title, i ' l l  b e  y o u r  s t a r  (i f  y o u  b e  m y  n i g h t  s k y)

>> vmin / angst / cap / tw: abuse mentioned / 939w / a.n: i wanted this to be so much longer, but i liked where it ended lmao. i might do a part 2, not too sure. and this is for sea030 just bc shes busy and said she got really excited when i mentioned a witch vmin au, here you go bb <33

Jimin's not entirely sure why they saw it as completely okay to kidnap any and every witch they can just to put chains on their wrists and ankles to get them from doing magic (the stronger, the more chains and the thicker) and chuck them into a tent. Quite ironic, almost laughable, how they got a witch to lace thousands of shackles with magic to keep whatever power-wielding being they are put on from using said power, mostly magic, only to put them on witches. Jimin hasn't the slightest clue why they saw it as completely okay because it's really not. Most of the poor, poor people they kindap and lock up are sweet people.

Can Jimin say anything about it? No. His mother sold him to the vikings when he was a baby, they practically own him, so he has to do everything they say. He has to stand guard every night to make sure no one tries to escape. He has beat anyone who disobeys (only when another guard is around, or else he gets a punishment three times worse than a whip to the back). He has watch people get smaller and smaller from being denied any more food than just enough to keep from getting sick and dying.

Even Taehyung.

Sweet, sweet, precious Taehyung.

Jimin hates watching Taehyung's ribs show more and more, hates his cries of pain when he brings the whip down to his back, hates how he whimpers and shakes in his arms when he holds him afterwards when the other guard is gone, hates how weak his voice is.

Jimin is known for being the most gentle out of all the guards, sneaking into the tents of people beaten earlier that day to tend to their wounds and their hair, smuggling small pieces of bread and cheese in the middle of the night, whispering I'm sorry before bringing the whip down. Jimin runs the risk of getting caught every night to give people food and care for their wounds (but no bandages; if bandages appear, everything will fall apart and soon they'll find out it's Jimin). Jimin does this because he cares; he cares and he feels sorry towards everyone inside this prison ground.

But he runs so much more risk for Taehyung. He sneaks out to get items needed for healing magic, runs back to Taehyung's tent, unlocks his chains and watches him heal himself, but make it still appear he's hurt by doing other spells that mess with his skin's appearance (which always feel gross). He gets bowls of soup and sandwiches. He kisses his tears away, holding him close to his chest. Jimin does this because he loves Taehyung; he loves him with all his heart and he hates that this precious person is here.

"You shouldn't be doing this," Taehyung whispers when Jimin enters his tent with a bowl of soup, like always. "You'll get in so much trouble, Jimin. I-I don't want you to get hurt."

"It'll be fine." Jimin smiles and brushes away Taehyung's worries, walking up to him and kneeling in front of him. He stares up at Taehyung with those same soft, gentle, loving eyes that make Taehyung wonder why Jimin's even here and want to cry at all the possibilities. "Just eat this, yeah?"

Taehyung swallows, looking between Jimin's eyes and the bowl in his hand before grabbing it with shaky hands and practically inhaling the soup. It makes Jimin sad because Taehyung's so very hungry, but also makes him happy because Taehyung's eating. When Taehyung is done, Jimin takes the bowl and spoon from him with one hand, other hand reaching up to run through Taehyung's hair. It was bright, wheat blonde when he arrived; now his dark brown roots are showing heavily, taking back three inches of the blonde to show its natural colour.

Taehyung bites his bottom lip, leaning down to press his forehead to Jimin's. "Jiminie, please. Stop all you're doing for us, for me. You're going to get so hurt in the end."

"Tae," Jimin grabs Taehyung's shaking hands with his own, "Taehyung, I will not. None of you should be here, especially you. I don't care if I get hurt in the end, because it'll be worth it. I've made everyone here suffer just a little bit less and that's all that matters to me. So stop asking me to stop, because I'm not."

Tears fill Taehyung's eyes and a little sob comes from his throat, head tilting down and looking away. Jimin's so sweet, so sweet. He's the one that shouldn't be here, he's the one that should be free of the vikings' grasps and happy. Not here, not forced to do everything he doesn't want to. Taehyung has sinned, he has followed the dark and lonely path of witchcraft, even dabbled in dark magic for fun, so in some way, he deserves this. But not Jimin; not sweet, sweet Jimin.

"I swear to you Jimin," Taehyung whispers against Jimin's lips, "I swear I'm going to get us out of here. Both of us. And we'll run away together, we-we can go anywhere you like."

And Jimin simply smiles and nods because maybe Taehyung really can break out of these chains (he's stronger than they think, they only put two ankle shackles and one wrist because of his looks; Jimin wouldn't be surprise if he was stronger than the witch that laced these things with magic) and sweep Jimin off his feet, and escape. Maybe they really can run away together and go anywhere Jimin likes. And maybe Jimin really likes the thought of that.