Fortnight ✔️

Chapter - 23 [M]

Taehyung sits on the couch, his head buried in his hands, eyes closed against the torrent of thoughts swirling in his mind. The dim light from the window suggests it's either day or late night, but Taehyung can't tell; time seems irrelevant as he struggles to process everything he has heard and learned. It's overwhelming, too much to comprehend all at once. He doesn't know what to think, what to feel.

Jungkook, who had been sitting on the other side of the couch, gets up to get water for Taehyung. He clings to the fridge door a little too tightly, eyes shutting briefly as he hopes, prays, for everything to somehow be alright. He sighs, pouring water into a glass, before returning to Taehyung.

"Here, have some water," Jungkook says softly, offering the glass.

Taehyung doesn't look up; he simply takes the glass with one hand. As Jungkook turns to leave, Taehyung's other hand reaches out, catching his wrist, stopping him in his tracks. Jungkook's heart races as he looks back at Taehyung, who still has his gaze fixed downward.

With a gentle but insistent tug, Taehyung pulls Jungkook, making him kneel in front of him. Setting the glass aside, Taehyung finally looks up, though he doesn't meet Jungkook's eyes. Instead, his gaze fixes on the tattoo peeking out from Jungkook's collar. Taehyung's breath shudders as he hovers his fingers over the ink, hesitant yet yearning.

Jungkook flinches, shutting his eyes tight as he feels the ghost of Taehyung's touch. Taehyung leans in, resting his head against Jungkook's shoulder, his breath warm against his neck. "You're alive," Taehyung murmurs, his voice trembling. "You're alive."

Jungkook feels a mixture of relief and pain at Taehyung's words. He gently lifts a hand to rest on Taehyung's back, providing what little comfort he can. "I'm here, Tae," he whispers, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm here."

Taehyung's grip tightens on Jungkook's shirt, as if afraid he might vanish if he let go. "I thought I lost you," he breathes out, a sob caught in his throat. "All this time, I thought..."

"I know," Jungkook whispers, his own tears threatening to spill. "I know. I'm sorry, Tae. I'm so sorry."

Taehyung pulls back slightly, his eyes searching Jungkook's face for answers, for reassurance. "Why didn't you come to me sooner?" he asks, his voice breaking. "Why did you let me think you were gone?"

Jungkook's heart aches at the pain in Taehyung's eyes. "I couldn't, Tae. It wasn't safe. There were so many things I had to take care of, so many reasons I couldn't reach out. But I'm here now. I'm here."

Taehyung nods slowly, trying to understand, trying to come to terms with everything. He reaches up, cupping Jungkook's face in his hands. "Promise me," he whispers, his voice barely audible. "Promise me you won't leave again."

Jungkook places his hands over Taehyung's, holding them close. "I promise," he says, his voice firm. "I'm not going anywhere."

Taehyung closes his eyes, letting the tears fall freely now. "Thank you," he whispers, leaning in to rest his forehead against Jungkook's. "Thank you for coming back to me."

Jungkook gently cups Taehyung's face in his hands, his own eyes filled with a mixture of hope and fear. "You're not angry with me?" he asks, 

Taehyung keeps their foreheads together, his breath mingling with Jungkook's. "I should be, right? I should be very furious," he says softly. "But above it all, I'm just glad you're alive and here with me."

Taehyung takes Jungkook's hands in his, their fingers intertwining. He looks down at their joined hands, the connection soothing yet fragile. "Also, how can I be angry at you knowing your pain was much worse than mine, that you suffered ten times more than me?"