Healer

Secrets Don't Keep

Jimin sat on the floor of his bedroom, head tipped back, eyes closed. The pain was unusually strong that morning, throbbing through his muscles and making his hands curl. His eyes burned behind his lids. Every muscle in his body had stiffened in protest to his movement, so he sat there, resting against his bed, waiting for the moment to pass.

Except it wouldn't.

"Our secret," the guard said. It was all he ever said. Jimin watched dimly as he walked back to his post, carefully adjusting his robe and tapping his staff carelessly against the doorframe. His body was numb. He hoped it would stay that way, that the feeling would never return to his aching muscles and frayed nerves.

It was quiet.

Too quiet.

He swallowed, wishing he could wipe the tears off his face. Any of the men could come in at any moment and see him helpless on the floor. They all knew he was in pain, but he liked to believe he did a good job of working with it, getting through each day without needing extra support.

Was it all a lie?

"Jimin, you must never tell anyone. You wouldn't want to be responsible for his death, would you?" the concubine hissed, eyes filled with fear. "They would kill you, too. That guard is his favorite."

Yeontan's footsteps pattered on the landing, and Jimin sucked in a breath, eyes flying open. No, he thought. Not now. Please.

"What is it, buddy? You wanna see 'Min?"

Jimin's eyes widened. He swallowed. He couldn't wait anymore. He would have to move, get out of his position--

Too late. Taehyung opened the door, and his goofy grin slid off his face as their eyes connected. Yeontan leapt between the stunned man's legs, barking, and crawled into Jimin's lap, putting his paws on his chest and licking the tears off his chin.

Jimin couldn't find the will to push him away. His chest rose and fell, and he forced himself to look down, away from Taehyung.

"Don't tell anyone."

"Jimin?" Taehyung said softly. "Can you sign a scale?"

Jimin's hands shook. Taehyung wanted a number, but his hands wouldn't move. Why wouldn't they move? He just needed to show Taehyung he was fine. Why wouldn't it...?

Tears dripped down his cheeks, and he bowed his head, taking a shaky breath.

Taehyung knelt beside him, taking one of his hands. "I'm going to move your fingers," he said hesitantly, giving it a squeeze. "Nod when I hit the right number, okay?"

Jimin took a shaky breath and leaned against him, watching. One finger... two fingers...

"Who did this to him?!"

He let out a strangled cry, startling both of them. Taehyung paused, watching him carefully, and Jimin sucked in another breath, swallowing hard.

"Your throat..." Taehyung said, "Did Yoongi already heal it?"

Jimin shook his head.

"Silver lining," Taehyung muttered. "I'm starting again."

Three, four, five. Tears blurred Jimin's vision. His lungs constricted.

"Sire, I assure you, he has been sick for months now. I will call another healer--"

"Sick for months, huh? He's been raped--repeatedly!"

"Lee Jongshin. Tell me the truth!"

Another cry rasped out of his throat. Taehyung was moving the fingers back down, hesitating with every shift.

"Get them out of my sight," the emperor said, whirling around in a storm of white-and-gold silk. "Kill the guard. The concubine will fend for himself."

Jimin shook his head desperately. He was shaking, helpless. Taehyung held his closed fist in one hand, gaping at him. Jimin bit his lip, trying to focus on Taehyung's hand, and saw the scarring around his wrist, leading up under his sleeve.

"Jimin..." Taehyung said softly, "I'm going to put you back in bed."

Jimin gasped, squeezing his eyes shut.

"I need to get Hoseok-hyung and Yoongi-hyung," Taehyung continued, running a gentle hand through his hair. "Maybe Jungkook. I promise I won't be long."

Jimin swallowed, opening and closing his mouth. I can't, he thought desperately. I can't. Please, let it go away. Let it be a false alarm. I can't do this. Not now.

Taehyung lifted him gently, grunting as he set him down on the blankets. Jimin nearly screamed when the young man arranged his limbs, sticking pillows underneath his knees and muttering apologies as he tried to make him lie flatter.

"Just a few minutes, I promise," Taehyung said, pushing Jimin's hair out of his face. Then he was gone. 

As I post this I'm reading a western for a class-- it's called Flint by Louis L'Amour and it's about a former gunman-turned-millionare-stockholder who learns he has cancer and goes west to die but gets wrapped up in a land battle instead. definitely interesting, a little weird. L'Amour has a flair for these kinds of stories, though. I don't think I would have ever started taking westerns seriously if I hadn't read his first. Great Books. My Personal favorite is 'The Lonesome Gods'. 

What's your favorite book?