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Wide, staring eyes flitted around the dark bedroom. Impatient fists gripped at sheets and soft sleep clothes. Jungkook thought of anything and everything. What he ate for breakfast three days ago, new lyrics for a song he’d been working on - which he then typed into a note on his phone - and ridiculous questions like, “what type of taco places in America are considered Tex-Mex?”
His brain wouldn’t shut up. But it didn’t need to. It’s not like he would fall asleep even if it did.
Jungkook’s body was practically aching, dizzying nausea keeping him from sleeping and causing his thoughts to run and flow to more unusual topics than what normally occupied his brain.
He sighed, shutting his eyes and feeling the burn of tears as the simultaneous exhaustion and alertness of his body fought with each other. He just wanted to sleep .
After his solo dance practice finished at 6 p.m., Jungkook had been sent to the vocal floor of the company building to work on some new lyrics and chords for their upcoming release. He had just stepped into the studio to work with his vocal coach, pulling his t-shirt away from his neck to fan his hot skin, when he promptly collapsed.
Once they got him up and settled, the vocal coach and producers found out that it was a result of minimal sleep and Jungkook's lack of food the night before and during lunch that day. They sent him home with orders to eat a full meal and then sleep for the remainder of the evening.
But that was the kicker.
His body didn’t want food or sleep. It was already too used to the lack. So he slowly grew nauseous on the ride home, as he sipped at his water bottle provided by the staff.
When he got dropped off at the apartment building, even the elevator ride made his stomach churn, despite its emptiness.
By the time he reached the door to his apartment, all he could do was drop his bag next to the doorway and walk to the couch to collapse. He laid down and held his breath in hopes of keeping the nausea under control.
His head pulsed a bit with a headache, but eventually, it and the nausea relented long enough for him to get some rice and noodles in his stomach, along with a painkiller, before heading to his bed.
He took 2 minutes to strip his clothes off, then changed into his baggiest t-shirt and loose sweatpants. Anything to remove the pressure from his stomach and his skin.
He turned the lights off, looking only at the dim shimmer of city lights out the window.
But slowly the nausea returned, full force this time, making his body queasy and weak. Despite the exhaustion, he couldn’t sleep.
So there he stayed, wide awake and insides churning, his body overwhelmed. He was left to his strange, rambling thoughts and occasionally his phone to check Instagram and Twitter. Frustration built and itched beneath his skin as it got later in the evening.
Now, as 9 p.m. rolled around, he stared at the patterns on the window drapes, then heard a gentle knock on the bedroom door.
“Kook, can I come in?”
Jin.
“Yeah,” he mumbled, turning his body to face further away from the door, knowing the light from the hallway wouldn’t help his nausea or sleeplessness.
The door creaked open, Jin stepping through. "You alright, baby? The coach told me what happened. Why are you still awake?”
“Can’t sleep. Nauseous. Everythin’ hurts.” Jungkook mumbled. His eyes were closed but he felt his hyung’s tentative hand brush his cheek, then his forehead as he searched for signs of a fever.
Jungkook whined, Jin’s touch making him overwhelmed but still…comfortable? He needed more of it.
“My poor baby,” Jin cooed. “Let me change clothes and then I’ll cuddle with you. Is that okay?”
Jungkook only hummed in acknowledgment, not having the energy to try to form words.
He heard Jin moving about the room quietly, pulling out his blue RJ pajamas and then washing his face in the bathroom adjacent to their shared space.
When Jin eventually returned, Jungkook was simply laying there, still on his side, trying to focus on anything but the dead weight of his limbs and the queasiness of his stomach.
He closed his eyes. But he didn’t feel tired. Just peeved and in pain.
“What can I do for you, baby?” Jin whispered, gently touching his boyfriend’s shoulder. “Do you need meds, a back rub, water? What can I get you?”
Jungkook groaned again. “M’ tummy hurts, like queasy.”
“Want the heating pad?” Jin asked.
“Maybe.” Jungkook blinked, unsure.
So Jin shuffled off the bed and went to the drawer in the corner. He pulled out a small heating pad that they sometimes used when they had back and shoulder pain after rehearsals.
He plugged it in near JK’s side of the bed before gently placing it over top of his hip before rejoining Jungkook on the bed.
“Where do you want it to be, sweetheart?” Jin let his hand hover over Jungkook’s hip.
Jungkook’s eyes were closed, blocking out visual sensations as best as he could. So he just mumbled, “tummy.”
“Alright.” Jin shifted the heating pad gently, so it was resting over Jungkook’s stomach and the end was placed over his hip to keep it from moving.
“Tell me if it gets too hot, okay?”
“Mm.” Jungkook groaned his assent. The soft fabric was starting to warm up.
“I’ll just lay here next to you, sweetheart. I won’t touch you unless you ask me to. I’m sure you’re a bit sensitive.” Jin whispered.
There was no response from Jungkook, but Jin knew he was just too tired to speak.
A few minutes passed, maybe 30, before Jin was jostled awake. He hadn’t even meant to fall asleep.
Jungkook had leaped off the bed (as quick as anyone could leap when they’re dead on their feet) and was running to the bathroom.
Before Jin was even up, he heard a retching sound. He walked quickly to their bathroom to see Jungkook’s back curling in an attempt to expel something from his body, but nothing came out of his mouth.
“Oh, baby. Nothing’s coming up?” Jin moved to Jungkook’s back, rubbing gently at his neck and shoulders to try to ease and loosen his muscles.
“N-no.” Jungkook sniffled, his eyes shut tight with tears falling down his cheeks and his nose running. His stomach muscles ached from the gagging and contractions.
“I know it hurts, but let your body do what it needs to. Try not to suppress it.” The older hummed.
Jungkook nodded. When he felt another heave coming, he leaned up and held the edges of the toilet. His body lurched, throat going tight, and his fingers turned white from the grip tightening.
Everything hurt. He gagged, two or three times in a row, but again nothing surfaced from his body.
“It’ll be okay, baby. Just breathe for me.” Jin soothed, running fingers through his hair. Jungkook heaved out a big breath when his body finally relaxed again.
Jungkook’s frame shook from the exertion, tremors running over him.
Jin reached around to feel his forehead. “Let me get you some water. You feel warm. I’ll be right back, just sit tight.”
Jungkook sat there, resting his head on the rim of the toilet. He knew it was gross to do so, but the cold surface felt like heaven on his throbbing head and warm skin.
Jin returned a minute later. “Baby? Here, look up for me if you can.”
Jungkook lifted his head, causing bleary eyes and a face covered in redness, tear streaks, and snot to come into Jin’s view.
“There’s my beautiful bun.” Jin smiled, but with a sad look in his eyes. “I’m sorry you feel so icky.” He wiped a damp cloth gently over Jungkook’s face, cleaning it off and cooling his head.
“Do you think you’re done, sweetheart? I don’t want this water to come right back up if you’re still feeling off.” He rubbed Jungkook’s arm.
“No, I- I think I’m good now,” Jungkook said, sitting criss-cross on the floor. He still felt a bit queasy but not like he was about to heave anymore.
“Okay, try this.” Jin handed him the glass. Jungkook took it and drank big gulps until the water was almost gone. The cool temperature of it soothed his ragged throat immensely.
“Thanks, hyung.” He said, eyes blinking slowly and chest heaving.
Jin cooed at him. “Wanna try to sleep now? I can cuddle with you and rub your tummy. Jinnie cuddles are your favorite, right?”
Jungkook nodded, a small smile cracking on his face at Jin’s teasing. So Jin helped him stand, with wobbling legs at first before he stabilized.
Jin held Jungkook’s waist while he brushed his teeth and washed his face, then they climbed back into bed, Jungkook removing his sweaty shirt so he could feel Jin’s body closer to him. Jin cuddled up against Jungkook’s back and wrapped an arm around his waist. He started to rub slow circles over Jungkook’s stomach with his large hand.
Jungkook sighed in relief, tucked his head into his pillow, and whispered, “thank you, hyungie.”
“Anything for my baby bun,” Jin kissed Jungkook’s shoulder. He continued his soft movements and began singing Epiphany softly.
It wasn’t until he was nearing the end of the song, that he felt Jungkook’s body completely relax in his hold. He smiled and then finished singing the last few words of the song. He leaned in and kissed Jungkook’s hair softly before he gently pulled a blanket over them.
“Sleep well, bun. It’ll all be better in the morning.”