Stuck With You [Taekook ff]

60 | He Couldn't Wait To Tell Him So

A/N
We're headed toward the end. Thanks again for sticking it out! Only about six chapters left.

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The flames had already consumed half of the apartment, their ferocity growing with every second that passed. The smoke was thick and suffocating, curling through the hallways and spilling into the small closet where Taehyung and Jungkook had hidden.

Taehyung, an FBI agent with years of experience, had been through training to handle life-threatening situations, but this was different. This time it was real. This time he was not the only person in peril—the danger wasn't just to him—it was to Jungkook, the man he cared for deeply. His hand was clenched tightly around Jungkook's, both in a protective gesture and to reassure himself that Jungkook was still there, mentally and physically.

The voices of the fellow agents were getting more and more distant. Perhaps the fire had driven them out of the apartment. He wondered if they caught the bad guys as the two injured ones made it out of the apartment.

Both Taehyung and Jungkook heard faint voices, barely cutting through the roar of the fire. Taehyung figured it was coming from outside the building. The sound was reassuring, but Taehyung knew the reality of their situation. The fire had spread too quickly. If they didn't move soon, the smoke would suffocate them, if not the flames.

He assessed the situation rapidly, scanning the space beyond the closet door. The route downstairs was out of the question. The fire had already overtaken the lower levels, cutting off any hope of escaping through the front door. That left them with only one option: the window at the end of the hallway. He pulled Jungkook toward the door.

"Come on, we've got to move!" Taehyung's voice was rough from the smoke as they pushed their way out of the closet. The heat was nearly unbearable now, and every breath tasted of ash. But they pressed on, heading toward the window. Taehyung could feel Jungkook's fear, though the younger man remained silent, trusting Taehyung completely to get them out of this.

Taehyung spared a glance over his shoulder to ensure Jungkook was keeping up, but his mind raced ahead. He had no idea how they were going to survive this. Jumping from a third-story window onto the street wasn't the worst stunt but still dangerous; they could break bones or worse. But what other option did they have?

Then, through the growing silence as the agents' voices faded, Taehyung heard the blaring wail of sirens. The sound pierced through the haze of his panic, offering a flicker of hope. They weren't alone.

By the time they reached the window, they could see the flashing lights below. Relief surged through Taehyung as he spotted Namjoon, his close friend and fellow FBI agent, standing among the firefighters. Namjoon's sharp eyes scanned the building, his body tense with urgency.

Taehyung opened the window with a desperate shout, "Joon! We're up here!"

Namjoon's head snapped toward the sound of his name. The moment he spotted them, he sprang into action, motioning rapidly for the firefighters to position the ladder truck. It seemed like forever before the ladder was fully extended, though it couldn't have been more than a couple of minutes. But to Taehyung, every second was agony.

The flames crept closer, licking at the edges of the hallway behind them. Taehyung stood protectively in front of Jungkook, who was coughing hard now, struggling to breathe through the smoke. It was a moment of sheer determination that kept Taehyung from falling apart. He had to be strong—for Jungkook.

"Hang on, we're coming!" Namjoon's voice reached them, barely audible above the roar of the fire. The ladder was almost there. Almost.

Taehyung had already made up his mind that if the ladder didn't reach them in time, they would have to jump. The idea of it chilled him more than the fire behind them, but it was the only option left. Jungkook wouldn't last much longer in the thickening smoke.