Two years isn't that long in the grand scheme of things but, Seokjin knows, it's long enough. So many terrible things can happen in an instant and there are so many chances for them to happen in that space of time. Jungkook probably knows that just as well as Jin does. "You're brave," he says without any condescension. "And you're stronger than that man. You're better than him."

All of his friends, Seokjin thinks, are so much better than he is. "Maybe if I concentrate really, really hard, I can make your birthday come faster," he offers, mouth wry and a little sad. If only. "There's so much I'd do if I could."