Midas Touch ➸ Taekook

- Forty-third -

Silence reigned on the roof, disturbed only by the sound of the wind and the slightly jerky breathing of the two men. Jungkook gently slipped an arm around Taehyung's waist, drawing him against him in a gesture that was both confident and hesitant. His torso, broad and firm, aligned itself against Taehyung's back, who stiffened under the contact, his hands instinctively gripping the edge of the roof to keep his balance.

"Chéri..." Jungkook whispered, his voice husky and low, almost breathless.

His lips were so close to the boy's ear that a shiver ran through him. Taehyung didn't respond, frozen between his own desire and the visceral fear that gripped his heart. Hearing that nickname again after all this time relieved him as much as it hurt. He could feel Jungkook's warmth, his breath caressing the back of his neck. It was stifling, oppressive, but also terribly soothing. The tension between them had become a living thing, an electric energy suspended in the air.

Jungkook, unable to hold back any longer, gently turned Taehyung towards him. His hands slid down his waist, rising slightly to rest on his hips. Taehyung looked up at him, his dilated pupils reflecting a storm of emotion. Their closeness was so intense that they almost shared the same breath.

"Look at me, chéri..." Jungkook said, his burning gaze capturing Taehyung's.

His fingers tightened slightly on his hips.

"Why do you always hold back? I know it hurts you as much as it hurts me, so let go..."

Taehyung opened his mouth, but no words came out. He wanted to answer, to explain, but Jungkook's warmth, the way he looked at him as if he were all that mattered in the world, rendered him speechless. Jungkook tilted his head gently, his gaze moving between the young man's eyes and his lips, which trembled slightly. Taehyung knew what was coming next. And yet he couldn't let go. Part of him wanted to, but the other part was screaming with fear.

Jungkook leaned in gently, closing the tiny distance between them. Their noses almost brushed against each other and Taehyung felt his heart miss a beat. He closed his eyes, unable to bear the intensity of the moment.

But just before their lips touched, Taehyung shifted abruptly, breaking the moment. He turned his head, his eyes still closed, his face marked by a sadness he couldn't hide.

"No, Jungkook... I can't." he whispered, his voice breaking.

The Cajun remained motionless, bewildered. His arm was still around Taehyung, but the latter now seemed a thousand miles away. He swallowed, trying to understand.

"Why?" he asked softly, almost pleadingly. "You're not going to make me believe that you don't want it, too..."

Taehyung shook his head, refusing to meet his gaze.

"It's not that simple." he murmured.

His trembling hand came to rest on Jungkook's arm, which he gently tried to push away.

"If... if we kiss, you know what'll happen. I'll absorb your energy, see your memories..." He paused, his voice trembling under the weight of the emotions he was trying to contain. "We know exactly how it ended the last time."

Jungkook didn't move, his gaze fixed on the young man's panicked face. He knew what it meant, what it cost. But it didn't matter to him.

"Taehyung, I've got nothing to hide... Get inside my head, I'll give you all my memories, if in exchange I can finally be with you..."

But Taehyung shook his head again, his shoulders trembling slightly.

"You don't understand." he said, his voice almost a sob. "I'm too scared. That kiss a year ago... it traumatised me. I haven't touched anyone since, Jungkook. Not even on a mission."

He looked up at the Cajun, his eyes already wet with tears.

"It's already separated us once. I couldn't bear it for a second..." he sighed.

Jungkook gently tightened his embrace, trying to soothe him.

"Chéri..." he murmured, but he didn't have the words. How could he prove to him that nothing would change, that this time it would be the one?

Taehyung bowed his head, shattered by his own fears. Jungkook couldn't bear to see him suffer any more, so he moved closer again, holding the young man against him, and placed a brief kiss on his hair, making sure not to touch his skin. And strangely enough, Taehyung felt soothed by this gesture.

"Then I'll wait. I'll wait until you're ready, Mon amour."

Taehyung's heart skipped a beat at this new nickname. Because he'd secretly studied a bit of French during the year he'd been away. As if he'd been secretly hoping for the return of the Cajun. Mon amour. My love. His cheeks flushed red and he snuggled down a little more against Jungkook's chest.

A long silence filled the air, interrupted only by the rapid, disordered beating of their hearts. Taehyung reluctantly stepped back, breaking the comforting closeness with Jungkook. He quickly wiped away the tears that threatened to fall, hoping not to appear too vulnerable.

Jungkook, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, gave him a questioning look before their attention was simultaneously caught by voices from below. The two men exchanged a furtive glance and, without a word, turned their gaze to what was happening below.

The voices were louder than before, so they finally understood what was being said. Lying flat on their stomachs to avoid being caught, they watched silently.

A group of around fifty men were standing there. Through the gaps in the roof, Taehyung and Jungkook could make out several faces, tense silhouettes and gestures charged with tension. An argument seemed to be breaking out.

"This is ridiculous!" shouted a man with a shaved head and a growling voice. "Why should we follow you, Alexandre? There's no proof that you have what it takes to run the guild! And the boss didn't even appoint you himself!"

"And you, Baldric, what have you achieved apart from sowing discord?" replied the aforementioned Alexandre curtly, a tall, charismatic man dressed in black.

His eyes shone menacingly as he stood at the centre of the assembly. Taehyung felt a palpable tension emanating from this man. He gave off a dangerous, magnetic aura that made the young man shiver.

"Listen to me carefully." Alexandre continued, his voice calmer but no less incisive. "There are no direct heirs left, whether we like it or not. And our late leader wouldn't have wanted us to let the guild die, just because we couldn't agree on something so trivial!"

A murmur of both approval and scepticism went through the group. Apparently, they still weren't able to agree.

"You're forgetting one thing." objected one man, his arms folded across his chest. "The Walker. He doesn't care about our quarrels or your ambitions. If he doesn't recognise you, Alexandre, you'll have nothing at all."

Alexandre, visibly annoyed, turned to him, a cold smile on his lips.

"The Walker will recognise me. When the moon is full, all your suspicions will vanish."

Alexandre's words were threatening, but he didn't raise his voice. This cold assurance sent a chill down Taehyung's spine, and he instinctively moved closer to Jungkook. The two exchanged glances.

"We got what we wanted..." murmured the Cajun. "The ceremony will take place during the next full moon... We'd better get moving, before they spot us."

Taehyung nodded. The wind blew harder, as if to remind them that their hiding place was precarious. They stepped back as discreetly as possible, and silently left the roof, disappearing into the darkness of the night.

~🌻~

They're slowly coming back together🥰