Smoke Song

Soomin's Miracle

Jungkook woke with a start, rolling over in a superhuman-sized bed. He was surprised to find himself alone, and covered with a blanket. He started to move and coughed, bending over on the blanket. His hands curled in, clenching into fists--

His hands.

Jungkook sat up, looking at them in wonder. Moving them took more effort than it should have, but they moved. He gasped as they twitched, turning them over and staring openly. A cuff wrapped around one wrist, securing him to the bed, but he didn't even stop to wonder why.

He could move his hands.

A tear traced down his cheek, and he swiped it away, running one weak hand through his hair and letting out a sigh of relief. He had his hands. He had his hands. He flopped back on the bed, pressing his hands to his face. He had his hands. It didn't matter if he couldn't speak anymore. He had his hands.

But how had they done it? Everyone in the rebellion insisted only a skilled healer could do it. Did the antis actually have a singer? Or had they done something else?

He wasn't sure if he cared or not. Having his hands back was a relief, as if someone had stopped to douse all his now-healed-but-still-there burns with cold water. He curled up in a ball on the bed, hiding his tears in the blankets, and let out another soft sigh, letting his eyes flutter closed.

He was half-asleep when the door opened and someone walked in, crawling onto the bed. He shifted, but couldn't find the strength to open his eyes.

"Aww, drugs still wearing off?" the stranger asked, brushing Jungkook's hair out of his eyes. "Don't be scared. We're here to take care of you."

Jungkook sucked in a breath, struggling to open his eyes, and felt someone press a hand against his neck. His heart began to pound, and he tried to pull away, fumbling with the sheets, but the stranger straddled him, pressing a hand to his neck again and cooing in a way that was probably supposed to comfort him.

"Hold still, hold still, it will be over in a minute."

Jungkook let out a hiss of pain as a burning sensation started in his throat, but the hiss changed to a gasp as the heat drained away, replaced by a cool, soothing ripple that spread quickly through his neck and disappeared as quickly as it came. He sucked in a breath and realized the person on top of him was singing softly, running his fingers carefully over Jungkook's neck as he did so.

Jungkook took another breath, shivering as the feeling returned in his chest, then in his hands. He slowly rolled away, and the feeling disappeared as he opened his eyes.

The young man sitting on top of him smiled, reaching out and ruffling his hair. "There," he said. "All better."

Jungkook frowned, and the stranger laughed. "I'm Soomin," he said, flopping onto the bed beside him. "You're Jungkook, right? From the rescue attempt last year."

Last year? Jungkook furrowed his brows, but nodded, biting his lip. Soomin's face fell, and he sighed, sitting up.

"I guess it's not all physical, then," he hummed. "I thought it was too easy."

Jungkook sat up as well, and Soomin crossed his legs, leaning in to tap his forehead.

"Pretty impressive mental block you have," he said. "I just healed your voice."

Jungkook's hand flew to his neck. "What?" he mouthed, eyes widening when sound still didn't come out.

"Trauma," Soomin said quietly. "But whatever. I'm so glad you're here!"

Jungkook rubbed his throat, frowning at him. Soomin bounced on the bed, grinning at him, and then leaned in.

"See, we're really important," he said. "You could bring down an entire band, Jungkook. Isn't that amazing?"

Jungkook's shoulders slumped and he stared openly at Soomin. Destroy a band? An entire group of singers? Him? He had no voice!

"You knew Taehyung, right?" Soomin said. "He was so shaken up after you left. His fighting skill has gone down, big time." He laughed, twisting like an excited child as he fell back onto the bed. "I bet if he saw you he'd get so angry! And then BANG!"

Jungkook swallowed hard. Soomin's hand had formed the shape of a gun, aimed at the ceiling. The pleased look on his face said it all. Soomin was an anti and a singer. He sang, but he used his powers for the antis? How in the world was it possible?

Jungkook ran a hand up his arm to his neck, shrinking into himself, and Soomin cooed at him again, sitting up.
"Don't worry! We won't put you in danger. Right now, your coming to us is only a rumour. That's all we need. You can be safe from them, here." Soomin scooted closer to him reaching out and touching his face. "After all, you're helpless. It wouldn't be fair to put you out in front of maniacs like them."

Jungkook took a deep breath, biting his lip. Soomin traced Jungkook's eyebrows with his fingers, poking his cheek.

"You're safe here," he said, "No one will make you sing."