Healer

Relief

Jimin stared blankly at the man's retreating back, wishing he could call out to him, but his voice was gone. His head ached. The sunlight off the cobblestone pathways nearly blinded him as he forced his stiff limbs to carry him out of the light and into the shadows behind the alleyway.

It hurt.

Jimin closed his eyes, wishing the tears would stop leaking out from underneath his eyelids. His muscles screamed in protest, though he did nothing. His heart pounded in his chest as his head throbbed, thoughts circling around him like vultures.

I can't do this.

No more.

Don't bring them here.

I can't do it.

Stay away.

Don't let them see this.

Please.

I can't do this anymore.

"I'll sit with him. Joon should be at the library--go!"

The bed dipped, and Jimin opened his eyes, looking up into Hoseok's face. The soother cupped his face in both hands, wiping the tears out of his eyes. Numbness began to steal across Jimin's body, and he whimpered, shuddering.

"Shh, shh, it's going to be okay," Hoseok said. "Jungkook's getting Yoongi. Tae's getting Joon. You're going to be okay."

Though the words were meaningless, Jimin focused on them, staring into Hoseok's eyes as the soother's hands moved to his neck, fingertips brushing his throat.

"That's right, keep looking at me. See my eyes? Focus on them. Just a few more minutes... look at me..."

Jimin swallowed. Flecks of light brown danced across the darker background of Hoseok's eyes, shimmering in the soft morning light. He imagined if he stared long enough, he could see all the shades of the earth in those eyes. Hoseok leaned over him, one hand pressed against the back of his neck. The other came down to rest against his shirt, feeling for a heartbeat.

"I feel you tensing. Look at me. Look at me. There we go. Just hang in there a little longer. They're coming."

I don't want them to come, Jimin thought, letting out another sob.

"Shh... just watch my eyes."

The door creaked. Hoseok's eyes didn't flick away from Jimin's, but the tone of his voice changed immediately.

"Go over me, he's numb."

"He can't stay that way Seok, I've gotta--"

"You wouldn't say that if you felt his readings," Hoseok snapped. "Go over."

Yoongi grumbled something indistinct. The bed dipped on Jimin's other side, and his eyes drifted to Yoongi's face. He opened his mouth, wishing he could say something, and Hoseok pressed a finger to his lips.

"Jungkook will get that in a second," he said. "Try to relax."

Something inside Jimin twisted. He gasped, squeezing his eyes shut, and Yoongi growled something at Hoseok.

"I'll numb him if I wa--" Hoseok started.

"Not while I'm working on him!" Yoongi snarled.

"Hyung?" Namjoon asked softly.

"Hold his hand," Yoongi snapped.

"Hyung, maybe you shouldn't--"

"I've got no choice," Yoongi said, knocking Hoseok's hands aside and pressing his against Jimin's sides. Jimin gulped, looking slowly into his eyes, and knew they were both remembering the same thing, the same time... the last time...

"Hold still for me."

Yoongi's eyes softened, and he sighed, running a hand through Jimin's hair. "Do you want to sleep?" he mumbled. "Is that it?"

Jimin's breathing became shallow. Pain was draining back into his system, syncing its pulse with his heartbeat and swirling around the places where Yoongi's hands and legs touched him. Hoseok watched, concern and frustration warring on his face. Jungkook slipped his hands under Jimin's head, resting his fingertips against the base of his neck.

"Wait a moment," he said, "If you're putting him to sleep..."

Jimin's eyes swam with tears as twin sensations of hot and cold swirled in his neck, gathering around his throat. His mouth fell open as he gasped for air, squeezing his eyes shut, and Namjoon's grip on his hand tightened.

"He's gonna--" Namjoon started.

Jimin screamed. The sound wrenched out of his throat, reverberating in his ears. Yoongi's hands twitched against his sides. Jungkook leaned down, pressing their foreheads together and whispering apologies. Jimin broke off with a gasp, panting, then sucked in another breath, moaning.

"Don't." 

My little sister just gave me part of her birthday candy TT^TT