A Taste Of Midnight

79

The fire cast a warm, flickering glow over the drawing room, the sound of its crackle filling the silence. Seokjin was curled up on the couch, his back pressed against Jungkook's chest. Jungkook held him close, his arms a steady anchor around Seokjin's waist, as if silently promising he would never let him fall. Every so often, Jungkook pressed a gentle kiss to the top of Seokjin's head, his hand threading absently through his hair.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Seokjin's gaze remained fixed on the flames, his fingers toying with the hem of his sleeve as if it could ground him. He shifted slightly, leaning further into Jungkook's embrace, drawing strength from his steady warmth.

"I've been so unfair to you," Seokjin said suddenly, his voice low and heavy with emotion. "I thought I was protecting you by keeping you at a distance, but... I wasn't. I was only protecting myself."

Jungkook's arms tightened slightly around him, his lips brushing lightly against Seokjin's temple. "You've been carrying so much," he murmured. "Whatever it is, you can share it with me. I'm here for you, all of me."

Seokjin let out a soft, trembling breath. "A long time ago," he began, his voice distant, "I thought I had everything. A home. Love. A family. It was... perfect. But perfection doesn't last, and when it shatters, the pieces are sharper than you'd ever expect."

Jungkook rested his chin lightly on Seokjin's shoulder, his voice steady and warm. "What happened?"

Seokjin's gaze flickered to the fire, the flames reflected in his eyes. "We had a daughter," he said quietly, the words trembling on his lips. "Her name was Hea. She was... a miracle. Something we never thought was possible."

Jungkook froze, the weight of Seokjin's words settling over him. "You had a daughter?" he repeated softly, his voice filled with awe and sorrow. "What happened to her?"

Seokjin's hands tightened around his sleeve, his voice breaking. "She died. And it was my fault."

Jungkook inhaled sharply, his chest tightening as he cupped Seokjin's cheek, gently turning him to meet his gaze. "It wasn't your fault," he said firmly, his crimson eyes glowing faintly. "It couldn't have been."

Tears welled in Seokjin's eyes, but he kept his voice steady. "I made a mistake," he admitted. "I left the curtains open in the nursery. Just once. I fell asleep, and when the sunlight came in..." His voice cracked, his throat tightening around the words. "She was gone before I could stop it."

Jungkook's arms tightened protectively around him, his voice steady but filled with emotion. "That wasn't your fault. You didn't mean for it to happen. You loved her, Seokjin. I can hear it in every word."

Seokjin shook his head, his voice trembling. "It wasn't just losing her, Jungkook. It was what happened after. Grief changes people-it twists love into something unrecognizable."

"What happened?" Jungkook asked softly, though his arms held Seokjin even closer.

Seokjin's voice lowered, filled with pain. "Taehyung happened. He was... everything to me once. We found each other when we were both lost. And when Hea came into our lives, she gave us purpose. She was our family. But when she died, it broke something in him. His grief turned to anger, and that anger... it consumed him."

Jungkook stilled, his crimson eyes darkening. "He blamed you."

Seokjin nodded, his voice thick with emotion. "I thought if I endured it, if I let him take out his pain on me, he'd heal. That he'd come back to me."

Jungkook's jaw tightened, his grip on Seokjin protective yet tender. "You didn't deserve that," he said firmly. "You deserved someone who would grieve with you, not hurt you."

"I know that now," Seokjin whispered, his voice trembling. "But back then, all I could see was my failure. I thought I owed him my pain because I'd taken away his happiness."

Jungkook's voice softened, but his resolve was unshakable. "You gave him love. You gave him a daughter. That was enough. You don't owe him anything."

Seokjin leaned into the warmth of Jungkook's hand on his cheek, a tear slipping down his face. "It took me so long to understand that. And by the time I did, it was too late. Taehyung and I... we couldn't save each other. He let me go eventually, but the scars he left-they never truly went away."

Jungkook rested his forehead against Seokjin's, his voice quiet yet resolute. "He'll never hurt you again," he said softly. "I'll make sure of it."

Seokjin closed his eyes, the weight of Jungkook's words wrapping around him like a shield. "Thank you," he murmured. "Having you here... it's more than I ever thought I'd have again."

Jungkook tilted his head slightly, brushing his lips against Seokjin's temple. "You'll never have to face any of this alone," he promised. "Not anymore."

Seokjin let out a shaky breath, his fingers grazing the back of Jungkook's hand as he steadied himself. "When you were in the hospital," he said quietly, "I never left your side."

Jungkook's movements stilled for a moment before he pressed a kiss to Seokjin's hair. "I know," he said softly. "Even when I couldn't open my eyes, I could feel you. Like you were holding me there."

"I thought I was protecting you," Seokjin admitted, his voice breaking. "I thought if I erased your memories, you'd be safe from all of this. But instead, I left you lost, searching for answers I could've given you."

Jungkook cupped Seokjin's face, his eyes shining with unwavering determination. "You thought you were doing the right thing," he said firmly. "But you don't have to carry this alone anymore."

Seokjin searched Jungkook's face, his voice trembling. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "For everything. For leaving you lost and confused. For making it harder than it needed to be."

Jungkook's lips brushed over Seokjin's forehead in a gentle, lingering kiss. "You don't need to apologize," he said softly. "But I need you to promise me something."

Seokjin nodded, his voice barely audible. "Anything."

"No more hiding," Jungkook said, his voice low but resolute. "No more trying to protect me by pushing me away. If we're going to face this, we face it together. Always."

Seokjin's breath caught, but he nodded, his fingers curling around Jungkook's hand. "Together," he murmured.

Jungkook leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You're everything I didn't know I needed, Seokjin. And I'll spend forever proving to you that you're worth it."

Tears slipped down Seokjin's cheeks as he pressed his forehead to Jungkook's. "I never thought I'd have this again," he admitted. "Someone to stand beside me."

Jungkook smiled faintly, his voice filled with quiet strength. "You don't just have someone standing beside you," he murmured. "You have someone who will hold you up, who will fight for you, and who will never-ever-let you face another storm alone."

The fire crackled softly, its warmth wrapping around them as Seokjin finally allowed himself to let go of the fear and guilt he'd carried for so long. In Jungkook's arms, for the first time in centuries, he felt truly safe.

And in the quiet of that moment, he began to believe in the hope they could build together.