An infection to the brain or something like that" Yoongi lowers his gaze That's why he heard that voice? It sounded like someone could command him. Just like a player to a character in a video game. It was unpleasant. "So it's best to keep it like this until we can see as much improvement as possible."