Crystal Bond [Jikook]

| Chapter - 34 |

The soft light of morning spilled through the open windows of the mansion, casting a gentle glow over the room where Jungkook and Jimin lay entwined. The warmth of the sun, the quiet hum of the world just beginning to wake—all of it was a stark contrast to the storm that had raged within Jungkook the night before. But now, as he held Jimin close, he felt as if the ocean itself had stilled for him, offering a moment of serenity he hadn't felt in ages.

A soft knock at the door broke the quiet, followed by the hesitant voice of Jin. "Jungkook, it's time."

Jungkook sighed, reluctant to let go of Jimin's warmth. He knew there was no avoiding this moment, the one that had been building since Jimin had entered his life. His brothers, and even Yoongi, had all gathered downstairs, awaiting them, and Jimin had asked—insisted, even—that he be allowed to talk with them properly this time.

"Are you ready?" Jungkook murmured, his voice soft as he searched Jimin's eyes.

Jimin smiled, a small, resolute expression that did little to hide the fire in his gaze. "I was born ready."

The living room was dim and cool, the morning sunlight casting long, faint shadows across the floor. Jungkook's brothers stood in a loose circle, their expressions as tense as the silence between them. Jin, with his gentle but vigilant gaze; Hoseok, warm but visibly cautious; and Taehyung, his arms crossed, his face as sharp and unreadable as stone. Namjoon And Yoongi stood nearby, arms crossed, observing silently with careful interest.

As Jungkook and Jimin entered, all eyes shifted to them. Jimin held his head high, and his fingers twined with Jungkook's in a show of quiet strength. But he could feel the weight of their scrutiny, the gravity of each gaze that sized him up, questioning, doubting. He felt as though he were standing at the edge of a cliff, a step away from falling into the unknown.

It was Yoongi who broke the silence, raising a skeptical eyebrow as his gaze flicked between them. "So, you two..." He tilted his head with a smirk. "Didn't see that coming."

Hoseok chuckled, but Taehyung's lips pressed into a thin line, his gaze darkening as he stared at Jimin. The smirk on Yoongi's face faded as he observed the tense air, his brows furrowing as he caught on to the deeper tension crackling in the room.

Jimin swallowed, feeling the cool weight of Taehyung's gaze, and then Jin's calm but cautious one, as if he were still gauging the depth of Jimin's intentions.

Jin's voice was gentle but edged with steel as he finally spoke. "Jimin, do you understand what it means to be with someone like Jungkook?"

Jimin's eyes held Jin's, unflinching, as he nodded. "I do. I know what he is, and I know what he means to his people."

Jin's gaze softened slightly, though there was still an unmistakable hint of caution. "It's more than that, you know. Being with someone like Jungkook isn't just about understanding him. It's about understanding everything that comes with him—the expectations, the responsibilities, the legacy."

"And not just understanding," Taehyung interjected, his voice a low, unyielding tone that sliced through the room. "But being able to bear it. Can you?" His eyes were as cold as the sea at midnight. "Do you know what you mean to the people of the Water Realm?"

Jimin's jaw clenched slightly. "I understand that to them, I'm just a human. Mortal, without magic, without a title."

"And weak," Taehyung added mercilessly, crossing his arms. "In their eyes, you're nothing but a fragile mortal who won't live as long as they will. A creature with no understanding of our ways, with no place in the world of gods and demigods. They think you're undeserving of him."