Path Of Thorns| Vmin Historical AU

T h i r t y S i x

Jimin returned to his room, feeling a whirlwind of emotions after his talk with Jungkook. His heart was heavy with guilt and confusion, and as he stepped inside, he saw Taehyung quietly setting the table.

Taehyung’s movements were calm and careful, his back turned to Jimin as he placed a bowl of steaming soup and some bread on the table. The sight of Taehyung doing something so simple yet so caring made Jimin’s heart ache even more.

He watched for a moment, taking in how much Taehyung had changed. There was a sadness in his eyes, a weight on his shoulders that hadn’t been there before. It hurt Jimin to see him like this, knowing he had been carrying everything alone for so long.

“Why did you sacrifice everything, Taehyung?” Jimin asked softly, his voice trembling with emotion. He took a few steps forward, his eyes never leaving Taehyung’s face. “Why did you give up everything for me?”

Taehyung paused, his hand hovering over the table for a moment before he slowly turned to face Jimin. The sadness in his eyes was clearer now, mingled with a deep love and concern. He didn’t say anything at first, just looked at Jimin with an intensity that made Jimin’s breath catch in his throat.

Then, Taehyung moved closer, closing the distance between them in a few steps. He gently cupped Jimin’s face in his hands, his touch warm and comforting. Jimin’s heart pounded as he looked up into Taehyung’s eyes, feeling the sincerity and pain in his gaze.

“You’re the only one that matters to me, Jimin,” Taehyung whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “I would give up anything, everything, just to keep you safe. None of this means anything if you’re not here with me.”

Jimin felt his eyes fill with tears as Taehyung’s words sank in. He leaned into Taehyung’s touch, his heart aching with love and guilt. “But you didn’t have to do this alone,” he murmured, his voice breaking. “I don’t want you to suffer because of me.”

Taehyung’s thumb brushed gently across Jimin’s cheek, wiping away a tear that had slipped free. “It wasn’t suffering, Jimin,” he said softly. “The only thing that would have been unbearable is losing you. As long as you’re here, nothing else matters.”

Jimin couldn’t hold back the tears anymore. He wrapped his arms around Taehyung, pulling him into a tight embrace. Taehyung’s arms came around him, holding him close, and they stood like that for a long moment, just holding each other, finding comfort in the closeness. Jimin buried his face in Taehyung’s shoulder, trying to absorb the warmth and strength that Taehyung always seemed to carry, even in the darkest times.

After a while, Taehyung pulled back just enough to look at Jimin’s face again. “A lot of people came here with me,” he said gently, his hands still resting on Jimin’s shoulders. “Yoongi, the royal physician, is here to help if you need anything. Seokjin and Hoseok came too. And Jungkook... you’ve already seen him.”

Jimin blinked in surprise, his tears still glistening in his eyes. “They all came here?” he asked, his voice a mixture of disbelief and gratitude. “Why would they do that?”

“They care about you, Jimin,” Taehyung said with a soft smile. “They care about both of us. We’ve been through so much together. They didn’t want us to be alone. They wanted to help, to be here for us.”

Jimin felt a swell of emotion in his chest, a mix of relief and love for his friends. He had been so wrapped up in his own pain and confusion that he hadn’t thought about how much others cared. He looked at Taehyung, his heart full. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you all,” he whispered. “But I’m so grateful. So grateful that you’re here, that you didn’t give up on me.”

Taehyung’s smile grew a little wider, a little brighter, as he brushed Jimin’s hair back from his face. “You don’t have to deserve anything, Jimin. We’re family. We’re in this together, no matter what.”

Jimin nodded, a small, shaky smile forming on his lips. He felt lighter somehow, as if some of the weight he had been carrying had lifted. He knew there were still many questions, still things he didn’t understand, but for now, he was just grateful. Grateful to be here, to be with Taehyung, and to know that they weren’t alone.

“Thank you,” Jimin said softly, his voice filled with sincerity and love. “For everything.”

Taehyung just hugged him again, holding him tight as if he would never let go. “You don’t have to thank me,” he whispered. “Just promise me you’ll stay by my side. That’s all I need.”

Jimin nodded, his arms tightening around Taehyung. “I promise,” he whispered back, his heart feeling a little stronger with each passing moment.
“I’ll stay with you. Always.”