"You alright?" Jimin asked when they stepped into their shared room.

"Yes," Jungkook lied and sent a smile Jimin's way.

"You sure?"

"Yes, love. Why wouldn't I be?"

"Jungkookie, you know, you forget that I've grown up beside you. Ten years together with intimate moments shared between us, you can't hide things as well as you could once upon a time."

"I don't know what you mean."

"What I mean is I know you better than to believe you stayed up the whole night watching tik tok reels."

Jungkook swallowed, but said nothing. Jimin wrapped his arms around the younger and rested his chin over his shoulder.

"So let me ask you again, what happened?"

Jungkook took a breath, "nothing, hyung. Really. You're reading a lot into it. I was irresponsible."

A soft kiss was dropped to the nape of Jungkook's neck.

"What really happened?"

Jungkook could feel his wall slipping. He could feel exhaustion creeping through his veins.

"Nothing," Jungkook said, weakly.

He shut his eyes feeling the familiar sting of tears behind. If facing his giants was tough, trying to cover it up was even more exhausting.

Jimin's hand soothingly rubbed his chest as Jungkook's breath hitched. Jungkook shook his head. He couldn't do this to Jimin. He needed to be strong, not a cry baby. He had to be there for Jimin. He had to—

"Jungkook," Jimin interrupted, "that's — baby, that's not true."

Jungkook froze. He said that out loud?

"Baby, I need you to look at me," Jimin spoke softly as he led the boy to their bed and made him sit down. He knelt before the younger male and caressed his cheek.

"You've always been my lighthouse, baby. In the worst storm, you've always been there to shine your light and guide me through the dark."

Jungkook swallowed hard as their eyes met.

"I-I need to be strong then. Or I will crumble. And if I crumble, how can I help you? I'd leave you by yourself in the roughest seas. I did that once. I didn't know you were hurting. I didn't know you fell back into habit. I was too stupid, too selfish. I was struggling with something stupid and I...I should be strong for you. I can't —"

Jimin pressed a soft kiss to his lips, cutting him off.

"Let me be your lighthouse, baby. I'm sorry for everything I said to you that day. I meant none of it. I promise you. You're only human, Jungkookie. You're bound to hurt. You're bound to struggle. But... you're not going to go through it alone. I'm here. I'm right here. Even if I have my battles to fight, I'm still here for you, baby. You're my lighthouse. And I am yours. Together, we'll sail through the roughest seas and together we'll overcome them."

Jungkook nods, the tears he had been keeping in, now slipping down his cheeks in rivulets.

"I'm— I...ok," Jungkook sobbed and Jimin pulled him into a hug, rubbing the younger's back.

"Let it all out, sweetheart. I've got you. I've got you. You're safe now."

Oblivious to them both, the door softly swung shut and Yoongi smiled softly behind it, before he headed down to the kitchen where the rest of the boys were seated.

He smacked Namjoon's and Hoseok's head and the two jumped at the sudden attack.

"What the heck?"

"Hyung—?"

"You two are going to apologise to Jeongguk tomorrow. Don't ask questions."

Hoseok and Namjoon exchanged a glance.

"Um..."

"Okay, hyung."

"Good. Now, I'm off to bed."

"But Jungkook—?" Jin began.

"Is in good hands. They both are each other's lighthouse," Yoongi said, with a smile.

The end

Gift to CaramelBunny818. Thank you for being so patient with me, bub.