Like an Echo [KTH Fanfic]

A Talk

"Tae, you're scaring me," Lena said, still vibrating with the feeling from Taehyung. "What's wrong?"

Taehyung sat down on the couch, his knee bouncing as Lena sat beside him.

"My uh...my pull started," he said as he turned red.

"W-which one?" Lena asked, nervous about his answer.

Lena knew about the different types of pulls and they had already entered a few.

Their basic attraction pull had started a week ago, and it had done wonders on Lena's concentration. She wanted nothing more than to kiss him and hold him and just admire him. This one happened fairly in sync, Taehyung's starting later that same day.

Other than that, Lena didn't really think they would enter another one for a while. The next one usually involved sex and Lena was terrified. Not that she didn't want to have sex because she did, but she was worried that hers wouldn't start with his. Considering she felt that's what was happening, her worst fears were true. She would be leaving Taehyung in a state of perpetual heat until she managed to start hers.

To answer the question of every curious person without a soulmate, Taehyung's heat would not end until Lena joined him, regardless of any sex that occurs. Yes, Lena could "take care" of him but it will not lead to the heat ending unless she experiences it too. The fates really messed with plenty of soulmates over this fact.

"Sexual pull," Taehyung said, worry building.

"Oh," she said as her breathing got a little uneven. "I uh...mine hasn't started."

"And that's okay!" He assured. "I don't wanna pressure you, I just didn't want to keep it from you."

"Why did it start?"

"I don't really know. Maybe my body took the game as something sexual, I really can't explain it."

The two sat in silence for a few minutes, both tense.

"I don't know if I can control myself around you for now," Taehyung explained. "I haven't felt this way since puberty."

"Okay, s-so what should we do?" She nervously looked at him, his eyes piercing hers with a slightly darker stare.

The dark stare wasn't meant to scare her, it just signified he was deeper into heat now. However, Lena felt fear seeing him like this since she wasn't fated to join him yet.

"I can ask Kook to stay with us until you join?" Taehyung suggested. "It might be awkward but I don't think I can separate myself from you for that long."

"You think it's gonna be a long time?" She asked.

"No, I'm just- I'm considering the possibilities."

"I need to think about it," Lena said as she stood up, quickly making her way to the door. "I'm going for a walk."

"I'll come with y-"

"Alone."

The door opened and quickly closed behind her, leaving Taehyung on the couch, bewildered.
____________________
"Lena?"

"N-Namjoon oppa, hello," Lena wiped her tears and looked up at Namjoon who had just walked into the practice room.

Lena was on the floor of the room, using the space as a place to cry.

"What's wrong?" Namjoon sat on the floor with her. "You and Taehyung left early, did something happen?"

"I uh...um...nothing," she forced a smile.

"I might be clumsy but I'm not stupid," he said. "I know we don't know each other that well but we're family now and there's something wrong."

And so Lena spent the next fifteen minutes sobbing her fears to Namjoon, the elder listening contently as she said everything that came to mind.

"...so what do I do?" Lena asked.

"You know I get it...but you have to take your own path with this," Namjoon said. "Staying around him will be the only way to trigger yours but if it hurts you to be around him then take a break."

"It'll hurt him either way."

"He'll understand."

"I d-don't wanna make this decision," Lena cried. "I thought soulmates were supposed to be perfect."

"Lena..." Namjoon wrapped his arms around her. "You are only perfect for each other. Your relationship will never be perfect. Everything you experiences together will make you stronger."

"Why is it so hard?"

"I don't think we'll ever know...I just know it's worth it."

Lena nodded, her heart still heavy but more at ease than she had been.

"Do you wanna stay here for a while?" He asked as he rubbed her back.

She nodded again.

"Okay," Namjoon said as he leaned his head against the wall.

"Thank you, Namjoon oppa," she sniffled.

"Anything for family."