"How do you do it, Hyung? How did you treat me as a friend, knowing that I am a prince? I can't seem to get it out of my head that you are a royal." Jungkook asked, sitting at the dining table as Jimin went to the kitchen to make the first meal of the morning. 

"It's simple, Jungkook-ah," Jimin picked the kettle and began to clean it. "I see humans as humans and I see them for their goodness and qualities. You will never discriminate if you don't bring ranks into your thoughts. I am not saying you are anywhere wrong to act like a prince because you are one, it's just not me anymore. Maybe if I had a happy childhood like you, I'd be inclined like you are."

Jungkook stood up after thinking something and stepped into the kitchen. "I want to help you. How can I help, Hyung?"

Jimin smiled softly and brought Jungkook closer to his chest by holding his hand. The younger's heart all but tried to not jump right out. "Thank you so much for the consideration. As I mentioned, you are a kind person. But at the same time, I have been living like this, working, cooking, and doing everything since I was a child. You were never exposed to doing chores and I intend to keep it that way. You aren't helping me in here. Please go to the table and wait for me, hm?"

Jimin explained it like he was talking to a 7-year-old. It would have annoyed Jungkook if someone else mansplained to him, but since he knew Jimin's intentions weren't tainted, he found himself feeling fuzzy. "But I don't want you to get tired by working all the time," Jungkook mumbled sadly. 

"I am stronger than you think, sweetheart."

The young, crown prince's face burned and the hue that deposited right after was dark, a symbol of what Jimin was capable of doing to him with just one word. Jungkook coughed out while returning to the table and sat with his head low. Jimin brought the tea shortly and handed it to the man before walking back and unpacking the food he had picked up from the diner. 

Jungkook held the bun in both his hands and chomped on it. Jimin always admired the fact that Jungkook never thought that any food was beneath him, he respected and ate anything he offered to him deliciously. He still worried about the man's mental health, but he knew with their closeness, he'd soon be able to know. The counselor still had many questions in his mind that he dreaded to ask, but he knew that the younger man needed more time and he was willing to treat him with all patience. "How is it?" Jimin asked, extending the saucer of kimchi towards the younger. 

"I love it, people are so talented to make such delicious food. I could never."

"You don't have to," Jimin's soft smile brightened as he stared at the diamond shining all over Jungkook's nose and cheekbone. 

"Let's see when you get tired of cooking for me."

"Me?" Jimin questioned, pointing a finger towards himself. "Never."

The word 'never' was unthought of, but it was assertive. Jungkook didn't know how much longer could he impose himself on Jimin like this? Or if he could ever have it in him to truly express how he felt about Jimin, so he just reciprocated with a smile. Moreover, he was also discovering himself with the older male. He knew he most definitely felt attracted to Jimin, but he had to take each step under scrutiny. "When do we start the therapy, Hyung?" He asked, changing the direction of the conversation.  

"I was thinking of ways to begin, Jungkook. But..."

"But what?" The younger placed his cup down to focus his attention on the older. 

"But the methods I know are trivial, ancient even. I am not sure if I should put you through with them. I have learned new ways of therapy too, but I don't think those will work on you."

"Is this why you are hesitant to treat me because you think they might hurt?"

Jimin licked his lips, thinking to form a few words before uttering them. "Are you familiar with the term hypnotism?"

"Where you put the voodoo doll and prick it with needles to kill someone with black magic?"

Jimin just stared blankly at the younger at his answer. 

"I am joking, Hyung. I know it involves sleeping. I don't know much."

"You are correct," Jimin roused, also putting his food down so he could try and explain to Jungkook what it really was. "We induce sleep by various methods. The intention is to do the deep brain stimulation, to scrap the surfaces, but sometimes, it can be traumatic so I can't risk putting you under it."

"What kind of trauma?" Jimin didn't respond immediately so Jungkook turned whiny. "Tell me!"

"What if you live the pain all over again? The things you said you don't remember, what if your brain is only protecting you by shoving the memories deep down and not resurfacing them?"

"But I want to remember, and I want to be able to talk about everything with you. It's important for me, please understand this." Jungkook answered, reaching for Jimin's hand for support that the man happily offered. 

"I will never look down upon you, no matter what. But I don't need to know anything that you don't want me to know. Even if you have the slightest hesitation, we can try the conventional way — talking."

Jungkook shook his head with lips bitten together and before Jimin knew it, tears were rolling out of his eyes and his chin was quivering as though he was holding back with difficulty. It paled Jimin into the most contrasting shade of white as he immediately got up on his feet and cupped Jungkook's face. "No, shh... You are fine with me."

People often cried beautifully in solace, sobbing softly, wiping tears, sniffling, and then moving on after the dust had settled. The same people when exposed to the company of another being with feelings, the elegant crying often took an ugly turn when the crying individual would seek affectionate contact, comfort, and need to communicate through his sobs how much pain they were in. This was what exactly happened when Jimin held Jungkook's face, he burst out, broke down, and quivered through. 

The soft sobs turned to frantic wheezing as he coughed. Jimin feared it was a fit, but Jungkook didn't lose consciousness, only held onto Jimin's forearms and through his big eyes, communicated that he was trapped in the pain, sought comfort in the soothing touches as Jimin wiped his tears. 

"What is it, baby? Why are you crying so much?" Jimin's color-drained face was ornamented with deep concern.

Jungkook's bottom lip came out as he tried to talk, but couldn't when the coughing hindered his speech. His body shook with shocks, and he suddenly found himself being lifted as Jimin hooked his arm under his legs and behind his back. With the shame and mortification that washed over, Jungkook hid his face behind his palms as he felt his head fuzzy while Jimin put him on the bed. 

Without saying anything, the man got on the bed too, pulled Jungkook closer, and let him wrap his arms around his neck. Jungkook kept crying, and Jimin understood that the man needed to vent, so he didn't say anything, only rocked him softly, soothed his back, and stroked his hair lovingly while only mumbling one thing. "You are safe with me."

Three minutes passed and Jungkook's hard sobbing turned to wimpy sniffles. "Need water?" Jimin asked.

Jungkook breathed in through his mouth and nodded, keeping his eyes over the man's chest. Jimin sat up and poured the water into a silver tumbler from a jug that was kept over the nightstand, and handed it to the younger, who also sat up. Jungkook slurped in short sips before returning the half-empty glass in Jimin's hand.

The older gulped the remaining water that Jungkook immediately noticed, but he dropped his gaze to his lap. "Feel better now?" Jimin asked in a hushed and softest tone.

Jungkook nodded his head, stretching his arms wide to exert some pressure on them by holding them together, relaxing them. "Will you talk to me?" He questioned. 

"I am listening."

Jungkook now glanced at Jimin. "Hold me first."

Jimin opened his arms. "I am here. I have got you."

Jungkook slid right into them like fingers in gloves. When Jimin said 'I am here', he conceded that they weren't just words, it was his promise, and to ensure that Jungkook always found comfort like this in his arms, he would do everything in him to not bring any harm to this man, protect him with all his might, every time, so that whenever Jungkook will have been in his arms, he would sleep like a baby, knowing he indeed would be safe.

"What do you want to do in the future, Hyung?"

Jimin could feel Jungkook's steady breath over his chest as he thought of an answer to provide. He always wanted to help people as much as he could. This was what he made his life's purpose, but then he found someone along the way, for whom he fell and got his poor heart broken. During the short amount of time there, he dreamed of a family. But after he was left alone, his purpose and dream recalibrated — to help people in any way. So with careful consideration, he answered. "I want to always see you smile, no matter where I am, I want you to be safe and happy. I will come to visit you every year." 

"This is your future dream? An annual visit to the king of Beomsan."

"King?" Jimin teased.

"I can't forever stay a prince. I have to take the burden."

"You don't seem too happy about it?"

"Have you ever seen my father leaving the castle behind and traveling with a free mind for three months?"

Jimin huffed out a breath, stroking Jungkook's head. "Don't do anything that you don't want to. I will always support you." 

"Then hypnotize me. Respect my wish. I want you to do it."

Jimin pulled away to sit on the bed while Jungkook only looked at him, feeling as if he offended the man in many ways.

"It's a violation of privacy, Jungkook."

"You already violated my privacy when you decided to go after Lee Geon without telling me." Jungkook delivered indignantly.

Jimin was at fault, sure, so he couldn't advocate himself. To fulfill the promise made to the king, he did violate Jungkook's privacy, but this was different. "Even if I said yes, little one... You must have trust in me. It's too soon. When I asked the king, I had a plan in mind, to go slow. Then it all sort of stopped."

"You don't judge me for my reality. I trust you more than anyone, and I know you will never break my trust," Jungkook argued positively. "Say yes, please."

Jimin had to surrender after the younger was used the word 'please' with him. "Fine, I will do it."

"Thank you!" Jimin found an excited Jungkook hugging him, and he wasn't sure with his reaction if the younger knew he would go through pain. This was something that was exciting Jungkook now, but Jimin only hoped he didn't get hurt later in the process.

"When do we start?"

"Soon," the man answered, not touching the younger this time. 

"You should sleep here tonight with me. We are now comfortable enough to share the bed with each other." Jungkook invited, afraid to be rejected, but still dared to take the first step. 

"I am good outside, Jungkook."

Jimin picked the jug and was out of the room the next moment.

Jungkook looked with his sad eyes, feeling the pang of rejection for the first time. He didn't know anymore if expressing his feelings would go any different. With a grumble, he was kicking his feet in the air when Jimin returned with the water-filled jug. Jungkook turned over his stomach angrily and huffed.  

"Don't sleep over your face, my prince," Jimin let the words roll his tongue sweetly with a lilt of tease in them. "I have seen how you clean it in the morning. I don't want you to kill me in anger if you have marks all over your skin tomorrow. Have a good night."

"Good night to you too, counselor," Jungkook responded in an extremely snappy tone, feeling his heart palpitating with high tides that rose somewhere deep under. Sighing, he sniffed deeply to inhale somewhat Jimin's fragrance lingering in the air after he left.