𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐒

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟒𝟖

Whines wake up Jungkook.

Half sleep, he sits on the bed rubbing his eyes and turns his head to the window meeting a dark, sparkling sky.

A long whine brings him back to reality and his head turns to the opposite side: Taehyung.

Slowly, he slides the covers to a side and gets out of bed. With a tired sigh, he kneels down next to the elder and observes his features closely: his damp hair is pressed against his forehead, his eyebrows narrowed, his lips in a pout, and his chest contracts and relaxes rapidly at the rhythm of his breathing.

Jungkook shakes his body gently and Taehyung opens his eyes with a gasp.

Taehyung stares at the ceiling for a moment as he becomes familiar with his surroundings, his breath coming back to a steady pace.

"It was just a nightmare, but you can sleep with them if it makes you feel safer." Jungkook whispers.

Taehyung doesn't answer, staring back at him.

Jungkook scratches his nape, yawning. "I'm gonna go back to sleep if you don't mind."

He leans his hand on the bed to support himself and easily stands up. As he turns around, a hand takes a grip on his wrist.

Jungkook frowns and turns around.

"You're alive." he says, with a breath stuck in his throat.

Jungkook cautiously sits on the bed, his eyes travelling from Taehyung's grip to his face. "Sure, why wouldn't I? Did you forget? I found you, we came back."

"You - you're alive." he repeats, sobbing.

He wraps his arms around his neck and Jungkook blinks, not returning the hug.

What on earth? Is he still dreaming?

"Hey, Taehyung," he pulls away, carefully. "What's wrong? Do you want me to wake up Joon? Jin? Jimin? Do you want Jimin?"

He shakes his head, the moonlight shining in his black starry eyes.

Jungkook's eyes widen. "Tiger?"

"I thought you were dead." he hugs him again.

Tiger rests his cheek on his shoulder, the tears wetting the younger's shirt.

Jungkook wraps his arms around his waist, securely. He keeps all the questions to himself and waits for Tiger to break the hug.

Jungkook wipes the tear streaming down his face with his fingers. "How did you know? Taehyung told me you didn't take over."

"I didn't, but I saw it. I - I thought he killed you. I should've taken over, but Tae - Tae -"

"Shh, hey, it's okay." Jungkook soothes him, cupping one of his cheeks. "I'm okay, see? We're okay."

Tiger sniffs. "I thought I lost you. I thought you left me."

Jungkook's heart sinks. "Tiger . . ."

"You're my only friend here, please don't leave me."

Jungkook has never seen this side of Tiger before. Of course he knows Tiger went through a lot and of course he knows he never had friends nor someone to rely on, but this . . .

"I won't, I promise." he caresses his cheek with his thumb. "I heard you before passing out, you know? I knew you called me, but how did you do it?"

Tiger takes a minute to put himself together and Jungkook hands him a tissue.

"It was weird," the alter begins, "it has never happened before. Taehyung's feelings were on the edge, but he kept refusing to let me take over. However, I could hear what was going on—I already knew you were there though, I can sense you as I sense Taehyung."