Bound by Fate

Chapter 12: A Tug Between Two Souls

It had been a month since Namjoon's return, and slowly but surely, the air between him and Seokjin began to shift. At first, their conversations were small and brief, but as time passed, Namjoon found himself gravitating more towards Seokjin. Whether it was during meals, in the quiet corners of the palace, or late at night in their shared chambers, Namjoon made sure Seokjin was comfortable, safe, and cared for. It was subtle but undeniable.

Seokjin noticed these changes too. Namjoon, who once held an emotional distance, was now acting with more tenderness. The way Namjoon would gently touch Seokjin's back when guiding him through the corridors, or the way his gaze lingered a little longer during meals, did not go unnoticed.

One evening, Seokjin had been sitting alone in the garden, staring at the moonlit flowers, when Namjoon appeared beside him. He didn't speak much but sat quietly, his presence warm and comforting. After a while, Namjoon finally broke the silence.

"Are you comfortable?" Namjoon asked softly, his voice barely louder than a whisper.

Seokjin turned to look at him, surprised by the quiet intimacy of the moment. "Yes, I'm fine."

Namjoon nodded, but his eyes stayed on Seokjin, as if seeking reassurance that what he had just said was the truth. For a long time, neither of them spoke, but the silence between them wasn't uncomfortable. It was gentle, filled with a sense of understanding that was new but welcome.

Not everyone, however, was pleased with the growing closeness between the two. Yoongi, Seokjin's protective brother, had noticed how Namjoon was paying more attention to Seokjin. His wariness towards Namjoon's unpredictable soul, RM, was growing, and Yoongi feared for Seokjin's safety.

One afternoon, Yoongi cornered Namjoon after he had just finished a quiet conversation with Seokjin in the courtyard.

"Namjoon," Yoongi called out, his voice steady but with an edge of warning.

Namjoon turned to face him, raising an eyebrow in surprise. "Yoongi, is something wrong?"

Yoongi crossed his arms, his expression serious. "You need to stay away from Seokjin."

Namjoon's brows furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean? Seokjin is my—"

"I don't care that you're married," Yoongi interrupted sharply. "I don't want you near my brother."

Namjoon blinked, taken aback. "But why?"

Yoongi's voice rose, frustration clear in his tone. "Namjoon, your soul—RM—he's dangerous. Even if you're trying to be kind, you can't control him. RM could hurt Seokjin, and I won't allow that."

The word "dangerous" hung in the air, and Namjoon's chest tightened with guilt. He knew Yoongi had a point. No matter how hard Namjoon tried, RM was always lurking beneath the surface, waiting for moments of emotional vulnerability to take over.

Namjoon took a deep breath and replied quietly, "I would never hurt Seokjin. I promise you."

Yoongi wasn't satisfied. He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a harsher tone. "You may not mean to, but can you control RM every time? Can you promise me he won't take over and harm Seokjin?"

The truth, as painful as it was, weighed heavily on Namjoon. He couldn't make that promise. He had already lost control before, and RM had surfaced. It was an uncontrollable force within him that frightened even Namjoon.

"I'll... try to keep my distance," Namjoon said, his voice strained. "I'll do what I can."

Yoongi's jaw tightened. "Do more than that. I can't afford to lose my brother because of your soul."