Eunji bursts through the door. You explain what happened, and she speaks into her headset. Turning to you, she says, “I’ll call the doctor. Get him supine on the floor so he’ll be ready when the doctor arrives.” She leaves.

You kneel so Jungkook can put his arm around your shoulders while you secure an arm around his waist. Standing, you pivot and slowly lower him to the ground.

You guide him to lie flat. Kneeling over him, he looks up at you, his dark eyes shadowed. “I’m sorry if this gets you into any trouble,” he says. “I was being stupid.”

“That’s not important right now.” A ghost of a smile forms on his lips.

Namjoon appears in the doorway.

“He has a heel injury,” you say, straightening.

“How bad is it?”

“He needs stitches.”

Namjoon curses under his breath. “I’ll tell the others.”

A droplet of sweat slides down his face as his eyes stay fixed on the ceiling. “Hurt?” you ask. He nods. You roll up a towel and place it under his head, aching to soothe his pain.

The other members pour in and fill the chairs surrounding Jungkook. Jin places a white blanket over him.

“The doctor is on his way,” Jimin says.

“You okay?” Tae asks.

“I just want to perform,” Jungkook says.

Hobi and Tae exchange glances. A silence extends.

Eunji enters the room with a lanky man wearing dark framed glasses. “This is Dr. Kang.” A large black bag is slung over his shoulder.

Dr. Kang gives a polite hello before emptying the contents of his bag and arranging them at Jungkook’s feet.

“This is so ridiculous,” Jungkook groans.

“Please lay on your stomach,” Dr. Kang says, snapping on a pair of blue gloves. Jungkook complies.

Dr. Kang snips the Kerlix and unwraps the dressing, exposing the coband and blood-soaked gauze underneath.

“I…have to go,” a pale Taehyung says.

“We’ll be supporting you,” Jin says, “in spirit.” Hoseok follows them out.

Dr. Kang peels off the gauze. “That’s a pretty nasty wound you’ve got there,” he says, adjusting his glasses. “We’ll get you stitched up. I’ll give you a local anesthetic first.” He gets to work, pulling out a vial, syringe, and needle. Yoongi leans in.

“Anyone who can begin hair and makeup should go to the dressing room,” Eunji says. “I’ll let everyone know the plan once Dr. Kang is done.” She speaks into her headset and sits in one of the chairs.

Yoongi clicks his tongue. “Damn, I wanted to watch.”

Dr. Kang flicks the syringe and inspects it. Attaching the needle, he presses until a drop forms at the bevel. “This might sting.” He slides the needle under a thin layer of skin by his heel. Jungkook winces as Dr. Kang injects the anesthetic around the site.

A raw need forms in you to touch him, to comfort him, but you feel Eunji’s detached analysis. If she does have eyes and ears everywhere like Arahae makes it seem, Eunji doesn’t give anything away.

“Done,” Dr. Kang says. He taps a gloved finger near the wound. “Can you feel this?”

“No,” Jungkook answers, the tension in his face lessening.

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Dr. Kang prepares his needle, looping the surgical steel and tying it off. Eunji stands. “It looks like this is handled. I’ll be back when the stitching is done.” She looks at you. “Let me know.”

“I will.” A foreboding grows in your stomach as you watch her leave.

Dr. Kang inserts the needle under the layer of skin at the top of the gash. “Feel anything?” you ask Jungkook.

“Just some pressure.” Looking over at Dr. Kang, you see him absorbed in his work.

“I think Eunji’s pissed,” you say.

“If she gives you any problems, I’ll talk to her. You weren’t even there. What could you have done?”

Dr. Kang ties off the last stitch and redresses his heel.

“All done,” Dr. Kang says, securing the Kerlix dressing with micropore tape. You call Eunji as Jungkook turns over and sits up.

A few moments later, she reappears with Namjoon and Yoongi.

“You need to stay off your heel for at least four days. No dancing for one month,” Dr. Kang says.

“One month?” Jungkook asks. “What about the concert?”

“You can participate, but you’ll need to be sitting. Some standing is okay, but nothing more.”

“We can make that happen,” Eunji says. She hands Jungkook a pharmacy bag. “Here’s something to help with the pain after the anesthetic wears off. Start hair and makeup.”

Namjoon rolls in a wheelchair. “You have to use this for now.” Jungkook lowers himself into it.

You push him into the dressing room with the rest of the members and to his spot in front of the mirror. Doyun cuts a glance at you. Staff gets to work on Jungkook.

“I heard about what happened,” Arahae says, walking up to you. “I’m just glad this injury is fixable.”

“Me too. It could’ve been a lot worse. Imagine if his Achilles was sliced,” you say, cringing.

“The anesthetic wears off in two to three hours, right?” Namjoon asks.

“What if it wears off during the concert?” Hobi asks, laughing.

Namjoon sings, “‘You are the cause of my euphori-aaaaaa!” Jungkook smiles.

“I’ll be right back,” you say to Jungkook. You step into the medical staff’s dressing room to take a breather, sitting in a chair. Doyun darkens the doorway.

“Assigned to one member and you can’t even keep track of him.” His eyes pierce you.

“Excuse me?”

“I don’t know why you were even hired in the first place. Some of us actually worked to get this job instead of getting handouts.” When he sees you wordless, he gives a cruel smile and leaves.

Alone, the day becomes too much to bear, and you break down crying. Tears escape as you try to regain control of your breathing. Once you calm, you look into the mirror and see your face flushed with emotion and bloodshot eyes. You make yourself as presentable as you can, taking a few deep breaths, and return to the dressing room across the hall.

You sit by Jungkook, looking down at your hands. He’s dressed in his prince outfit and has been glamorized by staff. He studies you. “Is everything okay?”

You meet his eyes and watch as a fierce fire blazes. “Who did this to you?” he asks in a low, quiet voice. He takes off his jacket.

“I’m fine.”

“Jasmine,” he says with a stern tone. “Who.”

“Doyun,” you half-whisper. “He–”

Jungkook stands and charges Doyun where he stands on the other side of the room, barreling through chairs. “So you wait till I’m gone to talk shit?” He shoves a wide-eyed Doyun against the wall. The members stand, some of them yelling for him to stop. “I’m here now.” Jungkook leans in close to Doyun. “Why don’t you say it to my face?”

Namjoon pries him off of Doyun. He stands in front of Jungkook. “Walk away, man.” Doyun quickly leaves, Jungkook throwing knives with his eyes watching him.

You run over to him. “You idiot!” You force him to sit down in the nearest chair. “Did you even think about what this could do to your stitches?” Jungkook stays silent. You work to undo the dressing and inspect the damage.

You breathe a sigh of relief. “You’re very lucky. It’s irritated but intact.” The members collectively relax.

“What was that all about?” Tae asks, watching you redress Jungkook’s heel.

You don’t look up at Tae, waiting for Jungkook to answer.

“Tell him,” Jungkook says.

You secure the end of the dressing and look up at Tae. “Doyun said some choice words to me when I was in the medical staff’s dressing room.”

“He made her cry,” Jungkook says.

The members exchange a few looks.

“As long as it’s settled,” Jin says. “Just don’t do it again.”

A member of production announces there’s five minutes before IDOL.

You help Jungkook walk back to the wheelchair, and he lowers himself into it. “What were you thinking? You could’ve ruined the rest of the tour for yourself.”

“You think I’m going to let someone talk to you like that?”

You open your mouth to respond but can’t find any words to say.