The Star's Wish

Chapter Eleven : Baby Steps

When they arrived, no one was there. Jungkook looked around, confused, poking his head behind the furniture to see if anyone was hiding, but no one was. He turned back to Minkyung, but the nurse was already leaving, eyes on his watch.

Jungkook was alone.

He sat down on the couch, kicking at his bag and staring at the clock on the far wall. He and Minkyung had arrived late. Why wasn't anyone else there? Had they all gone somewhere else without him?

He ran a hand along his jawline where Taehyung had touched him, biting his lip. Could the man really wait for him? He was a prince. Jungkook didn't even know who his family was. He'd been sold too early to remember their faces, grown up groomed to be the perfect boyfriend to whoever bought him for the day, the week, the month. He wasn't even sure who he was supposed to be, much less who he was. Would Taehyung be able to accept that? Would he understand how many people Jungkook had smiled, laughed, and chatted for?

Jungkook sighed and let his head drop over the back of the couch. It was taking all his self control to stay where he was and not run out that door, after Minkyung. When the door opened, he tensed, then turned away.

It was Taehyung. Alone.

"Oh? I thought I was the only one late," Taehyung said, sounding genuinely surprised. "Sorry, Kookie. You must've been waiting for awhile."

Jungkook grunted, flinching as Taehyung sat next to him on the couch.

"Seokjin confronted me about something last night," Taehyung said.

Jungkook didn't answer.

"He asked me if I'd ever actually talked to you about this," Taehyung sighed, holding out his arm. Jungkook looked down and saw that his soulmate's star had also gone dark. When he looked back up, Taehyung was watching him, a new note of caution in his eyes.

"I think we both know what happened," Taehyung said softly. "And I want you to know that I'm not trying to push you into anything. You've lived through hell. I'm not going to make you do all that again unless you're completely sure."

Jungkook took a deep breath and looked down, pulling up his sleeve to reveal his star. Their arms brushed, and he shivered as the star vibrated gently against his skin. Taehyung let out a soft breath, then held out his arm, smiling at Jungkook.

"Go ahead."

Jungkook blinked at him in confusion, then realized what he was doing. Taehyung was inviting him to touch his star directly, initiating the deepest level of contact possible between two soulmates. Jungkook swallowed, then shook his head. He couldn't. He couldn't do that kind of thing. Taehyung chuckled, then took Jungkook's hand, pressing it over his star and leaning closer.

"It's okay," he said. "I trust you, Jungkook."

Jungkook stared at him, mouth half open. Taehyung's star was warm under his fingers, pulsing every so often. At first, he tensed, expecting Taehyung to attempt to touch his star, but Taehyung made no move to do so. When he finally let Jungkook let go, he looked satisfied with himself.

"That's your first step," he said.

And Jungkook felt himself relax.