Radiant

Chapter 7

After pestering hours of waiting, the front door slams open and the rebound echoes throughout the entire structure like a bad omen.

The sound is enough to send chills racing down Jeongguk's spine.

Leaping from the bed, he sprints from the room, ignoring the way his stomach drops and swoops when he clambers down the spiraling root that acts as his stairs. He follows the sound of panicked shouts until he appears in the living room.

The scene unfolding in front of him rips the air straight out of his lungs.

Namjoon pants, his ashy blond hair dark with water and grime, and his body soaked crimson. It seeps through his clothes from his legs to his back. Tears have stained his cheeks red and his maroon eyes so dark that they shimmer a disturbing black. His scarlet hands cradle at the eerily still body of Seokjin.

Seokjin resembles a ghost; there is no life or color within his cheeks, pallor washed a bloodless white, and his emerald eyes closed. His mouth pinched with discomfort, silvery pink hair damp and body quaking forcefully within Namjoon's arms.

Just behind them, flaming orange eyes wide and panic stark on his face, Jimin hovers near the front door with his hands wringing in front of him. There is no rage or distrust when his eyes flicker over Jeongguk, just a childish sense of being lost.

Except Yoongi is the worst. He flutters near Seokjin, broken please tumbling from his lips and sobbing openly as his wings flap and flail. Loose feathers waft to the floor in heaps, golden eyes pained.

At Jeongguk's entrance, Yoongi's gaze snaps to him, a spark of hope igniting behind his golden eyes as he stumbles towards him with his crimson-slicked hands reaching for him. "Jeongguk, please, please, you have to help him! Please, I need him, so you have to help him!"

Jeongguk's chest constricts tightly. It's been years since he has performed any form of medical care, like surgery, but when his eyes dart toward Namjoon, cradling Seokjin as if cradling his very life within his hands, something inside of him hardens to gunmetal.

"I need whatever medical supplies that you have," he states firmly, rolling up his sleeves as far as they would go. "I don't care who, but I'll also need whatever form of alcohol that you can find, and as fast as you can."

Taehyung, who had clambered out of the water in a rush at the noise, sprints off to obey the orders without a word.

Trusting the mer-like Radiator, Jeongguk levels his eyes onto Jimin. "Jimin, get me a thin needle and hold the tip to heat it up- it needs to be sterilized."

Jimin peeks through his fiery fringe, plush lips twisting downwards and hands bawling into fists at the order, but one glance towards Seokjin has him turning tail and rushing off to obey without another word.

Yoongi disappears deep into the tree to retrieve the medical kit.

"This way. Kitchen. I'll need space." Jeongguk jogs to the kitchen, directing Namjoon to setting Seokjin down on the table. He rushes over to the pump and washes his hands as thoroughly as he can.

Trembling, Namjoon obeys and places Seokjin on the dining room table gently.

Snagging a nearby slim knife, Jeongguk strides to Seokjin's side. He picks at the hem of his shirt, delicately cutting it open to reveal the extent of his wounds.

"You're a doctor?" Namjoon's eyes never stray far from Seokjin's sweat-soaked features, his trembling hand cupping his cheek. As if afraid that if he looks away for even a second, then he'll wilt and disappear.

The material of Seokjin's clothing peels away easily until it reaches the shoulders, where the blood has congealed and thickened from the sheer mass of it. He slows his movements. "Not exactly. I was training to be a doctor, but that was a long time ago."