Salvatore | Jikook

#12: Storms

"I  understand the pain you feel because I felt it too."

~

 Jimin:

When he was young Jimin remembers his grandma often used to tell him, "Jimin-ah you know no one is brave it's about just how long they could hide behind the facade of being strong."

He never understood what it meant because he was too young but now things had changed. Jimin stared at his son in his arms, the six-year-old jumping excitedly as they left the office.

Jeo had a private tutor to teach him

Since Jimin was always a bit overprotective when it came to Jeo he couldn't just bring himself to send Jeo to a local daycare center. So he hired a tutor to teach Jeo a few hours a day at his office every day. That way Jeo wasn't far either for his father to worry.

But now that Jeo was old enough to enroll in kindergarten Jimin's demons were battling with him at the thought.

Now he understood what his Grandma had meant because Jimin, the one who held his composure even while he was crumbling, suddenly felt like he couldn't do that anymore. He wanted to be embraced and told it's alright to be weak, to cry.
He wanted to be told that he too was a human.
He wanted to know that it okay to fall that there is someone who will hold you up.

But he couldn't do that for his smiling son he had to wear the mask a little longer, force a smile a little longer.

"Papa?" Jeo's voice brought Jimin back.

"hmm?" Jimin turned to the little boy in his arms who started back with his huge doe-like eyes.

"Can we bake cookies for uncle kookie when we get home? I think he is sad." Jeo said while giving his father puppy dog eyes.

Jungkook had actually seemed a little depressed. Usually, in the mornings, he would be messing with Jeo and during office hours trying his best to annoy Jimin, and often when Jeo was free Jungkook would disappear with him like the wind.

But these days he was silent, often zoned out during his meeting and when he was free he won't be seen until late into the night.

It wasn't just Jungkook, Jimin realized belatedly, everyone is acting strange, Tae, Yoongi, even Jin, it was just that the father-son duo was more worried about Jungkook.

Not that Jimin liked him or anything but Jimin did owe Jungkook and they also lived together. Yeah, thats it.

"Fine let's buy the things papa will need okay?" Jimin smiled at Jeo who giggled happily satisfied.

On their way home Jimin stopped at a grocery store and got off to find stuff he would need. Jeo threw a fit to buy banana milk because Jimin refused since he said he will make Jeo banana shake out of fresh bananas at home. But Jeo won't budge.

And Jimin was surprised since Jeo was a picky eater.

Defeated Jimin picked out two yellow cartons. "Happy?"

Jeo smiled and nodded, Jimin felt a tug at his heart watching his innocent little son.

I will give you everything I can.

On the way home the winds were harsh. There was an oncoming snowstorm and it was freezing already. 

When Jimin's car stopped at the porch Jungkoook's car was also parked but when he got inside the house it was eerily silent even the lights were off. Even Mrs. Lee was nowhere to be seen.

After placing the bags on the kitchen counter Jimin carried Jeo upstairs to change. And to his surprise, Jungkoook's bedroom lights were off too. Jimin knew Jungkook was free today so where could he have gone to?

Did he go to visit Jin? Might be. But then he realized, why the hell was he even worried? 

Maybe because of the storm, because his car is home and he couldn't possibly be out in this storm could he?

Jungkook is a grown man he would be careful, Jimin told himself and focused on his own problems, that was baking cookies with a really messy Jeo. 

Jungkook:

The streets were cold and dark. 

Jungkook found himself aimlessly wandering the streets like he would do often when he was young. The temperature kept dropping and the winds got harsher but he was reluctant to go back home. To meet Jeo's smiling eyes and have to smile.

He didn't want to go back and face Jimin, the guilt from the last time when he triggered Jimin was still there. He had been wanting to apologize but the words would get stuck in his throat.

He looked up at the raging gray clouds and the sparks of the lightning now and then. Jin had given him hope that they might find his sister, his twin, but Jungkook was in an emotional turmoil. He didn't know if he should believe it. If he should allow himself to hope.

A drop of water fell down on his cheek and he realized belatedly that it was starting to rain.

Meanwhile back at the mansion, Jimin was sitting alone in the lounge with a phone pressed to his ear looking worried as he waited for the other end to be received. Jeo had long since fallen asleep, he had wanted to wait for Jungkook so they could eat cookies together but since he was afraid of thunder Jimin put him to sleep after it started to rain. 

 "Hello, Jimin you are calling at this hour? Everything alright?" Jin's tired voice rang mutely through the phone. And Jimin couldn't help but feel like something was off. 

"Nothing much, hyung." Jimin hesitated, wanting to ask Jin about Jungkook but he didn't want to come off wrong to his hyung. Even though most of their family members know that the couple didn't get along, Jimin also knew that he should have called earlier to ask about Jungkook.

"Jimin you know you can talk to me about anything right?" Jin prompted.

Jimin sighed and decided he didn't care what Jin thought he couldn't go to sleep not knowing where the annoying brat was, "Hyung it's just that Jungkook isn't home and his car is here. Is he with you?"

"Jungkook isn't home?!" Jin almost yelled, "Have you tried his phone?"

"Yes I called him but his phone is switched off and the weather is worsening, if he is not with you where could he be?" Jimin couldn't help but start to pace as the sky growled loudly and the winds caused the windows to sharply rattle.

Jimin's heart sank, he knew Jungkook had been depressed for the past few days and now he was most probably wandering in the storm he understood because the similar need to self-harm was something that tempted him too often. At that moment nothing could have stopped but the thought that his little son was waiting at home for him. That he was still young to survive alone among the wolves.

"Jimin if his car is there he would be nearby. I am coming just w-" Jimin didn't hear the rest for the door suddenly opened and the cold winds rushed in and shivers rose along Jimin's skin he turned around to find a drenched Jungkook.

Jimin's heart squeezed in his chest he mumbled, "he came back" into his phone before ending the call and turning to Jungkook.

Jungkook was zoned out his head lowered, he probably hadn't even noticed Jimin.

For some reason, Jimin wanted to go over and wrap Jungkook in his arms and not let him feel like he was falling, he wanted to tell Jungkook that he would be there to catch him.

Jimin silently stood watching, unable to move to Jungkook who stood still for a couple of moments before collapsing. 

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Sorry for the late update, I actually wanted to update but I rewrote this chapter a lot of times. Also if you are a top Jimin simp and love vampire au check out my story "Forever tied"?