Eclipse of the Chronos || JJKx Reader ✓

21: A Mechanical Bond

As Y/n's voice echoed through the corridor, Seokjin stopped in his tracks. His eyes, sharp and cautious, scanned the two figures standing before him. He looked different—worn and gaunt, as though the weight of countless burdens rested on his shoulders. For a moment, he seemed unsure, his gaze darting between Y/n and Jungkook, and his expression unreadable.

"Seokjin, it's me," Y/n said, her voice softer now, filled with emotion. She took a tentative step forward, her heart pounding. "We're here to take you home."

Seokjin's eyes narrowed, and he raised a hand as if to stop her. "Home?" he asked, his voice rough, as though he hadn’t spoken in days. "There is no home anymore, Y/n. Not for me."

The words sent a chill down her spine, and she hesitated. "What do you mean? We’ve come all this way to find you. We know about Project Chronos, we’ve seen the logs. We can help you."

But even as she spoke, Y/n noticed that Seokjin’s attention wasn’t fully on her. His eyes darted toward Jungkook, standing protectively beside her, and the confusion on his face deepened. He took a cautious step back, as if instinctively retreating.

"Who is this?" Seokjin’s tone was sharp, laced with suspicion. His eyes narrowed on Jungkook, as though trying to assess him. "Y/n, why is he with you?"

Y/n blinked, caught off guard by her brother’s reaction. She glanced at Jungkook, unsure of what to say. "Seokjin, this is Jungkook. He’s… he’s been helping me. He’s the one who’s been protecting me, guiding me through the facility. I made him."

Jungkook stepped beside her, his expression tense, ready for whatever might come next. "You don’t have to do this alone, Seokjin. We know you're trying to fix things, but we can do it together."

For a moment, Seokjin's face softened, but then a look of deep sorrow and fear crossed his features. "You have no idea what you're talking about," he muttered, his voice barely audible. "I started something that I can't stop… something none of us can stop. The Chronos Core was just the beginning."

Y/n exchanged a worried glance with Jungkook. "What do you mean? The Core… we stabilized it."

Seokjin shook his head slowly. "Stabilizing the Core only delayed the inevitable. The temporal disruptions will grow stronger. Time itself is unraveling, and it's all because of the work we did here. I thought I could control it, but I was wrong."

His words hung in the air like a heavy fog, and Y/n felt the gravity of what he was saying sink in. "There must be a way to stop it," she said, desperation creeping into her voice. "You wouldn’t have left clues if there was no hope."

Seokjin took a step closer, his eyes filled with a haunting mix of guilt and determination. "The failsafe I created… it's the only way to stop the collapse. But it comes at a cost. If we trigger it, the entire facility will be destroyed, along with everyone inside."

Y/n's breath caught in her throat. "You mean... you'll sacrifice yourself?"

He nodded solemnly. "It's the only way to undo what’s been done. The power we tapped into—it's too dangerous to leave unchecked. If I don’t stop it now, it will spread beyond this facility. The fabric of time will start to tear apart, and the world as we know it will collapse."

Jungkook, who had been silent, stepped forward, his voice low but firm. "There has to be another way. You’re a genius, Seokjin. We don’t have to lose you."

Seokjin shook his head, his eyes filled with an unshakable resolve. "There’s no time to debate this. I made my choice when I designed the failsafe. This is my responsibility, and I have to see it through."

Y/n's eyes brimmed with tears as she reached out, her voice trembling. "You can’t do this, Seokjin. We didn’t come all this way just to lose you again. Please… let us help you."

Seokjin's gaze softened as he looked at her, his face etched with regret. "Y/n, you’ve always been strong. You and Jungkook… you two can survive this. But I can’t. This is my burden to bear."

A silence fell between them, the weight of Seokjin's words hanging like a storm cloud. Y/n struggled to find the right words, her heart aching at the thought of losing him after everything they had been through. But deep down, she knew he had already made up his mind.

Suddenly, the walls of the facility began to tremble, a low rumble vibrating through the floor. The lights flickered erratically, casting shadows that danced across the corridor. Seokjin’s expression grew even more grave. "It’s starting," he said, his voice tight. "We’re running out of time."

Jungkook clenched his fists, frustration and helplessness flashing across his face. "What do we do?"

Seokjin glanced at the holographic map on the wall, his eyes tracing the paths leading deeper into the facility. "You need to leave. There’s an emergency transport pod in the lower levels. It can take you far away from here before the failsafe is triggered."

Y/n shook her head, refusing to accept the plan. "No, we’re not leaving you behind."

Seokjin looked at her with a sad smile, his eyes filled with a mixture of affection and sorrow. "You have to, Y/n. This is the only way."

But before Y/n could respond, the ground shook violently, knocking them all off balance. Alarms blared throughout the facility, and the walls groaned as if they were straining under immense pressure. The collapse had begun.

Seokjin staggered but remained upright, his face set with determination. "Go, now!" he shouted over the noise. "I’ll activate the failsafe. You need to get to the transport pod before it’s too late."

Y/n’s heart pounded in her chest, torn between the desire to stay and fight for him and the knowledge that he was right. Time was running out. She turned to Jungkook, her eyes pleading for a solution, but his expression mirrored her own helplessness.

"We have to go," Jungkook said, his voice tight with emotion. "He’s made his choice, Y/n."

Tears streamed down her face as she looked at Seokjin one last time, her voice barely a whisper. "I’m sorry."

Seokjin’s expression softened, and he gave her a gentle nod. "Don’t be. Just live."

With that, Jungkook grabbed Y/n’s hand and pulled her down the corridor, away from Seokjin and toward the lower levels. As they ran, Y/n's mind raced, her heart shattering with every step that took her further from her brother.

The facility continued to shake, the walls cracking and crumbling as they sprinted through the corridors. The sound of the alarms grew fainter, replaced by the deafening roar of collapsing metal and stone. But Y/n couldn’t focus on the destruction around her—her mind was consumed with thoughts of Seokjin and the sacrifice he was about to make.

Finally, they reached the emergency transport pod. Jungkook slammed his hand against the control panel, and the door slid open with a hiss. He pushed Y/n inside and followed after her, the door sealing shut behind them.

As the pod hummed to life, Y/n pressed her hands against the glass, staring out at the facility as it crumbled around them. "Seokjin…" she whispered, her heart breaking.

The pod shot forward, rocketing through the underground tunnel toward safety. Y/n could barely breathe as the weight of everything that had happened crashed down on her. Seokjin was gone, and the world they knew would never be the same.

Jungkook placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, his voice soft. "He did what he had to do. He saved us."

Y/n nodded, but the pain in her chest didn’t ease. "I just… I wish there had been another way."