cold feet [1]

thirty six

jimin's point of view

The first half hour of being stuck in a room alone with Taehyung was strange. When my usual bouts of anger were meant to escalate with him, now I felt a subdued feeling of fondness as I watched him inspect himself in the mirror in his fancy new clothes. It was funny watching him settle into his own appearance, and surprising to see he was even acknowledging it.

Like this it was obvious he was a son of a God. His hair glowed brightly and his skin radiated with power. I wondered if the affection between him and Jungkook had amplified that power.

"Are you aware of how much you are glowing?" I spoke up with a simpering smile, catching his eyes in the mirror followed by the flush of his cheeks. "And I don't even mean that metaphorically, you are actually glowing." He snorted, turning away from his reflection to inspect me with a curiosity.

"Yes... it's a side effect..."

"Makes you sound like a drug," I whispered though instantly regretted it when I realised the implications of it. He noticed two, smile broadening into a smirk. "Not like that!"

"Sure, and I'm meant to believe you?"

"Shut up, go back to staring at yourself Princess." He cackled which only added to that brightness. "What does it feel like?" I continued curiously, "that glow?"

"Warmth," he murmured, eyes looking toward the door in hopeful wait for Jungkook to walk through. "You asked why I was so cold earlier. At first I didn't understand, then I realised it's probably to do with my mother. My ... lack of what she offers leaves my body deficient of warmth. It's... like a punishment and a warning to seek out love or sex I think."

"That sounds like hell." He shrugged, face dropping in a sudden sadness. In less than thirty seconds I watched that brightness dull significantly.

"I haven't felt otherwise in over a century. I just got used to it." Oh right he's nearly 200 years old...

"How much has changed? Since you lived as a mortal?" Having this openness with Taehyung was something I'd never had, even when I was infatuated by him he was secretive and would only say the bare minimum. These past seven months I had seen an evident shift in his openness, secrets pried open by Jungkook's unashamed curiosity.

"I don't even remember it, I think a part of me has blocked it out because it comes with a terrifying reminder of why I am here..." though I desperately wanted to ask why he was cursed to begin with, I knew that was a specific he would not open up about. "My home was the one the bus stop is out the front of. It ... burnt down. But over the years I watched it be rebuilt twice."

"Woah wait, the rich house? You were rich?" He shrugged, fingers grabbing at the top button on his shirt as he coughed with a deep and heavy sound. I tilted my head to get his face under the light, noticing the paleness of his skin. "Are you okay?" It was probably a dumb question, watching him struggle to breathe and sweat profusely.

"I'm... fine," he grunted, eyebrows knitting together into a deep frown. I'd known him long enough to see the shift, my hands breaking into fists as I stepped back slightly. "You'll always know me better than anyone," he spoke with a devious chuckle, that stark change like a flash that screamed danger. "What a pathetic attempt at trying to escape this," this time he seemed to be talking to himself, shaking palms brought up to his mouth as I watched in sheer horror as his legs crumpled and he fell to the floor in a heap. Before I could think I was by his side trying to grab at his shirt to keep him awake, only for him to curl up tighter and scream when my fingers touched his skin.

---

In my panic of leaving Taehyung almost dying and Jungkook alone in the room with him, I nearly tripped down the last set of stairs before stumbling into the room where the four housemates were seated speaking softly with eachother. They were all huddled together, voices barely above a whisper. Though I was desperately curious to know what they were talking about - most likely Jungkook's miraculous recovery - my priorities were on not letting him die a second time.