Smoke Song

Running

Something hit the back of Jungkook's leg and he stumbled, tripping and falling forward. He twisted, landing hard on his shoulder, and something else hit him in the side, then his back and arms. Staggering to his feet, he saw two young men approaching, sneering, holding small stones in their hands.

"Hey, where do you think you're going?" one snarled. "Wanna go back and let the antis kill you?"

Jungkook froze, then broke into motion again as a rock skittered against the pavement at his feet. Seconds later he heard a loud, harsh tone echoing off the buildings around them, and he tripped, spinning on one foot and collapsing as something collided with his stomach.

"Coward," a voice hissed.

Jungkook started to get up, but the tone echoed again, this time fusing with other notes into a tune Jungkook had never heard before. He was thrown across the ground like a rag doll, skidding to a stop under a tree. The music swelled, and he felt tears streaking down his face again, his hands trembling as he forced them under himself and tried to get up again. The moment he had his feet underneath him he was forced back down by the music, and this time he gave up, throwing his arms over his face and curling into a ball.

"Coward," the voice repeated. The music stopped. Jungkook laid there, gasping, coughing, feeling the blood from his hands smear over his face-- or was blood from his face smearing over his hands?

I hate this place.

I don't belong here.

They should've left me to burn.

"Hey, isn't this..."

Someone dragged him upright, shaking him. "Hey. What's your name?"

Jungkook felt a sob building in his throat. He struggled to form words, to push the sound out, but it was no use. He had to settle for shaky breathing and frantic head-shaking.

"Is he retarded?"

"No, stupid, it's Jungkook. Hold him, I'll call Jin."

Jungkook was shoved into another person's arms and promptly dumped back onto the ground. He sat there, staring at his hands and fighting for air, while one of the strangers called Jin and immediately got into an argument with the older man.

"--your own fault that he ran out on you! Keep a better eye on your pets--what?"

The stranger who'd dropped Jungkook crouched beside him, scowling. "He must be retarded," he muttered, "What'd make a kid like him run crying from anywhere?"

Jungkook looked away.

"Hey. Can you understand me?" the stranger asked. "What the hell are you crying for?"

Jungkook wished he could laugh. Raising one limp hand, he smeared his blood onto the man's face, wobbling as the earth spun beneath him.

"So it's true then?" the stranger said. "Useless hands, no voice? After all that show at the pillar, you're just another victim?"

Jungkook slammed his bloody hand into the stranger's face.

"Hey! What the hell, you--"

"Sammy, cut it out. Jin's on his way," the other stranger shoved his phone into his back pocket and crouched in front of Jungkook, frowning. "Honest to goodness, Jungkook: why are you out here?"

Jungkook shrugged.

"You don't know?"
He nodded, avoiding the stranger's eyes.

"How'd you get here?"

Heat climbed Jungkook's face as he pantomimed running.

"Why?"

Jungkook gritted his teeth. Actions were one thing. How in the world did he explain that a man he didn't know had tipped him over the edge? Furthermore--why did he have to? What right did this stranger have? Let him call Jungkook coward and be done with it-- Jungkook was done with him. He staggered to his feet, starting to limp away, but the stranger leapt ahead of him, grabbing his arm.

"Whoa. Chill. Jin said you never tried to communicate before-- I'm just taking an opportunity. Tell me what's going on, please?"

Jungkook stared at him, blinking back the tears of pain building in his eyes.

"Say it," the stranger urged.

Jungkook's throat closed and he began to cough, shaking his head. Didn't this man understand? He couldn't speak. He couldn't say a word. The smoke had taken his voice, the fire had taken his hands; that was it.

"Please?"

Jungkook yanked his arm away, stumbling back.

"Jungkook!"

The cry came from across the street. Jungkook looked up in time to see Jin skid to a stop before his legs gave out, dumping him on the ground.

"Five miles?" Jin said, shoving his sleeves up over his elbows, "five miles without music-- are you f*cking insane--"

Jungkook yanked his hands away, pulling up his legs so they hid the bloody mess. Jin stilled, mouth half-open. Jungkook couldn't meet his eyes.

"What happened?" Jin exclaimed, dismayed.

"We thought he was a runaway," Sammy said dismissively. "He's lucky Jacob realized what was going on."

"You attacked him?" Jin cried, whirling, "The kid's been on the fence about us the entire time he's been here, and you send him--"

"--flying down the street like a rubber ball," Jacob finished. "Yeah. Focus on him?"

Jin sighed and turned back to Jungkook. "I'm sorry. Please, let me see your hands?"

Jungkook shook his head.

"Jungkook, I.U. told me about the first time. Show me your hands, please."

Stop trying to pretend you can fix them, Jungkook thought angrily, flinching away from Jin with a hiss when the man reached for him. Stop trying to pretend it will all turn out alright. Why didn't you just let me die?!

"I wish Soomin was here," Sammy mumbled.

"Well, if Soomin cared enough to be here, he'd be in the building helping us out full-time," Jin snapped. "We'll make do with ourselves for now."

Jungkook started to get up again, but he was exhausted, and this time Jin caught him when he fell, yanking one of Jungkook's hands out and clapping it between both of his.

"Is it nerves?" Jacob asked as Jin hummed a short tune, sealing up the broken skin and snatching the other hand out of Jungkook's shirt.

"From what I understand," Jin sighed, shaking himself. "Something as complicated as nerves... Taehyung might be able to, in a couple years. But everyone else who could is a rapper."

"And his throat?"

"That's..." Jin glanced nervously at Jungkook as he dropped the other hand, reaching for his face. "The doctors won't talk to me about it. No one's dropped the i-bomb, but he's acting like they have."

Jacob gave Jungkook a searching look that left him feeling like some kind of creature on display, then sighed, standing. "He was kind of trying," he said softly. "Gesturing, and stuff. But I pushed him too fast... I'm sorry."

"It's... it's okay," Jin said, standing and pulling Jungkook to his feet. "I'd better call someone--"

"Our car is around the corner," Sammy said, "Take him back in that."

"Are you--"

"We'll come with you," Jacob said hurriedly. "It's been awhile since I've seen Yoongi anyways."

Jin's face darkened. "Yoongi's... been in a mood, lately."

"Guess it's the perfect time to chat, then."

"Jacob--"

"I'll be careful!" Jacob said hastily. "It's been months."

Jin just sighed and shook his head.