Eclipse of the Chronos || JJKx Reader ✓

16: Mirrors of the Past

The sunless sky was a permanent fixture in this fractured world, casting an ominous glow over Y/n and Jungkook as they trekked further into the broken ruins. The subtle hum of malfunctioning machines echoed faintly in the distance, a constant reminder that this world was hanging by a thread, teetering on the edge of collapse.

As they moved deeper into the wasteland, the ruins seemed to grow denser, with towering buildings that leaned precariously against each other, their skeletal frames barely holding. For hours they had followed fragmented paths through the ruins, guided by faint signals Jungkook’s sensors picked up—yet, with every turn, the terrain seemed to grow more desolate.

Y/n walked beside Jungkook in silence, her thoughts spinning. They had uncovered so much already—Project Chronos, the fractured futures, and Seokjin’s message—but the path to finding the core and Seokjin seemed far from clear. Despite the stakes, she couldn't help but notice the quiet moments between her and Jungkook—the way his protective glances lingered on her, the subtle tension that seemed to build whenever they spoke.

Jungkook suddenly paused, his posture stiffening.

"What is it?" Y/n asked, her voice tinged with concern.

Jungkook turned toward a nearby structure, his gaze sharp. "I'm picking up something. An old surveillance system—still operational."

Y/n squinted at the crumbling building he was focused on. It looked like any other ruin they had passed, but if there was a functioning system inside, it could lead them to crucial information.

"Do you think it’s connected to Project Chronos?" she asked, stepping closer.

"It’s possible. I’ll need to access the terminal to be sure," Jungkook replied, already moving toward the entrance. His steps were quick, determined.

Y/n followed, her heart racing with both anticipation and anxiety. The further they ventured into this broken world, the more she felt that everything they uncovered was connected to their mission, to Seokjin. And yet, the more they discovered, the more questions arose.

Jungkook quickly cleared the path into the building, using his enhanced strength to push aside debris and rubble. Inside, the space was eerily silent, save for the occasional hiss of broken pipes and flickering lights.

The surveillance system was easy enough to spot—a cluster of old monitors, some cracked, others hanging loosely from the walls. Jungkook immediately began working on the console, his fingers moving swiftly across the faded keys.

"I should be able to tap into the system from here," he muttered, focused.

Y/n waited, her eyes scanning the room. It was strange to think about how far they’d come already. When this mission had started, she hadn’t anticipated the weight of what they’d uncover, nor had she expected the bond that was beginning to form between her and Jungkook. She watched him, the way he moved with such precision and care. He was more than just a robot—there was something undeniably human about the way he looked at her, the way he protected her.

"Got it," Jungkook announced suddenly, pulling Y/n from her thoughts.

The screens flickered to life, showing grainy footage from what appeared to be old security cameras positioned throughout the city. Most of the feeds were broken or corrupted, but one in particular caught Y/n’s attention.

"Wait," she said, stepping closer. "That building—doesn’t it look familiar?"

Jungkook’s gaze followed hers, his expression sharpening. The building on the screen was largely intact, unlike most of the ruins they had seen so far. Its structure was sleek, futuristic—very different from the rest of the decaying landscape.