Hoseok could have really done without Saffy calling him for an early morning meeting.

He needed to go over the brief of today's operation with Jungkook and decide a plan of action, not play a pawn in her trivial game of chess. The topic of conversation only served to piss him off even more.

"We both know that Jin would have hated this. You're using him as a weapon in a war that he didn't want to fight," Hoseok's teeth clenched together to prevent him from raising his voice.

"He's gonna go rogue, Hoseok, and you know it," Saffy countered. She knew Jungkook wouldn't have killed the girl. He didn't have it in him. She was hoping that Hoseok would, for the greater good of Hae Pa.

"So? If he goes rogue, that's on you," he articulated with passion. "You're the one who's giving him ultimatums, you're the one who's pushing him in this direction. How do you think he'll react when someone finally fucking tops her? You think he'll fall in line like a good little boy?"

"Without distractions, he'll be at his peak again," Saffy spoke mechanically. She saw logistics only. She had lost any sense of empathy quite some time ago.

"Bullshit," Hoseok laughed in her face. "He's at his best when he's with her. If you gave an actual shit about him like you pretend you do, you'd know that. If you cared for him in the same way that Jin did, you'd want this for him. All these stupid fucking gang rules don't matter anymore, Saf," he pleaded. The two of them had once been close. He didn't recognise her anymore.

"Those rules killed our best friend, and they're killing our little brother from the inside out," he continued, surprised Saffy was letting him speak. "She's not Dal Pa. She's just a kid who got mixed up in shit too young..."

Hoseok paused for a second, contemplating the bold statement he was about to make. He believed it, wholeheartedly, but had never admitted it before.

"...Jungkook isn't Hae Pa either. Let him go."

Saffy's expression froze, centred on Hoseok. If looks could kill, he'd be six feet under.

It was something Hoseok had always thought.

Jin and Saffy had lost their families during the Great Gang War of '99 and had been taken in by family friends who had ties with Hae Pa syndicates. Hoseok had fallen into a corrupt crowd at school, which led to his affiliation and Taehyung's father had been driven to murder-suicide thanks to Dal Pa extortionists.

Jungkook was different. He didn't join Hae Pa because he wanted to wreak havoc - he joined Hae Pa because he put his trust in Jin.

Barely a teenager, Jungkook had first come on to Jin's radar on his way home from an illicit meeting with Yoongi. He had noticed the boy, barely a teenager, huddled up in an alley corner. He had been in his grandmother's care since before he could remember, but she had grown old. Her ailments and aches became too much, and once she passed away, Jungkook didn't know what to do - so he ran.

He ran and ran until his legs gave out, ending up in Seoul, 200 miles from his hometown.

Jin took pity on him and invited him to stay with them. Wanting to show his gratitude and thanks, Jungkook became a 'yes' man. Anything they needed help with, he was happy to oblige - but it was Jin he was loyal to. Not Hae Pa.

After Jin's death, it was hard for Jungkook to grapple with his sense of identity. Ultimately, he stayed with Hae Pa because it was all he knew - but he knew better now.

Saffy remained at her desk for a good while after Hoseok had left, furiously.

What he said hadn't sat right with her. It felt like she was losing control over everyone she had ever been able to manipulate. The carefully crafted web of associates she had weaved was coming unstuck.

Pushing down buttons on the phone unit that sat proudly on her desk, she let the dial tone ring out on loudspeaker. She faced the window, taking in the city below her. This was her empire. She'd be damned if she let it crumble beneath her.

"To what do I owe the pleasure?" A deep voice drawled through the static hum of Saffy's landline phone.

"The pleasures all mine, Tae," she flirted into the void.

"Naturally," he smirked. "How have you been?"

"Oh, grand," she lied with enough charm to disguise it. "How are your latest group of recruits?"

"Shaping up pretty well," Tae spoke boldly. He was older now, but no wiser. He was still the twisted soul that laughed in Jungkook's face after he had killed Yoongi in cold blood - it was just that he had minions to help him carry his atrocities out now.

"How would they like their first assignment?" Saffy purred.

"What's in it for me?" He bargained. He liked to flirt with Saffy and enjoyed bantering back and forth, but he knew it was all business.

"My gratitude... and you'll get to kill that little Dal Pa bitch with your own bare hands."

Tae's blood soared in temperature at the sheer mention of Hana. She had fucked up all of their lives, but none more so than his.

"Fuck me, Saf, you really know how to get a boy excited, don't you?" The arrogant smirk on his lips was audible.

"It's my speciality," she assured him.

"Funny," he spoke with charming conviction. "'Cause killing Dal Pa scum is mine."

a/n:

whew. hi. this officially marks us going into phase three of Icaurs.

yay for jk and hana finally growing balls. boo for tae being an absolute sinner.

i'd also like to take this opportunity for us all to collectively scream over the recent concept photos. pls know that hobi has ruined my life x

p.s. sorry for killing Yoongi and Jin so early on, I miss their characters lmao