In the following days, Jungkook noticed Taehyung's efforts to quit smoking. The lack of cigarettes caused him to be irritable and restless, but Jungkook was there, offering gentle support and encouragement. They found new ways to relieve stress, going for runs together in the early morning, cooking elaborate meals, and watching their favorite movies without the interruptions of smoke breaks.
One evening, Jungkook found Taehyung on their balcony, staring at a single cigarette with a mixture of longing and frustration. Jungkook's heart clenched, knowing the internal struggle his lover faced. He approached slowly, not wanting to startle him. "Tae," he said softly, placing a hand on Taehyung's shoulder. "What are you doing?"
Taehyung looked up, his eyes red-rimmed and haunted. "I'm just... I don't know," he said, his voice cracking. "I just want one more. Just to see if it's really that bad." Jungkook's stomach churned at the sight of the cigarette, a symbol of the future he had fought so hard to change. He took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice calm. "You know it's bad," he said, his hand gently taking the cigarette from Taehyung's trembling fingers. "You've seen the ads, heard the warnings."
Taehyung nodded, his gaze dropping to the floor. "But I liked it," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "It made me feel... alive." Jungkook's heart broke at the confession, his mind racing for a way to help without pushing Taehyung away. "Use me instead," he said suddenly, the words slipping out before he could stop them. Taehyung's eyes snapped up to meet his, surprise and confusion etched into his features.
"What do you mean?" Taehyung asked, his voice tentative. Jungkook took a deep breath, trying to compose his thoughts. "Whenever you get the urge to smoke," he began, his voice steady despite the turmoil within, "come to me. Tell me you want me, and we'll... do something else to take your mind off it."
Taehyung stared at him, his expression a mix of surprise and skepticism. "You want me to use you like that?" he asked, his voice a mix of hope and doubt. Jungkook nodded, his gaze unwavering. "I want you to live, Tae," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "If that means I have to distract you from smoking, then I'll do it."
The air between them grew thick with unspoken understanding. Taehyung's eyes searched Jungkook's, looking for any sign of doubt or manipulation. Finding none, he leaned in, pressing their foreheads together. "Okay," he whispered, his voice shaky. "I'll try." Jungkook felt a surge of love and relief wash over him. "Thank you," he murmured, his thumb brushing over Taehyung's knuckles.
"So what if I want you now?" Taehyung challenged, a hint of a smile playing on his lips despite the seriousness of the conversation. Jungkook felt his own smile spread in response, a warmth filling his chest.
"Then you have me," Jungkook said, his voice a low promise. "Always." He leaned in to kiss Taehyung, their lips meeting in a gentle caress that spoke of their love and commitment to each other.
Their relationship grew stronger in the months that followed, with Jungkook's constant support helping Taehyung fight his cravings. They found joy in their shared moments of intimacy, using their love as a balm for the withdrawal that Taehyung often felt. Each time Taehyung reached for him instead of a cigarette, Jungkook felt a sense of victory, but the fear of the past remained a shadow in his heart.
As the days turned into weeks, Jungkook knew he couldn't stay in the past forever. The time machine's energy was limited, and the longer he stayed, the greater the risk of altering the fabric of time itself. With a heavy heart, he set the date for his return, the moment he had feared since the day he stepped out of the machine.
On the night before his departure, Jungkook held Taehyung tightly, their hearts beating in sync. "I'll be right here," he whispered into Taehyung's ear, hoping his love could transcend the boundaries of time. "Forever."
Their love-making was a silent declaration of their bond, a testament to the strength that had carried them through the storm of addiction and fear. Jungkook's hands roamed over Taehyung's body, memorizing every curve and freckle, as if trying to imprint him onto his soul. Taehyung's eyes never left Jungkook's, a silent promise of his own echoing in their depths.
Their movements were slow and deliberate, each touch a declaration of love and a silent apology for the pain they had caused each other. Jungkook's kisses were gentle, his tongue tracing the line of Taehyung's jaw, down his neck, and across his collarbone. Taehyung's breath hitched as Jungkook's lips found his pulse point, his body arching into the touch, seeking more.
Their hands explored familiar territories, relearning the curves and valleys of each other's bodies. Jungkook's fingers danced over Taehyung's chest, his thumb brushing over a nipple, making him gasp. Taehyung's hands were in Jungkook's hair, pulling him closer, his hips rising to meet Jungkook's. The air was thick with desire, a heady mix of sweat and the scent of their combined fears and hopes.
Jungkook's thrusts grew more urgent as the minutes ticked away, each one a silent countdown to the moment he would have to leave. He knew he couldn't stay, that his presence was already a risk, but he couldn't bear the thought of losing Taehyung again. Their bodies moved together in a dance of passion and sorrow, a testament to the love that had brought them to this moment.
They came together with a muffled cry, their climax a silent shout of desperation and love. Jungkook's forehead was pressed against Taehyung's, their breaths mingling as they both fought back tears. For a brief moment, time seemed to stop, as if the universe itself was holding its breath, afraid to interrupt their sacred union.
As the aftershocks of their love subsided, Jungkook gently pulled away, his eyes never leaving Taehyung's. He moved to the side of the bed, his body slick with sweat, and retrieved a damp cloth from the bedside table. With tender strokes, he cleaned Taehyung's body, wiping away the evidence of their love as if it were a treasure that needed to be preserved. Taehyung's eyes were heavy with sleep, but he watched Jungkook's movements with a quiet intensity, his heart fluttering with each tender touch.
Once Taehyung was clean, Jungkook took care of himself, his movements methodical and almost robotic. He knew the time was coming, the moment he would have to leave this timeline, and the thought was a knife in his chest. He returned to the bed, sliding under the covers and wrapping his arms around Taehyung, pulling him close. Taehyung's eyes fluttered open, a question in his gaze, but Jungkook just offered a small smile, his thumb brushing over the sleepy eyelids, urging them to close.
As Taehyung's breaths evened out and he slipped into the embrace of slumber, Jungkook held on tightly, committing every detail of this moment to memory. The warmth of Taehyung's body, the softness of his skin, the way his breath ghosted over Jungkook's neck. It was all so precious and fleeting. He didn't want to let go, didn't want to leave this warm cocoon of safety and love. But he knew he had to.
With trembling hands, Jungkook set the time machine to return to the moment just before he had first stepped out of it. He had changed enough, he hoped. He had given Taehyung a chance at a smoke-free life, a future without the shadow of illness looming over them. He had to trust that Taehyung's promise to quit smoking was sincere and that their love would be enough to keep him on the right path.
As the machine hummed to life, Jungkook took one last look at Taehyung, sleeping peacefully in their bed. He was beautiful, untouched by the ravages of time and addiction that had claimed him in Jungkook's original timeline. Jungkook felt a tear slip down his cheek as he stepped into the cold, metallic embrace of the machine, whispering a final goodbye.
The world around him blurred into a kaleidoscope of color and sound, the sensation of time slipping through his fingers like sand.
❊
Life is getting so depressing these days
-lxnnie
