Better Than Tears (sweeter than sleep)

Like those dead leaves

Jimin's smile the warmest one yet, filling up Jungkook's insides like hot chocolate and he felt a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Taehyung scooted him forward so he could close the door, effectively tipping him against the wall and Jimin reached out to steady him. With hands still on the younger's shoulders, Jimin's eyes his body quickly, feather-fingers brushing over his cheek and pulling up his hand to check the bandage. "You didn't change these, did you? Even when you showered?"

Shaking his head sheepishly, Jungkook averted his gaze. "I didn't want to deal with them."

"Does your leg feel better?"

Jungkook could nod to that one. Jimin's smile was shrinking and Jungkook felt vaguely ashamed.

"Mm."

Not knowing what "mm" meant, Jungkook looked up and saw Jimin frowning as he peeled back the bandage on his hand. The cut looked ugly, all scabbed blood and swollen bruises surrounding it. When Jimin poked at it he jumped with a little yelp, ignoring Taehyung's worried glances.

"Take your shoes and coat off and come to the bathroom." Jimin's tone was almost clipped and his face was hiding something that Jungkook couldn't make out. He wondered if he was in trouble. Was Jimin mad at him because he hadn't taken care of himself? No, that couldn't be. He wouldn't get mad over something like that, right?

Jungkook didn't know the answer to that. He barely knew Jimin. He knew only the very outside signs of his personality and nothing more. But even if Jimin was mad, Jungkook knew he wouldn't mind, because it had to be a good reason and he'd do whatever the older wanted to fix it, because Jimin's smile was the number one thing that made him feel like living was worth the effort, so he took off his shoes and coat like he'd been told to and made his way to the bathroom.

Jimin pointed to the tub and Jungkook sat down on the edge obediently, holding out his hand. As it was being washed out carefully with a soapy cloth and stinging more than Jungkook wanted to admit, Jimin spoke up.

"Why are you trembling, Jungkook-ah?"

Jungkook opened his mouth to deny it, then closed it when he saw with his own eyes that his knees were shaking slightly and his right hand was twitching on his thigh. "Um," he said, attempting to still the movement. He couldn't make it stop.

"Are you scared of me?" Jimin finally stopped the stinging with that same cool sensation as yesterday.

"No," Jungkook responded immediately. "I'm not afraid of you." At least there was one thing he was certain of. He was not afraid of Jimin.

"Okay," was what Jimin said, but his voice was full of doubt.

"I'm not scared," Jungkook clarified. "I just thought that, that, that maybe you were mad at me."

Jimin looked up after placing a new bandage on the younger's hand. He searched Jungkook's gaze with surprise and a little guilt, even. "No, of course not. Why would I be mad at you?"

"Because I...didn't take care of myself." Jungkook found it almost funny how Jimin was the shorter one but he always felt smaller. Mostly he found it comforting. Size didn't really matter when it came to warmth, apparently.

Two warm hands covered his cheeks, holding his head in place. "I don't have any right to get mad at you, Jungkook. Your decisions are your own, remember? And I'm not mad at you." He released him and threw away the bandage wrappers, rinsing the cloth in the sink.

"But," Jungkook said timidly, standing up again, fingers fiddling with the ends of his sleeves. "You seemed so...not happy."

Jimin smiled almost amusedly at the younger, taking a wrist and leading him out of the bathroom. "That's called concern, Jungkook-ah, and you bring it out in me more than I would like, but I'm still happy to give it. I'll give you whatever care you need. I guess, I just wish you needed less of it."