SAFE HAVEN, yoonkook

nineteen.

It seemed Jungkook's mood the previous day was more than just sulking. Or, at least, Yoongi assumed it wasn't after the boy didn't get up the following day. He just lay there, curled up against the older male. Yoongi woke to a shivering boy, sticky with sweat. This immediately raised some alarm bells.

"Kookie, you alright?" He asked softly, trying to wake the boy up. Jungkook just groaned -- whined -- and moved closer to Yoongi. He gripped the blonde's pyjamas rather weakly. "Kookie?"

"I don't feel good."

A few minutes later, Jungkook was throwing up in the bathroom. Yoongi sat beside him, rubbing his back while pushing any hair that fell dangerously close to the boy's face. Sympathy wracked him as he listened to the younger's retches and broken sobs.

When there was nothing else to throw up, Jungkook threw himself into Yoongi's arms and nestled there. He refused to move until Yoongi made him. The older male flushed the toilet and then sat the younger on the toilet seat, cleaning him up before placing a hand on his forehead.

"You're really warm, Kookie." He muttered. He then grabbed a face towel that was resting on the towel rack, wetting it with cold water. Once it was damp enough, he handed it to Jungkook. "Hold this against your forehead, it'll help you cool down."

Jungkook did as he was told, pressing it against his forehead as the older male picked him up. Yoongi carried him back to the bedroom, worrying about the boy as he placed him on the bed.

"I'll be back in a second." The blonde said as he left to go grab the younger a glass of water and a thermometer. When he came back, Jungkook was curled up with his wings wrapped sadly around him. He was a sorry sight -- one that made Yoongi feel terrible. He sighed, sitting down on the bed beside Jungkook. "Kookie, I have to take your temperature. Could you just put this in your mouth? Please?"

Jungkook complied, allowing the cold thermometer to hang between his lips as it took his temperature. When it beeped and Yoongi read the numbers, his worries are only increased.

"Okay." He said, trying to keep his voice level so not to worry the younger. "Just drink some water and go back to sleep."

"Stay with me?" Jungkook croaked, holding onto Yoongi's arm.

"I will. I'll be back, I just need to call Hoseok. To tell him I can't come into work today." It was only after Yoongi promised over and over that he'll be right back that Jungkook let him go. The older male immediately rushed out to the opposite end of the house, making sure he was out of earshot of the younger, and called Hoseok. Thankfully, his friend didn't take too long to pick up.

"What is it, Yoongi?" Hoseok asked as soon as he answered, sounding tired. Apparently the promotion was making him busier, but he said he was fine. He wouldn't admit it if Yoongi asked, but his friend could tell.

"I think Jungkook's sick. He's got a temperature of 39 degrees." Now that Jungkook couldn't hear, Yoongi let the worry fill his voice. He really was worried -- he wasn't sure how to look after another person. "I don't know what to do, Hoseok. What if it's something to do with the alternations? What if he's different from us? I can't take him to a hospital-- Hoseok, what do I do?"

"Hang on. I think I know someone who might be able to help." Before Yoongi could say anything, the younger male continued, "Don't worry, you can trust him. He's a good friend -- won't tell anyone."

"I didn't know you had any friends other than me..."

"You? A friend?" Hoseok scoffed, the jokes lightening the mood a little. "You should be a comedian, Yoongi. But anyway, just look after Jungkook for now, I'll be over with my friend soon."

"Alright. Thank you, Hoseok."

"What can I say? I'm your hope."

ー

Hoseok arrived around about half an hour later with a man in a white coat right behind. He let himself in, not even bothering to knock. Yoongi was lying with Jungkook, who had finally fallen asleep again. The blonde didn't even notice the pair until they were standing in his doorway.

"Is this the kid?" The stranger asked, gesturing at Jungkook. The other two nodded, as Yoongi watched him warily. "Alright. I'll just need to run a few checks -- nothing serious."

Yoongi woke Jungkook up before stepping back to let the man do his work. The boy's temperature was taken again, his heart rate checked (Jungkook did not like the stethoscope) and a few other tests run before the stranger returned to the older two. He did, first, say a few comforting things to the boy before giving him a tablet.

"It's just a fever." The stranger said to Yoongi. "Nothing serious, just keep him hydrated and rested. If it gets too uncomfortable for him, maybe give him some ibuprofen or aspirin."

"Thank you." Yoongi glanced back at the boy, feeling a little better. He then frowned, looking back at the stranger. "Why are you not freaking out? Like, no offence, but you've just seen the closest thing to an angel you'll probably ever see and you didn't even bat an eyelid."

"Oh, believe me, I'm freaking out internally. That is one, beautiful human -- I've never seen anyone like that." The male smiled slightly. "But, the job comes first. Make sure he's alright is my number one priority."

"Well, thank you for that." Yoongi smiled back a little. "I'm Yoongi, by the way. That's Kookie -- or Jungkook, but he chose the name Kookie... Jungkook's just for when we're around, normal people."

"Kim Seokjin. I'm a veterinarian and a friend of Hoseok's. Pleased to meet you both."

"He can be trusted too, won't peep a word. He's sworn to secrecy."

"Best friend code of secrecy?" Yoongi asked, which only made Seokjin chuckle and shake his head.

"No, more like blackmail. Hoseok has plenty of dirt on me." Seokjin's smiled lingered on his lips as he glanced over at Jungkook again. "Anyway, I should probably get going. I have an operation in around half an hour."

"Alright. Thank you, again. How much should I pay?"

"Absolutely nothing -- I'll take the honour of seeing someone like Kookie as my payment." The vet rummaged through his pockets before pulling out a card. "Here's my card. If he gets worse or just gets sick again, call me. Bye Yoongi -- Hoseok, you're driving me back."

"Bye Hoseok, bye Seokjin. Thank you."

Jungkook looked up at Yoongi, who was lying in the bed with him. Noticing the boy's gaze, the older male looked down at him and smiled softly. The blonde ran his fingers through the younger's hair, pushing his hair back off a sticky forehead.

"Thirsty?" Jungkook nodded, sitting up a little. Yoongi grabbed the glass of water rested beside the bed, lifting it up to the boy's lips. The brunette sipped from the water, staring up at the older male as he did so. When he'd drunk a little, Yoongi placed the water back and went back to playing with the younger's hair. It was something he'd discovered Jungkook liked, so he did it whenever they were lying around or the boy didn't seem to be in a good mood -- like right now.

They both got settled down in the bed, lying in each other's arms. Then, Yoongi decided to do something a little brave (or at least he thought it was, with a boy like Jungkook) and pressed his lips on the top of the younger's forehead. Surprisingly -- thankfully -- Jungkook didn't fight back and let Yoongi kiss his forehead. In fact, although he wouldn't say it, he didn't mind it.

It was then that Jungkook noticed something: the way the older male looked at him. He wouldn't call it the look, but it was definitely a look. A fond look, one that made him feel strangely warm.

And one that made him feel, even more strangely, safe.