-broken glass- Jikook Horror AU

33

"Well, let me start out by welcoming you to my office. My name is Dr. Culhane, but you can call me Nancy. Why you guys are here today?"

Jimin adjusts his position on the couch for the nth time. The marriage counseling hasn't even started and he's already planning his escape route.

Jungkook clears his throat. "We've been fighting a lot recently. I believe I explained our intruder situation in the email I sent to you. That's caused a lot of stress and friction."

The therapist writes a few things down. "It's only natural that a situation that stressful would cause tension, especially if the people involved deal with stress differently." She looks at Jimin who's trying to avoid eye contact. "On top of what Jungkook has said, what other issues do you want to address?"

Jimin gulps. "We come from very different backgrounds. He was raised around wealth and I... Wasn't."

Nancy nods. "I can see how that would cause issues as well. Before we dive into your disagreements, I like to start with my clients saying what they like about the marriage. It helps diffuse any tension and helps me get a grasp on how much work we'll need to do. Who wants to go first?"

Jimin nods at Jungkook, signaling for him to talk. Jungkook looks at him with sad eyes and laces their fingers together. "Jimin is the most important person in my life."

The therapist can't help but grin. "Would you mind elaborating a little bit?"

"I don't mind at all. My life is really superficial in a way. The money, the people I call my friends, my family. It all feels fake and shallow. Jimin isn't either of those things. When I'm with him, even when we're fighting, it feels real. He's the only thing in this world that I know I can count on."

Jimin leans over and rests his head on Jungkook's shoulder, squeezing his hand.

Nancy takes a few more notes and motions for Jimin to say something.

"Um... I'm sorry, I have a really difficult time opening up around people I don't know."

She nods. "That's totally valid. Take your time."

Jimin looks at the door, contemplating running away. "Well... I like how Jungkook and I are able to express how we're truly feeling. We don't sugarcoat anything."

"So you're each other's safe space?"

Both of them nod.

"That's a really good sign. As humans we inherently have a tendency to run away from conflict. The fact that both of you are willing to discuss and work through your issues is healthy."

Jungkook grins. "We wanted to try and get help before it got too bad. Both of us want this to work." He turns to Jimin. "I hope I'm not speaking for you."

"You aren't."

Nancy smiles and notices how Jimin's eyes are fixated on her clipboard, so she sets it down. "Jimin, I'd like to ask you a few questions if you don't mind."

He shrugs. "I'm okay with it, I guess..."

"I don't mean to assume, but is this is your first time doing therapy of any kind?"

Jimin's head starts buzzing. What is that question supposed to mean? Is he doing something wrong? Why does he feels so ashamed. "Yes it is."

Instead of the ridicule that Jimin expects, he's greeted with a warm smile. "I'm so happy to have you here. If there's anything I can do to make you feel more comfortable, just let me know."

-

Jimin is silent on the way to the hotel. He watches all the mega mansions passing by and tries to envision a small suburban neighborhood. His daydream is interrupted by a hand creeping onto his thigh.

"I know that was difficult, but you did a really good job."

"No I didn't..."

"Babe..." Jungkook pulls into the hotel parking lot. "Therapy was hard at first for me too. It's not easy to open up to someone who's writing down everything you're saying."

"It just feels so demeaning. I feel like I'm being treated like a child."

Jungkook chuckles. "I'm not laughing at you, i swear. It's just... You're a therapy baby. It takes a while, but for the first few sessions, it feels like they're just talking at you. The real work begins when you start working with them, not just letting them work on you."

Jimin grins slightly. "You know a lot about therapy."

"I was in therapy for years. 5 to be exact. Infact, i was in therapy for the first year of our relationship. I just hid it from you."

When the car is parked, they get out. Jungkook laces their fingers together and they walk back to their room. Once they're inside, Jimin flops down on the bed. "I wish you didn't feel like you had to hide that from me."

"It wasn't that I thought you wouldn't understand or be supportive. I just felt like it was my own personal battle. Now that we're married, I share everything with you."

Jimin groans and hides his face in the pillow. "I don't know if I have the mental strength for therapy. We shouldn't have signed up."

Jungkook sits down next to him. "I know it's hard, but please don't run away from this. I don't mean this as a personal attack, but you run away from everything."

"I know I do...."

Jungkook looks down at him fondly and rolls him onto his back. "We can work on that together. You just need to let me help you. Can you do that?"

Jimin chews his bottom lip. "I don't want to say yes and then end up failing you..."

"I'm just asking you to let me support you." He pulls him close to his chest, wrapping his arms around his waist. His thumb plays with the hem of Jimin's shirt. "Where do you want to have dinner tonight?"

Jimin shrugs. "I'm not hungry, so you can choose."

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