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‘I know you’re exhausted. I feel it too. Hang in there because I know you’re doing so well. You’ve been putting your all, smiling, enjoying, dancing brightly as always. Just hold on a bit longer so that I can hold you too.’
Through half lidded eyes and a blurry glance Jimin hopes he can get this message across the expanse of their van on the way back to the dorm. More specifically, to the soft-snoring Jungkook who’s had his head consistently drooping against the window for the past hour.
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It’s 2:49am when he finally finds Jungkook collapsed on the floor, chest heaving very shallow breaths and the sweaty strands of hair sticking to his forehead. Black frayed socks accompanied by black frayed jeans and there’s just no telling anymore which frayed t-shirt he’s sporting.
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This time, it’s right before a fan sign. This time it’s Jimin. They still had about 20 minutes to spare before it would all go down, Army’s infiltrating and the like. But for these 20 minutes came a bout of simultaneous courage and exhaustion.
“Kookie…”, the rasp in his voice made it almost incoherent but the soft endearment gets through to Jungkook anyways. He leans in from the seat on his right side.
The next sound made is none other than the fall of Jimin’s body onto Jungkook’s lap. Jungkook peers at him curiously and watches as Jimin curls inward on his lap, hands making their way to grab at the hem of Jungkook’s thin white blouse.
“I thought I was supposed to be the baby of this group Jiminie…Whatever happened to that” Jungkook whines playfully while running his hands through the freshly bleached strands of hair.
“Mmm…” Jimin turns over and looks up at Jungkook, continuing to make grabby hands at his chin.
“Is the delirium finally hitting you? Haha,” Jungkook teases as he grabs hold of Jimin’s small hands and leans over to peck him on the nose. Jimin freezes at that, freezes at the proximity loosening himself from Jungkook’s grip to hold his face with his hands in place.
“Something wrong?” a tilted head asks.
‘Nope, I just really missed seeing the stars in your eyes. The ones that remind me that you’re still shining bright after all this time’, but he doesn’t say that. He only pulls an eye-smile before settling back on Jungkook’s lap to face the ceiling.
He closes his eyes again and feels Jungkook resume his caresses. Jimin purses his lips as he tries to focus on every touch; strong hands running up the sides until Jimin feels a firm squeeze at his hip.
“It’s time.” Jungkook advises as he helps Jimin up placing a hand at his back for support. Jimin pouts but tries to resist the yawn that wants to take over for Jungkook’s sake.
It’s when Jungkook closes his eyes and softly places a kiss at Jimin’s left shoulder that he can really tell.
The makeup artists tried their best to hide it but being up this close he can see the embedded tired grays of Jungkook’s eye bags. And seeing Jungkook so vulnerable yet using what little energy he has left to comfort Jimin has his eyes starting to well up at the sight.
“My beautiful star boy”, Jimin whispers into Jungkook’s right ear. “Keep shining for me okay? Soon we’ll be able to rest”, he finishes, chasing the soft skin of Jungkook’s cheeks with his nose.
“We’re almost there.”
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It’s probably around 11pm when Jimin finally makes it back from Daiso. With his blonde strands sticking to his forehead from rain and sweat combined he looks every centimeter of pitiful with black rain jacket and jeans drenched.
Despite all that though, the cheap plastic bag he carries in his right hand continues to be gripped with determination.
And his smile doesn’t falter.
Jungkook is fast asleep on a black jacket he had brought with him to practice. And as much as Jimin wanted to plop down next to him to cuddle and scold him for staying at the studio late again he’s on a mission this time.
He peppers some soft kisses down Jungkook’s right cheek, for reassurance that he’ll be back to get him before he departs.
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“Jungkook, baby, you can wake up now.” Jimin coos at the sleeping giant that he’s been piggybacking from the studio to their dorm bedroom.
“Nnnng, hmm? What is it Jiminie..” a soft voice responds. Jungkook feels himself being slowly let go and hangs onto Jimin for balance. He feels Jimin’s hand that’s now over his start to pull him in the direction of their bed.
“Join me and you’ll see.” Jimin giggles as he lays down first continuing to pull Jungkook to his side so he can press him close to his chest.
It’s been dark this whole time, but even so Jimin doesn’t fail to miss the hair that falls in front of Jungkook’s eyes. He delicately curls it back behind Jungkook’s ear. In the same motion Jungkook responds by pressing kisses to Jimin’s neck.
“Jiminie…I’m tired”. It’s definitely heard in his voice and Jimin almost breaks at how weak his voice sounds.
In the most delicate tone he proceeds, “That’s okay baby. You can finally rest now. Look, I’ve got something for you”
Jimin turns in the direction of their lamp and searches for a white cable behind it. As he holds the switch in his hand he turns back to Jungkook, focusing on his eyes as if to engrave the next words he says in them.
“You’ve worked so hard and honestly I didn’t know how you were keeping up with it all. I know you. Not liking to complain about bones that hurt or the ass-early times we gotta wake up to everyday. But I saw the exhaustion under your eyes and I could sometimes see it …you’re just like a star.”
At this, Jimin flips the switch. Jungkook blinks several times trying to adjust to his surroundings but is now in disbelief.
There’s white fairy lights surrounding them almost everywhere, some twinkling, some stagnant, others of light blue and purple colors. Several luminescent ones decorate the ceiling.
Jimin’s heart swells as he watches Jungkook completely blown away with that childlike wonder he’s always possessed, wide smiles and crinkling eyes. It envelops him completely.
“Jimin…I” stuttering
-and he can’t resist.
“My beautiful star boy.” Jimin takes him down again, Jungkook shudders under him as Jimin presses more to kiss him deeply this time. Nervous eyes pan to look into Jimin’s, a manifest of love and admiration.
“Sometimes faint, like that day when you were so tired,” he lets out briefly and then captures his lips again.
“But so often shining bright like these stars around us.”