Healer

If You Can't Help It...

Jimin whimpered and began to cry, sagging into the floor and curling in on himself. The colored blob moved toward him and he threw his hands over his head, half-screaming. It hurt. He couldn't see. He couldn't think. Somewhere someone was trying to explain, but he'd had it. If they were going to get mad at him for staying away and then invite rapists over to the house, there was no way he was cooperating. He felt a hand on his wrist and lashed out, slapping the idiot across the face--if it was the face, he thought he felt a nose, he just wasn't sure.

The idiot tried again. This time Jimin balled his hand into a fist before swinging his arm, eyes squeezed shut. There was a low grunt, and Jimin felt himself jolt upward, which was not good for his writhing stomach. He groaned, leaning on the stranger, and threw up for the second time that day.

"Shh shh shh," Seokjin said. "Hey. Shhh..."

Jimin gasped, swaying, and coughed, gagging. "Don't let him take me," he mumbled. "Don't let him take me, please don't let him take me, Please--"

"Nobody's taking you anywhere," Seokjin said, "Except me. I'm taking you to the bathroom. I want you to focus on breathing, alright? You're safe."

"Nonononononono, I can't, I don't want to, please don't make me go, I'll be good, I'll be good, I promise--"

"Jimin," Seokjin said, his voice breaking. "It will be fine, I promise. Just come with me, okay? We need to get you cleaned up."

Jimin was too weak to refuse. Seokjin half-cradled, half-supported him as he walked him past two other strangers, lifting a hand to shield his eyes in a futile attempt to calm him. Jimin let the older man bathe him, and the focus returned to his vision as Seokjin dressed him, carefully sitting him down on the bathroom floor and running a hand through his wet hair.

"Hey," he said softly. "What's going on?"

Jimin let out a breath, biting his lip. "Why--why is Soohyung here?"
"Soo-- Oh empress!" Seokjin smacked his forehead, running his hands through his hair. "That's not Soohyung, Jimin. That's... I never got his name. But Yoongi would've strangled Soohyung if he tried to take a step in the door. I'm so sorry." He reached out, hesitantly, and cupped Jimin's face in his hands. "I'll talk to those idiots once they finish cleaning your room, okay? You're safe here."

"But--but Soohyung--"

"Do you need me to find out who he is?" Seokjin began to stand, and Jimin frantically shook his head, grabbing the front of the older man's sweater and tugging him back down.

"Don't-- he'll hurt you--!"
"I won't get hurt," Seokjin said softly, rubbing Jimin's shoulder. "Here, why don't we go together? That way I can keep an eye on you."

Jimin let him pull him to his feet, but each step to the bathroom door was torture. He froze in the doorway, shaking his head, and Seokjin hugged him, rocking him back and forth.

"He must have given you quite a shock," he said softly. "I'm sorry. I hadn't even thought about how similar--"

"What happened? What's going on?"
"Hoseok! Can you go find out what that stranger's name is?"

"Huh? That's Minseok-ah. Why?"

"Jimin was saying he's Soohyung."

Hoseok frowned, folding his arms. "I can double-check--"

"Would you? I'll take him to my room, he needs a break."

Hoseok nodded, hurrying down the stairs, and Seokjin followed slowly after, slipping past the kitchen and down the hall to his bedroom, hidden behind the stacks of boxes from a new medicine shipment.

"It'll be quieter in here," Seokjin promised, pushing the door open.

Jimin flinched, startled, as a rushing sound filled his ears. He looked around, frowning, and spotted a small CD player on Seokjin's nightstand, next to his large bed. The sound came from it.

"White noise," Seokjin said. "It helps me focus. Want to lie down?"

Jimin nodded. Seokjin helped him into bed, tucking him under the blankets, and sat beside him, running a hand through his hair.

"I'm really sorry about that," he said. "Yoongi told me he's a patient who talks with him a lot. It would be odd..." he trailed off, sighing. "Nevermind. Let's not think about it, yeah?"

Jimin swallowed, wrapping an arm around himself and tucking the other behind his head. Seokjin crawled into the bed beside him, huffing.

"If it turns out they did let that bastard in I won't cook them anything for a couple months, at least. Wasn't there a warrant out for his arrest?"

Jimin shrugged. Seokjin muttered a little more under his breath, then slipped under the covers, flopping around a bit before he fell asleep.

But Jimin couldn't sleep. He couldn't take his eyes off the door, the white noise roaring in his ears, his heartbeat still racing like he was the last child left in a game of hide and seek... only, if that stranger came in, it wouldn't be any fun. There would be no prize. Only misery.

Jimin stifled a whimper, pulling further under the blankets and hugging himself. He was so tired of being afraid. So tired of being helpless. But he couldn't do anything. He was too weak, too easily panicked, too stupid.

He felt ridiculous.