Jungkook watched Jimin with narrowed eyes as the latter stretched his arms and wiggled his right ankle, wincing the slightest bit. Jungkook sighed as he adjusted his shirt and tucked it into his pants before walking over to Jimin to try to change his mind one last time.

"Jiminie," he called out, turning Jimin by his shoulders. Jimin smiled up at Jungkook and the boy lost all his words for a second. "Listen, your ankle is hurt bad. Please don't dance today; you'll make it worse. I'll talk to your dance teacher if you want-"

Jimin shook his head, eyes moving to his shoes. "Please, I want to do this. This collaboration has been something all of us have been looking forward to." He touched Jungkook's arm in assurance. "I love dancing. This is what I've been born to do."

"It's time to go guys," Hongik University's dance coach signaled, patting everyone on the back and flashing them a smile. "Do your best. Good luck."

Jungkook sighed as he walked beside Jimin to the stage. They took their positions behind the curtain and Jimin smiled at him one last time before the curtains drew open. Then Jimin was an entirely different person. He let himself get immersed in the music, flowing with it as if he were sinking down the currents of a river. Jungkook had noticed that there was a part where Jimin stumbled the slightest bit after landing on his right leg. He had gained his balance immediately after but Jungkook had been taken aback by how Jimin had masked that much pain from his face. He had been smiling throughout. It had to have hurt so bad. When the performance ended, all the students went backstage and hugged each other. Jungkook's eyes fell on Jimin's dance teacher who was walking up to Jimin with a stern look on her face. He immediately moved in front of her and shook his head.

"You are not going to say anything discouraging to him today. His right ankle is sprained and he still went on stage and gave it his all. He loves dancing so much. I won't let you yell at him today." The teacher looked at Jungkook with wide eyes when he mentioned about Jimin's sprained ankle. "Yes, I bet none of you even knew. He didn't even show it on his face. It would have hurt so bad and yet he kept going. I know you're thinking about the stumble but he went out there and did that despite being hurt. Appreciate that you have him in K-Arts."

Jungkook watched tears form in the teacher's eyes as she rushed towards Jimin and pulled him into a hug much to the blond boy's shock and relief. He had been expecting her to yell at him for having stumbled but he was shocked when tears fell out of her eyes as she apologized to him and made him sit down to take a look at his right ankle. Jungkook ran a hand through his hair in frustration when he noticed Jimin let out a soft yelp as his ankle was examined. He had worsened it after all. Jungkook was very annoyed at Jimin. He pulled out his cigarette packet and a lighter from his bag and moved out into the back of the building in lightning speed. He desperately needed a smoke.

"I told him goddamn it why doesn't he listen?" Jungkook kicked the wall behind him as grey puffs of smoke floated around.

Jungkook leaned his head against the wall and closed his eyes, cigarette stick held between his teeth as he rubbed his face. He had seen the way Jimin had landed on his right leg. And considering he had already hurt it pretty badly two days back when he had fallen while practicing for more hours, it would just make everything worse now. Jungkook couldn't bear the sight of Jimin showing the raw pain on his face inside as his ankle was being looked at, and that was why the boy had moved outside. He was so annoyed at Jimin. If only the boy had listened to him and refrained from applying more pressure on his leg.

As Jungkook took in another drag of smoke, a fit of violent coughs left his mouth and he placed his hand on the wall for support. The stick fell out of his mouth and he crushed it under his shoes as he coughed into a fist. A pair of arms wrapped around his torso from behind and something similar to a head rested against his back, more specifically a cheek. Jungkook turned around in the arms once his coughing had ceased and he was shocked to find Jimin still wrapping his arms around his torso, cheek now resting against his chest. Jimin could hear Jungkook's heart beat fast below his ear and he sniffed, his tears finally coming to a stop. He looked up with tear tracks on his face and Jungkook drew in a sharp breath, hand automatically going up to Jimin's face. Jimin held onto Jungkook's wrist and stared, chocolate eyes diving deep into charcoal ones.

"Jimin," Jungkook breathed.

"I- I saw you walk out and you seemed annoyed," Jimin stuttered, hiccups breaking through his words. "And I'm sorry. I'm sorry I didn't l-listen to you." Jimin sniffed and hiccupped while Jungkook gently wiped away the tear tracks on the blond boy's face. "I had to t-talk to you so I came outside and y-you were coughing so much, so much. I was s-so scared Jungkookie." Jungkook's heart felt like it would leap out of his chest any minute now. Jimin tightened his hold on Jungkook. "I didn't know what to do. I was so scared."

"Jimin."

"I didn't care about my leg. You- I thought something was going to happen to you. I can't- I can't have that."

"Jimin."

"Stop smoking, please." Another set of tears flowed down Jimin's face, as he looked right into Jungkook's eyes. "Please, it's destroying you Jungkookie, it's destroying yo-"

Jungkook pressed Jimin against the cold wall of the building as his lips claimed the shorter boy's. He held Jimin's entire weight, not letting the latter apply even the slightest pressure on his right leg. Jungkook's hands were around Jimin's waist holding him tight and secure against his chest. After exploring every bit of Jimin's mouth Jungkook's lips moved to kiss away every single one of Jimin's tears.

"I'm sorry," Jungkook apologized, reaching into the pocket of his pants and throwing away the box of cigarettes. "I'm sorry love. I'll try to quit. I'll try to quit for you."

Jimin opened his eyes and stared at Jungkook, his cheeks flushed and rosy after crying, his eyelashes dotted with teardrops that looked like crystals under the light, his face was puffy and his lips were swollen after the intense kiss Jungkook had attacked him with.

"You," Jungkook gulped as he nosed at Jimin's cheek gently. "You're so endearing, God help me."

Jimin's grip on Jungkook's shoulders shifted to wrap around his neck and play with his raven locks. Jungkook stared, dark eyes drinking Jimin in completely. Jimin flushed more when he realized Jungkook was holding him up entirely. He was so strong.

"Does your leg hurt very bad?"

Jimin shook his head, burying his face in the crook of Jungkook's neck. "I don't mind. It's bearable."

Jungkook pressed a kiss onto the crown of Jimin's head, holding him tighter.