Cell No. 9 | TaeKook

8 | Fever.

The night crept on slowly after the fire had been extinguished, and the prison returned to a tense stillness. The firemen had acted swiftly, calming the situation and ensuring that no one was seriously harmed. The prisoners were relocated to their cells, away from the smoky remnants of the fire.

Inside the cell, Daejung and Chulsoo had already fallen asleep, their soft snores filling the air. Taehyung, however, found himself unable to sleep. He lay on his mattress, staring at the ceiling, his mind swirling with the events of the day and the harrowing escape from the flames.

As the minutes ticked by, a faint murmuring voice broke through the silence. "No... please... Baram-ah..." The voice was strained, almost pleading. Taehyung rose and looked down to where Jungkook lay on his mattress. He was breathing heavily and muttering in his sleep, his face contorted with distress.

Surprised, Taehyung moved the blanket away from himself and walked over to Jungkook. He knelt down, eyes wide as he saw Jungkook drenched in sweat. His hand slowly reached out to touch Jungkook's forehead, feeling the intense heat radiating from his skin. "You're burning up!" Taehyung exclaimed softly, concern etching his voice.

Just as he was about to stand up to get help, Jungkook's hand shot out and grabbed his. Taehyung looked at him, startled. "Are you awake?" he asked. Jungkook, without opening his eyes, murmured, "Your hand... it's cold."

Jungkook pulled Taehyung's hand to his face, pressing it against his feverish skin. Taehyung's heart ached at the sight of Jungkook's vulnerability. He couldn't bring himself to pull away, so he sat beside him, his hand still resting on Jungkook's face. He watched as Jungkook's breathing gradually slowed.

After a few minutes, Taehyung gently pulled his hand away and stood up. He quietly made his way to the bathroom, filling a small bowl with cool water and grabbing a clean towel. Returning to Jungkook's side, he knelt down again and dipped the towel into the water, wringing out the excess before placing it gently on Jungkook's forehead.

For hours, Taehyung sat beside Jungkook, tending to him with quiet determination. He replaced the towel frequently, ensuring it remained cool against Jungkook's feverish skin. His fingertips traced lightly over Jungkook's sweat-damp hair, smoothing it back gently. The simple, repetitive motion seemed to bring Jungkook some comfort, and his restless murmuring subsided.

As the night wore on, Taehyung's exhaustion began to creep in, but he refused to leave Jungkook's side. His fingers continued their soothing motion, a silent promise that he would be there, watching over him.

Jungkook's breathing eventually evened out, his fever breaking as the cool cloth did its work. Taehyung sighed in relief, his own tension easing slightly. He leaned back against the wall, his eyes never leaving Jungkook's face. Despite everything that had happened between them, in this moment, all Taehyung could see was someone who needed help, and he was determined to provide it.

As the first light of dawn began to filter into the cell, Taehyung's eyelids grew heavy. He fought to stay awake, to continue his vigil, but sleep was relentless.

And then, Jungkook slowly opened his eyes. He groaned, holding his head as the remnants of the fever-induced headache throbbed. He tried to stand up but paused when he noticed Taehyung, who had fallen asleep sitting against the wall. The sight of the bowl of water and the towel on Taehyung's hand made Jungkook's eyes widen in surprise.

Taehyung stirred, rubbing his eyes groggily. "You're awake," he said, his voice soft.

Jungkook stared at him, confusion in his gaze. "Why are you so kind to me?" he asked, his voice low and hesitant.

Taehyung paused for a moment, then smiled softly. "My mother... she always told me to be kind so that people would remember me positively."

Jungkook chuckled quietly and turned his gaze away, a rare, genuine smile tugging at his lips.

Taehyung's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh!"

Jungkook looked back at him, curiosity in his eyes. "What?"

"This is the first time I've seen you smile," Taehyung said, a note of wonder in his voice.

Jungkook's smile faded as quickly as it had appeared, and he looked away, trying to mask his embarrassment.

Taehyung leaned forward and gently pushed Jungkook back onto the mattress. "Smile more, it looks good on you."

Jungkook's face flushed red, and Taehyung noticed immediately. "Oh, your face is red. Are you still having a fever?"

Taehyung reached out to check Jungkook's forehead, but Jungkook swatted his hand away. "I'm okay. It's just... it's hot."

Taehyung frowned slightly. "It's already autumn. It's not that hot."

Jungkook turned around, pulling the blanket over his face to hide his growing embarrassment. "Ah, just leave me alone."

Taehyung smiled, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. Seeing Jungkook return to his usual self, even if just a little, was comforting.

He settled back down on his mattress, his eyes lingering on Jungkook's blanket-covered form for a moment longer before he finally allowed himself to relax.

The warmth of the morning sun began to fill the cell, casting a gentle glow over everything.

Meanwhile, in a dimly lit corner of the prison's less-traveled halls, an officer stood with his back against the cold, grimy wall, his phone pressed tightly to his ear. His face was twisted in tension, sweat beading on his forehead. "I'm sorry, the plan didn't work, I started a fire but nothing happened to him." he whispered, glancing around to ensure no one was nearby.

He paused, listening intently to the voice on the other end. His eyes widened, a look of shock and panic spreading across his features. "Fired? ... W-what about the money?" His voice trembled, desperation creeping in. "Hello? ... Sir?"

The call abruptly ended, and the officer stared at the phone in disbelief. His grip on the phone tightened until his knuckles turned white. Anger and frustration surged through him, and he hurled the phone against the wall with a forceful shout. "Fuck!"

The phone shattered into pieces, scattering across the floor. The officer ran a hand through his hair, pacing back and forth.

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