Sempiternal: • A.L.I.V.(d)E(ad)? • || BOOK 7#

21. Confidencial

"You were so sound asleep, you didn't even notice we moved you here."

Jimin moves just like a sleepy cat, unwilling to even be awake and eager to go back to sleep. What he finds is not Jin's room, but the main garden of the shelter. It is a very nice change that he is not going to refuse, but he wants to sleep, so he settles better in Jin's lap. The elder laughs at that and Jimin scrunches up his face a little.

"Ow, we'll have to change the schedule from one end to the other. Maybe you're scared to sleep at night."

"I don't know. I just want to sleep more." he muses in a sleepy voice and getting another laugh out of Jin.

"Frankly, he's never going to wake up." hisses Namjoon. Off to the side are the others, Hongjoong, Seonghwa and Yunho eating strawberry shortcake; Yeosang, Wooyoung, Mingi and San playing something on cell phones and Jongho lying on the floor, asleep, getting stroked on the hair by Yeosang. Very occasional. In front of them, Yoongi, Jungkook, Taehyung and Hoseok playing with Bam. They throw a frisbee to each other and from time to time, they throw it further away so that the dog can go for it. This is the first time Yoongi can be seen so active.

Of course, it's his fault that he's now on a mission to be outside longer. Part of the recovery therapy is for him to regain confidence in the outdoors. It's not going so well, he needs huge compelling reasons to distract himself from thinking about it.

Namjoon closes his notebook, takes advantage of Jin having his other leg free and leans back on it. "I have only one hand now, so don't expect me to be able to stroke your hair or anything like that" The older one warns and Namjoon laughs, he just rolls over and dozes towards Jin's abdomen.

"I'm fine like this."

Jin shakes his head and leans back against the tree, reading his book. He's not going to be able to get up when they have to go inside. Already his left thigh is tingling and Namjoon is heavier than Jimin. This is going to be torturous.

Jungkook throws the frisbee too far, so Bam takes his time running for it. Yoongi blows air out of his hand and his legs are shaking from exerting himself for so long in a row.

It takes only those brief, poor moments for Yoongi to feel time stop, his lungs close up, his nerves stop working and his head screams at him that he must go. He is in danger, there are many threats here. All ready to come for him.

He gives a whimper, dropping and bringing his hands to his neck, unable to breathe at all and hearing his face crack like glass. Hoseok goes to sit next to him, makes him open his hands and sit up straight in his seat. Bam puts down the frisbee and climbs into the panic-stricken man's lap.

He lays his head on Yoongi's shoulder and stays there, Jungkook can't resist laughing at the way he looks sideways; Yoongi hugs the animal and breathes through his mouth, awkwardly, uselessly and almost stressful for them watching.

"Relax, it's all right." promises Hoseok gently. Taehyung drops to the floor to rest. When Yoongi is well, they will play again.

. . .

"Suppose it's a dome, which is open on top, but closed around-"

"Do you want to clean up my vomit or something?" asks Yoongi with annoyance. Wooyoung pouts, shrinking in place as he moves his food.

"I was just asking. I wanted to help a little bit. Don't look at me ugly."

"What about a crystal place? For practice." Yoongi rolls his eyes. He doesn't want to listen to plan to solve his phobia of open spaces.

Eventually he can, being rushed isn't going to do any good. Just to stress him out more than he already is.

"Are you going to tell us what the letter is from?" asks Jin and Namjoon is left with food in his mouth. Jin gives Jimin a light tug on his arm, with the other one barely eating. He's still very sleepy. "He's awake now."