─────── • ❥ • ───────

Donghyuck threw his head back with exhaustion, inhaling deep breaths of the river's air as he strolled down the promenade towards the play school. It was nine in the morning, and after last night's ordeal, he hadn't managed to get to bed until two, and fell into a restless sleep as sometime around three.

The majority of people walking around seemed just as worn out as him, though obviously for different reasons. As he stood still at the lights, waiting to cross the road, his bleary eyes managed to settle on a tall figure leaning against a shop window on the other side.

His blonde hair billowed in tufts with the breeze, and his attention was buried in his phone as his fingers danced across the screen.

Hey, I know him, don't I? The brunette wondered, tilting his head as the lights turned green and everyone around him bustled to cross. He found his legs taking him to the male regardless of his good conscience which screamed 'be careful'.

He halted right in front of him, finally recognising him as the handsome guy from a couple of days prior.

"Hmmm," he tilted his head, capturing the other's attention, "Jaemin, right?"

Jaemin eyed him carefully, a small smile creeping across his face at the recognition. "Lee Donghyuck?"

"That's me. I knew I'd seen you before."

The taller pushed off the wall he was leaning against, sliding his phone into his pocket and providing his undivided attention. "What are you doing down here? This is a dodgy part of town."

"I'm part of Jupiter. Nothing dodgy goes on here that I'm unaware of," the older deadpanned, smirking shortly after and bringing a strand of his fluffy brown hair behind his ear. "Now I shall pose the same question to you. Why are you down here in gang territory? You'd know, since you were here before."

Jaemin shrugged nonchalantly, about to answer before the sirens of a group of police cars, followed by obnoxiously loud ambulances, started to ring down the streets. The vehicles soon whizzed past the pair, flashing their red and blue lights over them briefly before skidding down to the nearest alleyway.

"Hm," Hyuck brought his thumbnail to his lips, "I wonder what that could be....." He slowly started to stroll towards the commotion, brushing past curious pedestrians and getting closer and closer.

Tape reading 'do not pass this point' repeatedly was dragged across the entrance of the alley, blocking off the onlookers from the horrendous crime committed within.

It was a mutilated corpse.

The man, possibly in his early thirties, was lying in a pool of his own blood, the red substance that once leaked from every inch of his body was now dried and encrusted into his skin. His clothes were mangled, much like his deathly expression. The whole thing screamed 'warning', though Lee Donghyuck was no ordinary boy.

He scanned the scene over and over, finding more hints and clues the longer he looked. Eventually, the facial features of the victim clicked with him, setting off a few separate memories. "Fuck," he whispered, chewing his thumbnail harder, "He's one of my men....."

A firm chest pressed against his back, the owner towering over his smaller frame whilst staring over his head. "Oh dear. That's an ugly sight."

"How crude, Jaemin," Donghyuck muttered, blood beginning to boil at the realisation that this was a direct smack to his face. Whoever had done this had to have known well that Jupiter was possessive over members. Once you were in, there was no way out but death.

Nana had been the only soul to escape with his life.

"When did this occur?" Donghyuck hissed, snapping his fingers to get a policewoman's attention. The lady turned around from where she stood beyond the tape, cautiously walking towards them.

"Pardon?"

"This didn't happen over night. I'd say he's been here about two days," the younger stated, brushing his ankle against the dagger hidden in his sock for a sick sort of comfort. "Why is this only being found now?"

Jaemin held his shoulder, leaning against it irritatingly and arching his brows at the woman to push for answers also.

"Well," she frowned, "This is all classified information. First of all; we've only just arrived, second of all; you aren't in any position to ask questions."

The brunette dug his nails into his palms, savouring the pain since it steered him away from his urge to throttle her. "Check his left shoulder, Genius. You might find something interesting. A gang sign, perhaps?"

She took a step back, amazed by his ignorant and rude tone. Her hands shifted down to her taser as a warning. "What are you playing at-"

"Miss Choi, please calm down," another officer sighed, having shuffled over and gripped onto her shoulder. "This is Lee Donghyuck. We've spoken about him before."

Jaemin cleared his throat, shifting his gaze from the officers to the boy he was leaned against with interest. "Oh?"

Donghyuck glanced up at him with a knowing look, "Don't ask."

The blonde wriggled his eyebrows suggestively, "Are you famous? For real?"

The woman's expression fell to one of dread, waving her hands frantically now as she searched for words. "Lee Donghyuck? A-As in Hae-"

"Shhhhh," the mafia leader hissed, holding his index finger up with a slight scowl. "Are you an idiot, or just plain crazy?"

"S-Sorry...."

Jaemin kept his sights trained on the shorter, interest officially piqued and fingers gripping his shoulder a tad bit tighter. His suspicions had begun to run wild, and oh how he wanted to slam the male against a wall and interrogate him.

For a brief moment, as Donghyuck gently raised his head to give Jaemin a 'what are you doing?' look, an image of Mark appeared in his mind's eye. The raven haired ex-mafia leader wore a gorgeous smile once upon a time.....still keeping it the moment his blood ran cold.

A rush of nostalgia punched the blonde quite suddenly, leaving him to release his hold on the older and regain his composure.

Hyuck rolled his eyes, returning his attention to the officers. "Listen, that was one of Jupiter's men. Anyone who has two braincells to rub together knows that an attack on any Jupiter member is a direct threat to the group, and to the leader. Figure out the method of murder, perhaps reasons why, and who the fuck did it."

"Chill out," Jaemin hummed, "It's just one guy."

"One life," the older retorted, scaring the shit out of the police officers with a glare before pushing back out of the crowd that had accumulated. Jaemin fixed the pair with a doubtful shrug, pretending he hadn't a clue as to what was happening.

As though it wasn't his fault.

Donghyuck stormed down the pedestrian pathways, seething now that his morning had been ruined. Nobody had actually dared to confront him during his brief time of power, and perhaps now it was time for him to defend his title.

"Yo! Hyuck, wait!" The familiar voice of Jaemin called, causing the young leader to slow down a small bit and allow for him to catch up.

"What?"

"You look grumpy."

"Oh, why thank you!" The brunette hissed, halting in his place and facing the taller. "I feel complimented."

The blonde sighed, running his fingers through his dyed hair and cocking his head to the side quizzically. "Where are you headed?"

The older furrowed his brows, trained with skepticism since his life in Jupiter had begun. "Why? What's it to you, Mr. Mysterious?"

"I want to continue our game from last time," Jaemin winked, lower lip caught between his dazzling white teeth and jacket fluttering in the breeze. "I have questions."

"You're the one that bailed on me last time. Why so playful now?"

"I'm ready for you."

Donghyuck accidentally let real emotions come through to his exterior, his cheeks flooding with heat and hands balled into fists by his sides. "Ready for me?"

"Mmm. I can answer your questions in return for mine."

The shorter leaned his weight onto one leg, hip balancing his relaxed posture. "I suppose I can humour you for an hour later on."

Jaemin suppressed a twisted grin as his bubbly features smiled innocently. "Great. Same place as last time?"

"Same time?"

"Deal."

With that, the new arrival suddenly turned on his heels and confidently marched away. He was breathtaking, and quite obviously so. But Donghyuck didn't fall for charms or looks anymore, and it took a lot more than words and smiles to sway him in any sort of direction.

He was officially hardened like a grenade, and by god could he detonate at will.

─────── • ❥ • ───────