Annie

Days on trial: TERMINATED

Days since meeting Jungkook: 77

My hair was a mess, tumbled on top of my head, a pencil securing it in place. I was sat cross-legged on my desk chair, one of my knees raised so that I could lean over it in a slightly more comfortable position, fingers typing away furiously at my desk. I must have looked like a woman possessed, but in a way, I kind of was. 

Until I had purged my system of all the knowledge I had gathered on Cait&Co's colour corruption, I wouldn't be free of it - none of us would. 

I was in a daze, my fingers moving autonomously, desperately trying to permanently capture my thoughts before my overwhelmed mind expunged them.

"You'll burn yourself out, pretty baby," Jungkook whispered, pressing a kiss into my temple.  Moving around me, he picked up the empty coffee cups, neatening up my desk. 

"Thank you," I smiled appreciatively, having not realised how much of a difference a clear desk would make. 

The office was full, even with Jimin joining us for the evening, as we slaved away at the story.

Dark outside, we were all working overtime, and had been since the crack of dawn. Personally, I hadn't stopped since I'd arrived back from the clinic. Not even to celebrate the fact that Jungkook, Jeon 'Perpetually-Mono' Jungkook, was a Multi. My boyfriend was a Multi. God, the thought still had me giddy.

Namjoon was cross-referencing our data, making sure that our research was accurate, while Jin was transcribing witness accounts and source interviews. It was a team effort, and we were all getting this by-line, with Chloe as our editor. 

We all had the same set of documents open on our computers, working in tandem, pushing data back and forth until the puzzle pieces all started coming together. My source markers were being replaced with actual source quotes, while Namjoon added in relevant statistics to back up my claims.  Chloe overwatched it all, constantly proofing and correcting typos.

As Jin pasted in the final quote, his voice was barely a whisper. "I think we've done it. Annie, I think it's done."

Disbelief was on his pouty face, almost doubting it himself, only for Yoongi, who had been tentatively watching over his shoulder, to speak up. "He's right, Annie. It's done."

None of us spoke for a moment or two, but it felt like hours. Months had gone into this story, the longest that I'd ever spent on one. It had started as a simple column filler, just a little report on something that would be a footnote in a much larger story once the drugs had reached large-scale distribution, but it had turned into something so much more. 

Staring at my screen, I took it all in.

The report was exponentially longer than any of us had intended, having had too much to fit into one article. Instead, we'd collated everything, providing smaller articles that when all amassed together created a mammoth. Twelve pages of 12pt Times New Roman stared back at me, pretty venom that was surely going to sting when finally released into the world.

Cait&Co, Colour & Corruption: The Mono-business monopolising Monovision.

By Seong Annie
With Kim Namjoon & Kim Seokjin
Editor | Lee Chloe

Hovering over the 'submit for publication' button, I hesitated. All eyes were on me, and I could feel it. Exhaling deeply, I looked up quickly, eyes meeting Jungkooks.

Doe-like as always, a proud smile rested on his lips, as if to tell me to just do it. 

So I did.

My mouse clicked, and I pushed it away from me, reclining my back into my chair, eyes shut tight. Choked out a disbelieving laugh, I let myself revel in relief before taking in the sight around me. Our friends had erupted into cheers, hugging and congratulating one another, but Jungkook was all that I could see; wide smile and glossy eyes. We'd done it. We'd really fucking done it.

His beaming smile moved deliberately, just for me to see: I love you.

Oh god, how I loved him too.  

Head-office had been waiting for the story, and Chloe's landline phone emitted an ear-shattering cry to let us know that they'd received it.

"Busan Gazette, Chloe speaking," she radiated down the line, using her hand to indicate for us all to shush. "Uh-huh. Yep. Yes, of course."

We sat with bated breaths desperately trying to figure out what head office had to say.

"I'll pass along the message. Thank you so much. Have a great evening, thank you!"

She put the phone down, eyes firmly on the receiver until she removed her hand and looked around the room with a beam.

"We've got tomorrow's front page," she squealed, clapping her hands as she jumped up and down excitedly. "Front page of The National Gazette!"

"Fuck off," I gasped, as Jungkooks arms wrapped tightly around me, commotion taking hold of the room.

"You did it," he grinned against me, rocking our bodies.

"They're still reading over it, but should it all be okay, they'll be running all of the articles online by midnight. This shit is National, baby!" Chloe cheered, fist in the air, Jimin squeezing her tight.  "Get your coats, we're getting shitfaced on the company card."

The atmosphere was infectious, carefree and raucous, pure euphoria. As we bundled out of the office, locking it behind us, we set off in the direction of town. 

"Guys, I've just forgotten something, we'll meet you there!" I called to them, as I slowed myself and Jungkook down. There were mumbled shouts to let us know we'd been heard, with Yoongi oh-so-kindly telling us that he 'wasn't born yesterday' with a knowing smile, before he turned back to carry on walking.

Jungkook and I shook our heads, his grip tightening on my hand, interlocked fingers keeping us warm in the cool breeze of the night. Leading him towards the beach wall, where we'd spent so much time getting to know the intricacies of each others minds, neither of us spoke as we sat down. 

There was an overwhelming gravity to the air around us, like a weighted blanket keeping us safe and secure in the night.

The sea was black, reflecting the onyx sky with a strip of moonlight tumbling down across its tepid waves. Lapping at the shore, the sound felt like home in the same way that being in Jungkook's arms did.

Reaching into the pocket of his coat, he passed me a little red packet that rattled slightly. It didn't take long to realise what he had been keeping safe, and I couldn't help but laugh softly as I noticed the Skittles branding.

Holding one up for him to crack a guess at, he passed, of course, with flying colours. "Blue."

Catching it in his mouth like a dog as I tossed it towards him, he let his fingers pull out a skittle for me to guess at instead.

"Red," I smiled towards the little ruby candy. Knowing that I had the hand-eye coordination of a wooden spoon, he held it up to my lips for me to take.

"Yeah," he smirked, attributing it to me in as many ways as was humanely possible. "Yeah, you are."

"Fuck colours," I teased him, pressing my lips down into his as he leaned in for a kiss.

None of them mattered. Not a single one. As much as I adored his caramel skin, and he loved the blush of my cheeks, we both knew that we'd have adored each other just as much in Mono. 

"You know, I don't think I've ever heard you say it," Jungkook pandered, trying to coax sweet nothings from me.

"Never heard me say what?"

"That you're Annie Seong, and that you're a Multi," he shrugged playfully. "Always making me say it, but I never get it back."

"If I say it, will you quit whining?" I grinned, his pouty lips pursed softly on his jaw. Nodding eagerly, he looked adorable, but I rolled my eyes regardless.

Holding out my hand for him to shake, I let out a deep breath.

"My name is Rhianne Seong," I couldn't help but giggle. "And I'm a Multi."

The words floated into the air, dancing around Jungkook's frame, illuminating the galaxies in his eyes once more.

"Nice to meet you, Annie," he automatically used my nickname, despite the pompous nature of the hand shake we were engaging in. "My name's Jeon Jungkook, and I'm a Multi, too."

"Wanna keep being Multis together?" I proposed, knowing that there would only ever be one answer to that.

"How does forever sound?" He peppered my cheek in kisses, holding me in tight to his chest, protecting me from the sea air.

"Like a long time."

"Then it's perfect."

"Yeah, I think you're right."

The world could stop turning, and the sun could stop shining, but he'd always remain as he was in that moment; my beautiful blue boy.

Together with my red, we'd paint the skies lilac, until there was no more canvas left for us to stain. Dappled in gold, we'd be a work of art worthy of the Tate Modern.

But for now, I was quite content as we were.

Just Annie and Jungkook; a pair of irises, basking in the glory of an eternal golden love.

fin.

A/N: technically not the end because there's an epilogue coming tomorrow lmao x