NOT proofread y i k e s
also here's a (not) trailer for this book bc I was trying to inspire myself to write and this one song make me think of this au's jikook so if you want to waste 35 seconds of your life here u go
https://youtu.be/OYQYJc8x2NQ
—
"I heard that your boyfriend tried to kill you."

Rumours spread, and they spread quick. Rumours that painted Jungkook as a villain, and Jimin himself as an unfortunate victim to the wrath of his horrible soulmate. Some believed that Jungkook did it on purpose, calling him multitudes of different names that had Jimin's heart aching to the core. He tried not to say anything back, knowing that nobody cared about his side of the story, but every person has breaking points.

"He didn't." Art class had lost all of its vibrancy. The spot beside him that Jungkook occupied had now been filled once more by a new face one their professor was informed of Jungkook's extended absence. "Don't believe everything that your told." He didn't even look up from his sketchbook as he spoke, hating that he didn't see Jungkook's face when he turned to the side.

"He didn't." His classmate chuckled to himself, sketching something that Jimin couldn't find it himself to care enough about to sneak a peak at. "I heard that he had to get his stomach pumped since he decided to fill it with booze and pills." Jimin's grip on his pencil tightened. "Sounds a lot like he nearly killed you to me."

"Sounds a lot like you should keep out of other people's fucking business." Jimin spoke back, voice calm despite the words that left his lips. Yoongi had always told him that he was the scariest when he was angry due to how calm he stayed, he was like a ticking time bomb that nobody knew the detonation time of.

"All I'm saying, is that I'd never want a soulmate like him." His classmate shrugged, unaffected by Jimin's hostile disposition. "Can't even imagine what it would be like to be pared up with somebody so damn selfish. Luck just wasn't on your side when flat dealt it's cards, hm?"

"With an attitude like this, I hope you end up with a soulmate who is the exact opposite of the person you'd like to be." Jimin spoke softly. "I was like you once, you know. Close minded, judgemental, not empathetic. My soulmate made me better, I help him to be better. It goes both ways."

His classmate raised an eyebrow, looking at Jimin with an unconvinced expression. "When you meet your soulmate, it's not possible to leave the person behind. I wanted to, God I wanted to because I truly believed that he was just going to weigh me down."

"Which he did-"

"But if you have never met your soulmate, you'll never understand that there's nothing in the world that hurts more than being apart from them once you've finally met them." Jimin set his pencil down, resting his head on his palm as he let out a deep sigh. "No physical injury hurts more, and in all honestly, in the few moments that I thought I was dying, I was okay. I wasn't scared. In fact, I think that's the calmest I've ever felt." Jimin could still remember feeling his own breath begin to slow, and the terrified grip that Jungkook had on his shirt.

"You sound insane." His classmate snorted, Jimin merely shrugging in response.

"Maybe." He hummed, looking down at his sketchbook page and smiling at the rough sketch of Jungkook which stared right back at him. God, he loved him.

—

"They said that I'm doing really good."

Jungkook spoke softly as he uncapped one of the washable markers that Jimin had brought with him when he came to visit after classes. The shade was a light pink hue, reminding Jimin of the colour that often dusted Jungkook's cheeks when they were around each other. He brought it to the skin of Jimin's forearm, beginning to draw flower petals against his boyfriend's skin. "I'll be able to come home soon."

"I'm so proud of you." Jimin breathed happily, calmly watching Jungkook as he doodles pink roses onto his skin. "I heard that Taehyung came to visit you while I was in class."

Jungkook nodded, swapping out the pink marker for a forest green one. Jimin watched him fondly as he drew, observing each and every inch of his boyfriend's face. He was around Jungkook enough to keep his feature permanently locked into his memory, but it was so hard not to stare when somebody so absolutely breathtaking sat so close.

"Told me that he was sorry." Jungkook sighed. "He still thinks that this whole situation is mostly his fault because he saw me before I went to my dorm, but didn't walk me back." He swiped the marker across Jimin's skin, creating the stems and leaves for the flowers that he had drawn beforehand. "Tried to convince him that he didn't do anything wrong, but it's just sticking with him."

Jimin frowned. He knew that Taehyung viewed Jungkook as his little brother, but he truly hoped that he would let this go and free his chest of the weight that Jimin knew was resting on it.

"I'll talk to him." Jimin answered softly, heart growing warm at the sight of the flowers that were extending up to his elbow. Jungkook looked so calm in times like this, when the storm in his mind had subsided to a quiet drizzle and Jimin was there keep him grounded. Nobody understood that Jungkook was the absolute best thing that had ever happened in his life, only seeing the storm clouds, and not the sun that peaked out from behind them.

"Love?" Jimin spoke softly, Jungkook immediately looking up to catch his gaze the moment that the pet name left his lips. "I want to ask you something, but if you don't want to answer that's okay with me."

"I'll answer." Jungkook responded, setting his markers back down on his bed. "I don't like hiding things from you anymore."

Jimin nodded slowly, taking a deep breath and reaching forward to take hold of Jungkook's hand.

"That night," He began, noticing how Jungkook had already tensed up. "What was going through your mind, that caused you to make the decision that you did?"

Jungkook gulped averting his gaze to his bedsheets and gently playing with Jimin's fingers. He was silent for a few moments, seeming to dive back into his memories.

"I couldn't find you." He finally spoke. "I just felt so lost, so scared, like the walls were closing in on me and getting ready to crush me. I just remember wanting to be in your arms but I didn't know where you were." He sniffled softly.

"It was like I couldn't breathe. I couldn't... I couldn't manage alone and I was crumbling, but I guess to everyone else I just looked like I had one too much." Jungkook traced the colourful patterns on Jimin's forearm, sinking his teeth into his bottom lip. "Just wanted that feeling to go away." He hung his head low. "I'm sorry."

"I know, it's alright." Jimin shushed, leaning forwards and pressing a kiss to Jungkook's forehead. "No need to apologize, love. I understand, I do."

He tilted Jungkook's chin up with two of his fingers, using his other hand to wipe away the few tears that has spilled past Jungkook's eyes. "That must've been scary."

"Must've been scarier for you once you realized that I had done something." Jungkook countered, still refusing to look into Jimin's eyes.

Jimin nodded, but quickly clarified his answer.

"It was only scary because I realized that you were in danger."

—