If Memory Serves [YoonMin]

09

PAST

It's been five days since they got away. Yoongi paid for a cheap room for them to stay in the night before that, to anyone else, was tacky and overpriced considering it's state. To Jimin, it'd been pristine.

Jimin is sitting on the bench, legs swinging as he waits for Yoongi to come back. They need bus tickets and Yoongi's old enough to convince them if they must ask questions. Jimin can't because he's too jittery, looking over his shoulder every time.

He's afraid their efforts are in vain. His dad is quick, smart, strong and convincing. For all Jimin knows, they're playing into his hand. The mere possibility frightens him. So much so he's shaking his head and hitting himself lightly against his cheek, eyes burning.

"Jiminnie," Yoongi calls, sliding into the spot beside him. Jimin sees the concern in his eye, but Yoongi doesn't ask him anything. "Our bus will come at 12. We must remember, okay?"

Yoongi makes it sound like Jimin is bad at remembering things. He's good at remembering, when he can. He's not forgetful, but he had been this morning when they were leaving the cheap room Yoongi paid for.

Jimin never takes off the leather jacket, but he did last night when Yoongi insisted he take a bath (the water was run for him and everything.) He did and he forgot to put the jacket back on when Yoongi gave him a sweater to wear. The bed had been small, but there were enough blankets he didn't need to sleep in the jacket the way he did on the train.

This morning he forgot the jacket. Yoongi kept insisting it was fine, but Jimin cried so hard that they went back to get the jacket. Jimin felt guilty when they made Yoongi pay to get it back, but he helped Jimin into the jacket and made him promise to take good care of it.

Jimin nods absently, staring at the rocky ground. Yoongi settles beside him, hand encircling Jimin's wrist and stroking gentle circles on the inside of his wrist.

"Jiminnie, are you okay?"

At the question, Jimin's tears come like a waterfall. He hates it because all he seems to do around Yoongi is cry. He doesn't want to be weak. He wants to be strong, like Yoongi, but he's not.

Jimin is weak.

He can hear the franticness in Yoongi's voice, feel the uncertainty in the way he moves. The worry that he's the reason Jimin is crying. He doesn't move to make any amount of physical contact until Jimin leans into him and sobs into his chest.

"Why are you crying, Jiminnie?" Yoongi's voice is soft, gentle. He's unaccusing and careful in the way that he speaks and Jimin finds himself wishing there were more people like this. When Yoogi holds him close, it makes Jimin feel better and worst at the same time, something he didn't know possible.

They sit on the bench, Yoongi murmuring stories about passing strangers to calm Jimin down. He's a good storyteller.

"What do you want to be when you're big?"

He feels the slight of a smile against his skin. Yoongi humming as he pretends to think about it, but Jimin distinguishes the difference between this hum and his usual ones. Jimin supposes Yoongi is the sort who has always known what they want to be.

"A rapper," Yoongi says, the words flowing. His response his genuine and makes Jimin smile.

"Maybe I'll dance to your songs, hyung," Jimin whispers into Yoongi's shoulder.

When it hits twelve, they go to wait at the sign. Yoongi's hand clasps tightly around Jimin's, holding on for dear life. Jimin is watching the bus pull up when Yoongi peaks at him.

"Let's go," Yoongi says, as if that's not what they'll be doing. "We'll get you as far away from your brother as possible, okay?" he speaks no louder than he needs to, and it brings a calm over Jimin who nods eagerly.

All he wants is to get so far away from his dad that he'll be alright.

They're almost on the bus, Yoongi's hand still gripping onto Jimin's, when hands land on his shoulders and Jimin starts screaming. A hand clamps over his mouth and he watches with tear filled eyes as Yoongi is dragged too.

Jimin sees the bus driver watching. He also sees him start the bus and drive away.