Smoke Song

I.U.

Jungkook sat on his bed, in the dark, unbandaged hands sitting in his lap. They twitched, every so often, but he couldn't make them move. Carefully, he lifted one and bumped it against the other. Nothing. Not even a dull throb.

A tear slid down his cheek.

"You're a waste of time."

Jungkook groaned, standing and smacking his hand against the side of the bed. The skin cracked and began to bleed, but he didn't feel a thing. Standing in the dark, watching the blood trace down his fingers, he let out a soundless sob.

A waste.

He whirled, going to the door and opening it. The light from the hallway slanted across the bandages on his bed, the drops of blood on the floor. He ignored them, stuffing his bleeding hand in one pocket and jogging towards the stairs. Flight after flight he climbed, until his lungs were ready to burst and he could feel the tears sliding down his face. Circling around, he came face to face with a door. He'd reached the top floor of the building.

He stood staring at the door, then glanced back at the stairs. Nothing stirred; there was no breath of wind to cool the sweat on the back of his neck. I guess healing really does only go skin deep, he thought bitterly, reaching out and pushing the door open.

The night air rushed in, freezing him to the bone. He shuddered, then stepped out, letting the door close behind him. Who cared if he froze? If he was locked out for the entire night? The man was right; he was a waste of space without his voice.

"MUSIC NEVER DIES!"

Jungkook grimaced. Irony hates me, he thought.

"Oh? It's been awhile since a singer came up here."

Jungkook looked up, frowning. A young woman was leaning against the outer wall of the roof, illuminated by the city lights below.

"Wanna come look?" she said, "Not everyone gets to see an arts settlement."

Jungkook walked over to her, leaning over the side and looking down. They were so high up the people looked like specks, but music drifted through the air, rising up to meet them with the scents of food and the sound of laughter. He could see flashing signs, people dancing together in a circle. Slowly, he folded his arms and closed his eyes, biting his lip.

"It would take a miracle for your voice to return."

Her touch on his shoulder made him look up.

"I'm I.U.," she said softly. "What's your name?"

Jungkook grimaced, pulling a hand out of his pocket to gesture to his throat and she gasped, reaching out.

"Your hand..."

He shook his head, tucking it closer to him.

"I can at least remove the scars," I.U. said, "It might make them easier to move."

Jungkook took a shuddery breath and shook his head again. She ignored him, pulling his hand out and pressing it between hers. "I'm twenty-three, a mystery..." she sang, then hummed through a few more bars, and the skin pulled together, fusing and clearing. Jungkook flinched when she took his other hand, healing the scars on it as well, and pulled away, shaking his head harder.

"Why?" I.U. said, "You don't want people staring, do you?"

Then, cupping his face in her hands, she continued singing.

He felt the shivering, cool sensation of her healing. But although he knew the scars all over his body were disappearing, fading out of existence, that would only make everything worse. Just because the scars were gone didn't mean it didn't hurt anymore. If anything, they made the pain worse, because no one would know he felt it. They would all see the skin, see the healing that had taken place, and assume that was the end of it. They wouldn't understand.

He was startled by his own thoughts. Did he want to be pitied? Did he want people to stare and feel sorry for him?

I.U. leaned in, wrapping her arm around his head and bringing it down, touching her forehead to his. "It's hard to concentrate when everyone's staring at you," she said, "Hopefully this will help."

Jungkook nodded, swallowing.

But he knew it wouldn't.

Even if he wished it would.

I.U. was perfect for this cameo, please don't fight me on this. :) 

We get to meet the ARMY from the rescue mission next chapter! Let's go! 

*chair falls to the floor* 

Oh shoo--