Chapter Text
Jungkook wants to cry the moment his alarm goes off. It feels like just moments ago he finally collapsed on his bed only to now be dragged into the start of another day. The sun isn’t even up yet and it only feeds into his desire to disappear into his blankets.
He rubs a tired hand over his face, trying to remember what time he came stumbling in last night. Or this morning? He didn’t want to waste time changing or even getting in his bed properly which he now deeply regrets at the smell of faint alcohol that clings to his clothes and hangs in his room.
His shift at the bar last night went far longer than he had wanted it too but he has to pay for rent somehow…and school, and food, and bus fees. Basically he has to kill himself to survive. The logic and life of a college student.
The room lights up with a text from Jackson like clockwork.
Jackson-Hyung: Morning Kookie. You up?
He sighs and knows his friend will most likely call him if he doesn’t reply within a few minutes and if he ignores the call the guy will soon be at his door letting himself in to make sure the maknae is still alive. Something that’s definitely happened more than once only for Jackson to find the other simply dead to the world in bed.
Wanting to avoid that at all costs today Jungkook sends the other a quick response.
Jungkook: Yeah
Jackson-Hyung: Travel safe and promise me you’ll take some of the snacks I left for you last time alright?
Jungkook: Okay
He tosses his phone onto his mess of a bed and staggers his way to the bathroom. The lights are always too harsh for him in the morning so he opts to keeping them off. He’d rather avoid looking at the dark bags under his eyes anyways.
After splashing some cold water over his face and brushing his teeth Jungkook throws on a hoodie feeling comfort in the familiar weight of the fabric against his skin. Somehow 20 minutes have passed already and he mentally kicks himself for talking so long, knowing he’s minutes away from missing his bus.
~~~
He missed the bus.
Jungkook curses at the sky noticing the grey clouds seeming to gather directly above him. Perfect.
He knows the whole Im pack has told him countless times to call immediately if he needs anything whatsoever but he really does hate worrying them and being such an inconvenience. Somewhere in the back of his mind he knows life would be a lot easier on him if he just accepted their persisting invites to come live with them but he can’t find it in himself to take them up on it.
His grip tightens on his bag as he starts the now longer commute to campus, hating this morning that has already seemed to have drained him of what little energy he had left.
Of course when the first drop of rain lands on his cheek it’s not a surprise at all.
‘You should have brought an umbrella.’
Jungkook doesn’t bother looking, knowing Yugyeom is right by his side. The tone is teasing but only aggravates Jungkooks headache.
“Yah, you should have reminded me.”
Jungkook rubs a knuckle at his temple now sending a look to the other. Yugyeom chuckles but continues along. Jungkook checks his phone again, wincing at the time.
‘Your psych teacher’s gonna chew you out again.’ Yugyeom pokes as if reading his friends mind. He’s got his hands deep into his pockets and even though he’s just in jeans and a t-shirt he doesn’t shiver against the cold droplets that now pepper the world around him. Jungkook envy’s the other as the warmth from his own hoodie does almost nothing to keep the chill out.
The rain starts coming down pretty heavily, soaking right through his clothes and starting a deep to the bone chill throughout his body. When he thinks his morning can’t get much better it’s when he’s crossing the street that the world decides to prove him wrong.
There’s a screech of tires against the wet cement and the sound of his name getting yelled out by Yugyeom that freezes him in place.
The second his already aching head hits the cement hard he knows it’s done some damage.
“Shit! Are you alright?” A husky voice booms out. Jungkook blinks up and through the haze and rain sees a blurry figure taking off a motorcycle helmet. “I’m so sorry, my wheels slipped and-“ the mans words stop the moment his hand lands on the wounded kid, his eyes locking with Jungkooks, widening slightly.
Even though Jungkooks vision refuses to focus he doesn’t need it to know the guy in front of him is obviously handsome. His dark hair frames his face perfectly and the slight mullet looks like curling wings behind his ears. His eyes come into focus and Jungkook almost looses his breath, staring into those deep brown iris’.
“I’m…I’m fine, really.” Jungkook chokes out the words even though he’s anything but.
“You literally just got hit by a motorcycle, you’re not fine. I’m really sorry…” The guy says again seeming to be at a loss for words too. He eyes break away from Jungkooks and land on his hands. “Shit, you’re bleeding.” The strangers eyes flash a faint red, telling Jungkook immediately he’s an alpha, which explains the strong aura about him.
Jungkook hazily looks down and see red on his hands, scraped from where he most likely tried to stop his fall.
“Let me take you to the hospital or at least the school nurse, your hands are pretty scraped up and you could have a concussion.” The guy says quickly and the amount of panic in his eyes would otherwise be comical if Jungkooks head didn’t feel like it was about to explode. “Come on let’s start by getting you out of the rain.”
“Really I’m ok.” He let’s the other help him stand, stumbling slightly. The guys hands are warm even through Jungkooks hoodie and he leans down picking up Jungkooks backpack from the ground surprisingly swinging it over his own shoulder and carefully guiding Jungkook away from the street. Now that he’s standing he realizes the side of his hip he fell on absolutely throbs which he tries his best not to limp to worry the stranger any further.
Looking behind them he notices they caused quite a bit of a traffic jam, and also noticeably leaving the motorcycle behind. Thankfully the road is large enough for people to go around without much trouble.
“Wait, what about your bike?”
“Don’t worry about it.” He says so easily.
Once they reach the side of the road safely the guy starts directing the two of them to the bus stop bench. Jungkook stops in his steps pulling himself out of the grip the other has on him even though he’d love more than anything to sit down right now. His balance wavers without the support but he holds himself still enough.
“I’m ok, really. Thank you for your concern but I have to get to class, I’m already late enough as is and my teacher’s gonna kill me if I miss any more.” Jungkook says with what he hopes is a smile and reaches for his bag which the guy reluctantly allows him to take back. He frowns at the words giving a soft look of concern.
“I really don’t think you should be walking around right now…”
“I promise I’ll take a breather after my class.” Jungkook says, already knowing his schedule won’t allow it. “Really it doesn’t hurt as bad as it looks.”
“You probably have a concussion.” The guy points out again, literally pointing to the others head.
“I’m holding a full on conversation so I should be ok.” Jungkook offers, sending the other a small smile.
He looks far too troubled at that but Jungkook is grateful he’s not pushing him further, otherwise he would cave in a second. It seems it’d be impossible to say no to those soft eyes.
As if just remembering he had it, the guy reaches into his back pocket pulling out a bandana, wrapping it around the worse of the two hands and tying it just tight enough to stay. “You can go ahead and keep this, I’ve got plenty. I just wish I had another one for you.”
“Thanks.” The fabric is soft and the red color matches along with Jungkooks blood…something that he never thought he would be thinking or seeing.
“At least let me give you my number, that way you can call me in case of…well, anything.” Jungkook looks at the other, kind of shocked but with the persistent hand reaching out he fumbles his phone over.
The guy slightly pouts as he concentrates on putting his number in and then the phone is back in Jungkooks hands.
“I texted myself so I’ve got yours too.”
He looks down at the name saved there, wiping the rain off with his sleeve and smiling slightly at the two bear emojis besides a letter. “Your name’s V?”
“My real names Taehyung but I think V is more fun. You?”
“Yeah I think V is a pretty fun name.” Jungkook says, pocketing the device.
V brings a hand up to his mouth in a small laugh, revealing a boxy smile. It’s sounds like a literal E-he-he but it’s like music to Jungkooks ears that he knows he wants to hear more of. “I meant what’s your name?”
Jungkook feels heat rise to his cheeks and hopes with the cold they’re already red and it’s not noticeable. “Oh uh, I’m Jungkook.”
“Alright Jungkook-ah, promise me you’ll let me know if you need anything alright? I’ll be checking in with you. And please have a doctor look you over.” The concern masking V’s face warms Jungkook up a bit and he feels something tug at the sound of the comfortable nick name. He nods.
“I’m really glad I met you, sorry it had to happen with me literally crashing into you.” He says somewhat shyly, a look on the other that is incredibly endearing.
As if slapped across the face Jungkook suddenly remembers he literally is missing class. He bows his head to the other hating the heat that rises to his cheeks once again. “Me too.” Then turns to start jogging, leaving V behind him in the rain missing the smile left on the others face.
The world tilts far too much as he runs but he pushes at his feet to keep going.
‘I think someone has a crush.’ Yugyeom says slyly, easily running next to him.
“Shut up and no I don’t, he’s just cool.” Jungkook pants and wipes off the smile growing on his face along with the rain.
‘But really, are you ok?’
“When am I ever?”