Trigger warning : violence.

     The younger ones found it hard to believe the news brought to them by their elders, when they returned to the dorm in the late afternoon. Jungkook, who was wearing his new piercings, noticed Namjoon's disapproving look.

     "I won't apologize", the maknae warned , "if it was because of me that our managers were fired, much better, they more than deserved it after the way they treated Jin hyung."

     "They thought they were acting for the good of the company and that they were upholding PD-nim's wishes by doing it," Yoongi informed him for their defense.

     "And how does that make them less guilty? They just wanted to protect their ass" Jungkook replied.

     "JK, you don't have to talk like that, it doesn't suit you at all," Jin scolded him, as the other boys, exasperated at Jungkook's attitude, went back to their occupations or thoughts while awaiting the arrival of the new managers. 

    Seeing them all walk away without a word, Jungkook exclaimed for them:

     "You should be happy with what's going on, instead of blaming me for it, right?! I did us a big favor!"

      But no one but Jin bothered to answer him and they just ignored him.

     "Hey, calm down, JK!" Jin said befor putted : " and don't roll your eyes at me."

     "But it's so frustrating!" Jungkook muttered, "How bad is it that Hyun and Sejin hyungs are leaving?"

     "I don't really know but Namjoon didn't seem very comfortable with the arrival of new managers when so many projects are in the works."

      The maknae, disagreeing, shrugged

     "I don't see how the new managers could be any worse than Sejin and Hyun because of who you sprained your ankle."

      "We'll see later, I guess. It may be a new page towards a brighter future that opens before us, who knows? By the way, show me your new face..." Jin added, grabbing his chin and analyzing the maknae's face with an appreciative look. "They can say whatever they want, I personally think piercings look good on  you."

     "Thank you, hyung,"Jungkook thanked him, all smiles, lightly brushing his new piercings. If Jin liked it, then he didn't care if others didn't like it.

     "But why did you make this decision today? You had never mentioned it before, as far as I know. Was it really to infuriate PD-nim and get Sejin and Hyun fired?" Jin asked, curious.

     "No, it wasn't for that, that was just a collateral damage," Jungkook admitted making Jin laugh. "I simply decided to stop being afraid of the fans' gaze and to be accepted no matter what look I wear."

      His remark surprised his eldest who couldn't help admiring his strength of character.

     "That's a very good reason and I hope that the company will end up respecting your choice," he said, "you're getting stronger and that's a good thing."

     "I have a good role model," Jungkook said simply in front of Jin's proud gaze.

     It was past eleven when the new managers finally appeared. The boys were all gathered in the living room, Jimin and Taehyung falling asleep against each other on the sofa.

     "Hello, boys," one of them said in a voice as cold as a draft that made Jin shiver and which woke the two young sleepers with a start.

      The man who had just spoken looked as authoritative as an army general, which didn't bode well Jin thought while exchanging a nervous look with Jungkook who just shrugged his shoulders, probably to tell him that he wasn't afraid of newcomers and that they had to behave well with BTS if they wanted to keep their jobs. 

     "I'll deal with them personally if they target you like Sejin and Hyun," Jungkook whispered reassuringly.

      For Jin, who would have liked the functioning of their group to return to order quickly, it was not reassuring, but he forced himself not to think too much about the future and to give their new managers a chance to make their proofs toward them. 

     The members of BTS were now all got up to greet the two men appropriately and introduced themselves quickly, bowing one after another: Namjoon, Hoseok, Seokjin, Jungkook, Jimin, Taehyung, Yoongi. Then, they bowing all togheter, saying their usual 

     "1, 2, 3, Bangtan, hello we are BTS!"

      The two men in return introduced themselves. 

      Manager Lee and Manager Han as they introduced themselves, looked at first glance more like security guards than managers. Gone is the paternal aspect of Sejin and the brotherly aspect of Hyun which had immediately put the members in confidence during their first meeting with them a few years earlier. The two managers now in front of the group couldn't have been further from the old managers. Everything about the way they dressed, talked, and stood in front of the boys screamed the dominance they intended to exercise over them. 

     They weren't there to work for them or with them, they were there to make them work hard without any doubt. This made the members very uncomfortable. Jin and Jungkook who had in mind their previous discussion exchanged a dismayed look: the new page of their lives they had just turned was not very encouraging.     

     Han, the one who had spoken first was a man in his forties whose face was as expressionless as a stone. His cold gaze silently scanned the line of idols without letting the boys know what he thought of them and it made them particularly uncomfortable. He didn't say another word after he said his name, as if he thought that was enough of an introduction.

      As for Lee, a man in his late thirties, he seemed less cold than his partner because his face didn't have the same impassiveness. He took more time to introduce himself and his background and the members instinctively thought that it was with him that it would be better to deal with their problems rather than with Han.

      Both seemed to have been recruited primarily for their lack of human warmth, Jungkook thought. By analyzing their impressive musculature which would probably leave him little chance if he decided to challenge them in the weight room. It was to wonder if the CEO had recruited managers or wrestlers. Did he want to intimidate them with this choice?  This made Jungkook immediately think that he wouldn't be intimidated. But it was more and more difficult to keep his word as the minutes passed because a general discomfort had settled in the room.

     From the moment he arrived, Han hadn't smiled a bit. For a first meeting, it was not encouraging: how were they going to place their trust in a man so unfriendly and who seem so openly hostile? 

      On the other hand, Lee hadn't stopped smiling. But Jungkook couldn't stop his discomfort from growing as he studied that smile. He had the unpleasant feeling that this smile was even more menacing than Han's lack of feeling. And this feeling was reinforced when Jungkook realized that his gaze never left him. A not benevolent look to accompany his smile. 

      It was a mocking look. This time, Jungkook was certain: Lee had been sent there specifically for him. If not, why would he be making fun of him even though they didn't know each other yet if  Lee did not intend to watch him more than the others because of what he had done today and previously? Was it Bang Si-Hyuk who had asked him?

     In response to this mocking look, Jungkook returned the most provocative look he could but it only made Lee's smile grow wider. Noticing the interaction between the two, Jin hurriedly nudged the maknae to tell him to stop looking for trouble. Jungkook sighed but nodded and it didn't go unnoticed by Lee.

      The members, tiff as soldiers to attention,  focused on manager Han when he spoke again in a robotic cold voice, as if he had memorized a text:

     "The presentations being made, let's get to the program for tomorrow and the days to come. We have been made aware of all current projects and set backs that have occurred and have set up a program accordingly. Tomorrow you will return to the practice room and you will concentrate on group choreography. We have revised the schedule of your previous managers upwards, and we prove that it is entirely possible for you to complete the preparation on time for the release of the MV."

     "Uh... hyung?" Namjoon interjected in a small voice which didn't sound like him, not really knowing how to address this man who looks so threatening. Facing him, Namjoon suddenly seemed as fragile as a child. Obtaining no form of assent other than his cold gaze fixed on him, he continued: "hyung, we agreed it was impossible to complete the preparation on time for the release of the MV because of Jin's injury."

     Jin, who was standing among the others, was leaning on his crutches nodded guiltily, looking at manager Han, wondering why he hadn't taken that into account if he had been made aware of everything that had happened. The man's gaze didn't seem to show any trace of empathy. He said:

     "You will do as we said Seokjin, period. From now on we are in charge of you and we don't want to hear any protest, this is my first and only warning."

     The idols widened their eyes in amazement.

     "But..." protested Jin who didn't feel able to resume the intense work for the MV.

    The moment he uttered that single word and while all eyes were still on Han who had just spoken, Lee, who was still smiling, moved with an unexpected speed for a man of his stature and with a kick, sent Jin's crutches waltzing several yards away.

     Surprised and unbalanced, Jin fell heavily to the ground letting out a cry of surprise. As shocked as him, the others members rushed to him then watched Lee quietly return to his position next to Han.

     "Hyung, are you okay?!"Jimin asked worriedly, scanning his face for pain.

     "I-I think so," Jin stammered, still stunned by what had just happened and concentrating on determining if he was in a lot of pain, before quickly saying: "Yeah, I'm okays, I was just surprised."

     "But what exactly is your problem?!" Jungkook exclaimed  to Lee, who gave him a carnivorous smile in return, as he and Taehyung were kneeling and helping Jin up.

     The eldest was still in shock at what had just happened and did not understand what he could have done wrong to be the victim of such a bout of violence. Was it related to Han's warning just before? Did that justify his manager physically attacking him?

     "The company's indulgence towards you ended the instant we set foot in this dorm," Lee replied without losing his smile, which had previously given the members the impression that he was more sympathetic than Han and which now seemed to make him more dangerous and unpredictable than the other man. "Seokjin, you have been at a standstill in your dance practice for almost three weeks. This is enough to recover from a simple sprain. The only thing holding you back from getting back to work is fear or laziness, and in any case, we're going to get rid of that because it's unacceptable if you plan to stay idol."

      Mouth wide open, Jin forbade himself to reply, afraid of being hit again. 

      "Tomorrow, you resume dancing with the others, and you get rid of those crutches, it's non-negotiable," Lee concluded .

     "No, it's not for you to judge, it's for the doctor!" Jungkook protested.

     Lee's reaction was immediate. He punched Jungkook in the stomach and the young singer fell to the ground, dragging Jin, who was holding on to him, in his fall.

     "JUNGKOOK!" The members shouted in unison as they circled Jungkook who was holding his stomach and trying to catch his breath, as if to form a shield and protect the maknae from another bout of violence from the manager.

     "Have you lost your mind?!" Namjoon indignantly glared at Lee. " You have no right to do that! And you Han Hyung, why are you letting him do it?"

     "As we told you just now," Han replied to the chagrin of the singers who were hoping to get some semblance of help from the second manager, "the company's complacency towards you has ended, you're going to have to get used to it. Your behaviors cannot be the same as before, you will have to accept it quickly if you want our work together to be no more difficult than necessary."

     "But there are other ways to get it across than using violence!" Hoseok exclaimed, just as shocked as the others.

     "I hate to rehearse but I will have it," Lee said losing his smile this time. If he had seemed dangerous with a smile, he was infinitely more so without. "When instructions are given to you, you carry them out and you do not discuss. Seokjin and Jungkook: you two have too often defied the rules of the company: this ends. Honestly, look at you : you don't even look like idols at all!" He pointed to their hairstyle with contempt, as well as Jungkook's piercings and tattoos.

      Neither Jin nor Jungkook dared flinch.

     "Or what? Are you going to beat us until we obey?" Yoongi bravely interjected, as shocked as the others following the comments of the two managers.

     "PD-nim won't let you do that, he'll take that position away from you as soon as he finds out that you are mistreating us, and that won't be long," Hoseok said, holding up his phone.

     "This is where you go wrong", Lee replied, finding again his carnivorous smile, "PD-nim chose us because he no longer supports your behavior as rebellious teenagers and gave us carte blanche, it means full permission, to take back your group in hand and get you back on the right track. He thinks that your growing popularity internationally has made you forget the basic principles that lead to the excellence dear to our country."

     The members couldn't believe it. They had been given over to these two monsters and remained unprotected. They relived the experience of violent and abusive managers like their first manager who put Jungkook through hell before being replaced by benevolent managers.

      But this time around, if the CEO had specifically chosen these two managers in order to reform the behavior of the members, there was no chance that he would agree to replace them with others if they asked him to find them nicer and more morally correct ones.

     "If you doubt our words, you can always discuss it directly with him," Han said coldly, though the seven boys had no doubt that he was telling the truth. 

     Lee added :

     "Except for that, I will advise you to follow this rule for your own good: everything that happens in the dormitory between us stays in the dormitory. Unless you want your fans to learn about your behavioral issues and it will ruin your band's popularity in Korea. Otherwise, your own company could decide to part ways with you and you will be doomed as an idol group."

      "Is that a threat?" Namjoon asked, his eyes wide.

     "Guess," Lee replied with a bad look. "Now we are going to take our leave. You'll have to be ready at seven o'clock sharp when I come to pick you up, don't be late."

     They left the dorm at thoses words, leaving the boys frozen in horror.