Chapter 19: Blood and Vows

The night air was thick with tension as Jimin and Suga emerged from the chaos of the warehouse, the adrenaline still coursing through their veins. But the fleeting sense of victory shattered in an instant. Just as they turned to leave, a figure stepped from the shadows, weapon drawn—a last desperate act of the criminal they had just confronted.

“Jimin! Watch out!” Suga yelled, instincts kicking in as he pushed Jimin aside. In that heart-stopping moment, the sharp crack of a gunshot echoed in the night, piercing the silence with a violent finality.

The bullet found its mark, lodging itself just an inch above Suga’s heart. Time slowed as Jimin’s eyes widened in horror, the world around him fading into a blur. Suga stumbled back, eyes darkening, the shock of pain registering as he hit the ground.

“No! Suga!” Jimin screamed, panic gripping him as he dropped to his knees beside Suga. The criminal’s laughter echoed in the distance, a cruel reminder of the chaos that had unfolded. Anger surged within Jimin, overshadowing his fear. He rose to his feet, rage transforming his pain into a weapon.

“YOU!” he shouted, the fury that had fueled his need for vengeance flaring back to life. He pulled out his own gun, aiming it at the criminal who had caused so much suffering in his life. “You took everything from me!”

With cold precision, he pulled the trigger three times, the shots reverberating through the alley. Each bullet struck true, embedding themselves in the criminal’s chest. The man crumpled to the ground, eyes wide in shock, blood pooling around him. “Jimin, no!” Suga called weakly, but the sound of his voice faded into the background as Jimin felt a rush of satisfaction mixed with the bitterness of loss.

The criminal’s body twitched on the ground, a final gasp escaping his lips before he lay still. Jimin’s heart raced as he realized the significance of what he had done. It was a moment of liberation, but the weight of it hung heavily on his conscience. As he turned back to Suga, his heart dropped.

Suga was still on the ground, struggling to breathe. Jimin knelt beside him, hands shaking as he pressed against Suga’s wound, trying to stem the bleeding. “Stay with me, please. Just hold on!” he urged, desperation creeping into his voice.

“I’m... fine,” Suga gasped, his voice barely above a whisper. “Just get me to the hospital.”

Jimin didn’t hesitate. He scooped Suga into his arms, cradling him against his chest, and sprinted toward the nearest hospital, panic fueling every step. The world around him blurred as he fought against time, praying he wouldn’t lose the man who had become his everything.

As they reached the emergency entrance, Jimin burst through the doors, shouting for help. “Someone! Please! He’s been shot!”

Nurses rushed forward, taking Suga from Jimin’s arms and wheeling him away as Jimin stood frozen in place, dread pooling in his stomach. It felt like an eternity before a doctor emerged, his expression serious.

“Your friend is stable but critical,” he said. “He’ll need surgery, but we’ll do everything we can.”

Jimin nodded numbly, a wave of relief washing over him, yet the reality of what had just happened settled heavily on his shoulders. He had let his anger drive him to violence, and it had almost cost him Suga’s life.

Hours passed like days as Jimin paced the waiting room, guilt gnawing at him. He replayed the events in his mind, the moment he had raised his gun in fury, the way Suga had pushed him out of harm’s way. If only he had listened.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the doctor returned. “Suga made it through surgery,” he said, a slight smile breaking his serious demeanor. “He’s in recovery, but he’s going to need you when he wakes up.”

Jimin felt a rush of gratitude. “Can I see him?” he asked, his voice trembling with emotion.

“Of course,” the doctor replied, leading Jimin to Suga’s room.

As he stepped inside, Jimin’s heart broke at the sight before him. Suga lay on the hospital bed, pale and fragile, an IV drip pumping fluids into his body. The sight of the bandage over his chest brought tears to Jimin’s eyes. He moved to Suga’s side, taking his hand in his own, feeling the warmth of his skin against his palm.

“I’m so sorry,” Jimin whispered, his voice cracking. “I should have listened to you. I let my anger control me, and I almost lost you.”

Suga stirred, eyes fluttering open. He blinked against the harsh light, and a small, pained smile spread across his lips. “Hey,” he croaked, his voice hoarse. “You did what you had to do.”

“No, I didn’t. I should have waited, should have talked to you. I was so blinded by rage I didn’t see how dangerous it was,” Jimin admitted, the weight of his guilt threatening to suffocate him.

“It’s not your fault,” Suga murmured, squeezing Jimin’s hand weakly. “I pushed you away. I didn’t want you to see me like this.”

Tears streamed down Jimin’s cheeks as he shook his head. “No, it’s my fault. I thought I could handle it, that I could protect you. I was so stupid.”

Suga’s expression softened, and he managed a faint smile. “You’re not stupid. You’re human. We all make mistakes.”

Jimin leaned closer, resting his forehead against Suga’s. “I don’t want to lose you, Suga. I can’t. Not like this.”

“You won’t,” Suga replied, voice barely above a whisper. “I promise. We’ll get through this together.”

Meanwhile, in the alley where the confrontation had taken place, the criminal lay still, barely breathing. He had underestimated Jimin’s fury and was now left vulnerable, blood seeping from his wounds. Before long, the police arrived, responding to reports of gunfire. They apprehended him, dragging him from the ground, shivering and broken.

As the sirens wailed in the distance, the world around Jimin and Suga slowly began to regain some semblance of normalcy. The criminal who had caused so much pain was finally in custody, but the battle within Jimin had just begun. He had tasted the bitterness of revenge, and now he had to confront the fallout from his actions.

In the days that followed, as Suga began to recover, the weight of their shared experience lingered between them. They were more than just comrades; they were bound by the trials they had faced together. And in the aftermath, as they navigated the complexities of their feelings and the scars left behind by their encounters, they found solace in each other’s presence—a love forged in the fires of chaos, now tempered by understanding.

With Suga’s recovery well underway, the shadows of their past began to lift, leaving behind a brighter path for their future. Together, they would face whatever challenges lay ahead, determined to rebuild not just their lives, but their relationship, stronger than ever before

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