Celestial Encounters : A BTS One Shot Series

40 - V

Clingy Comfort

Ever since they returned from their latest world tour, Jin had noticed a subtle shift in Taehyung's behavior. It wasn't anything drastic at first, just small changes that seemed to hint at a deeper underlying emotion. But as the days turned into weeks, Jin couldn't ignore the growing sense of unease that gnawed at him whenever he saw Taehyung hovering nearby, always seeking out his company with an almost desperate intensity.

At first, Jin dismissed it as Taehyung simply being more affectionate than usual. After all, they were all exhausted from months of non-stop touring, and it was natural for emotions to run high when they finally returned home to rest. But as the weeks went by and Taehyung's clinginess showed no signs of waning, Jin couldn't help but wonder if there was something more going on beneath the surface.

It started with little things, like Taehyung always wanting to sit next to Jin during meals or insisting on sharing a room during their travels. Then, it progressed to more physical displays of affection, like Taehyung constantly leaning against Jin's side whenever they walked together or draping himself over Jin's shoulders whenever they watched TV.

At first, Jin didn't mind. In fact, he found Taehyung's clinginess rather endearing. After all, Taehyung had always been one of the more independent members of BTS, so seeing him seek out comfort and closeness was a welcomed change. But as Taehyung's clinginess became increasingly pronounced, Jin couldn't help but feel a mix of confusion, flustered, and concern.

"Hyung, are you okay?" Jungkook asked one day, breaking Jin out of his thoughts as they sat in the practice room.

Jin blinked, realizing that he had been staring off into space for the past few minutes. "Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm fine. Just... thinking."

Jungkook raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. "Is this about Tae? Because he's been acting kinda weird lately."

Jin sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, I've noticed. I'm not sure what's going on with him. He's been so clingy lately, and I don't know how to handle it."

Jungkook shrugged. "Maybe he's just going through a rough patch. You know how sensitive he can be sometimes."

Jin nodded, but his worry only deepened. He hated seeing Taehyung struggling, especially when he didn't know how to help. But no matter how many times he tried to talk to Taehyung about it, the younger man always brushed off his concerns with a smile, claiming that he just felt more comfortable being close to Jin lately.

The other members of BTS couldn't help but notice the change in Taehyung's behavior too. They found it amusing to see their usually confident and independent friend suddenly turning into a clingy koala whenever Jin was around.

"Looks like Tae's got a new favorite hyung," Jimin teased one day, earning a playful shove from Taehyung.

But despite the teasing from his bandmates, Jin couldn't shake off the nagging feeling of unease that lingered in the back of his mind. There was something about Taehyung's clinginess that didn't sit right with him, something that made him worry that there was more to it than just a passing phase.

One evening, as they were all gathered in their dorm, Taehyung once again gravitated towards Jin, snuggling up to him on the couch as they watched a movie.

"Are you sure you're okay, Tae?" Jin asked softly, unable to ignore the concern that gnawed at him.

Taehyung looked up at him with a small smile. "I'm fine, hyung. I just... I don't know, I guess I've been feeling a bit anxious lately. But being close to you helps me feel better."

Jin's heart clenched at Taehyung's words, his worry for his friend growing stronger with each passing moment. "You know you can always talk to me, right? I'm here for you, no matter what."

Taehyung nodded, leaning into Jin's embrace with a content sigh. And in that moment, Jin realized that maybe Taehyung's clinginess wasn't such a bad thing after all. If it helped him feel safe and loved, then Jin was more than happy to oblige.

But even as he held Taehyung close, Jin couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to Taehyung's anxiety than he was letting on. And as the days turned into weeks and Taehyung's clinginess showed no signs of abating, Jin made a silent vow to himself to do whatever it took to help his friend through whatever was troubling him, no matter what it took.

_______

As the days passed, Jin found himself becoming increasingly preoccupied with Taehyung's well-being. He spent countless hours wracking his brain, trying to figure out what could be causing Taehyung's anxiety and how he could help alleviate it.

Meanwhile, Taehyung's clinginess only seemed to intensify, leaving Jin feeling simultaneously touched by his friend's dependence and frustrated by his own inability to fix whatever was wrong.

One evening, as they were all gathered in the living room, Taehyung once again glued himself to Jin's side, his head resting against Jin's shoulder as they watched a movie. Jin could feel the tension radiating off Taehyung in waves, and he knew that he couldn't ignore it any longer.

"Hey, Tae," Jin said softly, turning to look at his friend. "Can we talk for a minute?"

Taehyung looked up at him, his eyes wide with surprise. "Sure, hyung. What's up?"

Jin took a deep breath, steeling himself for the conversation that he knew they needed to have. "I've noticed that you've been feeling anxious lately, and I just wanted to check in and see if everything's okay."

Taehyung's eyes widened in surprise, and for a moment, Jin feared that he had overstepped. But then Taehyung's expression softened, and he let out a sigh, as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

"I... I guess I haven't been doing a very good job of hiding it, huh?" Taehyung said sheepishly.

Jin shook his head, reaching out to gently squeeze Taehyung's hand. "You don't have to hide anything from me, Tae. We're all here for you, no matter what."

Taehyung's smile wavered, and Jin could see the tears glistening in his eyes. "I know, hyung. It's just... everything feels so overwhelming sometimes, you know? And I don't know how to deal with it."

Jin's heart ached at the sight of Taehyung's vulnerability, and he pulled him into a tight hug, letting him bury his face in his shoulder as he cried.

"You don't have to deal with it alone, Tae," Jin murmured, rubbing circles on Taehyung's back. "We're a team, remember? We'll get through this together."

And for the first time in weeks, Taehyung allowed himself to truly lean on Jin, to let go of the walls he had built up around himself and accept the comfort and support that his friend offered.

From that day on, Jin made it his mission to help Taehyung through his anxiety, whether it was by lending a listening ear, offering words of encouragement, or simply being there to hold him when the world felt like too much to bear.

And as Taehyung's anxiety gradually began to ease, Jin couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and satisfaction knowing that he had been able to make a difference in his friend's life.

As they sat together in the quiet of their dorm, surrounded by the warmth and love of their fellow members, Jin knew that no matter what challenges they faced in the future, as long as they had each other, they would always find a way to overcome them.