Autumn had settled over New York, painting the city in shades of amber and crimson. The crisp air carried a chill that hinted at the approaching winter. The season had always brought a sense of melancholy for Y/N, and this year was no different. She had fallen ill once again, a predictable bout of allergic sickness that left her feeling drained. Despite this, she pushed through her days, determined to keep up with her responsibilities.

Yoongi, on the other hand, found himself worn out from his relentless schedule of back-to-back cases and lectures. He had been pushing himself to the limit, barely taking a moment to breathe. The need for a break gnawed at him, but he kept moving, driven by a desire to distract himself from the turmoil within.

A week passed, and Y/N finally started to feel better. She decided it was time for a change, a moment of respite. She reached out to Yoongi, inviting him over for dinner. She wanted to catch up, to share stories and find some semblance of normalcy amidst the chaos of their lives.

That evening, Yoongi arrived at Y/N's apartment, the warmth of the interior a stark contrast to the cool autumn air outside. Y/N greeted him with a smile, the lingering traces of her illness evident but her spirit undeterred. They settled in, the aroma of home-cooked food filling the space as they prepared to dine.

As they ate, they talked about everything and nothing, sharing snippets of their lives and the moments that had passed since they last met. The atmosphere was calm, the conversation easy, but there was an undercurrent of unspoken pain that both of them felt.

As the night wore on, the temperature outside dropped, the cold seeping into the room despite their efforts to keep it at bay. Y/N's composure began to crack, the memories of her hurtful past resurfacing with a vengeance. Her eyes welled up with tears, and she could no longer hold back the flood of emotions.

Seeing her break down, Yoongi felt a familiar ache in his chest. He reached out, his hand gentle on her shoulder. "Y/N," he whispered, his voice filled with concern. "It's okay. Let it out."

Her tears flowed freely, the dam of her emotions bursting open. "It's just... everything," she sobbed. "Everything that happened, it keeps coming back. I can't escape it."

Yoongi's heart ached at her words. He had been struggling too, fighting his own battles in silence. Seeing her in such pain made him realize how much they needed each other. He pulled her into a hug, his arms wrapping around her protectively.

"It's not just you," he murmured, his voice trembling. "I've been hurting too. All the memories, the betrayals... it's been tearing me apart."

They clung to each other, their tears mingling as they found solace in their shared pain. The room was filled with their quiet sobs, the weight of their pasts pressing down on them. But in that moment, they found comfort in each other's embrace, a reminder that they weren't alone.

"I'm sorry," Y/N whispered, her voice barely audible. "I'm sorry for everything."

Yoongi shook his head, tightening his grip on her. "There's nothing to apologize for. We've both been through so much. But we can get through this together."

"No, it's not," she said, still crying and holding his arms. "It's all my fault. If I hadn't been in your life, this all wouldn't have happened." Her head lowered, avoiding his gaze. "You would have been peacefully living your life, but I came as a storm and took it all away. Please forgive me, Yoongi." She finally looked into his eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Yoongi's heart broke at her words. He gently cupped her face, wiping away her tears with his thumbs. "Y/N, look at me," he said softly. "This is not your fault. What has to happen will happen, regardless. You didn't cause this. You didn't bring this pain. We're in this together, and we'll get through it together."

He pulled her closer, holding her tightly as she cried into his shoulder. "I need you to believe that," he whispered. "You are not a storm that destroyed my life. You're the calm that I need, the light that guides me. Please, don't blame yourself."

They stayed like that for a long time, their hearts beating in sync as they found comfort and strength in each other's embrace. The room, once filled with their shared sorrow, began to feel lighter, the weight of their burdens eased by their connection.

As the first light of dawn began to filter through the windows, they finally pulled away, their eyes red and puffy but their spirits a little lighter. They had found a moment of peace, a brief respite from the storm that had been their lives.

"Thank you," Y/N said softly, her voice filled with gratitude.

Yoongi nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Always."

And as they sat there, the first rays of the morning sun casting a warm glow over them, they knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, they would face them together, finding strength in each other and the promise of a new beginning.