Year 112 of Lee Kingdom. Sakura Fields. Kim Estate. 

"Don't come out without my permission again," Seokjin sighs, exasperated as if he is trying very hard to be patient. "And don't beg Taehyung to unlock the door, you have everything you need in here," he tells the completely bruised-up boy, eyes cold and emotionless.

"I didn't ask..," Jimin tries to explain, his voice all raspy and stuck from being choked a few hours before, but trails off seeing the look on the master's face. Seokjin doesn't care. And he's already starting to get angry for every second that he has to stand there with Jimin. Jimin can see the fury brewing in his eyes. 

"I'm sorry master, I won't..," Jimin apologizes quickly with eyes down, possibly the only correct response in this situation. He wants to cry but Jimin digs his finger nails into his palms, focusing on the pain and trying desperately not to. Seokjin hates it when he cries. In fact, Seokjin hates it when Jimin so much as breathes. He is not here to exist. Jimin is a shadow but even then, he is only here to serve Jungkook.

"Get in," the master orders him and Jimin is almost relieved that the older releases him before the tears inevitably make their way. Almost. 

"Was that Seokjin hyung?" a pair of round eyes enquire him when the door closes and locks after him. Jimin stops in his tracks, his heart fluttering in fear just from the sight of Jungkook being awake but he forces it down, puts on a small smile. It is not so easy with the new bruise he has on his cheekbone. 

"Kookie, you are up," he says softly, not walking towards the younger, his body reflex restraining him from doing so. But it's a ten feet wide, small half circular room. What choices does Jimin even have?

"Was that Seokjin hyung?" the younger asks again, getting angry. "Come here," he commands and Jimin fights against all his instincts just to close a few feet gap between him and Jungkook, his breathing getting faster with every microsecond. He eventually ends up in Jungkook's lap, the younger pulling him down impatiently when he's close enough. Jimin can't calm himself. At any moment, at any second, it will come. The pain, the anger, the fury, the contempt. He wants to close his eyes but it is always worse when he's not expecting or bracing himself for it. 

Some long seconds pass where Jimin is breathing fast in panic and stray tears cling to his lashes as he watches Jungkook, not moving an inch perched on his lap. The younger observes him quietly as well, eyes curious, confused even. But it is always what comes after the confusion that scares Jimin. It is as if the younger's round, innocent eyes are somehow a fortune wheel that decides Jimin's fate. Sometimes, it lands to neutral or good. But most of the time, it does not.

Jimin decides he can't watch this time, not wait for when something clicks in Jungkook's mind. He curls up atop the younger shadow, letting his tears fall. At least Jungkook does not have any qualms with him crying. 

"Hey," the voice is gentle and so are the hands that cup Jimin's bruised face to force him to look up. "Hyung..., Jimin hyung, it is okay..," the boy coos in such soft voice and it breaks Jimin. "Did someone hurt you? Who hurt you, hyung? Who dare hurt my hyung?" the younger's voice is full of concern and care and Jimin? Jimin has no answer to any of it but to weep softly in Jungkook's arms, small hands clutching back tight to the younger's shirt.

In essence, no one hurt anyone. It is a tragedy where everyone is hurting. And it all started some twelve years ago.

Part of ShadowsVerse