A/N: This chapter also contains a flashback structure. Please take that into account when reading :) (ALSO, I'M SO SORRY FOR THIS LATE ASS UPDATE :(   )

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The dull rumble of the bus sounds in his head as he blankly stares out the window. He looks rather small as he sits there in his crumpled suit, hands clamped together in his lap as a map of tears stain his face. He sighs, vision blurred as he stares at the cars that flash by while his mind remains immobilised, fixed on one thing, so raw and vulnerable in his mind; The sight of Taehyung's bitter expression. The memory of the betrayal in his eyes. Betrayal that he was accused of but wasn't responsible for.

It's strange to him how quickly things change. How a morning of promises can so easily turn into a night of despair. How something sweet could quickly turn sour and bitter and then eventually tasteless. How something could be so perfect, so sensitive, so real while it hides the calamity that the future brings.

He feels so lost, wandering around meaninglessly somewhere in his mind, trying to process his bitter reality; trying to swallow a pill that is searing its way down his throat. Is this his reality? A reality where he's been fired from his dream job, been betrayed by someone he looked up to and lost someone who showed him what it means to feel free. 

Jungkook's reality had always been blurry, always been too dark, too difficult to see through clearly. And then he met Taehyung.  With his hard eyes, crooked smirk and large warm hands that reached out to him, held on to him, guided him through the blindness of his reality. But now those hands are gone. Now his  warmth is gone. He is gone. A guiding hand in a pit of darkness now became another void in his life.

Jungkook looks down at his palms and winces. His hands look so empty.

~

Jungkook pushes open the front door and steps into his house, his feet feeling heavier against the ground. Maybe the stone weighing at his heart is dragging down his feet as well. He barely registers anything as he walks and only really notices the other body sitting on the couch when he calls out to him.

"You're home."

"Hyung?" He turns around to see Jimin sitting rather stiffly on the couch. The man stares at him for a moment, his eyes a little different.

"How was work?" The older asks, his voice rather monotone.

Jungkook shrugs, heart aching at even the mention of work. "It was fine," he lies.

Jimin nods as he tucks his knees into his chest. "Brianna left cause I came. Seonnie is sleeping."

Jungkook nods and awkwardly scratches his nape, noticing a slight tenseness to the atmosphere. He shuffles towards the older and sits next to him, finding the strain on his heart slightly easing when his familiar scent envelopes him.

Jimin looks at him for a second, something wavering behind his eyes.

"Hyu-" Jungkook starts.

"Were you ever going to tell me?" Jimin's voice is soft, a gentle question that causes Jungkook to tense.

"Tell you...?"

The blond stares into his eyes, his usually cheery orbs now glimmering with a pool of raw emotions that causes Jungkook's breath to hitch.

"That you finally realised you were gay."

Jungkook freezes, staring at the older as his heart rate picks up. "W-What do you mean- I'm not-"

"That picture released into the media of you and your boss..." he laughs, an almost self- pitying chuckle. "...God I was a fool to believe you when you said it was edited."

"Hey, Bri." Jimin says as he enters through the front door. The blonde looks up and smiles at him.

"Oh, hey Jimin. How are you?"

Jimin plops himself onto the couch and stretches. "M'good. How are you?"

The girl sighs," I've been super busy this week so I'm pretty tired, but otherwise, I'm good too."

Jimin frowns and then looks over at the clock. "Oh," he says softly. "It's already a bit late. Jungkook's not home yet?"

The girl shakes her head as she packs away some books laying on the coffee table. "He gets home a bit late these days."

Jimin nods, letting out a sigh. "Well, how 'bout you head home for the night and I'll watch over Seonnie. I'm sure Jungkook will get home soon."

Brianna hesitates. "Uh, well...are you sure?"

Jimin nods, a small smile flitting onto his lips. "Yeah."

She beams at him. "Thank you so much Jimin!" She picks up her bag and then looks over at him, a little hesitant. "But are you sure sure? Jungkook may be very late since he's with his 'boyfriend'," she says while wiggling her brows.

Jimin tenses. "His...boyfriend?"

The girl giggles and shakes his head. "Well, I don't know if it's actually his boyfriend. But there's definitely something going on between those two. Gosh, you should see the way he talks about hi-"

"W-Who?" Jimin stammers, feeling an odd feeling in his chest. "Who does he talk about?"

The girl tilts her head, looking a little confused. "...His boss? Kim Taehyung. I've only really seen them interact like once but they seem so cute-"

Jimin gulps and runs a hand through his hair, "w-wait so that... that y'know... that whole scandal was real? The picture of them kissing...?"

The girl frowns and hesitantly slips her bag onto her shoulder. "Wait... did Jungkook not tell you about this?"

Jimin stares at her for a moment, eyes blank. "Did he tell you?"

She shrugs, looking a little bit reluctant upon seeing his expression. "I mean, he kinda told me over the phone...but he didn't confirm anything."

Jimin exhales a shaky deep breath, "right. Of course."

She stares at him worriedly, "Jimin, are you okay?"

At that, he snaps out of whatever thoughts he was dwelling on and looks at her with a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine, don't worry. Anyways, you better get going before it gets more dark." He smiles at her and waves, watching her head out the door.

Jungkook looks away from the older's gaze, a guilty expression spreading across his features.

"Why did you lie to me, Kook?"

Jungkook gulps and runs a shaky hand through his hair. "Hyung, I...I didn't want to hurt you."

At this, Jimin laughs. Not his pleasant bubbly laughter, but rather a pained noise from the back of his throat that has Jungkook cowering into himself. "Hurt me? You were scared to hurt me?" He steps closer to the younger, tilting his head as he watches the younger look down at the floor. "Isn't it a little too late for that?"

Jungkook's breath hitches as he darts his eyes up to meet the older.

"I'm scared, Kook, you know how my last relationship was. I'm just scared to start another," Jimin says while stroking the younger's hair.

Jungkook looks up at the older, his doe eyes twinkling. "But hyung, I'm not like that. I'll treat you right." He smiles at the older, that big bunny smile of his.

The older sighs, a small smile flickering onto his face. "You're still young."

"So?" Jungkook bites back without a moment to spare. His eyes sparkle, an innocent naivety in them. 

Jimin stares at the boy, looking rather hesitant.

Jungkook grabs onto the older's hands and looks up, meeting his warm eyes. "Hyung, you need to trust me..." he says, voice tender.

He squeezes the older's hand in his. "... I promise I won't hurt you."

"Hyung," Jungkook says, noticing the glaze in the older's eyes. "You know I didn't mean to...I...I, was just..." he trails off, struggling to find the words that could express how he feels.

Jimin stares at him, a spark of sadness and disappointment twirling in his eyes. "You promised me, Kook. God, you promised me a lot of things. A lot of damn things. But here we are now..." he smiles sadly.

"W-What do you mean," Jimin says as he searches the younger's eyes frantically.

Jungkook looks away, face guilty. "I...I just... I don't think this is working out anymore, Hyung. It's just... I..I'm not gay. I'm not...yeah."

Jimin stares at him, bewildered. "Kook, what is this about, what are you saying."

Jungkook avoids his eyes and shrugs, "I think we should just...break it off."

A sob wracks through the older's chest. "Y-You can't do this to me Kook. You said...you said you won't... that you...." Jimin brings a palm to his face and cries.  "Jungkook," he whispers, tears lining his face in tracks. "I...I love you."

Jungkook's eyes widen and he stares at the older, stares into those warm eyes filled with raw sincerity. He feels his breath hitch and panic swarms his insides.

Jimin stares at him, teary-eyed, looking so afraid and vulnerable and desperate to hear Jungkook say something, anything.

Jungkook looks away and mutters the only thing that's being repeated in his head like a mantra. "Hyung, I'm not gay."

"You broke all your promises and left me and all you said each time I tried to reach out to you was, 'I'm not gay, hyung.' " Jimin sighs and looks down at the carpet, a small frown etched across his face. "And eventually, I accepted that. It hurt like hell but I accepted it. Because even if it hurt to be by your side, I didn't want to lose you, Kook."

Jungkook tries to reach out for the older but he shifts away, smiling sadly. "I never got angry. You had left me in the deep end and yet I never once got mad. Do you know why?"Jungkook gulps and shakes his head.

Jimin looks at him, eyes filled with sadness. "Because I loved you." He chuckles sadly. "And you know what's even funnier Kook?" His lower lip trembles as he stares at the younger, his face a little woeful, a little tired, a little angry. "I still fucking do."

Jungkook's eyes grow wider as he stares at the older, mouth hanging open at the revelation. He stumbles over his words as his thoughts jumble into a single clump of incomprehensible gibbersih. "I...I."

Jimin continues. "I thought I could get over you after all these years, I really did. I knew you wouldn't reciprocate my feelings. Because, Kook, you weren't gay. You're not gay," He laughs dryly. "At least that's what you told me."

Jungkook shakes his head, "N-No, Hyung, I didn't mean it like that. It's just- it's just..."

Jungkook tries to explain. Tries to formulate a sentence that sums up the years of abuse and verbal torture from his father that had accumulated into a self oppressive mindset which caged his own sexuality. But he can't put words over he bleeding scar. How can a mere sentence plaster the anguish and pain and fear that still throbs against his skin at the mention of him being gay? How can he explain it to someone else when he can't even admit it to himself? He can't. And so instead he says, voice a trembling whisper,

"Hyung, I'm just confused."

And Jimin just laughs. A heartbroken laugh that carries years of hurt, of unrequited love, of unbearable longing. He laughs as tears pool in his eyes, as he stares into the younger with so much emotion- yet none that the other can decipher.

"I was confused too, Kook. Y'know, when you promised to be there, promised to never hurt me, promised it all and then left so carelessly. God, I was confused too."

Jungkook opens his mouth to speak but Jimin shakes his head. "You could have j-just talked to me about it, Kook. Could have explained how you felt instead of...instead of lying to me this whole time."

Jungkook wants to shake his head, tell him no, tell him that he wasn't lying, isn't lying. But the thing is, he is. He is lying. He lied to Jimin and he lied to himself. And so instead of lying once again, he duck his head and whispers, "I'm sorry."

Jimin stares at him for a moment before sighing. "I know." He smiles softly at the younger, eyes flickering with a wave of sadness as he stares at his bowed head. I know. Jimin lets out a ragged breath, drags his eyes away from the younger's cowered head, and then turns to grab his bag and leave.

Jungkook gnaws on his bottom lip as he watches the older shuffle into his shoes and head for the door. Jimin opens the door and is about to step out when Jungkook finally calls out to him, his voice meek. "Hyung..."

Jimin meets his eyes, face sullen, tear-stained.

"Will you come back?"

He doesn't respond. He stares at him for a moment longer in utter silence and then, without another word, without another longing gaze, without another crack to his heart... Jimin leaves.

~

Jungkook's head is buzzing when he stumbles into the room. His thoughts are intertwined in one another, creating an almost deformed imagine in his head, a mixture of Taehyung's angry expression and now Jimin's crying face. His stomach feels empty and hollow and his heart feels weighted and heavy. 

His mother is sleeping on the bed, her lids heavy from the high dosage prescriptions she takes. He stumbles onto the bed and gently lays next to her, nuzzling his head into her nape and wrapping his arms around her frail torso.

"Mama," he calls out, knowing that she isn't going to respond. She hasn't done that in a while. "I...I lost my job today." He sniffles, digging his nose into her neck. "You know, that dream job I used to always talk about." He chuckles sadly. "And...and it was cause of dad again." He sighs, wishing that her small hands could tighten around him.

"I-It's always been because of him. I thought that he's out of my life but he's still here, still trying to hurt me in one way or another." The room is dark, only casted over by a small trickle of street light that washes over their bodies.

"He made me loose a lot of people, Mama. He made me loose Jimin, h-he made me loose Taehyung and...and he made me loose you. He's taken and taken and taken.  All he's done is taken away the people who made me happy. Why is he so good at that? At hurting me?"

He curls into a ball against her, feeling tears cascade down his cheeks as he tries to bite back a sob. "I wish...I wish..." He cries out. "I wish you never married him!" He lets the heaving sob wrack his chest as he digs his face closer to her, searching. Searching. Searching for her comfort.

"And- and I can't help but hating you sometimes..." 

"...For marrying him." He exhales shakily. "For getting sick." His voice trembles, falling into a whisper. "For...for forgetting me."

"You can forget everything around you, but...but you can't forget me. I'm your son... y-your Kookie. You can't forget me, Mama." "Why...why did you forget me!" He gasps out through his tears, shaking his head. "It's not fair." He grips onto her night gown and pulls away to look at her resting frame, feeling his heart throb at how fragile she appears. She used to be so strong. She used to carry Jungkook on her back, running around the house as he giggled and flailed his arms around. She used to hold him, cradle him, shield him from his father's wrath. She used to always smile at him, showing him only her joy when she had been breaking inside. She used to be so strong.

But his father was always stronger.

"I feel so scared, Mama. So c-confused and lost." He says, wishing she could hear him, wishing she could understand and help him, wishing she could hold him. He just wants guidance, reassurance. God, he just wants her to look him in the eyes and call him by his name. To say that she loves him and that she's here. But she isn't here. All that is left is her frail body, limp with loose thoughts that run through her head, thoughts that have no meaning to her. She isn't here and Jungkook knows that she never will be.

"I miss you," he mumbles into her chest. He whimpers, his voice breaking. "I love you."

"Look at you in your big boy uniform! You look great, Kookie!"

"Mama, hurry up, I want to go now, come on come on come on!" A little Jungkook whines while bouncing on his heels as he stand on the doorstep.

His mother approaches the door and crouches down to meet his eyes, a large smile on her face. "Gosh, I can't believe you're already going to school. You're growing up so fast, baby."

"Yeah! Kookie is a big boy now!" Exclaims the six-year-old. His mother smiles nonetheless and pulls his jittery figure into a hug. "Be good, okay."

"Okay, I will! Let-let's go now! Come on- Come -on!" He says while tugging at her hand.

His mother tugs him back gently and cups his cheeks in her palm. "Mama will miss you, okay?" The younger, nods, looking a little restless and hyper. She smiles at him and pecks his soft cheek. "I love you."

~

He watches as the veil of smoke flutters into the air, twisting and turning erotically before it dissipates into the silence of the room. The stench of alcohol and cigarettes pinch at his nostrils and he takes in the burning aroma with a ragged inhale. He closes his red-rimmed eyes and lets out a grunt as he spins around in his chair, forcing himself to face his monitor, knowing he can't laze around any longer.

He needs to get back to work. There's responsibilities awaiting him, a line of them, snaking into his mind and nagging at him, tugging at his head, at his mind, at his heart, until they disintegrate into a hollow ache in his belly. And so he must work because the company that's falling apart is doing so in his hands. He can't watch as the framework of his father's success crumbles in front of him. He can't watch. And so he must work.

"Jungkook," he calls out, typing something on the screen. He waits for his response, the usual "Yes, sir?"

There's no response.

"Jungkook." He calls out again, feeling his fingers smash into the keyboard with a stiffness to them.

Again, silence.

He pauses his movements, his voice quietening yet still calling out. "Jungkook." Nothing.

It's a given, he supposes. Considering how the boy is not here, is no longer working here, is no longer his secretary. He can call out all he wants but the room is empty. Will forever be empty.

The scattered papers and whiskey glasses fly across the room as Taehyung swipes his hand over his desk, an eruption of fury and unadulterated grief flooding him as he growls. He breathes heavily as he stares at the mess he's made, at the litters of paper now damp with patches of golden whiskey, at the shards of broken glass that glisten under stray strands of light. The room suddenly feels ice cold, tense, a choking layer of pressure that surrounds him, slithers over his body, tightens around his throat and grips, grips until he's struggling to breath, until he's dizzy, shaking. His trembling hands reach out, his vision blurry and dark and its a desperate search in the metaphorical darkness of his head yet he still reaches, hands searching, searching for toxic warm, for toxic fumes, for someone, for something, for anything. Taehyung grabs onto his box of cigarettes. It's empty.  

"Fuck," he groans, voice slurred. He tilts his head back on his chair and brings both his hands to rub over his face. He chews at his lips, feeling his heart accelerate, a wave of displacement and discomfort and disorientation sliding through his blood, hot and heady and stifling and he's sweating and gasping for air and he can't breath. He can't breath. He can't breath. He- he needs. He needs. He needs.

Vanilla ice cream. 

He doesn't know when he had grabbed his phone but now his shaking hand has brought it to his ear, listening to it ring, waiting, waiting.

"Hello, Frosty's ice cream parlour. How can we help you?"

Taehyung pauses, lets his breath run into the line for few silent seconds.

"Sir, are you-"

"I'd l-like one mint choc chip ice cream." His voice is trembling, a whisper. "Please."

~

"Right now, I'm in Paris..." Taehyung says, speaking to the camera. The sight reminds Jungkook of a YouTuber and the thought of his boss being a YouTuber makes him giggle. The noise gains Taehyung's attention who turns the camera to face Jungkook.

"And here we have Bun, eating trash."

Jungkook's smile instantly turns into a small scowl. "It's not trash," he grumbles, almost cradling his ice cream.

Taehyung laughs throatily, "sure thing, whatever you say."

He then picks up a spoon of his own ice cream and waves it in front of the younger. "Try this," he says while trying to balance the camera in his other hand.

Jungkook, like a child, refuses to open his mouth and turns his head away. Taehyung rolls his eyes, "oh come on, don't be childish," he huffs.

Jungkook turns his head back. "Childish? Sir, you're the one fighting over ice cr-mfsnf," Jungkook's words get muffled as Taehyung shoves the spoon of vanilla flavoured ice cream into his mouth.

Jungkook swallows hesitantly and then blinks up at the man. Taehyung holds the camera and nods eagerly. "So?"

"It's so..." Jungkook starts. He then awkwardly smiles up at the camera before continuing. "Boring."

Taehyung scoffs and instantly turns the camera off. "I'm going to have to edit that part out," he mumbles. Jungkook smiles, somewhat fascinated by this more carefree relaxed side of his boss.

Taehyung drags the video back and plays it again as he shoves a small scoop of that green ice cream into his mouth. The ice cream is unpleasantly sweet, flinchingly sugary in a way that hurts his tongue. But when Taehyung stares at the screen, stares at the video of Jungkook's big eyes and his adorable bunny smile, the sugary dessert doesn't taste so sweet any more, in fact, it's awfully bitter. Like the sour taste of betrayal.

~

Namjoon steps into the room, his eyebrows furrowing at the state of calamity that  wreaks the room. His eyes trail over to his brother, the hunched figure who lays in his chair, so absorbed by his own thoughts that he barely notices the older's presence.  

"Tae..." Namjoon calls out, reaching out until his hand is hesitantly hovering over his back. He sighs. "I...I don't even know what to say. I would never have thought that Jungkook would do something like this."

Taehyung brings his eyes up and his words are slow and slurred as he speaks. "Hyung, can we...can we not talk about him. I don't want to talk about him."

Namjoon stares at his brother, eyes pooled with what appears to be concern. "No, Tae. I don't think it's good for you to not talk about it. You should... you need to-"

"I fired him. He's gone. The company's about to hit rock bottom again. And I'm about to lose my mind. What's done has been done, I really see no point in talking about it."

Namjoon winces at the younger's monotone voice. He stares at him for a moment longer before letting out another exhale. His hands weave into the younger's ravenette locks and he gently caresses his hair. "It's going to be okay, Tae. Whatever happens...whatever happens just know that I'll be here for you."

Taehyung looks up to meet his brother's eyes, notices the gentle smile on his features. He feels his tense shoulders relax a bit and he pulls his lips into a somewhat half smile. "At the end, it's always just you and me, Hyung. Always."

Namjoon's fingers slightly stop their gentle caress and Taehyung misses the way the older's face  contorts with an unreadable expression. "Right," he whispers after a moment. He looks down at his brother and offers him a dimpled smile. "Always just you and me."

~

Taehyung pulls the stack of files from his desk drawer and stares at it, eyes sullen. His breath waves as he picks up the files and starts tossing each one into the small trash can next to him. He stares at the document in the trash, the file named Jungkook, now resting in a crumpled pile in the bin. 

Taehyung inspects the small boy sitting huddled in his seat, his posture hunched and his expression resembling that of a frightened rabbit. He refuses to make eye contact with Taehyung, which he finds quite laughable because how would this boy expect to work for him if he can't even look at him. 

"Jungkook?" He calls out. 

Big frightened eyes dart up to look at him, rosy cheeks flustering as he lets out a stuttered response. "Y-Yes, sir?"

Taehyung raises his brows, rather unimpressed by how reserved the younger is. "You don't expect me to hire you if you're not going to even hand me your resume, are you?"

The younger startles and quickly thrusts his resume towards the older, looking panicked and anxious. "O-Oh, I'm s-sorry."

Taehyung sighs a little, trying not to roll his eyes because; how could someone like this ever expect to work for him? 

Taehyung tightens his jaw and drops another pile of papers into the bin, staring at the content so intently despite it now just being trash. It's just paper. He reminds himself. It's just...paper. 

He stares at the paper, trying to conceal his astonishment. How...? How did he....? He stares at the words, at the detailed descriptions and the utter professionalism that structures the page and then he looks down, staring at the mop of brown hair that's resting against his chest, fast asleep. 

How could this...this kid, so young and naive and who can barely speak a word without stuttering, how did he manage to produce one of the best documents Taehyung has read in just a mere day? Taehyung peeks over the younger's head to stare at his sleeping features, feeling almost whiplashed by how small and fragile he looks despite being able to endure the impossible tasks that Taehyung has set him. Taehyung was always a good judge of character but maybe he had been wrong about this one. Maybe a rabbit could have a lion's heart after all.

Taehyung's hand shakes as he stares down at the next piece of paper, a bitter taste clawing at the back of his throat as he reads the words. 

It seems you've been striving the past few months, Kim. You look happier too.

You know at first, I thought it was because of the increased sales. But no, that's so unlike you, it couldn't be that. You don't care for things like that.

You're a bastard, Kim. Power and wealth have always been at your hands so measly things like increased sales don't make you this exuberant.

I couldn't put my finger on it. All I could do was wonder what had made you so happy.

It took me a while to figure out.

Didn't think that boy, that secretary, could be the cause of this. But I was surprised.

He was always with you, wherever you went. And then there you were, kissing him. It clicked then.

I realised, ahh of course. The only answer to your sudden happiness. A love interest.

Quite endearing, really. To think you, the fucker you are, could be so swayed by some romance. How dreamy.

Jeon Jungkook is his name, it seems? Working for you for a few months now. Lived in New York since he was fourteen. Lives with his mother and younger brother. You know, he's quite adorable, I must admit.

Didn't take you for a queer though. But I should know by now that you, Kim Taehyung, are full of surprises.

I wonder how much he means to you, Kim. I mean, if he makes you happy like that, he must be quite important. I wanna know how much you'll do for him.

Will you risk your name? Your company? Or more importantly, would you risk all your father's hard work?

If it were to save him, what would you risk, Kim? I'm just...ever so curious.

- The kindest of regards

Taehyung crumples the paper and throws it in the trash, the force of the throw causing the bin to topple over. He grits his teeth, hands shaking, rage blooming in his chest and rushing through his veins, through his skin, into his heart. So it was all just some sick ploy? A twisted game to make Jungkook look innocent? 

And to think how worried he had been, to think how protective he had been over him. Taehyung scoffs. If only he knew back then. If only he knew that the boy he'd take a bullet for was the one holding the gun to his head. Taehyung clenches his fist so tightly as he chucks all the remaining files into the bin. He stares down at the sad pile of documents and lets out a bitter laugh as he settles on a new realisation. A new , harsher, flinchingly raw realisation. 

The rabbit didn't have a lion's heart. The rabbit had a snake's venom and the cunning fur of a fox. 

"Fuck you!" He screams to the empty room, to the empty desk chair across the room. He stalks over to the desk and knocks over all it's contents to the floor. "FUCK YOU!" He kicks the chair to the ground and tears down the files laying on the desk. He slams his fist onto the keyboard, "f-fuck y-you," his voice wavers as he stares at the now brightly lit monitor, displaying the desktop picture. It's a picture of them both, staring into the camera with big smiles and red cheeks and the view of an untamed ocean in the background. He feels his heart drop as he stares into those big doe eyes. Those big doe eyes that were full of warmth, of kindness, of...of promises. Those big doe eyes that had stared down at him and promised.

He pulls him in closer, their lips hovering over each other's. "Promise me, bun," he whispers all of a sudden, his eyes appearing uncharacteristically desperate. He reaches his hand up, cupping the boy's cheek, his lungs suspended in his chest, heart erratic. "Promise me that no matter what happens..." He pauses, a small broken smile on his face. "...You'll stay."

Those big doe eyes stare down at him, filled with so much thought, with so much strength , with so much care. He hesitates his words "I..." but his eyes never waver. Those dark globes sparkle and his mouth curves up into the gentlest of smiles. "I promise," he breathes out, a whisper against his lips. 

Taehyung exhales raggedly as his clenched fist now ease into a small tremble. "Why..." he calls out, his voice so small, so fragile. He grips onto the desk and leans his weight onto it as a sob escapes his lips. His watery eyes stares at the monitor, at the picture of them, at him and pathetically, he whispers to himself. "Why did you lie?"

~

"The kid's gone now so what do you plan on doing, how else are we supposed to get to him?" The blond asks. 

Namjoon stares at the man with a small smile on his face. "What else? Our original plan still  lays."

The blond furrows his brows. "You mean you're still going to try hurt the kid? But what's the point? Taehyung will not feel threatened if you hurt him, in fact, he probably won't even care. The kid supposedly betrayed him."

Namjoon cackles, the noise echoing through the room. "Oh, Hoseok, you don't know a thing about romance, do you?"

The blond lets out a small scoff, "and you do?"

Namjoon's eyes harden. "Watch your mouth, Hoseokie. You know I can't stand when you speak down to me." Namjoon's voice is sickeningly sweet, lathered with a saccharine promise of a threatening demise.  

The blond shifts a little, uncomfortable. "So what, we hurt the kid and then?"

Namjoon shakes his head, amused. "Dead meat can't lure in fresh prey."

The blond quirks his eyebrow, confused. 

"God, you're stupid." He pauses, staring intently at the other.  "BAIT. We use Jeon as bait. No matter how much he says he hates him, Taehyung won't be able to sit still knowing the kid's in danger."

"What makes you certain?"

Namjoon quirks his brows and leans over his knees, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips. "I just am. He wouldn't let the kid die. God, it would be a scene straight out of Romeo and Juliet.  Taehyung would simply fall to his knees when he see's the gun held to the boy's head. He would be willing to give me anything at the threat of a bullet."

Hoseok stares at the man, eyes filled with doubt, hesitance. 

Namjoon chuckles and props his feet up onto the metal table resting in front of him. "Don't you doubt it, Hoseok. Lovestruck hearts will always beat in sync with each other."

Hoseok sighs and runs a hand over his hair, brushing aside the stray strands from his face. "But what about after? You planning on killing them both to keep their mouths shut?"

Namjoon lets out a vicious chortle. "Oh, wouldn't that be lovely." He sighs and stares up at the dull grey ceiling. "But sadly, that's too tedious."

"And so what?  You trust Kim to not tell the police?"

Namjoon quirks his eyebrow at the man, questioning his hesitance. 

Hoseok holds back a ragged exhale. "Look, I just want to make sure because at the end of the day, I'm just a man working under an order. I don't exactly want to be caught in the line of fire."

Namjoon shakes his head, smirk reforming on his lips. "Don't worry." He darts his eyes up, gaze twinkling with mirth. 

"My brother wouldn't rat out his own blood. Not when I'm all he has left." 

Hoseok breathes out a laugh, shaking his head slightly as he mutters under his breath. 

"Blood." 

-

A/N: Hey y'all, sorry again for the long wait for this update. It's probably not what you were hoping for but I needed to build up back story and stuff. Well, the next chapter is supposed to be HUGE buttttt.....

I'm unfortunately going to go on hiatus cause my exams start next week.

BUT, the funny part is my  hiatus may be shorter than whatever ridiculous amount of time I took to update this chapter!!! 

Anyways, I'm sorry for this stupid update schedule (blame my school not me pls) and I really hope to see y'all next time!

(PS THE BOOK IS ENDING IN 2 CHAPTERS hehe ( maybe 3 if I do an epilogue))