28 Chapter 27 (2/2)
”Min?” He would have asked what happened if he wouldn't have heard loud sobs echoing through the phone. ”Baby?”
”Daddy, Bunny –” The boy wailed and doe eyes immediately widened in realisation when he heard the name he's been called. It wasn't like Jimin to call him Daddy while in public so the boy was probably in great distress.
”Where are you, baby? Are you at the cafe?”
”Y-yes. Pick m-me up, please?”
It wasn't a questionable thing to do, Jungkook was already looking for his jacket, knowing Yoongi would understand that it was necessary for him to leave.
”Of course, sweetheart. Daddy's on the way. What happened, can you tell me?” Bunny hasn't been feeling well lately; he hasn't been eating almost at all so because of that Taehyung decided to take him to the vet where he's been told that Bunny has developed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. It was a hard disease to endure so euthanasia has been described as the best option as the cat was going through severe pain and Jimin simply couldn't accept that. The elder barely managed to understand the entire story because sobs interrupted every sentence, his Baby sounding already exhausted.
”I d-don't want him to d-die, Daddy. T-Tae wants.” Jungkook sighed and put his phone on speaker as he entered the car, knowing that ending the call would be a bad idea.
”Tae doesn't want Bunny to hurt anymore, sweets.”
”No.” Death was a concept that was hard to acknowledge when you were a ball of anxiety but even the brown-haired boy could understand that things couldn't go his way this time. He waited in the bathroom where he has locked himself tens of minutes before his boyfriend has arrived and tried to keep himself from crying when he heard gentle knocks on the door.
”Come out, angel.” He did, his face bloated because of the tears, his eyes red. He didn't know how to react so he looked at his worn-out shoes, waiting for the other to pull him into a long hug. ”You've been so good for me.” Jungkook whispered and kissed his forehead. ”So brave.”
”We need to g-go –” Jimin wasn't feeling neither good nor brave, all he knew was that he needed to get to the vet where his best friend was waiting for him in order to make a decision. He couldn't stop crying so he didn't, immune to the hand that was trying to calm him by caressing his thigh and arm every few minutes.
It was easy to find Taehyung because his turquoise hair was standing out but even the tattoo artist has been shocked as soon as their eyes met because it was the first time he was seeing the boy looking so vulnerable. He was demolished so he stepped aside as his boyfriend hugged him tightly, the gesture causing for him to break down and start crying too. It wasn't easy – Bunny has been with them for years and now he was simply fading away.
”It's okay, Tae.”
”I d-don't want him to go.” They needed more than twenty minutes to calm down and agree that euthanasia was the best choice. Even if he wouldn't have been put to sleep, Bunny would have continued to struggle for only a few weeks so it wasn't worth the pain. They've been allowed inside the room and tried to stay strong as they caressed their pet's head for the last time but failed miserably.
Bunny has been their best friend.
Jimin kissed him in between his ears before whispering something to him and turning around to hug Jungkook close. They could hear Taehyung whispers as the doctor injected the cat and the caramel-haired boy broke down when he's heard his best friend saying”I hope we'll meet again.”, a little hand coming up to cover his mouth. He couldn't watch the scene so the tattoo artist held him tightly, one of his arms wrapped around his head as if he was trying to protect him from everything that could hurt him. It felt like forever until the machines indicated the outcome and Tae kissed the furry head again before looking Jungkook in the eye and trying to smile.
”He's okay, Minmin.” The turquoise-haired boy whispered and went to rub his best friend's back. The first time Jimin has seen has been his soulmate's signature boxy smile he tried to mirror it, even if he felt like something broke inside of him.
The artist decided it was the best for them not to be apart for the night so he invited Taehyung over, aware that the boy shouldn't be left alone after such a dramatic event. They adopted Bunny back when they were in middle school, they had a lot of fond memories together so they took hours to pour their souls out, until they were left absolutely exhausted.
Tae fell asleep on the couch so Jimin grabbed a thick blanket to cover his body and kissed his forehead before heading to the bedroom where he found Jungkook looking for his comfort blanket. It was the one he would use after having a scene and as it was always calming him, the elder supposed it would work this time too.
”I think I need a shower.” The boy whispered as the blanket was placed on the bed. All he wanted was to wake up from this nightmare but unfortunately he knew it wasn't possible so sleeping was the best alternative and even that wasn't an option yet.
”Do you want me to help you?” He nodded slowly, knowing he would go crazy if he would allow his mind to scream at him and allowed Jungkook to pick the pjs he was going to wear along with some towels. Warm water was cascading over them when the man pulled the smaller frame closer to him so their lips could meet gently. He wanted to reassure his baby the best he could, glad that there were no tears left to cry because the entire situation was breaking his heart.
Jimin looked completely lifeless so the tattoo artist made it his task to dry his hair and body and dressed him before guiding him to the bedroom. A little ear ended pressed against a hard chest and hands were roaming up and down its owner's spine rhythmically, encouraging him to breathe properly and allow himself to sleep.
”I want him back, Daddy.” Jungkook knew that so he kissed his forehead. ”I miss him already, I don't want to forget him.”
”You won't ever forget him, baby.” Tears began rolling down rosy cheeks again so the elder sighed and moved so he could look his boyfriend in the eye. ”I know you loved him a lot and he loved you and Tae just the same. Bunny has lived a long and happy life.”
”Do you think he's been happy?”
”I am sure he was, angel. And you've made the right choice by letting him go.” It was something he really couldn't help with. He wished he would have been powerful enough to bring the cat back but he was only human.
”I want him back.” Jimin sobbed and covered his face with both hands, feeling his body slowly being rocked back and forth. It was a childish wish but it was the only thing he could think about so he fell asleep hours later, while Jungkook was still whispering him, hoping that it wasn't going to hurt like that forever.
They bought white flowers the following day and Tae decided to print some photos he gathered over the years in order to put a little album together. He didn't feel ready to go back to the apartment and Jungkook sensed that because he invited him to spend as many nights as he wanted with them. As much as he wanted to help, he hasn't known Bunny for a very long time and he was aware that his boyfriend could only be soothed by his soulmate's presence and tight hugs.
He hasn't experienced the loss of a pet so he could only imagine how hard it was for the boys. He tried to take more time off from work in order to spend it at home with them because he was worried. He didn't want Jimin to go back to that dark place inside his mind so he was working on being the best lover and Daddy. Taehyung had no idea that his best friend was a little but they managed to balance everything and make it work, even if Jungkook was the one holding the boy to sleep at night.
One week later the tattoo artist was taking the shoes off as silently as possible, aware that someone could be sleeping. He smiled sadly when he felt the sweetness of fresh flowers in the air and tiptoed his way to the living room, trying to figure out what was going on. He was about to call for his boyfriend when his eyes widened because of the familiar squeaky giggles he loved so much. Jimin was resting on top of Taehyung and they were both reading something that looked like a manga, the latter making it his job to explain what was going on with the characters presented.
Normally, Jungkook would have greeted them but he decided to wait a few more moments, taking in the adorable view in front of him. Things were slowly going back to normal so he smiled genuinely and took a big breath. They were going to be alright.