Tails and Toes • Jikook Mermaid AU

Chapter Seventeen

Jungkook gave Jimin some painkillers and a glass of water when they got ready for bed. The black-haired boy had made kimchi for dinner, but he could barely eat. It felt like his mouth was sewn shut and he could barely say a word to Jimin when they were done with eating. Lately, he was feeling nervous, anxious and concerned. Jungkook had the feeling Jimin held something back for him, but he couldn't imagine what it would be. Jungkook had his eyes focused on Jimin who swallowed the painkillers and drank the glass of water empty afterwards. The mermaid laid down in bed, facing Jungkook. He looked so tired, Jungkook thought when he saw the black circles under Jimin's eyes and his sleepy smile. ''Goodnight.'' The mermaid said to Jungkook and caressed his thumb over Jungkook's hand. The black-haired boy laid his hand on Jimin's cheek, which was soft but also felt cold and warm at the same time. He caressed his hand over the soft rosy cheek of Jimin, slowly closing his eyes. Jungkook fell asleep with his hand still on Jimin's cheek and softly muttering the mermaids name over and over again. Jimin left the nightlight on, not wanting to lose the soft touch of Jungkook's fingers on his cheek.

...

Days passed fast, too fast for both of the boys. Jimin's health worsened with each day and Jungkook grew to be more concerned and scared. Four days had passed when Jungkook visited Jimin who laid in bed. Jungkook forced him to get some rest, because the mermaid was exhausted. He brought Jimin his daily dosis of medicine to soften the pain, but it still wasn't enough. It was never enough. Human medicine barely did something for a mermaids health. Jimin wanted to thank Jungkook, but he felt the sudden desire to threw up, something that was haunting him for days now. He threw up in the grey bucket next to the bed and wiped his mouth afterwards. When he started to cough, Jungkook sat down on the edge of the bed and held some white wipes for Jimin's mouth to cough in. Yes, Jungkook had noticed the specs of blood days ago, which made him feel so scared. Jungkook also noticed that Jimin's skin was almost as pale as the white wipes he was holding. When Jimin was done with coughing, he took his medicine with the help of Jungkook. He laid back afterwards and watched as Jungkook left the room. Jimin felt drops of sweat rolling down the side of his face and closed his eyes, trying to get some sleep. But he immediatly opened them when Jungkook walked into the room again. ''I'm going to take you somewhere.'' Jungkook said when he saw Jimin curiously looking at the car keys in his right hand. He walked over to Jimin and helped him get out of bed. When Jimin stood on both of his feet, it hurted. With every step he took, his feet stinged. He leaned on Jungkook and they carefully made their way downstairs. Jungkook helped Jimin put on his black coat and to walk down the sidewalk outside where Jungkook's car was parked. Jimin got curious where Jungkook was taking him when the boy started the car and rode it out of the neighbourhood. Jimin was staring out of the car window, looking up at the sky which was a mix of purple and deep blue. The sun was slowly going down, a sign the night was near. When Jungkook stopped at the parking lot by the beach, Jimin wasn't suprised. He expected Jungkook to bring him to the place where he came from, where they had first met. Jungkook stepped out of the car and helped Jimin to do too. They calmly walked down the sand, holding each others hand and Jimin leaning on Jungkook's shoulder. Jimin flinched when his feet started to sting even worse. They both stood still at the shore, out of the reach for the sea water. Jungkook let go of Jimin's hand and the mermaid took a step back, so they stood on the opposite of each other. Their eyes were locked with each other. ''Tell me the truth, what is wrong with you? I want to know it now and here. You're lying to me.'' Jungkook's words were sharp and straight to the point. Jimin slowly blinked while he looked at the boy. ''What do you mean? I-'' . ''You know damn well what I mean, Jimin. Please, say it to me. I care so much about you and I hate to see you like this.'' Jimin shook his head. ''You don't understand, Jungkook. It hurts.'' Jimin was on the verge of breaking down in tears, but he also wanted to shout at the boy. He didn't understand, he was a human. If he would know, it would rip his heart apart. ''Let me understand, please, I know how it feels-'' . ''No, you don't know how it feels!'' Jimin shouted, his voice was full of passion and tears were forming in his eyes. "This is worse than you could ever imagine! Why are you so concerned about me?" Jimin blinked his tears away, even though he felt so many emotions at once. Jungkook held his breath. His heart was pounding, his chest was going up and down. Jungkook couldn't hold it to himself anymore. His view was blurred because of the tears in his eyes and not even a second passed when they rolled down his cheeks. "Because I love you! Not as a friend, as a lover. As someone who is willing to spend the rest of his life with you. I love you so much since the day that we met. Since you saved me from drowning." Jungkook closed his eyes. "Jimin, p-please." The black-haired boy whimpered and opened his eyes to see a crying, shivering Jimin standing on the opposite of him. His fragile legs were shaking and from his throat escaped a soft sob. "I have always loved you and I will never stop doing so." Jimin said and smiled weakly, even though he was crying. He stepped towards Jungkook and he was so close their noses almost touched. They both lowered their heads, foreheads pressed against each other while they wrapped their arms around each others neck. They were craving for each others love. And then they finally pressed their lips against each other. Jungkook was right, the kiss tasted sweet. Just like Jimin. It was perfect. Not only the kiss, but also the whole scenery. The dark purple sky, rays of the undergoing sun that shone on both of the boys faces, the beach which was empty except for the both of them. It was exactly like how Jungkook dreamed. Jimin eventually took his lips off Jungkook's and pressed his forehead against that of the taller boy. ''You don't know how long I've waited to do that.'' Jimin said while panting. He was so full of love, of all the love he felt for Jungkook. ''You're the first person I've ever fallen in love with.'' Jungkook said and pressed his lips against Jimin's forehead. The plump pink lips of Jimin curled into a smile and then he looked up at Jungkook. The black-haired boy didn't understand when a lonely tear escaped Jimin's eyes, because he thought Jimin was finally happy, now that he had kissed Jungkook. It was time, the mermaid knew. ''There is something I haven't told you and I'm so sorry. But we both know this can't last forever.'' Jimin's voice was soft and he bit his underlip when he saw Jungkook's gaze that was focused on him. ''When a mermaid stays too long on land, side effects start to appear and weaken their health. It happened to Seokjin-hyung too. Bascially, a mermaid gets horribly sick which is a cycle. The mental breakdown I had that one night was the beginning of it. And now I'm almost at the end, which is really dangerous. If I don't return to the sea before the cycle ends, I'll-'' Jimin couldn't say the word, but he had to. ''I'll die.'' Jungkook looked at him with wide eyes that were filled with tears. He pressed Jimin against his own body, holding him tight. ''Little mermaid, what have you done to me?'' Jungkook whispered and he let his emotions flow this time. He started sobbing and he felt Jimin doing the same with his face in Jungkook's neck. ''You're not going to die, not as long as I love you. And that is forever.'' The human boy said with the softest tone in his voice and held Jimin safe in his arms.