Time is a mysterious thing. People think they have it all figured out. You know, broke it down to seconds, minutes and hours. Labeling it, measuring it, managing it.

If only they had the knowledge that Taehyung has. A person, who can claim to have even a teensy bit of control on time, knows very well that people have not uncovered one hundredth of its mysteries.

Time has always been a fickle thing. You think you have mastered the art of managing it. But the truth is.. none of us has. Not even Taehyung, who has the power to stop the time from flowing.

Taehyung comes from a family, where generations upon generations had the ability to control time. It's a gift that has been passed down from father to son - mother to daughter. Taehyung doesn't know whether there are any other distant relatives that have this power, but to his knowledge, his family is the only ones. Well, it's not like he goes out advertising about it, so there could be others.

With a snap from his fingers, Taehyung can pause the time from flowing. The entire world just freezes and the only person or the thing that can move, is him. And it stays paused until he decides to make it move again, with another snap of his fingers.

His great-grandfather used to tell him that this power had a purpose, and that his family had been blessed by Gods.

What a load of crap!

Sure, Taehyung can stop a glass from falling and breaking, or a drink from accidentally being spilled. He can even stop people from getting hurt, provided that he doesn't interfere with someone's life or death.

He can't save anymore from accidently dying. He's not God, thank you very much.

Taehyung keeps a very low profile though. People often tend to treat those who are different from them with mistrust and disdain. He doesn't want to be called a freak by others. There was one family member, a few generations back, who tried to take the ‘Hero approach’ to their power. Taehyung wasn't exactly sure but as the story goes, this person called himself ‘Mr Invisible’ or something, and helped his neighbors avoid small misfortunes.

He stopped time for extended periods, and looked for situations to fix as he called them, but eventually, he exhausted his physical and mental strength. He became distant from reality and started to pause the world for days at a time. Taehyung doesn't really know how that story ended but he knew enough to not even think about taking such a path.

From then onwards, people in Taehyung's family just minded their own business, occasionally stopping in when something happened in front of their eyes. They wouldn't go look for opportunities to use their powers. It was just a well kept family secret.

The only person who knows about it apart from his family, is Jungkook. His boyfriend of 4 years. How he got to know, is a funny story.

Jungkook was your average college student, working part time in the local cafe. Taehyung was a regular there, probably mainly due to the little crush he seemed to be harboring towards a bunny faced and doe eyes beauty.

Long story short, Jungkook was coming out from the kitchen, carrying a tray full of smoothies, when his foot caught on his own untied shoelace. He would have fallen face first onto the floor if not for Taehyung, who had his eyes on Jungkook as always and paused the time, well, in time.

Taehyung looked around carefully to see whether there was anyone looking this way, and found none. The place didn't have any security cameras so Taehyung's sudden disappearance and appearance within a 4 metre distance would not be recorded anywhere.

Taehyung quickly picked up the smoothie glasses from where they were frozen in mid air and placed them on the counter. Same with the tray, that was just beginning to leave Jungkook's hand.

He then stood next to Jungkook, slightly behind him and placed his arm around the younger's waist. It took a few seconds, pun fully intended, for Taehyung to get his heartbeat down to a normal speed and prepare for the impact.

It's not everyday you get to wrap your arm around your long time crush's waist. Give the guy and his heart a break!

When Taehyung snapped his fingers again, Jungkook's full weight came on to his arm while a half scream left the younger's mouth.

Taehyung could see that the other fully expected to kiss the floor, which was probably littered with smoothies and broken glass by then, and was shocked to be in the arms of a man. Especially a man who seemed to have just materialized next to him.

Jungkook let out another squeak, when he noticed the absence of the glasses and the tray on his hand. He was also hyper aware about the protective arm around his waist too.

Jungkook turned his head to look at Taehyung, his bambi eyes wide and beautiful. They stared deep into Taehyung's soul and he was a lost cause. Well, more than he already was.

"Hey." Taehyung said in a soft voice, while he gently pushed Jungkook to stand straight and retracted his arm. "Are you okay?"

"Y-yeah. I-" Jungkook quickly glanced around to see the glasses on the counter, Taehyung's chair at the corner table empty, and looked back at the man standing next to him. "H-how did you move so fast?"

That's when Taehyung realized his mistake. Even if no one else saw anything, Jungkook would know. He would see that things had moved while zero time passed. Not to mention the presence of Taehyung, who was not there when Jungkook opened the door.

"Uhh..." Taehyung tried to come up with a believable explanation, and failed miserably. "Please don't tell anyone."

Jungkook gave a hesitant nod, eyes still widened with confusion. After staring at each other for a few more seconds Taehyung gave a half smile, walked back to his table, and slipped into his chair without anyone noticing.

He saw Jungkook looking at him every 5 minutes and then looking away with a slight blush. In an unsaid agreement, Taehyung stayed in the cafe that day till the younger's shift was over.

They talked a lot on the way back back to Jungkook's dorm, and no, Taehyung didn't get an invite to come inside. Like a true gentleman, he bid his farewell at the main entrance of Jungkook's dorm building, with only a smile. He came back the next day though, and the one after that too. They exchanged numbers eventually, arranged study dates and then just dates without the studying part.

Jungkook didn't hesitate to say ‘Yes’ for even a second, when Taehyung asked him to be his boyfriend, even though the elder had paused about 5 times to give himself a pep-talk.

They had been boyfriends ever since, four years and counting. Jungkook found Taehyung's ability fascinating, but in all the right ways. He was innocent and playful, and had high morals in life. He never urged Taehyung to use his abilities in the wrong way.

 
 
 
________________________________
 
 
 
  

Taehyung was on his way to pick up Jungkook from after work. He should have been there about 10 minutes ago, actually, but got a bit late due to traffic. He was a little behind and on the opposite side of Jungkook's office, stuck in traffic, when he got a call from the latter.

"Hyung, where are you?" Jungkook's voice was radiating pure happiness, when Taehyung answered his call on the first ring itself.

The elder could almost picture the happy smile on his boyfriend's face.

"I'm about 5 minutes away, baby. Stuck in traffic."

"Where?"

Taehyung quickly glanced out of his passenger window. "In front of that boutique cafe you like."

"Oh." There was a pause for about two seconds. "I'll come there."

"No, baby, stay. I'll be there in 5 minutes."

"It's okay, hyung. It's quite a bit for the next U-turn and taking the shortcut through the flower shops avenue instead is much easier. It's totally- HYUNG!"

The phone fell from Taehyung's hand and his fingers instinctively snapped themselves. The panicked yell he heard from the other end of the phone call, combined with the loud vehicle screeching sound made Taehyung's world stop. Literally.

The world was frozen as Taehyung opened his door with a fumbling hand and got out of the car. And then he ran. He didn't bother closing the door or locking it, he just ran.

His heart felt as if it was about to jump out of his chest, and he was sure it had nothing to do with the sprinting he was doing.

It should have only taken a few minutes for him to reach where he wanted but it kinda felt like a lifetime to Taehyung. Either of it could be right, or maybe no time had passed at all, since it was literally frozen.

And there stood his baby, stopped mid stride on the pedestrian crossing. One hand on his ear, holding the phone. Other hand slightly raised in front of him, as if it could stop what was coming his way. His beautiful bambi eyes were widened with fear.

A deer caught in headlights.

Taehyung stopped and fell to his knees. He clutched his sides to soothe that burn and took deep breaths for his lungs to be filled with much needed oxygen. Taehyung knew that It'll pass soon. If only he could say the same about the paralyzing ache in his heart.

The truck that was coming, was only about 5 meters away from Jungkook. Two seconds, maximum.

With all the power Taehyung had over time, he was late.

He was too late to save the love of his life, his reason for existence. His world.

There was no way he could move Jungkook out of the harm's way. The one time he desperately wanted to use his powers, and he knew he wouldn't be able to do it.

His powers just wouldn't work in a life and death situation.

Taehyung sat on his heels for a long time. He was going through all the memories he had with Jungkook. From the first time they saw each other to today's morning, when he kissed him goodbye before going to work.

The way Jungkook's eyes shone with more stars than in the whole galaxy; the way his cute button nose squinted when he was concentrating on something; the way his voice sounded like an angel, everytime Taehyung heard him singing in the kitchen or in the shower.

And his touch. Oh my god, Taehyung could go on and on about how Jungkook's fingers felt against his body; how soft and pillowy his lips felt against Taehyung's own; how his heavy thigh always seemed to trap Taehyung on to the bed, with no means of escape. Not that Taehyung ever wanted to.

He would have been happy to be in that cage for all eternity.

After what felt like a few lifetimes, Taehyung got up on his feet. He walked towards Jungkook, to have that one final touch. One final kiss.

Don't get him wrong, Taehyung is a rational person. He was never one to take rash or reckless decisions. That's why it took him so long to think. To think about everything there is to think about. To weigh the pros and cons. To desperately try to see it there was another way. Anything.

But the bottom line was, Taehyung can not save Jungkook from dying today. And as crazy and impossible as it may sound, he can not live without him either. Can't. And won't.

When Taehyung stood in front of his love, his mind was clear. He watched Jungkook's scared face, demanding God to give that extra one second to them, so that Jungkook's last thought and expression on this world is a happy one.

The last thing Taehyung wanted them both to feel and remember, was each other's embrace. And each other's lips.

Taehyung stood in front of Jungkook, so that the oncoming vehicle was blocked from Jungkook's view. He could only see Taehyung's smiling face. It wouldn't have made a difference to the impact though. The truck was definitely coming at a sufficient speed to throw them both far into the air, no matter which one of them would get hit first. And by any chance the collision with the truck wasn't enough, hitting the ground would do the job.

With one last prayer to be with each other in their next life, Taehyung snapped his fingers, making the time flow again.

Even if they get to have only two seconds of that.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

Taehyung jolted awake. A loud gasp left his mouth as he was too distracted to stop it. He was struggling to breathe, as it felt like something was blocking his airways. His fingers desperately reached over the bed, trying to find that grounding force in his life. His anchor.

The man sleeping next to him stirred in his sleep. A sturdy hand, covered with tattoos, sneaked around Taehyung's waist and pulled him down onto a hard chest. The man's heartbeat was so soothing, and Taehyung felt himself slowly relaxing in his hold.

"Relax, Tae." The man's voice sounded rough due to his sleepy state. "I'm here. I'm fine."

Each and every word uttered by the man was able to reduce Taehyung's fear and calm his mind. Yes. The man he loves is safe in this lifetime.

The dreams, or the memories that hunt him from time to time, are from a different lifetime. It had nothing to do with the one they both are living now.

It only took one glance at Jungkook's face across the university lecture hall for Taehyung to remember his previous life. Or so Taehyung thinks so, the memories were too vivid and far too many for it to be Taehyung's imagination.

And if he needed any other proof, Jungkook’s curious and concentrated gaze was as good as any too. Jungkook didn't exactly get a flashback of a lifetime worth of memories at first glance, but he felt the connection in his heart as well.

Without even knowing each other's names, they knew they were meant to be together, and the rest was history. It was as if they just started their love story, from where they had left it earlier. Give or take a few decades.

And now, Taehyung is in the arms of his husband of 3 years. Their adopted son is sleeping peacefully in the next room, with their dog keeping him company. Things are exactly as they should be.

Time stopped for them. And then, it started to flow again.