Any first time readers?

Any returning readers?

Alsooo, 20 votes & 50 comments (not spam) by Friday for an early update! End of day Friday in EST, not Friday morning, lol.

This chapter's dedication goes to the lovely sd_jr264, who has always been so supportive of everything I do. I can't thank you enough for being in my life!

This is the intro chapter just to set the premise, but if I can ask one thing, please stick around to read chap 2. It's Jimin's POV and... dude, I had SO much fun writing Jimin's POV. I hope you guys have fun with it, too.

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Jungkook

"Still trying to catch me, Jeon?"

There it was—that grating, pitchy, and stupidly charismatic voice. The voice Jungkook heard in dreams and nightmares. The voice he swore he'd make beg for mercy one day.

The voice of the Alley Cat himself.

Jungkook stood there, hands covered by black leather gloves on his hips, the moonlight slipping through the tops of the brick buildings in front of him and painting the Alley Cat in a silver glow. Wind breathed into the scene, blowing the Alley Cat's long, dark hair back to reveal his narrowed hickory eyes plopped on a perfect, smooth tan face. He chewed gum and blew bubbles like it was going out of style.

Criminal, narcissist, asshole—Park Jimin. The man Officer Jeon Jungkook had hunted for two years.

"My, my, you dolled up for me, Officer?" Jimin asked with a baby-like tone, batting his eyelashes. He moved like a cat, too. Grace dominated his movements as he came closer, his golden necklace with sparkling diamonds highlighting every chain bouncing on his chest.

Jungkook furrowed his brows and rubbed his sleeves. He wore a police jacket with navy blue fabric and the letters NYPD sewn into the back in golden font. Like Jimin, his body jingled thanks to his car keys, handcuffs, and various tools, such as pepper spray and his Glock, attached to his utility belt. Typical police wear. The same attire he had worn every day.

Yes, every day. Sleep and days off were luxuries of the past for Jungkook.

All Jungkook wanted was a quick bite at Bibble & Sip, his favorite bakery and cafe, before they closed. A local cafe next to a Dunkin'—a brand he also liked, but he preferred Bibble & Sip. If not for the delicious cakes then for the hilarity in how a cafe was right next to another cafe (New Yorkers loved their Dunkin').

However, the devil, Park Jimin, had other plans for Mr. Jeon. Jungkook had finished his quick bite and stepped outside for all of two seconds before the Alley Cat smirked and made his presence known. All in broad... well, moonlight. In front of others. Not many others, seeing as it was just past 8 p.m., meaning Bibble & Sip was closed, but New York City was New York City.

The ads didn't lie: it really was the city that never slept.

There were cars honking every other second, beggars under the random scaffolding in front of various buildings using race and sexuality to guilt trip the wide-eyed tourists that hadn't mastered the New York walk yet into buying their mixtapes, and occasional music from passersby playing their Spotify too high or cars not bothering to roll up their windows.

Jungkook didn't flinch or show any emotion, no matter how much Jimin swayed that thin waist of his and let his dress pants hug his strong thighs. That blazer hugged him well, too, covering his arms but staying open to show the white collared shirt underneath. He had black eyeshadow and eyeliner on to bring out those dark brown irises more.

"You want me to arrest you right here?" Jungkook asked, keeping his voice as steady as he could.

"On what charge? Me enjoying a walk? It's a nice October night, don't you think?" Jimin, as if to taunt Jungkook, stopped a mere two feet away. His plump lips parted to show a chipped, jagged front tooth. Otherwise, his teeth were straight, like the rest of his appearance.

Jungkook ignored Jimin's words. "I know you're behind this."

"This" could apply to countless crimes. Grand theft autos. Extortions. Drug trade. Armed robbery. And, most notably, hate speech. Jimin had a few past "incidents" regarding that.

And by "a few," Jungkook meant 256.

256 and a half, if he wanted to be specific.

Jimin was the top of Jungkook's suspect list. Some crimes had patterns. Every witness described the same person: male, dark hair, a black cat eye mask covering brown eyes, dressed like he was going to a fancy event, spoke like a stripper, Asian—likely Korean—and around 5'8, maybe 5'9.

Jimin had all of those traits.

It started when Jungkook had ran into Jimin a year and a half ago, about six months into his investigation. Ran into him at Bibble & Sip, no less. There was something about Jimin's smirk and the glint in his idiotic eyes that had Jungkook draining every last resource he had to prove his gut feeling was right: Jimin was the Alley Cat witnesses had described.

"Pffft." Jimin draped his arm around Jungkook's shoulders and beamed. "You're not a big talker, are ya? I asked you a question, and instead of answering, you go back into blabbering about how I'm some criminal mastermind and yadda yadda. How many times we gon' do this, Jeon?"

"How many times are you going to wait for me outside Bibble & Sip?"

Jimin made it an almost daily occurrence.

"As many times it takes to see that pretty face all flustered."

Jimin booped Jungkook's nose, sauntered a few steps back, and popped his gum. It smelled like strawberry, contrasting the... well, to be frank, shit smell of the City. Sewage was the primary smell. If you strained your nose, you could whiff some hot dogs from the vendors down the street. But no. Mostly sewage, weed, body odor, and bad breath.

"What..." Jungkook trailed off, groaned, and rubbed his nose. It felt rough. Maybe that was from the numerous times he had rubbed said nose. "Jimin, I don't have time for this. Just tell me why you're here."

And cue the same answer Jimin always gave: "Wanted to see my favorite officer. That cool with you, Kookster?"

Yeah, Kookster. A nickname Jungkook thought was hilarious.

Sarcasm... obviously.

"Don't call me that."

Jimin tapped Jungkook's shoulder, keeping that dumb grin. "Okay. How about Kookie? Kook? Jungster? Officer Bunny?"

Jungkook swatted Jimin's touch away. Maybe a beat later than he should have.

"No, no, no, and definitely no. I'm on the clock. If you don't have a complaint to file or anything to report, please let me get back to work," Jungkook said, swallowing the extra saliva in his throat after he said it. He forced his gloved hands behind his back to hide the twitches that came.

"Ah, you're a buzzkill. I think Jungcock is the better nickname for you. Describes your personality more."

It wasn't like Jungkook had a choice when he had first met Jimin: Jimin had asked for his name and badge number, and Jungkook had to oblige. He had never asked for Jimin's name; Jimin had given it anyway.

Jungkook wouldn't be surprised if Jimin carried around fake business cards just to announce his name like a TV host.

"That's enough." Jungkook raised his tone by the tiniest amount, and it had him cursing at himself in his mind. He prayed to the God he didn't believe in that Jimin wouldn't notice, but Jimin's squeaky chuckle and narrowing eyes told him his prayers hadn't worked.

"Awwwh, I think I touched a nerve." Jimin giggled and skipped a few beats away, his Chelsea boots click clacking on the cracked concrete sidewalk. "I just wanted to visit you, but if you're gonna be this boring, I'll come back tomorrow." Jimin waved. "Toodles."

"No, get back here. I'm not done with you yet."

Jungkook sucked in a painful breath and grabbed Jimin's small wrist to yank him back. It took every ounce of restraint not to slap cuffs on the Alley Cat, but Jungkook knew Jimin was right: there was no probable cause. No undeniable proof Jimin was behind a series of crimes, especially in New York, where crime was its primary culture.

"Woah, you're a forward young man, aren't you?" Jimin winked and ripped his wrist away. "What ever do you want to discuss, Officer?"

"I want you to know I will bring you to justice," Jungkook said, his shoulders set and his hands falling back by his sides. His left hand's fingers traced the edge of his dangling handcuffs. "I know it's you. I'll do whatever it takes."

And that was the truth. Nothing mattered more than justice. New York City was broken enough; if Jungkook could bring one frequent criminal to justice, it was worth the sleepless nights and headaches as common as car honks. Jimin's appearance matched witness descriptions. Jimin teased Jungkook constantly, and it was like a cat and mouse game Jungkook wanted no part in, yet there he was, watching Jimin sway his slim waist, bat his eyelashes again, and come way too close for comfort.

Jimin skimmed his plump lips by Jungkook's ear, his warm breath fogging up Jungkook's hot skin. Jungkook stiffened, his ears ringing despite the lack of loud or odd noises (aside from the honks, of course). Every atom inside him froze, and Jimin chuckled, his hand against Jungkook's chest, toying with the zipper of the jacket, before he let out a low whisper.

"Well, Jeon... catch me if you can."

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Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed the first chapter!

If we reach 20 votes and 50 comments (not spam) by Friday (EOD in EST), then I will release the next chapter early!

P.S. The cover is temporary... I honestly completely forgot about it until I realized it's October 13th, so I just threw something together 💀💀

P.S.S.: That problem was solved very quickly. Thank you NotEvenEstella for making a cover without me even having to ask 😭😭😭