Bam! Early update, as promised. It isn't even Friday yet, but the story has over 100 votes and close to 500 comments, so it's safe to say an early update is well-deserved. I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Today's dedication goes to, of course, cj_parkjennykim. CJ's always in my comments. Thank you for always being here, CJ, and I hope you enjoy this chapter since Jungkook is very Jungkook here.

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Jungkook

Police work sucked.

Jungkook sat at his desk in the basement of one of many NYC police compounds, the gray walls and yellow lighting somehow making everything look sticky. His white desk lamp and bright computer screen glowing blue and gold (the NYPD basic wallpaper) didn't help contrast the drab room.

Keyboards clacking and shoes tapping the concrete floor made up the soundscape of the office. Jungkook was too high of a rank to be with them, but all the lesser-known files were in the basement. That meant Jungkook had booked a computer down there for the week to research the mysterious (and annoying) Park Jimin.

Crimes in New York City were hard to find connections between. So many crimes occurred, finding common threads was like a needle in a haystack, as cliche as that was. Though Jungkook had witness statements. Grand theft auto. Last year, September of 2024. A Korean man with a cat face mask, fancy suit, and squeaky voice was the perp.

January 2025. Noise complaints. Hate speech. Perp: Korean man with a cat face mask, fancy suit, and squeaky voice.

February 2025. Public indecency. Perp: Korean man with a cat face mask... and that was all he had on.

March 2025. Mass shoplifting of more than one grand. Perp: Korean man with a cat face mask, fancy suit, and squeaky voice.

All signs pointed to Park Jimin, but there were never any fingerprints or identifying substances left behind. The security camera footage showed a man who looked like Jimin, but at the same time, the perp sometimes had blonde hair, or pink, or brown, or even red. The Alley Cat changed his hair all the time. Jimin's hair was black for the time being, but no footage of the perp with black hair had been found.

Yet.

That was why Jungkook was in the basement.

"Whatcha looking at, Officer Jeon?" Officer Jung Hoseok asked from across the way, and Jungkook didn't bother glancing up from his computer.

"All known files of Park Jimin."

"Jesus, you still think it's that dude?" Hoseok's voice was always high and cheerful, as if every syllable did a cartwheel on his tongue before flipping out his heart-shaped mouth. He never bothered wearing his jacket despite the cold of New York, and his uniform had a missing button.

A button that had been missing for a year.

"Who else do you have in mind?" Jungkook kept his tone even, same with his eyes. They scanned over all known images of Park Jimin. Nothing incriminating or of note. Jimin at a party with the elite of NYC. Dancing at a strip club—no, not as a stripper, but he... well, he took over the role and pushed the real dancer off stage so he could shake his ass.

That was what the article said: Local Baker Steals Show... Literally.

"Baker," Jungkook muttered to himself, and Hoseok hummed.

"Yep, I've done some digging, too. Park Jimin, popular local baker. A damn good one."

Jungkook shot his gaze up, observing Hoseok's thin-framed, clear glasses that were low on his flat nose, showing off his dark brown irises and squishy yet somehow sharp cheekbones. He had fluffy, wavy brown hair parted down the middle and curtaining his tan face.

"Have you tried his bakery?"

Hoseok gave Jungkook a sheepish smile and scratched the back of his neck with his lanky fingers. "Well..."

"Seriously? He's the enemy."

"But his brownies," Hoseok said in a whine, and Jungkook went back to ignoring him to focus on work.

None of the other officers commented. There were a dozen down there. Jungkook knew half of them. The other half were old and cranky. Then again, Jungkook considered himself young and cranky, so perhaps he shouldn't judge.

Based on the intel Jungkook clicked through, Jimin enjoyed parties, alcohol, and dancing. He hated spinach, mangoes, and heights. Though that was what he observed from pictures and some videos. Videos showing Jimin refusing to get on elevators, grimacing at the sight of anything green, and complaining about how humans can like mangos.

Jungkook liked mangos.

Jungkook sighed and sank back in his seat. Turned out Jimin had a social media following, hence why Jungkook found videos and not just general pictures the department kept. The department liked to store information about the different big social events in New York City. Jimin happened to be at many of said events.

On social media, though, Jungkook found more. Jimin had half a million followers on TikTok. Most of which were horny teenage girls asking him to bake them next.

"Oh, I got something," Hoseok said, dragging Jungkook out of his thoughts.

Jungkook sat up, straightening his shoulders and clearing his throat, hoping none of his co-workers observed his slacking state a minute prior. He turned his attention to Hoseok, who hadn't bothered to fix his glasses, even as the bright blue of his computer screen illuminated his sharp face.

"New York Times interviewed him a few years ago. Might want to take a look. I'll email the link."

Hoseok did just that, so Jungkook investigated and discovered Jimin had been from Busan. That was where Jungkook's family was from. He had been born and raised in New York, but he had visited Busan a few times in the past decade.

"What were you thinking?" Jungkook asked as he skimmed the article. "What'd you find interesting about this?"

"The picture at the top."

Jungkook scrolled back up and saw the face of Park Jimin. A wide smile that crinkled his eyes, fluffy hair, and cheeks that glowed even in a photograph. Though that was far from the most interesting part of the picture.

Jimin held a cat. A black one.

"Doesn't your Alley Cat model himself after black cats?" Hoseok asked, and Jungkook stroked his chin and hummed.

"Yeah, but plenty of people have black cats."

"Well..." Hoseok turned his screen toward Jungkook. "Says here his cat passed away a few years ago. Not long before the Alley Cat first appeared."

"Oh." Jungkook squinted and read the text on Hoseok's screen. It was an obituary. Jimin had bought out a newspaper section to pay respects to his fallen cat named Marbles. "Okay, that's something more substantial."

"Keep reading."

Although confused, Jungkook did as he was instructed and siphoned through the information until he found it: Jimin had found Marbles in an alleyway and took her in. Alleyway. Alley Cat. Black cat. Black cat mask.

Well, shit. Maybe they had something after all.

"It's nothing definitive, but it's a good lead." Jungkook zipped up his jacket and stood, though he slowed his movements and locked eyes with Hoseok's bubbly self. "Why are you helping me? I thought you said it was delusional."

Hoseok shrugged and shifted on his spinning chair. "You're one of the best in the department. If you have a gut feeling, I'll trust it. Maybe delulu is the solulu."

"I hate how you worded that, but thank you." Jungkook double checked to make sure he had his handcuffs before he nodded. "Alright, I'm off. See you tomorrow?"

"See you tomorrow, Officer."

Jungkook exited the department and went to his usual Bibble & Sip. It was late, though most officers were used to working late. Jungkook more than anyone. He took day shift, yet he didn't end until past six, sometimes past seven, which cut it close with his favorite cafe closing at eight.

Jungkook was quick to get his usual black coffee and soup dumpling cake. He often got them for free, either from the cashier thanking him for his service and good tips, or from the occasional nice New Yorker who offered to pay for him. It was probably why he was able to afford going there all the time in the first place.

Jungkook ate in peace for a while until he noticed the one and only observing him from outside. Yes, the Alley Cat. Park Jimin. He stood there, sitting on one of the outdoor wooden benches and giving Jungkook a smirk. That man was always there, watching and waiting. That made Jungkook want to bring him to justice even more.

New York City was a hellhole. Crime occurred every day. How could anyone stand by and do nothing while others were suffering? Justice was a fragile concept. Everyone had a different view of it. But there was one thing Jungkook knew: those who broke the law to such an extent deserved to be off the streets. Jimin probably hadn't killed or "hurt" anyone (from a physical perspective, anyway), but he had taken goods from others. Someone's ride to work. Maybe a single mother struggling to get by. But even if he hadn't taken from someone struggling, it shouldn't matter. Everyone deserved their proper justice.

And, for Jimin, it was handcuffs.

Jungkook met Jimin's gaze and watched Jimin make weird faces at him. It lasted five minutes before Jimin got up and left. Less than a minute passed before Jungkook found himself standing, throwing away what remained of his coffee (the cake he had devoured), and rushing out of the shop.

Jimin walked down the sidewalk and into the crowd, but Jungkook could track him from hundreds of feet away. He had studied Jimin so much he recognized the back of his head from pictures. And that had Jungkook stepping off to do what he hadn't thought of doing before.

He followed Park Jimin.

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Dun dun dun... cliffhanger. But, don't worry, the next chapter is already written & edited, so it'll be out soon.

Thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed!

Remember to vote and comment cause it'll make me happy and you like seeing me happy (#gaslighting).