The following day, Jungkook took Taehyung to the Traditional Medical Clinic for his appointment.
During the car ride, Taehyung could not help himself from asking, "Jungkook, why are you so good to me?"
"Because I'm a good man." Jungkook stated in all seriousness.
"Seriously." Taehyung was speechless.
"It's because you're irritating." Jungkook shot him a cold glance, "Your pain-filled groans are so noisy."
"I don't groan, alright." Taehyung retorted. It was still not the coldest time as yet, and his legs did not have much of an aching feeling. Furthermore, even if it was that time, he could still endure it.
He certainly did not believe Jungkook did so for those reasons, but regardless of what they really were, it was all okay, but he would just keep that to himself.
Having arrived at the Traditional Medicinal Clinic, Jungkook stopped the car, and he went in with Taehyung.
Since they had made an appointment with Kim Jisoo, the two followed the nurse to her office.
In her office, Jisoo was currently writing something down. Upon seeing the two enter, she put away her pen, stood up, then smiled, "You can both come in."
She was roughly between thirty to forty years of age, had cropped hair, wore rimless glasses, and appeared very friendly.
"Doctor Kim." Jungkook nodded to her in greeting, with Taehyung also following suit to say hello.
"Hello you two, please have a seat." Jisoo directed them to their seats with a wave of her hand
Jungkook patted Taehyung, sitting together with him.
"Please, explain the situation to me." Jisoo asked.
Taehyung explained the matter himself, with Jisoo taking notes as she listened across from them, asking a few key questions in between. After she was done with her notes, she put away her book, got up, then said, "I'll take a look at you in the physiotherapy room right next door."
Taehyung not knowing how critical his condition was, followed her to the physiotherapy room, with Jungkook.
Because he was to receive acupuncture, the pants he had worn were too thick, and as a result inconvenient, so Taehyung changed into a pair of shorts he had prepared beforehand. Following this, Jisoo asked him to lay down on the bed.
She came then came closer to Taehyung, squeezed his knee, asking, "Compared to normal, where does it hurt?"
Taehyung sat up, pointing to a few places for her to see. Nodding, Jisoo proceeded to press a few acupuncture points on his leg, asking whether or not he felt anything with each one she pressed. When she pressed a certain acupoint, Taehyung's brows wrinkled slightly, and Jungkook rubbed the back of his hands to comfort him.
"It shakes, and feels like I'm being stabbed by nails." Taehyung described, "When it's serious, I can't move my legs that much."
"What measures did you take when it got to that stage?" Jisoo inquired.
"Medicated plasters (pain relief patches), or medicinal liquor rubs." Taehyung explained. This was due to those methods being the simplest and cheapest ones to deal with it.
Jisoo jotted down Taehyung's condition, saying, "Ointments like those can only relieve symptoms, and they won't address the root cause. In addition, a condition such as yours became this severe due to it being delayed treatment for so long."
"Then I..."
"How should we treat it?" Jungkook asked, his brows knitted.
"Today the first step will be acupuncture, we'll arrange the next course of treatment later." Jisoo explained, "Have you ever had acupuncture treatments before?"
"No." Taehyung shook his head.
"There might be some pain with some of your acupuncture points, but it'll get better after you're used to it." Jisoo called in the nurse, ordering somethings after she arrived, again saying to Taehyung, "Please, lie down."
Taehyung did as she instructed and laid down, where beside him, Jungkook remained.
Jisoo explained in simple terms some of the effects the acupuncture treatment would have, chatting beside him so his mood would lighten, and to prevent him from being nervous during his first time in getting the treatment.
However, during the course of the treatment she discovered Jungkook was probably the one who was more nervous. Every time she stuck in a needle to stimulate an acupuncture point when Taehyung crinkled his brows from the pain, Jungkook—from beside him—would rub between his brows, whispering to him to relax, though his voice clearly sounded like he was the one who was even more anxious.
At the end of the injections, Taehyug's forehead had produced a thin film of sweat. In truth, he could not really say if there was much pain. Though some of the acupoints stung, most simply tingled, and when compared to his flare-ups, they were a lot better. It was probably the first time he tried something he was kind of not used to.
Jungkook took a paper towel, helping him by wiping away his sweat, very gently. This act made Taehyung recall that time Jungkook looked after him all night and wiped his sweat away when he was hospitalized with gastroenteritis.
"How was it?" Jungkook noticed his eyes were fixed on him.
"You look really good." Taehyung smiled, reaching out to smoothen Jungkook's brows.
Jungkook's hand stopped, his gaze on him.
Taehyung smiled, hooked his finger, asking, "Do you want to have a few injections too?"
"Me?" Jungkook raised his brows, "Where would I get them?"
"Your shoulders? Or, perhaps, your spine?" Taehyung thought for a moment, continuing, "How about your waist. You said you sit in the office everyday, so those places ought to have given you a bit of trouble."
Letting out a breath, Jungkook turned to see Jisoo's back facing them as she arranged some things, then lowered his to quickly peck Taehyung on his lips before whispering, " My back is just fine. Aren't you the one who should know that best? Yeah?"
Taehyung replied at once, "You scoundrel!"
He was only expressing concern towards Jungkook, and not expecting him to actually be that kind of Kookie!
"Mmhm." Jungkook groaned merrily. Having not the slightest feeling of anything he did being inappropriate.
The actions of those two just so happened to have fallen into the view of a mirror Jisoo was next to, as her hands stopped, and a smile flashed within her eyes. She had known about Jungkook and Taehyung being lawful husbands from her younger brother, and so had absolutely no feeling their actions were inappropriate. To say the least, she seemed to have found the two to be very well matched.
Done with arranging the items, she went over to check Taehyung's leg, asking,"How does it feel?"
"There's a little numbness." Taehyung answered.
"That's a normal reaction." Jisoo said smilingly, "Acupuncture alone is not enough though, so in a little while I'll teach you a few simple massaging techniques to rub them with when you have some free time. It'll be good for your legs."
"Teach it to me." Jungkook said from beside him, "I'll help him massage them." Taehyung looked up at him, "I'll do it myself, you have to go to..."
Jungkook used his hand to cover the younger man's mouth, obstructing his speech while saying to Jisoo, "Sorry to trouble you, Dr Kim."
"It's no trouble. I'll be next door in my office, so if there's anything, just call me." After Jisoo finished speaking, she exited the physiotherapy room.
Only two people remained in that room. Taehyung blinked his eyes, opened his mouth, then lightly nipped on Jungkook's palm.
Jungkook moved his hand, pinching Taehyung's mouth as he bent his to look down at him, "You usually eat hormones (steroids), don't you? It looks like you have the courage to blow a balloon."
[T/n: blow balloon = BJ]
That man's turning of words against him was the courageous thing, was it not? Due to his pinched lips, Taehyung inarticulately patted on the flattery, "It's mainly Master Jungkook who pampers me well."
Jungkook groaned faintly, very much satisfied by his flattery. He released Taehyung's mouth, moving to the foot of the bed before leaning over to look at the needle pricks on Taehyung's legs, "Does it hurt?"
"It doesn't hurt." Taehyung angled his head to peek at him as he was laid down, "Didn't I say that a moment ago?"
Jungkook gently rubbed his legs, slanting his head to look at him as he said, "That's what you say to other people. In front of me, you can admit that you're hurting."
The tenderness held within his gaze was so incredibly mesmerising, Taehyung felt as if he was enveloped in the warmth of the man's feelings, similar to the first rays of sunshine of Spring.
Never before had someone said such words in such a manner to Taehyung. It appeared like he could hand over all his pain to that man. Looking at said man in the face, Taehyung mumbled, "If I were in pain, what would you do?"
Jungkook drew back his hand, returned to his side, held himself up while resting a hand beside the lad's ear, lowering his head.
With a shadow now cast over his eyes, Taehyung lifted his chin by a fraction as Jungkook descended to kiss his lips, softly—gently.
"Everything will be okay."
Taehyung heard Jungkook's voice, which did nothing to mask its adoration, echo beside his ear. It made a light whimper escape him in response, his hand reaching out to gently embrace the man's back.
After the needles were pulled out, both of Taehyu's legs had a numb feeling, but there was also a painful bloated sensation.
"Your next appointment has been set, so if you out want to reschedule just give me a call in advance." Jisoo said while touching Taehyung's knee, "And be careful not to catch a cold, be even more careful than usual."
"Okay. " Taehyung nodded.
"In addition, just being fed medicinal foods is not good enough, later I'll give a TM decoction for you to drink. This is also a vital part of your recovery, remember to abstain from certain foods." Jisoo urged him, "Tomorrow when you two come back, I'll teach both of you how to do the massages."
"Okay, thank you, Dr Kim." Taehyung thanked sincerely.
"Thank you." Jungkook also said in gratitude.
"You're welcome." Jisoo replied.
It was presently nearing the end of December. L-City's temperature was lower, and just as the two exited the Doctor's Office, a gust of cold air attacked their faces.
Jungkook held Taehyung in place, "You should go wait inside. I'll go bring the car over." He wanted to go right after speaking, but Taehyung quickly pulled him to a stop, saying, "It's not that far away. It's fine if I just go with you."
Jungkook swept his eyes back at him, "Go inside."
Taehyung paid him no mind, and instead grabbed then spread the man's finger's open to fasten them to his own, "I want to go together with you."
... You're so goddamn irresistible!
Jungkook cursed internally. A hand stretched behind his back, holding Taehyung's hand nestled within his own palm, as he led the him to the parking lot.
Following behind him, Taehyung's eyes curved into a smile.
The next day, at the same time, Jungkook and Taehyung again went to the Doctor's Office. During Taehyunng's acupuncture session, Jungkook was beside Jisopo learning the massage techniques. He studied quite earnestly, and apart from the position of acupoints, the massage's finger technique as well as the strength to be applied, were both confirmed with Jisoo.
Taehyung, who was laying on the bed, craned his neck in order to look at the earnestly studying Jungkook and thinking that he was outrageously cool.
The thought of that man belonging to him, for a reason unknown to him, just made him feel like laughing.
"You possess such an outstanding man as myself, and yet you just embrace your pillow and chuckle."
Recalling those shameless words of Jungkook's, Taehyung really did end up burying his face in a pillow while he laughed. This laughter, caused the two people busy with teaching and learning beside him to turn towards him in unison.
Taehyung covered his mouth, waving his hand as he said, "I'm fine, you two don't have to pay attention to me."
Jungkook looked him in the eye, then lowered his head and continued to study. Taehyug unexpectedly discovered he knew what that look meant: Did the acupuncture needle prick go all the way up to your brain?
Being in possession such a cheap-mouthed, tsundere of a man as a husband, in the end, should I laugh or cry, huh?
Taehyung ultimately still pressed his face into the pillow, hiding his smile.
Before they left, Jisoo said to Jungkook, "More practice is needed for the massages to be effective. If you don't understand something, you can ask me about it tomorrow."
Jungkook nodded, then left with Taehyung after thanking her.
That very same night after their return, Jungkook followed the doctor's orders, pressing Taehyung onto the bed, and carefully putting into practice the sentence "More practice is needed for the massages to be effective". It was just that he did not squeeze his leg, but rather a place that cannot be described.
"...Ngh!" The feeling of his waist going limp made Taehyung grunt. Both of his hands were pinned at the head of the bed by Jungkook, while he wriggled incessantly, "Hurry and let me go! You bastard!"
Jungkook used one hand to secure both of Taehyung's wrists, while the other lightly pressed the dimples of his lower back, using his thumb to gently caress the skin there a few times every now and again. Hearing Taehyung curse at him, he tsked, "You're cursing here and there, so are the two words, bastard and scoundrel, all there is?"
His fingers seemed as if they carried an electrical current, bringing a trail of sparks along Taehyung's waist. By that man's actions, Taehyung had his entire body go weak, with him again being left with no other recourse, thus could only begrudgingly say, "Did Dr Kim teach you massages to enable you to do this to me? You have no sense of shame!"
"Huh? A sense of shame?" Jungkook pressed himself closer to him. His hand lingering at Taehyung's waist soon entering his pajama bottoms, covering those soft cheeks, pinching them softly as he spoke, "Then what's this thing to be used for, huh? Is it to be sucked? Or, is it to be fucked?"
Shocked at Jungkook's level of shamelessness, Taehyung twisted his head to look at that man, utterly speechless! Where the hell did this man learn such words, huh!
His wide-eyed expression looked so incredibly adorable in Jungkook's eyes, that he was simply unable to help himself from moving forward to kiss him, while his fingers rhythmically kneaded the other man's behind, whispering, "Dr Kim said the massage technique needs a lot of practice to be effective and I learnt it for you, so it's natural that I would use it on your body, don't you think?"
You were better off not learning it!! Taehyung crumbled internally.
"We still have a lot of time, so let's try out another technique." Jungkook pulled down Taehyung's pyjama pants, parting his legs then ran his fingers upwards from his thigh. Gently nibbling on Taehyung's earlobe, he coaxed gently, "Darling, open your legs a little."
"......" On the bed, Taehyung who was laying on his stomach, rolled his eyes, and regarded himself as a strip of dried salted fish.
And so, that strip of salted fish, was sauteed over... and over... again~
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