The Chosen Ones 2: Bound by fate (Stray Kids X Ateez)

Chapter 11

Chan and Changbin's room

The 2 of them are sleeping soundly when something catches Changbin's attention. It isn't a sound, but a stray thought from someone. He quickly realizes it's from Jungkook.

Changbin carefully gets out of bed, trying not to wake Chan up as he exits their room. As he makes his way towards the living area, Changbin sees Jungkook outside by the swimming pool.

Jungkook doesn't seem to notice Changbin until he speaks. "Jungkook?" he says.

"Oh!" Jungkook says, startled. "Oh, Changbin, it's you. What are you doing up at this hour?"

"I was going to ask you the same thing." Changbin said. "Is everything alright?"

Jungkook hesitated for a moment. "Yeah, I'm fine." he said.

Changbin didn't seem convinced. "Are you sure?" he asked. "Come on, talk to me. What's on your mind?"

Jungkook gave Changbin a confused look. "I thought you could read minds." he said.

Changbin smirked. "Just because I can doesn't mean I want to." he said. "I'll never read my friends' minds unless it's an emergency or there's no other option.  Hell, I won't even read Channie's mind. Think of it as giving everyone a right to their privacy."

Jungkook's heart swelled. He truly felt safe and comfortable around Changbin, trusting that he wouldn't invade his mind like that.

"If you don't want to talk about it, I understand." said Changbin. "But I always figure that getting it off your chest helps."

Jungkook took a deep breath before finally talking about what was on his mind. "It's about my dad." he said.

"What about him?" Changbin asked.

"I don't know." Jungkook admitted. "I just have this feeling that he's not gonna give up on trying to take me away from Taehyung."

"Hey, it's okay." Changbin says as he puts his hand on Jungkook's shoulder. "We vowed to protect you from him, and we will. I've been keeping tabs on him, so if he even thinks of anything, we'll stop him."

"Thank you." says Jungkook. "I'm truly happy to have you all in my life." Tears began to well up in his eyes. "Sometimes, I asked myself what would've happened if Lix and Innie hadn't shown up when they did when mom attacked me. Would I still be alive? Would I be with Taehyung?"

Changbin listened intently at what Jungkook had to say. He, too, wondered what would've happened if Felix and Jeongin hadn't been there.

"And then when dad came to take me away, you were all there for me." Jungkook said. "I know that Chan said told him that I was under your protection, but there's been this feeling eating at me that it's not gonna be enough to stop him."

"Jungkook, do you know how Ateez got their powers?" Changbin said.

Jungkook thinks for a moment. "I...think I do." he said. "I don't remember the details clearly."

"It was because of the Moirae Sisters." Changbin said. "They feared our power, and they wanted to kill us. But Joel prevented them from doing so."

Jungkook looked genuinely surprised. "Why would they want to kill all of you?" he asks. "You guys are the kindest most compassionate people I know. You've saved me and countless others throughout this year. It makes no sense."

"They feared our powers." said Changbin. "They're afraid that we would go to war with them and wipe them out. But that is so far from the truth. We just wanted to live normal lives."

Jungkook is fully invested in the story that Changbin is telling him, that he simply listens to the whole story.

"Anyways, since they couldn't directly kill us anymore, they decided on a different tactic." said Changbin. "They kidnapped and manipulated Ateez into believing that we were evil, in hopes that they would kill us. Or that we would all kill each other. To do that, they gave Ateez a portion of the power of Moros, god of doom, and their brother."

"My God." said Jungkook. "But what does that have to do with my father?"

"Oh, trust me, I'm getting to that." said Changbin. "After we defeated Ateez and convinced them that they were being lied to, Moros made his presence known, but together, we defeated him. Joel then confronted the Moirae Sisters about what they had done and threatened to kill them if they ever tried something like that again."

"I'm sorry, but why doesn't Joel just kill them and get it over with?" says Jungkook. "I-I'm sorry if this is a bit harsh, but wouldn't that make the most sense? At least you would all be safe."

"It's not that simple." says Changbin. "The Moirae control the threads of fate."

"The threads of fate?" Jungkook repeated.

"Yeah." said Changbin. "They control the lives of all humans. One of them spins the thread of one's life, the other one measures it, and the last one cuts it. Basically, if Joel kills them, no more life on Earth will ever be born."

Jungkook's eyes widen with shock. "Oh my God." he says.

"Yeah, I know." says Changbin. "It's a lot to take in. However, Channie tells me that Joel told both him and Hongjoong that he's sensing that the Moirae might be planning something else. Something big."

"Just like the feeling I've been having about my dad." said Jungkook. "And to think after a whole year, he'd learn his lesson."

"Exactly." said Changbin. "But like I said, we're not going to let anything happen to you, I promise."

"Thank you." Jungkook says as he pulls Changbin into a hug. "Thank you for everything you've all done for me."

"It's our pleasure." Changbin says as he hugs Jungkook's back, rubbing circles on his back.

The 2 of them part from their hug, but still hold on to each other. "Be careful as well." says Jungkook. "If you say the Moirae Sisters are thinking about something sinister, you need to be on your guard. You've all become so special in our lives that I couldn't bear anything bad happening to you."

Changbin smiles softly while messing with Jungkook's hair. "Thanks, Jungkook." he says. "We'll be careful. Now, why don't you go to bed? We still have another big day tomorrow for Lix's birthday."

"I can't wait." Jungkook says with a smile as they both head inside. Before Changbin goes to his room, Jungkook says, "Goodnight Changbin."

Changbin smiles. "Goodnight, Jungkook." he says and goes to his room. Changbin slips back into bed but is startled by his boyfriend.

"Where did you go?" Chan asked, his voice laced with concern.

"I sensed something." Changbin said. "It was Jungkook."

"Is he alright?" Chan asked.

"He's fine, Channie." said Changbin. "He's just worried that his dad will try some shit again. But I let him know that we would protect him no matter what."

Chan smiles and pecks Changbin on the lips. "I'm sure you were a great listener to him."

"Yeah, I was." Changbin said with a grin. "The boys always say how I'm good at listening to the thoughts and concerns of others."

"And that's why I love you." said Chan as he embraced Changbin tighter. "I love you so much, Binnie." he says.

"I love you too, Channie." says Changbin. And with one more kiss goodnight, the 2 of them drift off to sleep.

A/N How about we check on the lives of the boys from the alternate timeline?