"This is such a waste of time." I mumble incoherently, sitting on a hospital bed and trying not to look into Jimin's firm gaze.

"It's a concussion." The doctor lists, scribbling something on his clipboard. "But it'll be fine if you rest at home— no rousing activities."

"Thank you." Jimin bows as I carefully slide off the bed, finding myself watching him every few seconds. He was usually so soft that seeing this stiff, angry side of him was kind of scaring me.

Then the moment the doctor nods and leaves, Jimin scoops me off of the bed.

My mouth drops open.

"W-W-What the heck?" I exclaim as he wordlessly adjusts my body in his arms, a furious blush spreading over my cheeks. "Let me down!"

"The doctor said no rousing activities." He says factly, and my blush gets deeper. "You should've thought about that before fighting a Taekwondo match with him."

"You should go practice." I suggest, my hands uncertainly closing around his arms. "I can get home, it's fine. Besides, the preliminaries are next week."

"Shh."

My eyes grow into surprised circles when he smushes my lips close with two fingers, his hand caressing my hair.

"Do you think I care about the preliminaries more than I care about you, Minah?"

The familiar blue glow fills my vision, before his full lips turn into a pout.

"I guess it doesn't work on you." He sighs, pulling me tighter to his body as his soft hand grazes down my cheek.

The darkness is the only thing that covers the fire that heats my face. My heart flutters inside my chest as I stare wide-eyed at him, fists tightening.

Did I just...?

No, I tell myself, forcefully shutting my eyes back together. I was just surprised— he's just too attractive in general. There's nothing specific.

I'm just acting like a normal girl, that's what.

The first thing Jimin does when we reach my apartment is to tuck me into bed, mumbling something about passing my bedtime.

"Don't do that again."

"Do what?"

"Stupid things." He says stiffly, pinching the tip of my nose. "Things that get you hurt. Things that make me worry."

I laugh sleepily, wrapping the blankets around me until I'm like a human marshmallow.

Now that the adrenaline had worn off completely, I feel so tired I could fall asleep any second.

"Don't worry." I mumble, my fingers growing slack in his warm ones. "I'm fine, so don't worry."

"You're not fine." He says softly, wrapping the side of my head in his hand. "Does it hurt still? If I apply pressure— does it sting?"

When I slit open one eye to see his warm brown ones, so innocent and full of concern— I want to hug him like an oversized teddy bear.

It's like he reads my mind.

"I'm yours, Master."

"Do what you want with me."

________________________

Jimin's POV

I blink.

I can feel her deep, measured breaths with her latching onto me like a baby, and the faint smell of soap tickle my nose as she unconsciously pulls me tighter.

I'd been planning to go to practice after I'd made sure she'd fallen asleep, but now I don't think I can even get off the bed without waking her up.

Then my sharp ears catch a soft whimper, and I wrap my hand around the back of her head, pressing my lips into her hair.

"Shh."

"You're fine."

A smile blooms on my lips when her fingers unconsciously grab for my hair, her sighs even again when she gets a fistful of my silver locks.

Adorable.

Gently prying her fingers apart from my hair and sleeves, I kiss her on the forehead and slowly disentangle myself from her arms, worrying I'd wake her the entire time.

She doesn't wake up, and I release the breath I'd been holding the moment I close the door behind me.

_________________________

I walk towards my usual practice room, unconsciously brushing at the back of my tattoo as I shove my other hand deep inside my jacket pocket.

It was getting colder.

Then my senses catch a series of yelps and grunts, and the rough engine of a truck just around the corner. Warning tingles up my spine, and I instinctively hide myself.

When I slowly peek out from behind the corner, terror freezes my feet to the ground.

It's an AI, his eyes two pools of ethereal green.

No way.

It's him.

Jungkook.

He was an AI, too?

Now everything makes sense— the turtleneck, the shy glances. He hadn't exposed his neck once during the entire lesson, which must've been because of the tattoo.

And there was only one explanation for his colored eyes.

He was like me.

My breaths come in quick gasps as the two men shove Jungkook into the back of the truck, pushing the doors close as the sound of resistance still echo from inside.

When they file into the truck and the engine roars to life, I slip out from behind the corner and run for the vehicle.

Then the sound of dry thunder shakes the night, and I don't hesitate another second as I clutch the side of the truck, pulling my body up to the top.

The thunder would be my grace.

Rain begins to drip from the skies as I dig my fingers into the metal surface, wincing as the skin tears.

Silver gleams underneath, showing me what I'm really made of.

But it's worth it when the truck suddenly lurches to the side, engines roaring louder as it drives off. I would've slipped off if I didn't have half my hand buried on the surface.

Curling my right fist, I slam it straight into the reinforced metal.

The thunder masks the tremendous sound the metal makes as it bends, and I scrunch my face in pain as I press my twisted hand against my chest.

Tungsten.

The only metal stronger than the one I was made of.

Gritting my teeth, I slam my the heel of my foot against the weakened metal. When the metal gives way, I drop into the hole I'd created.

"Jimin?"

Blinking the water out of my eyes, I recognize Jungkook's figure in the darkness. His arms are encased in tinted silver, and I wince as I flex my other hand.

Tungsten again.

I'd just have to weaken it enough for him to break through.

Another thunderclap shakes the air as I wrap my fingers around his binds, bracing myself for the pain.

________________________

Minah's POV

The sound of thunder wrenches me awake from my sleep.

My head rings with a dull pain, pain that only gets worse when I realize that Jimin isn't next to me. The room feels empty and cold— and I slide out of my blankets.

Had he gone to practice?

Looking worriedly at the storming weather outside, I chew on my lip until it turns a bright pink.

It's so dark outside, and another thunderclap makes me shiver as I watch the rain pour relentlessly from the skies.

Then I see a sheen of emerald green flicker against the black, and I squint in surprise.

Oh my God.

________________________

Jungkook sets down Jimin on the couch, his hands trembling as he presses them against the motionless AI's forehead.

His eyes are two dim shades of green.

"What happened?" I ask breathlessly as I quickly grab two large towels from the bathroom, flinging one around Jungkook's shaking shoulders and the other over Jimin.

Then I swallow when I notice Jimin's arms.

The skin on them is torn— revealing twisted, gleaming metal. My face pales when the sight brings back memories from the burns before.

"You're like him." I realize.

"I-I'm an Empath." He nods, voice small as his hands take on a dim aura of green. They're still pressed firmly against Jimin's forehead, his silver locks soaked with rain.

"I can take away pain."

Looking at his traumatized expression, I don't have the heart to tell the shivering boy that his attempts are useless.

Jimin isn't awake.