Ties of Fate

Rest Before Reality

By the time Jungkook returned with two steaming mugs of coffee, Taehyung was still lying in bed, but he seemed a little more awake now. His eyes fluttered open when Jungkook set the mugs down on the nightstand, and a small, appreciative smile tugged at his lips.

"Coffee smells amazing," Taehyung murmured, his voice still raspy from sleep. He pushed himself up slightly, wincing again as his back reminded him of the soreness he was still feeling. Jungkook quickly moved to help him sit up, careful and gentle, his hands warm and steady as they supported Taehyung's weight.

Once Taehyung was sitting comfortably, he reached for the mug, taking a small sip of the coffee Jungkook had made for him. The warmth of the drink seem to help him relax, and a content sigh escaped his lips.

Jungkook sat beside him, cradling his own mug and watching Taehyung with a soft smile. "Feeling any better?" he asked, his voice low and full of concern.

"A little," Taehyung admitted, his fingers playing with the handle of the mug. "Still sore, but the coffee's helping."

Jungkook smiled wider, reaching over to gently massage Taehyung's lower back with one hand. "I can't believe I'm saying this," he began, amusement lacing his tone, "but maybe you should take it easy today. No heavy lifting, just relaxing until we leave."

Taehyung's cheeks flushed, not from embarrassment this time, but from how gentle and caring Jungkook was being. It was still strange to see this side of him so openly-Jungkook, who was always teasing and sometimes aloof, now focused completely on making sure Taehyung was comfortable.

"I guess I don't have much of a choice," Taehyung replied, leaning into the soothing pressure of Jungkook's hand. "You're spoiling me."

Jungkook chuckled softly. "Well, someone's got to make sure you're taken care of," he teased, though there was truth in his words.

They sat in a comfortable silence for a while, sipping their coffee as the sun continued to rise outside. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore was the only noise that filled the room. Even though the end of their honeymoon was looming, there was something about this quiet morning that felt right. They were together, and that was all that mattered.

After a while, Taehyung set his mug down and sighed. "I should probably try to get up, right?" He sounded reluctant, as if moving was the last thing he wanted to do.

Jungkook raised an eyebrow. "You don't have to," he said, his tone light but firm. "I already packed everything. You can rest until we have to leave."

Taehyung shook his head with a soft laugh. "I can't just lie around all day. I'll feel useless."

Jungkook smirked, setting his own mug down and leaning closer to Taehyung. "Oh, really? I seem to remember you being perfectly fine with lying down last night," he teased, his voice dropping a little, eyes sparkling with mischief.

Taehyung's face flushed a deep red, and he gave Jungkook a playful shove. "Yah! That's not what I meant," he mumbled, though he couldn't hide the shy smile tugging at his lips. He was still sore, but Jungkook's teasing was a welcome distraction from the discomfort.

Jungkook laughed, catching Taehyung's hand before he could pull it away, and brought it up to his lips, placing a soft kiss on the back of it. "I know, I know," he said softly, his teasing tone giving way to something more tender. "But you really don't need to push yourself. We can take our time."

Taehyung's heart swelled at the gesture, and he looked down at their intertwined hands, feeling the warmth of Jungkook's touch spread through him. Despite the soreness and the looming end of their honeymoon, Taehyung felt safe and content in this moment.

"Okay," Taehyung finally agreed, leaning his head against Jungkook's shoulder. "Maybe I'll rest a little longer."

Jungkook smiled, pressing a kiss to the top of Taehyung's head. "Good. We'll leave when you're ready, no rush."

They stayed like that for a while longer, sitting in the quiet, sharing the peaceful moment before reality would inevitably pull them back to their busy lives. But for now, they had this-a villa by the sea, the warmth of each other's presence, and the certainty that whatever came next, they'd face it together.