--
Jimin couldn't do it.

There was just no way that he could accept leaving Jungkook down in hell when he knew the torture that the devil could put him through.

The other sins just didn't understand. They didn't understand what it felt like to love somebody with your entire heart and soul. They had never felt the overwhelming pain in your chest when the person you love leaves you. They had never felt heartbreak, or felt their hearts soar when they were close to the person that they loved most.

They assumed that they knew what they were talking about. They thought that what they were doing was for Jimin's own good, that being with Jungkook was dangerous, that history was just going to repeat itself.

Maybe it was, and maybe Jungkook was dangerous - but Jimin would be damned if he let a bit of danger stand between him and taking back the person who his heart belonged to.

He had lived the entirety of both of his lives in danger, what made them think he was scared of it now?

It was late, the sun had set and it had officially been hours since Jungkook had been dragged down to hell. The thought of him being so scared down there didn't hurt any less.

The other six demons had set up camp in Hoseok's apartment to make sure that Jimin didn't do anything stupid. Hoseok was awake, the rest of them were asleep in the living room - except for Taehyung who was asleep in Hoseok's bed.

"Jimin, where are you going?" Jimin was hoping that Hoseok didn't see him attempt to sneak off down the hallway, but of course he did. The demon was watching him like a hawk, making absolute sure that Jimin didn't go against their wishes.

He was going to anyway.

"To get Jungkook's blanket." He lied, hoping that his voice sounded tired enough to be believable. "It smells like him. It'll help me sleep."

He watched as Hoseok's expression immediately softened, sympathy taking over his features.

"Okay." He answered, his eyes sat as he gazed at Jimin. "You know that leaving him down there is for the best, right Jimin? You could get so hurt if you tried to get him back."

"I know." Jimin whispered, rubbing at his eyes. "I just miss him so much and it hasn't even been a day. How am I supposed to spend the rest of my life without him?"

Hoseok's frown only deepened as he looked to the ground.

"You'll adapt, Jimin." He breathed, not daring to meet Jimin's gaze. "Go get his blanket, you really need this rest. I know the day has been so hard on you. You got him back, just to have him taken away again."

Jimin's bottom lip trembled and he took in a shaky breath as he shook his head.

"Please don't remind me." He muttered before turning and walking down the hallway.

Hoseok's bedroom was the first door on the right, and so as quietly as he could he turned the doorknob. Taehyung was an extremely heavy sleeper, which wasn't surprising considering which sin he was given. There was not a thing on earth that could wake him if he was in a deep enough sleep.

Which is why he was the one that Jimin chose.

He did feel somewhat bad as he took the razor blade that he stole from Hoseok's bathroom out of his pocket, fully aware of his intentions with it. But he was desperate. He was on his last chance, teetering on the brink of sanity.

"Taehyung-Ah, I'm sorry." He whispered, taking hold of Taehyung's hand. "I know that you out of all of the other demons know how much I love him. Please don't be mad at me for what I'm about to do."

He brought the blade to Taehyung's palm, a frown on his lips as he sunk the blade into the skin just beneath the demon's palm. Taehyung stirred a bit, but didn't wake up, Jimin breathing a sigh of relief.

He removed the blade and set it on the nightstand, then taking hold of Taehyung's hand once more. "I'm sorry." He spoke again, squeezing the demon's hand so that a few drops of his blood dripped onto his own skin.

He closed his eyes and brought his hands together, bringing them up to his lips and whispering so softly against them.

He felt so bad for using his friend like this, but he knew that he had no other choice.

"Sloth requests a meeting."

-

It was just as he remembered it.

The heat hit him like a truck, making it hard to breath for a few moments before he became adjusted to the sudden change in temperature.

The black tile floor was just the same, the heat below radiating even through the soles of his black boots. The red glow that washed over the rocky walls, all the way to the rushing waters of the dangerous river that still terrified him to no end. He wasn't even sure if it would effect him as a human, but the memories he had of it still chilled him to the bone.

He was about ten feet from the devil's throne, when he saw him.

The throne was surprisingly empty, but that was the least of Jimin's concerns as he looked to the figure that lay on the ground before it.

Jungkook.

Jimin immediately picked up his pace, running towards his lover, who was crumpled up on the ground. Seeing him up close nearly brought Jimin to tears once more.

His face was badly bruised, various shades of purples and blues extending up from his cheekbone to his temple, as well as a split lip and dried tear tracks running down his face. He appeared to be asleep, eyes closed and his chest rising and falling.

His wrists were bound with what looked to be wire, the way it dug into his skin looking absolutely agonizing.

"Jungkook." He spoke softly, laying a gentle hand on the demon's shoulder. Jungkook's eyes immediately shot open, a look of absolute terror taking over his features before he took in Jimin's features.

'Jimin' his lips formed the name, but no words left his lips, leaving Jimin to furrow his eyebrows in confusion.

"It's me, I'm here." He nodded, cupping Jungkook's wounded face carefully. He used his other arm to help Jungkook into a sitting position, cautious not to make the wire dig into his skin anymore. "Why won't you speak?"

Jimin watched as Jungkook's eyes immediately turned glossy, his head dropping low in shame as he simply shook his head. He looked up, tapping his throats as best as he could with his bound hands.

"You can't?" Jimin guessed, eyes wide as Jungkook nodded his head in response. "Why can't you speak? Did the devil do this do you?"

Jungkook nodded once again, nodding his head in the direction of the river before pointing at his mouth. "She didn't make you drink it, did she?" He asked in disbelief, a tear of his own rolling down his cheek as his bruised and battered lover confirmed his question with yet another nod. "Oh, Jungkook."

He leaned forwards, wrapping his arms around the demon gently and rubbing his hand up and down his back. "I'm going to get you out of here okay?" Jimin sniffled, the sight of Jungkook being in so much pain causing an immense strain on his heart. "I'm going to force her to give your voice back, and then we can go back up to earth and finally be happy, Jungkook."

He pressed a kiss to the crown of Jungkook's head, his tears falling against the younger's hair. "We'll be happy, I promise. Just me and you, nothing in our way."

Jungkook pulled away and looked at Jimin, a hopeful smile on his face as he attempted to blink back his tears. He nodded enthusiastically, and Jimin had never missed somebody's voice more than he missed Jungkook's right then.

Their bubble of hope was popped by the sound of a familiar pair of high heels, Jungkook's eyes widening as he began to shake in Jimin's hold.

'No, no, no.' Jimin saw him mouth, genuine, unadulterated terror filling his eyes.

Jimin didn't have to even turn around to know exactly who had come to ruin them for what seemed like the thousandth time.

"Don't make promises that are impossible to keep, Jimin."

--