The world is falling apart at the seams as the truth finally surfaces to pull Jimin under with it. 

Jungkook is...coming over? He's...in Seoul right now? Did Hoseok tell him where we lived? Oh no...he--I...I really want him here, but I'm not ready for this. 

Nerves bundle in uncomfortable areas of his gut as he anxiously wanders through the duplex. With antsy hands, he shoves chairs against the wall, pushes tables to the side. He has to make his home somewhat wheelchair accessible for the younger. An unfortunate mixture of guilt, shame, and anticipation worm through Jimin's system as he cleans. He's glad that Jungkook is coming to see him...to comfort him...but he's extremely nervous about what the other is going to say.

His purple hair gets tousled time and time again as he paces around, his hands wringing his pear-colored top whenever they aren't in his hair. Even if the summer day is relatively cool, sweat beads at his lower back and forehead. His mind races with the possibility that the younger is going to be mad at him.

"He can't be mad at me...he has to understand..." Jimin smashes his overfilled laundry basket into the corner of his closet. It spills out onto the ground, but he pays it no mind. "Jungkook has to understand why I've been apprehensive to tell him. He didn't want to tell me about his paralysis right away. This is the same thing...almost."

Ding!

Jimin starts with a yelp as his phone goes off. He speedily reaches into his sweatpants pocket to fish his phone out. The notification is from Jinyoung.

'Jimin, I have bad news and good news.'

Jimin swallows.

'Good news...the investigators in Busan have found about five more people that are willing to testify against Yoon's company. Turns out, Jeon Junghyun has the most evidence against Mr. Yoon out of them all. He said he'd speak on his father's behalf. Apparently, Yoon & Affiliates has an abundance of fraudulent offshore investments in parts of Southeast Asia that would destroy his entire company if information leaked about them. Also, his company is backed by several gangs in Busan that get paid to harm those that might out-compete Yoon or oust him. There's so much dirty stuff at work here, and we have lots of evidence for a lawsuit.'

Jimin gasps at the text, blinking at the last sentence. Yoon Gyuri won't be able to pull the Daddy Card anymore if the entirety of their Busan monopoly is destroyed. A tiny tug of hope strings around his heart, calming its beat down a bit. Until he reads the next message.

'Bad news. One of our investigators was found beaten in an alley...they rushed him to the hospital, but he's not doing well...we're not just collecting data now, Jimin. Busan's worst gangs must have gotten word of our work. You need to be more careful around Gyuri. After work Hoseok's going to drop by my office to get us all emergency button necklaces...just in case. He'll deliver yours to you later. Stay safe.'

Jimin's stomach plummets into despair. If one of the investigators was beaten up, then surely the company is on high alert. Surely they're willing to stoop low in order to prevent info from getting out...and surely Gyuri is finding out about it from her dad. 

The idea of an emergency necklace scares him more than it comforts him. Imagining some beefy guys breaking into the duplex in the middle of the night makes him clammy with fear. This Pluto Room has got to be the most dangerous and scary one of them all. Fuck...technically Gyuri can't pin any of this on me directly, so she won't come after me...right? The investigators in Busan are doing the work, and I'm in Seoul. I'm in my duplex, safe from the monsters of the world-

The door bell rings. 

Jimin screams.

Before he can get his bearings, heavy knocks tap at the door. Jimin recognizes the Morse Code instantly. (.... . ._. .)

"Here. Oh God, he's here." 

Jimin races to the door, feeling a bit nauseous from everything that's been happening around him. Not only with Pluto and the game, but with Gyuri and Jinyoung. With the possibility of not being safe. He throws open the door not to see Jungkook, but a somber woman.

"Hi Jimin." Eunmi must catch the pale fear on his features. Her face melts as she takes in his puffy eyes and trembling mouth. She doesn't hesitate to step forward. "Oh, you poor thing. Come here."

Jimin lets Jungkook's mother envelop him in a warm, maternal hug. It makes him miss his own mom, miss the hugs she'd give him before he left off to high school each day. Before he left to meet his doom--to withstand Yoon Gyuri.

"Eunmi..." He starts, willing himself not to start crying. How much did Jungkook tell her? How much does she know? "Is Junghyun okay?"

The woman steps back from him, nods. Jimin chances a peek over her shoulder, but doesn't see Jungkook or a wheelchair anywhere in sight. "Yes. Junghyun and Mingyu fled Busan because apparently they were being pursued by someone dangerous...I'm n-not sure though, he wouldn't tell me. They're staying in a hotel in Gangnam, and Junghyun tells me he's going to stay and help the good guys get the bad ones who were after him. What does that even mean? Oh, but Jimin. I'm so happy your investigators found him. I'm eternally grateful for you."

Jimin gives her a gentle grin. He wipes at his eyes. "Of c-course."

Eunmi gathers the hidden question lurking in the air around them. "Jungkook's waiting in the car. I told him to let me talk to you first. Plus, he can't get up these porch steps on his wheelchair anyway. Maybe you could open the garage door?"

"Y-yeah...of course." I'm terrified to see him...but I want to so bad. "I'll be right back."

Jimin saunters through his home, his heart pounding. He hurriedly opens the garage door. As the large white door rises from its slumber, Jungkook's silhouette in his wheelchair slowly reveals itself. As soon as he can fit under the garage door, Jungkook wheels as fast as he can to Jimin standing in the doorway.

The younger's eyes are wide in alarm, face stiff in worry. His arms extend out wide as he rolls towards the purple-haired boy who is tearing up. Jimin rushes forward.

"Jimin." Jungkook breathes against his neck as they collide in a deep hug, Jimin falling apart by the second. "Jimin, I'm here."

"J-Jungkook..." 

The elder buries himself into his strong boyfriend's arms. The sharp scent of gentle pine and warm soup hits his nose, instantly calming him. Out of the corner of his eye he sees Eunmi watch them for a few seconds before she enters her red car. Then, she gives him a solid nod of the head before pulling the vehicle out of the driveway. To leave them alone for a while.

"Let's go inside, Melonboy. I can't hold you properly in this thing." Jungkook says gravely, rubbing circles on his back. Jimin nods against the younger's cheek and pulls himself away.

Leading Jungkook into the duplex feels strange. Sure, he's been in Jungkook's home in Busan--has seen the boy in his most intimate form relaxed at home...but it's different with Jungkook here. It's real. Everything...their relationship, their gameplay, their feelings...all feel more real now, with Jungkook in his home.

In the past, Jimin has never brought his flings over to the duplex, feeling like they might ruin the sanctity of the place. His own personal space was very important to him, since he'd become possessive over it ever since Gyuri damaged him. But with Jungkook here...it feels nice. It feels right.

"I like your room." Jungkook smiles lightly as he wheels himself into Jimin's yellow-painted bedroom. The portrait of Jimin that Jungkook made is hanging above Jimin's bed, overlooking the rest of the room with a possessive flair. Jungkook stares at it, smiles, then sighs. He doesn't hesitate to wheel over to Jimin's bed and climb onto it. "Come here, Jimin."

The elder's eyes sting at the look Jungkook is giving him. It's a forgiving, comforting look that makes Jimin want to fall to the ground and never get back up. He doesn't deserve such kind treatment for keeping his abuse from Jungkook for so long. He deserves to be yelled at, blamed for lying. But Jungkook is ultra-forgiving and selfless, and Jimin is too in love with him to ignore the offer.

"Jungkook..." Jimin guiltily slides up to the bed. He places his hands on the sheets hesitantly, unsure of what he wants to say. "I'm...I'm sorry."

Jungkook's dark eyes regard him intensely. "No...no. No, stop that. Stop apologizing for nothing. You apologize way too much. Come here right now and lay by me and let me hold you."

"O-okay..." Jimin allows himself to be pulled into the bed, snuggled close into Jungkook's hip. He instinctively melts into the younger's body, letting himself become surrounded by safety and affection. The younger presses a protective kiss to his temple, which makes Jimin's heart wrench. Soon, tears start pooling at the corners of his eyes.

"Jimin...hey, Jimin...are you-" Jungkook's fingers tease under his chin, lifting it up from his chest. A sob escapes Jimin's lips at the delicacy of the gesture, his sadness about leaving the other in the dark for so long drawing tears out of his eyes. "Shh...it's okay...it's okay my lovely Jimin...don't cry..."

Jungkook slowly rocks him side to side, murmuring reassurances in his ear. The younger's heart beat thumps securely into Jimin's ears as his body is held, supported, cared for. Not abused, not manipulated, not used. 

Eventually, Jimin's loud sobs taper down to gentle sniffles, his fingers twisting in the tear-streaked fabric of Jungkook's shirt. Even if Jungkook is the cripple in a physical sense, he feels like the cripple in a mental sense. Yoon Gyuri keeps popping up in his mind, holding out the knife, telling him to remove his clothing-

"Jimin...you're shaking..." Jungkook's voice wavers, as if he's scared of the way the elder is acting. "You're okay here...you're okay. I promise nothing will hurt you as long as I'm here. Whoever hurt you is not here."

Oh, but she is. "J-Jungk-kook..."

"Hmm?" The younger coaxes Jimin's tearful face away from his chest. Dark eyes scour Jimin's condition, and Jungkook's eyebrows bunch together in pain. 'It hurts me to see my Melonboy crying like that!' Jungkook had said the last time Jimin showed up crying. 'Whoever made you cry, I'll kill them!'

"She hurt me. A lot..." Jimin trails off, his fingers fiddling with the fabric of Jungkook's shirt. He doesn't think he needs to mention her name to get the point across. Jungkook will understand, and it's better if he doesn't know the specifics. With gang members involved, Jungkook's affectionate protection over him might be the exact thing that makes him vulnerable to getting hurt. "S-she..."

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

Jungkook gently caresses his cheeks, wiping his tears away. Jimin shakes his head. I owe him this much. If he's in love with me, I want him to be in love with all of me. 

"N-no, I need to." Jimin takes a deep breath, then leans forward to press a kiss to the younger's chin. He whispers against the skin there, his hands shaking against Jungkook's chin. "You deserve to know. I should have told you sooner."

Jungkook blinks at him, his large eyes staring intently at the elder. Waiting for him to talk.

"Just promise me you won't think of me any differently. Please." Jimin studies Jungkook's face, hopes that he's making the right decision. The younger's openess, acceptance, and patience makes him feel like he is, but only Jungkook's reaction will tell.

"I won't. Of course I won't think of you any different, Jimin." I hope so.

Before launching into his story, Jimin turns his head away. He can't face the younger while reliving these memories. They're too painful.

"I was in high school. Starting my first year--f-freshman year...and a nice girl seemed to be interested in me. I knew I wasn't as interested in her because I didn't like women, but I was nice to her nonetheless...then we started hanging out more...and as time went on, she expected more from me."

Jimin bites down on his lip, recalling the youthful blond girl that was so friendly to him at first. They'd joke around, eat lunch together. Play stupid phone games. Then, it all changed. For the worse.

"Halfway through the year she started making moves on me. Getting mad at me when I'd turn her away. Demand that I stay by her, do what she wanted me to. I was young then, scared. I pushed her away as long as I could, thwarted her ad-advances..." 

"...but one day, all of that changed. She came up to me at lunch, pulled me aside, and started threatening me. She said her father owned a large company, that he had tons of money...tons of power. That he could hurt my reputation, ruin my grades, contact my family about horrible things I didn't do...like beating up other students at school or plagiarizing my schoolwork. She said I had to pretend to be her boyfriend, do everything she wanted me to if I didn't want to pay the consequences. I was so, so scared. And since I had a pretty good reputation to upkeep and I cared too much about what people thought of me, I...I agreed to her blackmailed rules."

Jimin hears a sharp inhale at his side. He doesn't dare look at Jungkook...not unless he wants to break down again. His eyes trace the windowsill instead. Outside, it's partially cloudy and windy. He wishes he could toss these memories to the outside breeze and let them disappear forever, but it doesn't work like that. Instead of catching in the wind, the memories catch in his mouth.

"At first, it w-wasn't too difficult...her rules were simple.  We were both young, and what she wanted I could pr-provide...just buying her things...spending time with her. Doing her homework...nothing too serious. I felt like I was doing the right thing then...like I was protecting myself from a worse fate. N-now I know that was the biggest mistake I could have made then, agreeing so early on..."

"...she changed, grew worse...her demands became impossible, an-and I could never sa-satisfy her. She was always terribly angry, screaming at me...hitting me when I didn't do something right. She was an absolute bitch my sophomore year, bratty and untamed. She always told me I wasn't good enough, and the threats became worse. She...she discovered my address, sent me horrible things. She'd call me e-every morning...with a message that she had control over me. That I was her pet, and if I dared upset her, she'd destroy me..."

Jimin pauses, rubbing his face harshly. Now that the first two years are out of the way, the hard part has to come. The worst years of my life. When Gyuri used me in horrible ways.

"...th-then...when we got older, her anger turned into a quiet rage. A cold, unforgiving...heartless m-manipulation. I didn't even w-want to g-get out of bed in the morning...knowing I'd have to go t-to school and fake liking her...only to have her hurt me outside of school afterwards for n-not being good enough. For not ac-acting the 'right' way..."

Jimin's voice wavers, an uncomfortable knot growing in his throat. Tears burn in his eyes, but he pushes through. He has to keep going.

"She...s-she...uh, eventually, pressured me into...doing sexual t-things w-with her that I didn't w-want to...and the threats g-got worse....if I d-didn't comply, if I didn't p-pleasure her...enough in one night...she'd p-pull out her kn-knife and th-threaten to hurt me...she made me cry so...so many times...but sh-she didn't care. She used my body...abused it, made me do horrible things w-while she s-secretly r-recorded it for more blackmail."

At his side, Jimin can feel Jungkook moving around. Then, he feels a warm hand on his lower back. No, I can't look at you yet, Jungkook.

"...she made my life a living hell. Every d-day was a nightmare. I l-lost all self-respect, since she told me any chance she could that I was useless, that I had no value except to do what she wanted me to. I was suffering day in, day out, I d-didn't want to put up w-with it anymore...I f-felt so, so alone, Jungkook..."

Heavy sniffles break Jimin out of his story. Turning to the side, he spots the younger red-faced and crying, blinking at him with pain etched into his face. 

"J-Jimin."

Jimin lets himself go.

They fall into each others arms, crying. Tears fall ruthlessly from Jungkook's dark eyes, wrought with sympathy and understanding. Jimin can't tell who's comforting who by this point. Both of them need each other. Sobs wrack Jungkook's body as he squeezes Jimin tighter to him, holding the back of Jimin's head protectively. Jimin nestles his chin over the younger's shoulder, feeling empty now that everything about his past is out. Now Jungkook knows every part of him, knows why he has a tendency to please people. Why he holds stuff back. Why he isn't as comfortable in his own skin...and why he had so many fears.

Jungkook gradually pulls away, shaking his head angrily and cupping Jimin's face in his hands. "Why...why would someone d-do such a thing to my p-precious Jimin? Wh-why? WHY? HOW COULD SHE!"

Jimin drops his head, offering a blank stare to his lap. He doesn't know why either. "Now y-you know, Jungkook...I'm s-sorry for not...telling you soon-" The elder is cut off by desperate lips. 

Jungkook's mouth is hot and sad against his, and Jimin can feel the younger's teary chin pressing into his own. The younger's lips are salty with tears, secure in knowing what they want. Jimin allows Jungkook to hold him close, to mesh their tired lips together in a kiss of forgiveness and fresh beginnings. Jimin feels the oxygen pulled from his lungs as Jungkook's powerful sorrow manifests in the kiss. 

They hold each other, kissing as if it's their last time together. Ridding themselves of their horrible pasts through each other, through the connection that they have. Jimin finds his heart swelling as Jungkook's fast kiss turns gentle, caring. The younger's hand cups his cheek softly, a touch that tells Jimin it's okay. Nobody is perfect, and you are so, so undeserving of such abuse.

When they break the long kiss, Jimin realizes that he feels awfully lighter. His mind still feels foggy with melancholy, but his heart is beating with yellow swells of hope. Jungkook didn't get angry at him--he's only angry at Gyuri. At a girl Jungkook doesn't know of yet. Now more for his own protection than because of Jimin's fear of telling him.

"Jimin..." Jungkook traces the elder's lips with a feather light thumb, then traces his jawline, his cheeks, nose, and eyelids. Jimin gently smiles at the ticklish sensation, which brightens Jungkook's face up in turn. "You are the bravest, most beautiful boy inside and out that I have ever known. You are worth so so much. You matter the world to me, you know that? The awful things that girl did to you...tear the heart out of my fucking chest. It hurts me so much to hear about that...to know that she...that bitch treated a gem like you so neglectfully...oh, Jimin! If there's anything I can do...any way I can comfort you-"

"You can stay here." Jimin hugs Jungkook again, breathing his boyfriend in. "You comfort me just by being here..."

Jungkook smiles against his neck. Jimin becomes aware that the younger's foot keeps twitching. Tapping out a steady rhythm in the air. For some reason, that foot tap makes Jimin the most happy, comforts him the most. It speaks louder volumes than any words can--a physical, tangible representation of healing against all odds. Of overcoming the self and getting better. 

"Jungkook?"

"Yes, Jimin?" 

Jungkook rubs Jimin's back gently, tracing wild patterns of nonsense all over the green crop top. His foot continues to tap, tap, tap.

"I love you."

The younger pulls away, gaping at Jimin. His entire face is flushed through and a sparkling smile spreads across his cheeks. He leans in to peck the elder on the nose, humming appreciatively.

"I love you too."

.

Jimin stirs at the groggy voice in his ear urging him to wake up. He grumbles, wiggling his body around on the warm, comfortable bed. He tosses a tired arm over the bed side, pressing his face further into the mattress. 

Then his bed giggles. Jungkook giggles.

On top of that, a high-pitched song is playing from his phone. One he recognizes.

"Jimin, you have to wake up now." Is that...Jungkook? Oh shit! I must have fallen asleep on him.

He opens his eyes to the evening sun spilling gently through his bedroom window. Jungkook's pointer finger tickles him under the chin, making his shoulders rise in defense. He slowly comes to, laughing against his will up to a seated position. Before his eyes can fully adjust, a phone is thrust into the air in front of him.

"Hoseok is calling. Do you want me to answer it?"

Jimin nods, too drowsy to answer his friend. Jungkook can handle it, he's comfortable enough around Hoseok anyway.

The younger presses a button and holds the phone to his ear. Jungkook opens his mouth to say hello, but is instantly cut off by a frantic yell. Jimin doesn't know what is being said, but he quickly grabs the phone from Jungkook's grasp and puts it to his ear.

"...SERIOUSLY HAD TO END UP LIKE THIS! I'M SO FUCKING PISSED, THAT BITCH IS GOING TO GET IT FROM ALL OF US IN THE END! WHEN MY COLLEGE SUPERVISOR CALLED ME TO HIS OFFICE I THOUGHT I WAS PREPARED BUT NOPE! I WAS DONE FOR, EVEN FUCKING BROKE DOWN IN TEARS IN FRONT OF THE GUY! I KNEW THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, JIMIN, BUT WHY DID IT HAVE TO HURT SO BAD? WHY IN THE MIDDLE OF MY FINAL SUMMER TERM CLASS?"

A cold vice snatches Jimin's breath away. Fuck! Gyuri got to the university...got to Hoseok...damn it!! But how do I answer him? Jungkook's right here, and he probably heard some of it. I'll just have to push Hobi away for now.  "That's awful Hobi, I'm so sorry...but I'm with Jungkook right now. I'll talk to you about it later, okay?"

On the other end, Hoseok audibly sighs. "Okay. Okay, I get it...goodbye, Jimin."

The phone call ends abruptly. Jimin tosses his phone across the bed, groaning. 

"What was that about? Did something happen at school?" Jungkook's face is contorted in a mystery. His fingers drum against his thighs. Jimin notices that his legs with twitch or shift every once in a while on their own.

"He's just...having problems with the graduating committee. Some transferring credit problem that's been bugging the hell out of him. Why do they have to make graduating so hard?" 

If the younger suspects a lie, it doesn't show on his face. "Ugh...that sounds awful. Can't wait until I need to deal with that in two years to get my design degree."

"Good thing I don't have to deal with school anymore." Jimin gradually rolls off the bed, stretching his sore body out. He pushes Patrick nearer to the bed, adjusting it in place for Jungkook to get off. The younger starts to drag himself towards the edge of the bed. "Hungry?"

"Yes, but--oh yeah! I have to write down the address of our new hotel before I forget, so you can visit later. You have paper and a pen nearby?" Jungkook stops himself short of getting in the wheelchair, reaching out for the nearest drawer of the nightstand. 

NO! Jimin acts on impulse, diving towards the boy on the bed before he can make it there. Before Jungkook can open up the drawer containing the Keeping Skin movie script and the Skinned Alive notebook that holds all of his dirt on Yoon Gyuri. 

Jungkook gasps as Jimin connects their lips as a last resort, pushing the younger's head back into the pillows. The kiss is sloppy, rushed, frantic. Jungkook barely has time to comprehend what's happening before Jimin breaks the kiss, panting. Jimin is now standing in front of the drawer, blocking the younger's access to it.

"W-woah...what was that for?" Jungkook's gives him an odd look, but there's definitely a fire in his eyes and a smirk on his lips.

"I've wanted to do that this whole time." Not a lie. Technically. "Anyway, let's go to the kitchen. I have a notepad and pen out there that you can use, babe."

"Okkkeeeyyy..." Jungkook gives him a sassy smile, winking as he lowers himself into the wheelchair. His foot taps some more against the bottom of the chair. "Let's go then. Before my boyfriend shoplifts another kiss from me and joins me in jail!"

.___ ._ .. ._..

.___ ._ .. ._..

.___ ._ .. ._..

A/N:

I'm. Crying. My heart HURTS!

Pluto97 and Melonaju have deadass wormed their way into my hearts permanently. They booked reservations for the Pluto Rooms in my heart...for life. I love them so much, I realized today--after I started crying when I wrote the I love you scene. :::((((

WWAAAAAAAHHHH (insert Pluto's REAL crying) why do I have to grow so attached to my characters...

anyway, fantastic readers, I hope you're having a wonderful day and if no one has told you I LOVE YOU today, then I'll say it to you right now:

I LOVE YOU!! YOU MATTER AND YOU'RE SO BEAUTIFUL AND WORTH IT. PLEASE DON'T STOP BEING AWESOME BECAUSE YOU HAVE SUCH GREAT POTENTIAL TO DO MAGNIFICENT THINGS IN LIFE. YOU ARE POWERFUL, ADMIRABLE, AND I APPLAUD YOU FOR BEING SO COOL! :)

don't shoplift, kids.

ALSO! I INTRODUCE TO YOU THIS BEAUTIFUL WORK OF ART BY tangerineboi- who has so kindly wormed into my heart with this cute fanart, like...can I just say I love it? I love it. I absolutely love it. Thank you tons~💛

~ (.. __.. __.. _.__ ) ~