Heaven Save Me

Hell Isn't the Right Word

Jungkook flopped down on Seokjin's couch, once again finding himself absentmindedly tugging at his dark ponytail. It was a habit he had picked up from his time on Earth that he could help doing each time he got nervous. Seokjin noticed, but decided to not say anything about it...for now.

"So you say this guy was a siren? Like a legitimate, rare demon right here at Seoul University?" he asked as he sat next to Jungkook, handing him a lemon kombucha.

Jungkook nodded. "There's no doubt in my mind that's what he was. And Jin...I don't want you to worry, but...I almost fell for it. I know I was grinning like an idiot. He tried everything he had and I...I almost couldn't resist. I've never experienced anything like it."

Jin's face looked worried for a moment before he collected himself and sat up straighter. He faced Jungkook completely when he spoke next. "You're young, Jungkook-ah. Maybe it was just that this siren is older and had time to become powerful. Don't worry too much about it. You're an angel after all. What is there to fear?"

Jungook nodded, but the troubled expression didn't leave his handsome features. Jin grinned and patted his knee. "Come on. Let's get out of here. We can go somewhere and you can try to forget about this demon boy! We can have some fun!"

With a big bunny grin, Jungkook agreed with a nod, asking, "What kind of fun, hyung?"

"Bowling of course!"

***~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~***

"Bowling, Taehyung? Really? You think bowling is what's going to get my mind off the mystery man?"

"Jimin...shut up. Yes. Yes, bowling. You have nothing better to do and you certainly aren't going to either get laid or get vengeance on some random tall, dark, and handsome so just shut up and come bowling with me," Taehyung insisted with some annoyance in his voice.

"Fine," Jimin conceded. "Why am I even friends with you?" he asked under his breath.

"I heard that, cock pocket! Now shut those stupid, fat lips of yours and come get some excessively used shoes with me," Taehyung called behind him.

Jimin opened his mouth to say something else, but just shook his head with an eye roll before following Taehyung inside.

The bowling alley smelled of mechanical oil and fried foods, cheap cologne and worn out leather shoes. It made Jimin's stomach turn just a little, but he still took the chance to look around at the couples scattered throughout the darkened room. Some were cuddled close and flirting nauseatingly while others cheered each other on while they rolled their balls.

Jimin spotted a target right away. One man was glued to his phone as the girl who was presumably his date was taking her turn with a pepto pink ball in her brightly painted orange tipped fingers. Jimin sidled into the booth next to the man and caressed a gentle finger across the man's nape. The man looked up at him startled by the sudden, unexpected touch but was quickly put at ease by Jimin's magically enhanced charms.

"And what are you doing here all alone, little one?" the man asked with an edge of cockiness.

"Trying to not be alone," Jimin purred back.

The man glanced at the the girl he was with, ensuring she was distracted before he leaned closer to Jimin's face. "I'm not usually into guys, but there's just something about you. I don't know what it is. Maybe...you'd want to get out of here?"

"Hmm," Jimin hummed. "Taehyung was right. Bowling is fun. Sure, big guy. Let's-"

Jimin was pulled back by the collar of his loosely buttoned shirt. "Get out of here to do what, exactly?" A deep voice asked.

"Aye, man. I didn't know he was taken. He came onto me. So..." The man stuttered out.

"No worries, man. I know what he's like," the deep voice assured as he began to drag Jimin away from his would-be victim.

Once they were far enough away, Jimin whirled in the hold of the intruder with every intent to shift gears to seduce him instead. To his great surprise, there stood the only man he'd ever tried and failed to conquer.

"Hmm. Perhaps it's not a total failure after all," Jimin flirted.

"I know what you are," The dark haired man deadpanned.

Jimin giggled sweetly. "Is this about to turn into a Twilight moment?" He put on his best impression of Edward Cullen's voice. "Say it. Out loud."

Fighting a smile, the man pursed his lips before shaking his head. "Listen to me, Siren. I won't let you prey on innocent victims in my territory. These people are under my protection."

This made Jimin smirk even more. "And who are you? Superman or something? You can't protect them from what they are. What they really are."

Unbeknownst to him, the man had inched closer and Jimin had done the same without realizing. His breath fanned across Jimin's face when he spoke, "And what are they?"

"Guilty," Jimin replied without hesitation, a hint of pain underlying the softly spoken word.

"Sirens are born from scorn and pain," the man recited, "Where does your pain come from, little demon?"

Jimin hesitated for a moment as he looked at the dark haired man with anguish and vulnerability, a fracture of his humanity cracking through the facade he let his demon keep up around him. "Enough about me," he shook his head, "You know what I am, but what the hell are you?"

"I wouldn't say hell would be the right word for it," The man chuckled. "I'm an angel."

"No fucking way!" Jimin replied with a grin. "I've always wanted to meet one of you!"

The man let slip a bunny grin that made the human part of Jimin's heart flutter with something he didn't want to acknowledge. "What's your name, Angel Boy? Or should I just call you bunny since you've got one of those smiles?"

The man stopped smiling and started pouting instead. Once again, Jimin found his heart fluttering in his chest. The same heart that was made of little more than hellfire and magma these days.

"Jeon Jungkook is what I always go by on Earth. When I was born to human parents, that's what they named me and I don't want to change it because it doesn't feel right."

Jimin smiled softly, but quickly rearranged his plump lips into a smirk once he realized. "Good grief, I asked for your name, not your life story, Jungkook. I'm Park Jimin. And you won't get my reasoning for keeping that name as easily as you gave yours."

Jungkook only smiled sweetly at Jimin. "Nice to meet you, Park Jimin. I hope we can be friends, but I really was serious when I said you can't hurt people in my territory. I don't want to be your enemy."

Something about his stern tone made Jimin ache with need for the first time in 159 years. He buried the feeling as fear began to grip at him. What was this angel doing to him?

"Then don't get in my way and we won't be, Angel Boy. It was nice to meet you too, Jungkook."

Jimin started to saunter away, swaying his hips a little more than necessary before he stopped and turned back to the angel who had never stopped staring after him. His face was a bit tentative and he fidgeted with his fingers. "You know, Jungkook. You really shouldn't be so trusting. There are some real demons out there."

Jungkook smiled wide at the smaller man. "You would know," he joked as Jimin chuckled with a slight blush dusting across his high cheekbones.

"And I'm not even the worst of them," He said sadly, turning to walk back to find his friend.

***~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~***

(1263 words)