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Vienna sat at her desk, twirling a pen between her fingers like she wanted to break something. The unopened file in front of her felt like a taunt, daring her to dive into another round of bureaucratic bullshit. Her phone rang, its tinny shrill breaking through the noise of the precinct. She let it ring.

If it's important, they'll call back. Or text. Or get hit by lightning.

Frankly, she was okay with any of those options.

Across the bullpen, Yoongi appeared, sauntering toward her leisurely, his jacket slung over one shoulder, tie loosened.

"Guess who just strutted out of here with that smug swagger of his?" He dropped into the chair opposite her, legs stretching out.

Vienna didn't take the bait. "I don't know, Yoongi. Elvis?"

Yoongi chuckled. "Jungkook."

Ugh, Jungkook and his stupidly symmetrical face...

She exhaled sharply, tossing the pen onto the desk. "Good riddance. Maybe now we can focus on the actual case instead of babysitting a smirking pain in the ass."

"Aw, come on, Vie," Yoongi teased, leaning back as if it were a lounge chair and not a creaky relic on the verge of collapse. "Don't pretend he didn't make your days a little more... colorful."

"Colorful?" Vienna shot back, her voice dry as sandpaper. "Yeah, like a rash."

Yoongi laughed, the sound low and conspiratorial, as if they were in on some private joke. "You're gonna miss him."

Miss him? I can barely tolerate him in the same room, let alone in my thoughts.

"I'd rather drink bleach." She gave him a flat stare, then started rifling through the papers on her desk with more force than necessary.

Whatever retort Yoongi had ready died on his lips as the precinct doors banged open. The heavy thud of polished soles against tile drew their attention, and Vienna looked up just in time to see Senator Kim Seokjin striding in like the room was lucky to have him.

"Is that...?" she started, eyebrows climbing.

"It is," Yoongi answered, watching as the bullpen seemed to part for the senator, his steps purposeful and unapologetic. "And look at that—straight to the Captain, like he's late for a tea party."

The senator's suit was impeccable, a subtle charcoal with just enough sheen to catch the overhead lights. He moved as if he were untouchable. The usual din of the bullpen thinned, curiosity pulling eyes his way.

"Joonie!" Seokjin's voice rang out, rich and warm.

Namjoon, bent over a map at one of the desks, straightened. Then, to Vienna's astonishment, he smiled—a genuine, wide grin that she hadn't seen since the precinct Christmas party three years ago.

"Jin!"

Vienna blinked. "Did he just... smile?"

Yoongi leaned forward, his disbelief mirroring hers. "Did the senator just call him Joonie?"

The two men clasped hands briefly before pulling each other into a quick hug. Then, without so much as a glance at the stunned bullpen, they disappeared into Namjoon's office.

"Since when does the Captain hug anyone?" Yoongi muttered, still staring after them.

Vienna shrugged. "Since apparently, he's best friends with the senator."

Yoongi raised a brow. "Did you know they knew each other?"

"Nope."

"Hey, Song." Asra's voice interjected their confusion. "Your murder victim's name was Michele Park, right?"

"Yeah, why?" Vienna's gaze flicked up to her.

"Take a look at this," Asra beckoned her over with a quick jerk of her head. "I was going through Rick Woods' ledger. Found something interesting."

"Rick Woods, the murdered PI?" Yoongi perked up, interest flickering behind his eyes. His body language shifted—subtle but sharp, like a cat hearing a mouse scurry in the underbrush.

Vienna stood, sliding her chair back with a squeak. Yoongi followed close behind her, tutting softly as they crowded around the desk. Asra turned the ledger toward them, revealing the scrawl of ink. There it was: Michele Park. $1500. Surveillance.

Vienna's breath caught in her chest.

No way!

Yoongi was already leaning over her shoulder, his voice low and tight. "Matches the ATM withdrawal Michele made a day before she disappeared. Same amount."

The connection hit her harder than she expected. She glanced back at Asra. "Michele hired Rick Woods."

Yoongi's frown deepened, the muscle on his temple ticking. "Why the hell would a college student hire a PI?"

Vienna's mind churned, but no answers came.

Why would Michele—sweet, quiet Michele—need surveillance? Who did she want tailed? What did she get herself into?

The paper crackled under her touch as she flipped through the ledger, Then, her eyes snagged on another entry. Her pulse hitched. There, among the jumbled names and figures, was another name. Jeon Jungkook. $800. Records.

Her jaw tightened, and the words slipped from her mouth without thought: "Are you kidding me?"

Yoongi's gaze dropped to the new entry, and he leaned in even closer, his body language hardening like he could physically choke the truth out of the page. "What are the chances our favorite clown is connected to both murder victims?"

Vienna's thoughts collided with each other, a twisted jigsaw puzzle with pieces that didn't fit. Jungkook. Rick Woods. Michele.

How the hell are they all tied up in this?

Her hand hovered over the ledger for a moment longer, the paper crinkling slightly under the weight of her thoughts. "Rick Woods..." she muttered, her thoughts briefly flickering to his death. "Whatever Michele paid him for—this wasn't a typical PI gig. It made him a target. He must've found something he wasn't supposed to."

But what?

Yoongi's eyes stayed on her, steady, unwavering. The silence stretched, thick with unsaid things. Then, his voice came—low, a thread of steel. "You think Woods' and Michele's murders are connected? That he got killed because of what he had found on that job for her?"

Vienna didn't have an answer for that either, but she couldn't shake the feeling that they were digging into something far more dangerous than anyone had realized.

Vienna elbowed Yoongi on her way out. "I'll update the captain." She didn't stick around for a reply, her boots cutting a direct path through the precinct's cramped maze. Namjoon's office door was closed, but the muffled exchange inside made it clear the Senator still hadn't left. She knocked twice and pushed it open without waiting.

Manners are for people not juggling murders and bureaucratic minefields.

Namjoon sat behind his desk, every inch the composed captain, but it was Senator Kim Seokjin across from him who caught her eye. Charmer. Smiling like he could rewrite gravity if it suited him.

Namjoon gestured loosely between them. "Vienna, this is Senator Kim Seokjin. Jin and I go way back. Senator, meet Detective Vienna Song, lead investigator on Michele Park's case."

Jin's smile turned up a notch, just shy of a camera-ready beam. "Detective Song," he said, his voice as smooth as campaign slogans. He extended his hand.

"Senator," she acknowledged curtly and shook his hand. Then her attention turned to Namjoon. "We found something."

Namjoon motioned for her to continue. Her summary came sharp and precise: Michele's name showed up in Rick Woods' ledger. $1,500—paid for surveillance. Jungkook's name was there, too. Same ledger, months earlier. Everything she could cram into a minute without losing its punch. Jin listened, his smile replaced by a thoughtful expression. She turned to him.

"Anything about your campaign that might've pushed Michele to hire a PI?" she pressed. No preamble, no sugar.

If the Senator wants soft handling, he's in the wrong room.

Jin tilted his head like she'd just asked why the sky was blue. "Not that I'm aware of," he said, measured, earnest—or at least a rehearsed version of it. "Have you spoken with my campaign manager?"

Vienna nodded. "Anna Kensington wasn't exactly forthcoming." She didn't bother softening the accusation.

Jin leaned forward, his brows knitting just enough to sell concern. "That's... unusual. Anna's thorough. I'll speak with her. Michele was remarkable, you know. I was hoping to bring her on permanently after her graduation. A real loss."

"Anything else?" she asked, more demand than question.

"I wish I had more for you. Michele was talented, thorough... but private. I'll dig into this on my end and keep you updated."

Namjoon shifted slightly, the smallest signal to back off. Vienna ignored it for a beat before relenting. "Thanks, Senator," she said, already halfway to the door.

She was almost free when Jin's voice caught her like a hook. "Detective Song, one more thing."

Her steps halted, the sharp breath through her nose the only sign of impatience before she turned back. Jin was standing now, hands in his pockets, the picture of casual authority. Namjoon leaned on his desk, watching them both like a referee who'd already picked a side.

"You said that man—Jeon Jungkook—also hired Rick Woods," Jin continued, his tone easy, as if he were commenting on the weather. "You should use him."

Her brow furrowed. "Use him? How?"

"As your confidential informant."

The words hit like a slap. Vienna barked a laugh, harsh and humorless. "You're joking."

Jin shrugged, unbothered. "He's tied to this case in more ways than one. Why not leverage that?"

"Leverage Jungkook? He's a criminal," she snapped. "Not a resource."

Jin's calm didn't falter. "Sometimes those lines blur. This case matters, and progress matters more. You need him. Don't let personal judgment cloud professional decisions." Jin's faint smile returned, sharper this time. "Keep him on a short leash, if you need to. But progress is non-negotiable."

Vienna's brow furrowed at the emphasis.

Progress. That's about optics, not justice.

Michele's case had been splashed across headlines. And with the election just five weeks out, solving it would look good on campaign posters.

Namjoon's lips pressed into a thin line, and his gaze dropped to the desk before meeting hers again. Something flickered there—hesitation, maybe—but it vanished so quickly she wondered if she'd imagined it. Still, the faint crease in his brow lingered, an echo of something left unsaid. "It's worth considering," he mused, his tone deliberate.

Vienna turned to him, incredulous. "We can't trust Jungkook."

"Then don't," Jin leaned back with the same ease as if he were chatting over coffee. "The faster you close this case, the better—for everyone involved. Michele deserves that."

"Or your campaign does," Vienna muttered under her breath, just loud enough to earn a flicker of amusement from Jin.

Namjoon sat straighter, the signal unmistakable: Drop it. She clenched her fists at her sides but stayed quiet.

Jin's polished persuasion and Namjoon's maddening calm worked together like a machine built to bulldoze objections. She didn't trust Jungkook, didn't trust Jin, and didn't trust whatever backroom politics had just twisted Namjoon's priorities.

"Fine." The word scraped past clenched teeth. "But when this backfires, don't say I didn't warn you."

Her glare swept over both men. They didn't bother answering. They didn't have to. It was already clear that whatever Vienna thought wasn't going to change anything.

She stormed down the hall, her footsteps thudding heavily against the floor. The walls seemed to close in around her, every step a pulse of frustration. She was beyond angry—she was furious.

Work with Jungkook? I don't need this. Not now. Not ever.

The pressure was building in her skull. Vienna didn't stop until the cool evening air met her face. She was halfway to her car when Yoongi caught up with her, his hands stuffed casually into his pockets. His eyes flicked to her face, already reading the tension.

"You look like you're ready to punch something."

Vienna shot him a look, eyes blazing. "Don't start with me," she snapped, raking a hand through her hair. She didn't want to be seen like this, but she couldn't help it. "I've had enough of this shit."

Yoongi raised an eyebrow. "What now?"

"Jungkook," she growled. "The Captain wants me to use him as a CI." She clenched her jaw so tight she thought it might crack. "I'm sick of it, Yoongi. Politics. Lies. Dead ends. And now this? What is Namjoon thinking? Jungkook's a goddamn wildcard, not a savior."

Yoongi's face softened, but his tone didn't waver. "You know it's not that simple, Vie."

"I don't care if it's simple or not," she spat, voice rising. "I don't give a damn about anyone's 'simple.' I care about finding out what happened to Michele. I care about solving this case, not playing babysitter to some arrogant asshole who doesn't give a shit about anyone but himself."

Yoongi held his hands up. "Okay, okay, I get it. Trust me, I do." He studied her for a beat, then exhaled slowly, glancing at the ground as if weighing his words. "But this—this might be our best shot."

Vienna stopped, her eyes narrowing. "What?"

He rubbed the back of his neck. "That ledger we found? It's huge. Could be the break we've been waiting for. Rick Woods' murder, Michele's? It doesn't feel like a coincidence. There's a thread between them, and Jungkook—he might be holding a piece of it."

"You're not seriously telling me we need him." The words were like broken glass in Vienna's throat.

Yoongi shrugged, that same half-grin twitching at the corner of his mouth, though there was no humor in his eyes. "I hate to say it, Vie, but yeah. We might actually need him. If there's even a chance he knows something that cracks this case wide open... we can't just let it slip."

Vienna bit down on the inside of her cheek, her anger still simmering but restrained, locked tight beneath the surface. "I hate that you're right."

The case has been stalling for too long. We need to make headway.

Vienna shook her head, but the motion felt too tired, too resigned. "Fine, but this is the last time I deal with him. And when it blows up in our faces, I'm not going to be the one who looks like an idiot."

Yoongi didn't reply immediately. He watched her for a beat, his eyes softening, the usual teasing edge gone. There was something more genuine in his gaze now—something like understanding, as if seeing her frustration mirrored in his own. He sighed, long and heavy, and then stepped a little closer, his voice low but firm.

"I know you're pissed. I am too. This whole thing's a mess. But..." His voice softened further, his gaze lingered on her with a rare vulnerability. "You're not in this alone. We'll figure it out. Together."

Vienna felt the smallest shift inside her—a brief flutter, like the tight knot in her chest loosened slightly. But she didn't let her guard down. She merely met his gaze for a long second, before tearing her eyes away, clearing her throat.

"Let's just get it over with."

She felt a tick in her eyelid but kept walking, tightening her grip on the car keys. Yet, beneath it all, there was something else—something more subtle: the spark of recognition that they were finally getting somewhere.

The case is moving.

And no matter how much Vienna hated the politics of it, or wanted to shove Jungkook out of the picture, she knew one thing. She wasn't going to let anything—or anyone—derail her investigation.

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A/n:
What are your thoughts, delulus? Any ideas on
how the three are connected?

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