Chapter Text
“I think I ran over my soul mate.”
“I’m sorry, say that again? It may be me literally just waking up or the hangover that’s currently plaguing me but I thought I heard you say soul mate?” Jimin’s voice is scratchy and it’s very obvious that he isn’t lying about the hangover.
Taehyung takes a breath. “I was on my bike and it was raining and next thing I know someone’s out in the road and I hit him and when I looked him in the eyes, which he’s extremely attractive by the way,”
“Tae .”
“Right, I look into those eyes and touched his arm and it’s like something I never knew was missing was suddenly found. A void in me was filled and didn’t ever want to lose it again or let him out of my sight.”
“I’m really happy for you Tae and will be even more ecstatic when I’m not on the verge of puking my guts out.” Jimin says dramatically and Taehyung can imagine his friend curled up under the covers away from the light.
“No Jiminie! You don’t get it! I hit him! With my freaking bike! He probably hates me. Oh my gosh he totally hates me.” Tae drops his head into his hands, grateful for the bus stop cover saving him from the continuous rain.
“Well did he tell you he hates you?”
“Uh…no. But wouldn’t you hate someone if they hit you with their bike?”
“I’d hate someone if they kept talking my ear off when I’m trying to work off bad decisions of last night. You’re fine Tae Tae, just talk to him and make sure he’s alright and then kiss and make up or whatever.”
“You are literally useless.” Tae smiles fondly, looking the way Jungkook left.
“You love me. Now goodbye or else I’ll bite you the next time I see you.” Jimin says with a cute imitation of a growl.
“Go find Jin hyung, he’ll make you feel better and less grumpy too.”
“He’s at work.” Tae can hear the pout in his friends voice.
“I’ll be home soon to cuddle you baby.” Taehyungs voice may sound a bit more degrading than usual. He would be more sympathetic if his friend didn’t keep doing this to himself.
The line goes dead with a huff and Taehyung smiles. He runs the last ten minutes through his head again. The Instant warmth he felt from Jungkook was overpowering. His eyes were doe like and his scent was like fabric softener and blooming gardenia, but also something somewhat sour below the surface as if the kid was hurting, more so than the damage Taehyung did to him.
Jungkook is literally adorable and perfect. Everything in Taehyung pulls to be next to him again, urging to be with him.
Gosh he feels like such an idiot, he finally met his soul mate, something he’s dreamed of since a kid and he screwed it up to high heavens. Of course he loves his pack with all his being but even just seeing Jungkook, feeling that connection changed everything.
He can’t believe he just let him go.
With a sense of urgency overcoming him Taehyungs feet move on their own. He catches onto the scent, now faint and washing away in the rain but still there. He puts on his helmet and prays his bike will get him to campus just fine.
~~~
To say it was useless going to class is an understatement. The moment Jungkook sat down in the back sleep tugged at him roughly and his head and hands hurt too bad for him to even focus. Finally sitting with his hip aching was too much of a relief to not allow himself to fall asleep.
It seemed like mere seconds had passed when he’s suddenly woken abruptly by a textbook landing at his seat, the sound echoing around his head.
“Jungkook ssi, I’d rather you not come at all than show up late and sleep through my whole lecture.” The stern voice startles him into being fully alert and he notices the class has started filtering out. He’s at least grateful she waited until the end of the lesson to yell at him rather than in front of everyone like she’s gladly done in the past.
“Pull yourself together. You’ll never get anywhere noteworthy half assing life like you’ve done all semester.” Her look is only a slight step above a glare and Jungkook stands quickly to bow and apologize, ignoring the stinging at his chest at the words.
You’re worthless
Theres no use in trying
Jungkook shakes his head as if it could dislodge the thoughts from his mind.
She huffs and leaves him to prepare for her next class, muttering “Disrespectful brat.” Under her breath.
‘Ignore her, she doesn’t know what she’s talking about. You work harder than anyone.’ Yugyeom says, sending a face the professors way.
Still being bent over in his bow, Jungkook grips the seat in front of him against the sudden bout of dizziness. He can’t bring himself to care about the words the teacher spat his way and instead closes his eyes against the nausea building and the way simply standing seems to tilt his world.
He does his best to pack his bag, or more like shove his things into the pack and pull on his hood to shield his eyes from the all too bright lights above him.
‘You really don’t look good, Kook. Maybe you should call Jackson? Or even V?’ Yugyeom’s tone is slightly teasing but heavily laced with worry. ‘Really, I think your head’s bleeding too and I for one don’t want to see you throw up.’
Jungkook stands up straight, brushing the other off to focus on staying up and not meeting the ground with his face. He chokes out a “I’m fine” making his way out the doors just as the next wave of students shuffle in. Yugyeom sighs loudly but follows his friend.
The hallway lights aren’t as piercing as the ones from the classroom which Jungkook is extremely grateful for. Even so, his eyes water slightly at the daggers to his skull. He leans against the brick wall focusing on his breathing.
“Jungkook!” A familiar voice booms through the hallway and Jungkook dimly realizes it’s BamBam. He loves the Beta with all his heart but he’s not sure if his head can take the volume of his friend right now. Once the other gets closer Jungkook takes a breath, hoping his hair covers any of the blood Yugyeom said he saw.
“Damn, you look like hell warmed over, like more than usual. Your scent is completely off pup. Are you ok?” BamBam lands a heavy hand on the others shoulder, never one to hold his tongue.
“-m alright, really.”
‘Obviously’ He dimly hears Yugyeom say beside him.
Jungkook pushes himself off the wall to prove it but ends up falling into BamBam’s arms instead.
“Shit, alright. I got you. Jeez, what the hell did you do to your hands? Come on, lets get you to the nurse okay?” The panic is so loud right next to Jungkook’s ear it takes everything in him not to tell the other to shut up. BamBam brings Jungkooks arm up over his shoulders to carry most his weight.
Things seem to be moving in waves and each step he takes ricochets against his brain making him wish he never woke up this morning at all. Closing his eyes seems to help stop his vision from swimming…at least a little…until it really doesn’t.
“M’ gonna be sick.” Jungkooks words do little in warning before he’s heaving. BamBam releases a few “shit”’s and Jungkook clamps a hand over his mouth, willing his insides to stay inside.
“Let it out Kook, it’s okay.”
Squinting his eyes open is a terrible idea but he’s able to see the trash can inches from his face. His body takes it as a sign to lose control and bile comes up. There isn’t much in his stomach to begin with, mostly water so it hurts all the more.
“You okay bud?”
Jungkook nods, grateful for his friend keeping him upright instead of face planting into the trash. Once the older deems him stable enough, albeit swaying dangerously, they continue their walk to the nurse.
“Hey, stay with me. We’re almost there buddy.” The grip on his upper body tightens.
“Frick is he ok?” A new voice rings out over the sound of the hallway.
“No, I’m taking him to the nurse so either clear the way for us or get lost.”
“This is my fault…” the words are said with so much sadness and Jungkook faintly recognizes the soulful voice.
”What?”
“I’ll help you take him.” There are hands on his other arm and his weight is now fully supported between the two warm bodies. They tread forward in spite of Jungkooks lack of participation.
“What did you mean this is your fault?”
“I hit him with my bike and he insisted he was fine, I was getting worried so I came to find him.”
“You what ?” Bambam’s anger comes off in a wave.
Jungkook decides now is a good of time as any to check out and his body slumps in the others’ grips, the last thing he catches is a string of curses released by the both of them.
~~~
Jungkook comes around to the sound of Yugyeom humming something peaceful. He badly wants to fall back asleep to the sound, loving hearing the omegas angel voice.
“I think he’s waking up.” The voice he recognizes is BamBam and the whole day comes back into focus.
Jungkook jack hammers up and instantly regrets the movement as his head strongly disagrees.
“Woah, careful there. We don’t want you braining yourself again.” The other says, trying to help the younger lay back down but Jungkook fights against it, looking around.
BamBam is sitting next to him and his eyes roam over to the concerned faces of V and Mark along with Yugyeom sitting on the end of the makeshift bed giving him a look of sympathy.
Jungkook suddenly realizes he never told V where he was going. How the heck did he find him when there was literally all of campus to search.
“What-“ Jungkook starts but gets immediately interrupted by Jackson barreling into the room. It’s a comical moment, him and Jungkook making eye contact without a word and Jacksons heavy breathing echoing off the walls.
‘He’s gonna be pissed’ Yugyeom says, getting comfy on the bed to watch the show.
“I’ll go get the nurse.” BamBam says, speaking up and getting out of there quick.
“What…happened?” Jungkook can tell the man is controlling not only his breathing but his anger from bubbling up. He takes the now empty seat next to the bed looking over the younger.
“I uh…I fell.” Jungkook says before V can take the blame.
“Fell? BamBam told me you got hit, who the hell do I have to beat up?” Jackson says but his concern overpowers his anger. V shyly steps forward.
“I was the one who hit him. I swear it was an accident, I’m so sorry.” The poor guy bows Jungkooks way and Jackson’s tense shoulders ease up a little. “The rain made the streets slippery and I should have been more careful.” He gives Jungkook an apologetic look.
“You and I will talk later.” Jackson says pointedly at V still bowed down and turns his attention back to Jungkook speaking noticeably sweeter. “You alright? Nothing broken?” He rubs a hand up and down Jungkooks arm and his eyes land on the now bandaged hands of his dongsaeng.
Before Jungkook can answer, Mark speaks up for him.
“He’s got a concussion but the nurse said it’s a really mild one. She did meantion some other things that you should know though.” Mark says folding his arms like an upset parent and as if on cue the nurse walks into the small room followed by BamBam.
“Ah I see you’re awake, how’s the head?” She says sweetly. She seems to be about the same age as his mom but a few inches shorter.
Jungkook allows himself to take note of how he is actually feeling. The headache is still there although not nearly as bad as it was earlier and the nausea is blessedly gone for the moment. Seems he most likely has passed the worst of it.
His hands sting and his stomach hurts, but most of how he feels was already there before he even collided with the motorcycle. Which brings him to his hip. Yeah he wants to dislocate it from the rest of his body. It’s probably gonna turn into some nasty type of bruise but if the nurse won’t mention it neither will he.
“I feel a lot better and…” Suddenly panic strikes. “Crap, what time is it? I can’t miss my shift….” Not to mention the classes he’s already missing. He throws the thin blanket off of himself and ignores the exasperated look Yugyeom sends him. Jacksons comforting hand on his arm grips tighter keeping him in place.
“Jungkook I swear if you try to go to class or work right now I’m going to drag you back to bed myself.” Jackson’s look he shoots the younger means he’s dead serious.
“I already called your boss and explained. You’ve got the day off so don’t even worry about it.” Mark says softly, helping the youngers heart to settle down. Jungkook knows he’s either going to have to sneak away from the others or call in sick as well for the night hours at the bar tonight or run for it and see how far he can make it to actually show up for his shift. He hasn’t exactly told them about his second job and now does not seem like the right time to do so.
“Jungkook-ssi, when I looked you over, yes the concussion was concerning but not quite as much as the state of the rest of your body. Your blood pressure is far too low to be healthy. May I ask when’s the last time you ate?” She sits down in an extra chair in the small room and Jungkook feels the room become smaller with all the eyes on him.
“I uh…” He thinks but no answer comes, honestly not remembering. He tries his best to avoid Jacksons eyes but it’s as if his own are magnets to them and his heart sinks when he sees that look. That look that he hates seeing directed at him, a look he hates seeing on his friend. It’s a look that screams disappointment and concern and about a million emotions all at once, a look he knows is settled on the others faces too. “I don’t…”
He takes a chance and looks at V, startled at the down turned lips and crinkled brow. He looks absolutely torn and distressed at Jungkook’s lack of answer.
With the continued silence that seems to ring out the nurse sighs and looks to Jackson. “Are you able to get in contact with his legal guardians? Or a mate perhaps.” It’s not often that humans will mate with wolves but it is becoming something more common these days so Jungkook isn’t too surprised by the question.
“That’s us, we’re his pack.” Jackson says without hesitation, nodding to the others in the room. Family is a sensitive topic for Jungkook and he’s grateful to the other for his answer.
“Well, please make sure he eats something and doesn’t miss any more meals. Keep a eye on that concussion tonight and then you should be doing a lot better by tomorrow.” Jungkook hates that he’s suddenly a child unable to feed or care for himself. He’s 21 for crying out loud. She continues. “I’m also suspecting you haven’t been sleeping either Jungkook. I’ll provide a note for your classes excusing you for the next two days and then you’ll have the weekend so make sure you get plenty of rest. Avoid caffeine and stay away from screens and loud music before bed as well. I’d prefer not to see you here again Jungkook-ssi, and hope to not hear of any actual hospital visits from you in the future alright? And I mean that in the best way possible.”
Jungkook huffs at that, knowing full well he’s going to be right back in class tomorrow morning. He can’t afford to simply skip out or tell his boss he’s too tired to come in for his job. Aish Jungkook hates this all being brought out in the open, especially in front of V. If he thought there was any chance that the guy would want to be friends with him it’s all out the window now.
The others thank the nurse for helping and Mark leaves to go get the car. Jungkook accepts the Advil from her and Jackson gives Jungkook one last comforting rub on his back before asking V to talk to him in the hallway. Jungkook fears for the guy but he’s for the moment grateful all the attention isn’t solely on him.
“Well, that could have gone better but also could have been ten times worse.” BamBam says bringing Jungkooks worn sneakers over to the bed. Jungkook refrains from allowing his eyes to roll.
‘Boy I’ve missed his optimism.’ Yugyeom says with a chuckle, moving as Jungkook starts to get off the bed, pulling his shoes on.
“Today turned into such a mess.” Jungkook says, letting out a breath.
“You know you really scared me kid,” Bam Bam starts, suddenly serious. “you passing out. I hate seeing you like that and don’t ever want to see you like that again so promise you’ll let us help you out alright? You don’t have to carry everything on your shoulders alone all the time, you literally have a whole pack behind you to help carry the load, or hell, take it for you.” The sincerity in the others voice is nice to hear and Jungkook nods, not trusting his voice or the right words to come out.
By the time the two of them leave the room Jackson is alone and V is long gone. Jungkook feels something tug at his heart but pushes it down instead. It’s what he expected so he shouldn’t be surprised.
Mark brought the car around to the entrance by the infirmary and before Jungkook can get in the back seat Jackson pulls him to the side, away from the others.
“I thought we talked about this pup. You said you needed your space and I respected that. You told me you were trying and that things were getting better. That’s the only reason I was okay with you living alone again. But this…this is too much Kookie.” He rubs a hand over his face. “I really don’t want you staying at that apartment right now. I’ve never liked the thought of you being alone anyways, and your scent has been off for a while now. We’ll take you to the pack house and I’ll go pack a bag for you while you rest. You can have as much space as you’d like but I’ll only be ok if it’s under our roof and I can actually see you.” Jackson decides, only angering the younger.
“I’m trying Hyung, and I was getting better. Yeah the past few days were just a slip up, but that’s all. I promise okay? I’ll stay at the house tonight, but I’m going back home tomorrow.” Jackson visibly winces at Jungkook calling the dingy cold apartment ‘home’. He knows his friend means well and he wants to just fall into the love and embrace coming from them all but he just…can’t. The thought alone terrifies him.
Jackson huffs, having already had similar conversations with the kid but never getting a clear answer to his stubbornness on the topic.
“We’ll get some dinner in you and get some cuddles too and then see how you’re feeling in the morning, how’s that?”
Jungkook wants to tell him that any food that goes down his throat threatens to come right back up. That when he lays down to sleep all the dark thoughts rush at him at once, robbing him of any real rest. He feels he doesn’t deserve to get better, doesn’t deserve their care, and no matter how many times the others tell him he deserves to live he refuses to believe it.
He wants to say so many things, allowing himself to pour his heart out and beg for help, but only one word makes it out.
“Fine.”
He’s fine.