freckles

* chapter eighteen *

"Ettie." Jimin hurried over to her as she walked into the door, his arms open wide, engulfing her in them. Yes, Jimin himself is small, but he had Claudette beat. "I heard what happened."

"I'm sorry." She whispered, her chin on his shoulder.

"No no." Jimin's lip formed into a pout as he hugged her tighter. "Don't apologize. Are you tired?"

"I am." Claudette leaned into Jimin. "But I just took a nap-"

"Shh." Jimin kept his arm around Claudette as he dragged her forward, Jin, Yoongi, and Taehyung slowly trailing behind. "Come on, let's go get you a nap."

"C-Claudia." Jungkook stepped forward, fumbling and twirling the ring she gave him. "I-"

"Jungkook, she needs some rest." Jimin interrupted his younger friend, patting his shoulder as he took another step forward with Claudette. "You can tell her whatever it is later."

"Jungkook..." Claudette mumbled, turning around for only a second to catch his eyes on her.

"We'll go to my room, okay? I have the darkest room, so you'll be able to fall asleep sooner." Jimin opened the door for her, leading her blindly into the dark. "There you go." Jimin held up the covers for her. "Do you like cats? I can get Juno to snuggle with you."

"That would be really nice." Claudette squinted through the dark, Jimin only a shadow in the dark. "Jimin?" She asked as Jimin sat Juno, his cat, beside her.

"Yes Ettie?"

"Can you stay with me? I don't like being in the dark alone."

"Yes Ettie," Jimin climbed onto the bed, his heart throbbing with sadness. "Of course I can."

"Jimin?" She whispered, turning towards him. "Will you be here when I wake up?"

"Ettie." Jimin frowned softly. "I'm not going anywhere." He saw her tremble in the dark, a small sniffle following as well. "Hey, come here." He raised his arm so she could lay closer to him. "I've got you. I'm not leaving."

She stayed quiet, letting her fingers slowly dance in Juno's fur.

"What if you do leave?"

Jimin couldn't blink.

"Jimin... Jimin what if you died?"

Jimin couldn't breathe.

"Jimin what if you never make it home?"

Jimin... was frozen.

"What, what if the world loses you Jimin-"

"No." He cut her off, pulling her up and facing her towards him. "Don't say that, don't ever say that."

"Jimin-" She whimpered, tears sliding down her face.

"Don't let your anxiety take over." Jimin whispered, eyebrows pressed up in worry. He knew that if she let her thoughts take over, there was no stopping the panic attack that was bound to happen.

"I'm not leaving you." Jimin frowned and pulled her into a hug, feeling her hands against his chest, and then taking a small fistful of his shirt into her hands.

Jimin made sure his breathing was shallow so her head wouldn't move as much. And Lord did Jimin pray that she couldn't hear how fast his heart was racing.

But how could she not? Her ear was quite literally pressed against his chest.

And that was the reason his heart was beating as fast as a horse's running hooves on the ground.

"Hey," Jimin spoke softly after what seemed like hours. "You should lay..." Her head fell down his chest slowly. "Ettie?"

"Huh?" She mumbled, her voice as quiet as a breath.

"Sweet dreams." Jimin smiled, helping her down slowly until her head was in his lap.

He watched his fingers tremble as they floated above her hair, unsure of what to do.

What if she woke up?

What if she doesn't like it?

What if she doesn't like me the way I like her?

Jimin held his breath, letting his fingers gently dive into her hair, pleasantly surprised at how soft and smooth it was.

"You're really pretty, Ettie."

Jimin almost slapped his hand over his mouth. Even he didn't know why he said that aloud. It was supposed to only be a thought!

"I love your accent too."

Jimin what are you doing-

"It's so, sing-song like. And gentle. So unique."

Jimin-

"I would love to listen to it all day."

Ji-

"I would love for it to be the first thing I hear in the morning."

Jimin's fingers were so deeply tangled in her hair, he didn't know how it could've possibly gotten so-

He caught sight of his watch.

It's been forty minutes?!?!?

Claudette took a shaky breath, turning onto her side a bit more, her lightly closed fist resting on Jimin's thigh.

Jimin blinked, wishing his thoughts were less perverted and more sweet and innocent.

"I wish I could keep you in my lap forever."

JIMIN-

"I could keep you safe and protected."

Better but no.

"You live so far away from me." Jimin sighed sadly, slowly untangling his fingers. "I wish I was closer to Paris..." Jimin rubbed his forehead, leaning back to rest his back on the headboard. "Oh what could I buy or give you that would keep you safe....

"A dog." Jimin sat up again, a smile on his face. "Juno, I could buy her a dog!"

Claudette curled up in his lap, shivering slightly, Jimin gasping to himself.

"Ettie you dummy, why didn't you pull the covers over your shoulder?" Jimin scolded her lightly, doing so for her. "Stay warm, Love."

Love,, I called her Lo-

YOU CALLED HER LOVE YOU DUMBAS-

"Obtenir l'ananas." Claudette groaned, grabbing Jimin's thigh before releasing it from her dream. (get the pineapple)

Oh fuck-

Jimin looked away, covering his mouth as his face burned.

She just grabbed his thigh-

"Tu piges!" Claudette whined louder, moving her head a little bit, Jimin unable to take his eyes off her. (get it!)

Wait no don't whine-

"Shh, shh." Jimin brushed her hair again, trying to get her back to sleep. Well, she was asleep, but to get her sleep talks away.

Jimin's words started as a whisper, his singing not cracking, but certainly not strong. But as he saw that she wasn't rambling in French, he gained slight confidence, letting his fingers dance through her hair freely again. He swayed lightly, smiling as he sang her into sleep.

"Ah, what a nice way to start the night." Jimin sighed, looking down at her face. She was so cute, her lips poking out in a little pout, her face looking so relaxed-

Jimin saw how close her forehead was to his lips, getting lost in the thought-

He did it.

YOU DID IT-

He kissed her forehead.

Just as Namjoon walked in.

i'm sorry for the late update