Jungkook Hurtfics / BTS

Mistake stage

The stage was his second home, a sanctuary where he could forget the world and let his body translate music into movement. For Jeon Jungkook, performing was life. The thrill of the lights, the roar of the crowd, the steady rhythm of his members beside him—everything felt right in those moments. But with the magic of every show came a shadow that few people could see, a darkness that grew heavier each time he fell short of the perfection he demanded of himself.

Tonight, the stadium was packed. Tens of thousands of ARMY had gathered, their lightsticks glowing like stars in the night sky. It was the finale of BTS's latest tour, a culmination of weeks of rehearsals, preparation, and relentless hard work. The energy was electric, each note and beat infused with the passion of all seven members. They were one on stage, moving as if they shared a single heartbeat.

Jungkook had prepared for this day for weeks, rehearsing tirelessly until he could perform the choreography in his sleep. But sometimes, despite everything, things went wrong.

The mistake happened in a flash. A missed cue during the high-energy dance break in "Idol." His muscles hesitated, a split-second lapse that left him a beat behind the others. It was a tiny slip, almost imperceptible to the audience, but to Jungkook, it was as if the entire world had suddenly shifted out of place. Panic gripped him, a rush of heat flooding his chest, and he tried to catch up, moving faster than he needed to. But the damage was done—he felt out of sync, clumsy, the smoothness of his movements shattered by his own overcorrection.

He could feel the sweat on his forehead, not just from exertion but from the pressure of his own thoughts. Each beat he missed seemed to echo endlessly, reverberating in his mind as he pushed through the rest of the choreography. He forced a smile, the practiced stage expression he had perfected over years, but inside, the self-loathing was already beginning to gnaw at him.

As the song ended, Jungkook's heart pounded—not from the physical demands of the dance, but from the sheer weight of his mistake. He wanted to do more, to somehow compensate for that one fleeting moment of imperfection. The thought that he had let his members down haunted him, no matter how inconsequential the slip seemed in the grand scheme of the performance.

He tried to shake it off, but it clung to him like a shadow. He saw Namjoon give him a reassuring nod, his eyes filled with understanding. Taehyung turned his way and grinned, mouthing, "It's okay, Kookie." But the words felt distant, and Jungkook's heart was somewhere else. He could only think of how he had let them down, how he had disappointed the people who looked up to him—the people he loved most.

The boys moved into position for the next song, but Jungkook's focus was fractured. He clenched his fists, his fingernails biting into his palms until he felt the sharp sting of pain. It wasn't enough—nothing seemed enough to match the fury and disappointment he felt toward himself. He bit down on his lip, hard, until he tasted the metallic tang of blood. He didn't even flinch. He just needed to feel it, needed something that felt like an appropriate punishment for his failure.

Later, during a quick costume change, Jungkook found himself alone, if only for a moment. It was fleeting—just long enough to make a mistake he wouldn't forget. He looked around, taking in the chaos of the backstage area, but his attention zeroed in on a solid wall just a few feet away. He crossed the space in a few strides and, without thinking, slammed his fist into the wall. The pain exploded through his hand, a flash of agony radiating up his arm. It grounded him, if only for an instant, distracting him from the chaos inside his head.

"Jungkook!" The voice was sharp, filled with concern. He turned to see Jimin, his eyes wide as he caught sight of Jungkook shaking his hand, his knuckles already starting to bruise. Jimin frowned, his expression a mix of worry and exasperation as he moved closer, lowering his voice. "Why do you always do this to yourself?"