"Let's go through that again." Jungkook manages to say between his heavy breathing. Using the back of his hand he wipes away the sheen of sweat on his forehead.

"J-Jungkook, that's enough," Your voice pleads.

"I'll decide when it's enough, you don't have to make my decisions for me." You cower under his glare.

"At least think of the other dancers. They're tired too." Jungkook looks behind him at the red faced sweaty dancers. Their chest heave, rising and falling rapidly. Some lean forward hands no their knees trying hard to catch their breath.

Jungkook has been practicing for the past 4 hours with no break. All the other members had left hours after the group practice to get some rest before the show in the evening. But Jungkook shows no signs of stopping.

"You can leave." He tells the dancers. They look at him unable to understand if he means his words or is merely testing them. But when Jungkook raises an eyebrow threatening to change his mind they rush to the door.

Now that you're alone with him in a room you feel suffocated.

His behaviour lately has caused you to grow a little afraid of him. He's always in a bad mood snapping at you and ignoring you altogether at other times. You tip toe around him not wanting to make him mad but at the same time you can't help but want to know what's wrong.

You hear "Euphoria" play for the hundredth time that day as Jungkook takes his position and you drop your head back to your hands in frustration. You feel exhausted just watching him dance and sing over and over again sitting in your corner, you can't begin to imagine what he's feeling.

What has got into him? Is he trying to kill himself?

The song finishes and then starts again several times before your patience reaches an all time low. You scowl at him. Jungkook stops mid song, staggering a few steps before falling onto his knees, his breathing ragged and heavy.

You walk up to the speakers and pull out the first cord you see, thankfully the music stops.

"I don't know what's got into you! But you need to stop! Enough practicing," you are as red faced as Jungkook. "Please get some rest." the last few words that leave your lips are desperate.

He lifts his head to look at you through his eyelashes. You wait for him to say something hurtful but he doesn't.

Struggling, he stands up and moves towards the door. He sways on his feet and you quickly move forward to support him but stop when you see him holding up a trembling hand.

''I don't need your help.. I don't need you..''

*******

Jungkook winces as he sits on a sofa backstage. Taehyung turns his attention from his game to the younger man.

"Are you alright? You look like you're in pain," Taehyung scrutinises his pale face and parched lips with a worried expression. He reaches a hand out and places it on the younger's forehead. As his hand comes in contact with Jungkook's skin he immediately pulls away as if electrocuted. "Jungkook! You're running a fever!"

"I'm okay. It'll pass." Jungkook's voice is barely audible.

"Gather around everyone!"

Jungkook lifts his head and strains his eyes to focus to see Namjoon beckoning the members to the center on the dressing room. With a trembling hand he tries to push off the sofa to stand up but his legs won't support his body. He feels a hand circle around him and haul him up.

"Jungkook-ah what's going on? You can't do the concert like this." Taehyung whispers not wanting to attract any attention their way.

"Hyung, I told you I'm fine." Jungkook says through gritted teeth. His voice sounds airy as if it's a struggle to talk, this only intensifies the older man's worries but he drops the topic for the time being.

"Okay boys, let's do our best to put up a great show." Namjoon says as they cheer and head towards the stage.

As they walk through corridors that lead to the stage, Jungkook finds himself lagging behind unable to keep up with the others. Luckily for him, the pre-show excitement and nervousness keeps everyone occupied and their attention far away from him.

His legs are noodles as he struggles to put one shaky foot before the other. With every move he feels his body throb with pain making his wince inwardly. Suddenly he feels lightheaded, the world spinning around him and loses his balance.

A hand tightly wraps around his waist preventing him from crumbling to the floor. He looks down to see you, lips pursed tightly together as you struggle under his weight.

Seeing you, Jungkook feels a stabbing pain in his chest making it even harder to breathe. Quickly pushing you away he continues on his own.

The boys are coming back for their last costume change, you move out of the way as they file into the room. Your eyes don't leave the door though.

You're waiting for him.

You had been watching him struggle through exhaustion and pain all day long. Every time you got close to helping him he'd push you away, quite literally. You did want to agitate him anymore so you stayed away. Even though it hurt to see him in pain, you stayed away.

Finally, he stumbles into the room.

You straighten up, watching as a stylist rushes to him, urging him to take his jacket off but he's not listening. His lips are parted, chest rising and falling, face pale and lips parched. You watch him take another staggering step forward before he crumbles to the ground.

For a moment the whole dressing room falls silent, everyone holding their breath. Then the tumult of chaos breaks out.

You dart forward pushing people put of your way. "Don't crowd around him. He needs room to breathe." You're surprised to find the mental cogs in your brain turning in this situation.

Two male staff member rush to him, attempting to carry him. You immediately identify one of them to be Sejin.

"Take him to the adjacent room, it's too crowded here." They nod and carry him to the next room. As they lay him down on a blanket on the floor you hear him mutter something in his unconscious state, at one point you think you hear him say your name but convince yourself otherwise.

You attempt to take his shoes off but he mumbles something inaudible and moves his feet away from you. You look at Sejin for guidance.

The other male staff carefully takes Jungkook's jacket off and begins to peel off his shirt. That's your cue to leave. Closing the door behind you lean against it and try to stabilise your drumming heart.

Deep breaths.. three long deep breaths, Y/N...

"How is he doing?" Jimin approaches you, his forehead wrinkled in worry.

You open your mouth to speak and find yourself unable to do so. The tightening in your throat only gets worse as you look into Jimin's eyes. You feel a tear escape and run down your cheek.

"Hey.. I'm sure he'll be fine," There's something in his voice that seems off to you but you decide to ignore it. Jimin wraps his arms around you protectively. The embrace is warm and you never want to get out of it. In his arms you feel safe, strong and happy. Burying you face deeper into him chest you let the tears flow. Placing a hand on your head he cradles you in his arms allowing you to calm down.

"Let me go inside and check how he's doing, okay?" He says after a few tense minutes. You nod against his chest and reluctantly pull away staring at the wet stain you've created on his shirt. Before letting go of you, he places his lips on your forehead sending waves of warmth and reassurance coursing through your body. You shut your eyes tight.

******

"He won't listen. He says he wants to keep going." You can hear the worry in Namjoon's voice as he paces back and forth.

Jungkook's condition hasn't improved significantly in the past few minutes, he's still in the small room seated on a chair trying to catch his breath. The members are all seated in the dressing room trying to decide what to do next. You're leaning against the door frame nibbling on your bottom lip as you look at the group.

You feel an unreasonable rage seize you. You walk to the room he's in and push open the door which slams against the wall noisy. Sejin looks up startled but doesn't say anything.

"Are you out of your mind?" You direct your question to Jungkook who's seating limply on a chair with his head hanging low. You wait for him to look up at you but he doesn't. "I'm talking to you, Jeon Jungkook."

He lifts his head to look at you then. His eyes narrowing at you, you can see the anger rolling behind them yet he doesn't anything.

Taking advantage of the silence you go on. "What are you trying to prove by torturing your exhausted body?"

"Why do you even care about what happens to me? I'm sure you'll get your salary nonetheless."You feel your lips part as his dagger enters your heart and twists in deeper.

"Stop acting like a child for once!" You scream and see his flinch slightly causing guilt to rise up to the surface. You move closer and kneel in front of him so that he's looking right at you.

"Jungkook please, stop overworking yourself. Everyone's so worried for you."

You stare into his eyes and watch them soften changing his expression entirely. You place your hand on his trembling ones and realise what a big mistake it was when his expression grows darker.

"Have you ever really cared for me, Y/N?" He let out a roaring laugh at the look of pure hurt on your face.

"What are you being like this? What is it that you want?" Your voice trembles but at this point you don't even care.

"What I want is for you to get away from me."

______________________________

Ohhhh... that was intense.