Even the Stars Need Rest (JJKxBTS)

8- A Familiy's Heartbeat

The dorm was quieter than usual, the weight of the previous days still lingering in the air like a heavy fog. Jungkook sat on the couch, wrapped in the oversized blanket Jin had draped over his shoulders earlier. 

His hands fidgeted with the hem, his gaze fixed on the floor as if it held answers he couldn't find. The world outside felt distant, but inside, the warmth of his Hyungs surrounded him.

Namjoon cleared his throat, breaking the silence as he pulled a chair closer to Jungkook. The others were scattered around the room—Jin and Yoongi sitting on the armrests of the couch, Taehyung and Jimin on the floor near Jungkook's feet, and Hoseok perched on the coffee table directly in front of him.

"Jungkook," Namjoon began softly, his voice steady but filled with emotion. "We need to talk. Not because we're upset or disappointed, but because we love you. So much."

Jungkook's fingers froze, his shoulders hunching slightly under the weight of Namjoon's words. He felt the tears welling in his eyes but blinked them back, swallowing hard. 

"I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice trembling. "I didn't mean to—"

"No," Jimin interrupted, his voice firm but kind. "Don't apologize, Kookie. Please. This isn't your fault."

Jin leaned forward, his hand finding its way to Jungkook's shoulder. 

"Do you have any idea how much you mean to us? To me?" His voice cracked slightly, but he continued. "You're not just our maknae. You're our brother. Our family. And I'm sorry if we ever made you feel like you couldn't come to us."

"We failed you," Yoongi said quietly, his gaze fixed on Jungkook. "We didn't see how much you were struggling, and that's on us. But we're here now. And we're not going anywhere."

Hoseok reached out, taking Jungkook's trembling hands in his own. "You don't have to carry everything alone, Kookie. I know you feel like you need to be strong all the time, but it's okay to lean on us. That's what we're here for."

Taehyung shifted closer, resting his head on Jungkook's knee like a younger brother seeking comfort. "I hate seeing you hurt, hyung. You're always taking care of us, but we want to take care of you too."

Jungkook's chest tightened as the words washed over him, each one chipping away at the wall he had built around himself. He looked up, his vision blurred with tears, to see Jimin watching him intently, his own eyes glistening.

"You don't have to pretend around us," Jimin said softly. "We want the real you. Even when you're hurting, even when you think you're not enough. Because you are, Kookie. You're more than enough."

Jungkook's tears fell freely now, the sobs shaking his frame as his hyungs immediately moved to surround him. Jin pulled him into a tight embrace, his hand stroking Jungkook's hair as he whispered soothing words. Taehyung and Jimin wrapped their arms around his sides, their warmth grounding him as Hoseok placed a gentle hand on his back.

"It's okay, baby," Jin murmured, his voice soft and full of love. "Let it out. We're here."

Jungkook clung to Jin like a lifeline, his tears soaking into his hyung's shirt as he choked out the words he'd been holding back for so long. "I—I didn't want to be a burden," he sobbed. "I didn't want to drag you all down."

"You could never be a burden," Namjoon said firmly, his voice trembling. "You're the heart of this family, Kookie. We need you just as much as you need us."

"You're not alone," Yoongi added, his voice breaking slightly. "We're going to get through this together. One step at a time."

The hours passed in the safety of their shared space, the hyungs taking turns comforting Jungkook, reassuring him, and making him laugh through his tears. Jin fetched his favorite snacks, insisting he eat something, while Taehyung distracted him with silly impressions that had everyone chuckling despite the heaviness in the air.

Yoongi stayed by his side, quietly keeping an eye on him, while Hoseok wrapped him in a warm hug whenever he seemed on the verge of breaking down again. Jimin stayed close, his hand never leaving Jungkook's shoulder, a quiet reminder that he wasn't alone.

As the night wore on, Namjoon suggested something unexpected. "Let's sleep together tonight," he said, smiling gently. "All of us. Like old times."

The suggestion was met with eager nods, and soon the living room floor was covered in blankets and pillows. Jungkook found himself sandwiched between Taehyung and Jimin, their arms draped protectively over him, while Jin and Hoseok took the edges. Yoongi and Namjoon stayed close, their quiet presence a source of comfort.

As the dorm settled into a peaceful quiet, Jungkook felt the weight in his chest lift, just a little. His hyungs' steady breathing surrounded him, their warmth a constant reminder that he wasn't alone.

For the first time in what felt like forever, he let himself believe their words. He wasn't a burden. He wasn't alone. And though the road ahead would be long and difficult, he knew he wouldn't have to face it by himself.

"Thank you," he whispered into the darkness, his voice barely audible but full of emotion. His hyungs stirred slightly, their sleepy murmurs a quiet acknowledgment.

And for the first time in weeks, Jungkook felt the beginnings of rest—not just sleep, but the kind of rest that comes from knowing you are deeply loved.