Jungkook's chair at his desk in his office squeaks. This has never bothered him before. In fact, he has always thought it adds character to his office. In the place where he works hard to deliver cold, hard legal facts, his squeaky chair adds a personal, human aspect to the energy of the room. Jungkook rather likes his squeaky chair.

Well, until now, because it bothers him today. Most everything has bothered him today, though. 

Marie bothered him this morning. He didn't let it show, as per usual, but he made a more sincere effort to get out of the house before she could make him coffee. He made up some random lie about a firm budget meeting he needed to be at, and promised to be home for dinner. He also intended on breaking that promise to work late at the office and therefore delay going home. 

But, when he got to work, the new casefile sitting on his desk bothered him, too. The paper was too fresh, too crisp, too new. The stories about the people inside seemed so trivial and unimportant, and yet, Jungkook was supposed to put up a believable fight for them in court. He read through the whole thing once, and was so ridiculously irritated by the entire thing that he couldn't manage to read through it again.

So, Jungkook had resorted to simply sitting his chair and trying to gather up the motivation to begin to work on his new case. But now, the squeak of his chair everytime he shifts his weight is bothering him, and he's at a complete and total loss.

Jungkook hopes today is just a fluke and that he'll go back to liking his squeaky chair tomorrow. He hopes that he'll go back to liking his job tomorrow, that he'll go back to loving his wife tomorrow. But, today, everything bothers him. And the thing that bothers him the most is the reason why everything is bothering him.

He lost the Walker case. The fact that he as a lawyer lost is not as upsetting to him as the fact that an innocent man lost the rest of his life as a free man. He doesn't give a damn about his track record, or how this is his first loss in months. Jungkook is much more concerned with the fact that he had to sit there in the court room, listen to the bigoted decision that fell from the court's gnarled lips, and then helplessly watch as Bruce Walker was handcuffed by the bailiff and escorted out. He had winced as the burly man handled Mr. Walker much too roughly, and could only imagine Bruce's treatment by the bailiff and the other officers as they returned Bruce to federal prison, away from the eyes of the public.

And then, Jungkook was expected to continue on with his life. He had just witnessed an innocent man be denied his last chance at freedom, and was expected to carry out business as usual. He was expected to crack open the clean, new casefile on his desk and get to work, even though he now knows that his work in and of itself is not the deciding factor in cases. Race, on the other hand, is. Religion and sexuality and social status are deciding factors. Implicit bias is the true judge of some court cases, not the judges themselves.

Jungkook had worked on Bruce Walker's case for weeks, spending hours on end, from early in the morning until late in the evening reading and re-reading the case. He researched landmark cases, let his eyes roam the empty promises of the United States' Constitution until he felt he could recite parts of it from memory. Jungkook had scrawled his notes into the margins of that case until the white of the paper could hardly be seen beneath his blue ink, but along with his notes he had left his passion for law, his dedication to upholding it, and his faith in the system.

So, his daily life bothers him today. His wife's fussing over him feels even more pointless than it usually does. The blank, spotless margins of his new case are insulting. And the squeakiness of his chair is just downright obnoxious.

The knock on his office door only worsens his mood. Jungkook shuts his eyes and runs his hands through his hair in an exasperated sigh, bracing himself for whomever is deciding to test his patience now. "Come in." He calls, but stays facing the window, taking in the view of the New York City skyline he normally loves so much.

"Good morning, Mr. Jeon." A familiar voice greets him. Jungkook realizes after a few seconds that this person's voice doesn't bother him at all. That fact surprises him enough to want to turn around and face his visitor, so he does. Park Jimin stands in his office, the smile that makes Jungkook's head spin present on his lips.

"Mr. Park." Jungkook replies with a nod of his head in greeting. "To what do I owe the pleasure?" He asks, and there's a look in Park Jimin's eyes that he has never seen before. Given, he has only known Mr. Park for a few days, so there's probably a million things about him that Jungkook hasn't seen before, but the emotions behind his dark brown irises intrigue him.

"I just wanted to discuss a case with you, sir. If you wouldn't mind, that is." He explains, and Jungkook's Jimin-induced good mood dims a bit. Discussing a new case is the last thing he wants to do, honestly. 

"I wish I could, Mr. Park, I'm just rather swamped today." Jungkook lies, gesturing to the casefile on his desk. He has hardly touched it, but Jimin doesn't need to know that. He expects Jimin to stutter out some apologies and make his exit, like most other secretaries would, but instead, Jimin just turns to the door. Rather than leaving, he shuts it, leaving the two of them alone behind his office door. Jungkook raises his eyebrow in question, but Park Jimin just looks at him. That look alone is enough for Jungkook to know that he's having this conversation, whether he likes it or not.

"With all due respect, Mr. Jeon, we need to talk. I assure you that these are very...pressing matters, and they are well worth your time." Jimin makes a convincing case. He and Jungkook maintain eye contact for a few more seconds, as if to see who will back down and break away first, but Jungkook lets out a sigh of resignation. He gestures to the chair across from his own at his desk, and the chair he's sitting in himself squeaks in response to the movement.

"Take a seat, then, Mr. Park." Jungkook instructs, although he's fairly certain that Jimin would have sat down whether he had explicitly allowed it or not. He can't tell if he likes that or hates that. Jimin nods, and sits down. Although Jungkook knows he is in the position of power here, that Jimin is the one in the hot seat, not himself, Jungkook can't help but squirm under the intensity of Jimin's gaze.

"I've been thinking about what you said, sir." Jimin begins earnestly, and Jungkook almost smiles at that.

"I say a lot of things. You'll have to be more specific." Jungkook chides, and he swears he sees Jimin's jaw pulse in annoyance. Jungkook is aware that he's being disagreeable, arrogant, even, but something about Park Jimin puts him on edge. Not to mention that the idea of himself putting Park Jimin on edge is extremely enticing.

"Trust me, sir, I know. You do talk an awful lot." Jimin replies sharply, quick witted and blunt. His words sting a bit, but Jungkook is once again torn between being a fan of that fact and loathing it. No one ever has the courage to talk back to him. As if the way Jungkook's tongue pokes the inside of his cheek thoughtfully is a sign for Jimin to keep going, a sign that Jungkook won't chastise him for his hierarchically inappropriate words, Jimin continues. "But I was referring to our exchange in the men's room yesterday."

"And what about it, Mr. Park?" Jungkook asks, almost defensively. He knows that a major topic of their prior conversation had to do with his marriage, and Jungkook really doesn't want to discuss that.

"I'm trying to tell you, sir. So, please, if you'd like to know, let me speak." Jimin reprimands him, and Jungkook sighs with finality. Park Jimin just won the made up battle Jungkook had constructed in his mind. Jungkook doesn't know why he's acting this way, so immaturely, but he has a feeling it's because his bothered mood and the unidentifiable emotions Park Jimin makes him feel in the pit of his stomach don't mix well. He spins his chair around to face the window, feeling uncomfortable beneath Jimin's gaze.

"Fine, then. Carry on." He orders.

"I think it's safe to say that yesterday's case was unjust." Jungkook raises his eyebrows, letting the surprise show on his face freely now that he has his back to Park Jimin. Of course, he agreed with that statement, but thinking something and speaking it aloud are two totally different things. Jimin is only an intern. Saying something like that could get him fired easily. As much as Park Jimin confuses him, Jungkook admires his bravery. "That court had their verdict made before you even opened your mouth. That's...that's not fair."

"Mr. Park, life--"

"Life isn't fair, I know." Jimin cuts Jungkook off, and Jungkook can't even be mad about it since that was what he was going to say, so he just shuts his mouth. "Still. Isn't that the point of a legal system? Justness and fairness? Equality?"

"The point of America is to be a free land, where everyone is entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Newsflash, Park: not everyone in America gets that quote, unquote, 'right.'" Jungkook says truthfully. "Why are you surprised the legal system contradicts itself, too?" Jungkook knows that bold statements like that could get him fired, too, but he senses an unspoken agreement that they will each keep quiet to their higherups about this.

"It's not surprise so much as anger." Jimin corrects him. "Anger hardly does the feeling justice, to be honest. It's more like...rage. Pure rage." Jungkook hears Park Jimin's voice get tight with that rage, and can sense his sincerity now. "I'm enraged, and disappointed, but not surprised. Not at all. And I know you are too. I saw it in your eyes yesterday, sir." Jungkook bites his lip, knowing Park Jimin just hit the nail right on the head. That's exactly how he feels, to a T. "Mr. Walker is just one example of someone being deprived of their right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The sixth amendment says everyone is guaranteed the right to a fair trial, but his trial was undisputably unfair."

"Well, it's undisputable to you and I, Mr. Park. To those judges, to at least half of the country...it's very disputable." Jungkook tries to reason realistically, tries to keep hold of the truth and discern it from what he wishes it would be. He knows that racism is unarguably wrong, but other people believe with the same amount of conviction that there is nothing wrong with it.

"Well, what if we could make them see that it isn't?" Jimin asks, clearly exasperated at this point. Jungkook slowly turns his chair around again, and he sees the pleading, desperate yet strong and determined expression on Jimin's features. He's standing up now, as if he had been pacing in front of Jungkook's desk, but then, he leans forward, his hands on the desk and his face just inches from Jungkook's own. "Mr. Jeon, what if we could prove to them that Mr. Walker is innocent?"

"Park, you know just as well as I do that all the evidence we have was presented to them, and the guilty verdict stood." Jungkook says in even tones, his eyes unwavering from Jimin's.

"But, what if we found some more evidence? Something even they couldn't twist into falsehood?" Jimin persists, and Jungkook lets out a humorless chuckle, one eyebrow quirking in question.

"And, what exactly do you have in mind?" Jungkook asks incredulously, clearly not buying Jimin's ideas.

"You said it yourself, yesterday in the bathroom. You said, verbatim, 'The name of the killer would suffice.'" Jimin says, voice low and intense. Jungkook's face falls as his brain connects the dots as to what Park Jimin is insinuating.

"You can't be serious." Jungkook murmurs lowly, and Park Jimin's lips curl up into a smile that makes Jungkook's stomach do backflips. 

"Serious as a heart attack, Mr. Jeon." Jimin states confidently. "But, the real question, is...are you? Are you serious about what you said?" 

"Never mind if I'm serious, Park! We don't even know who the real killer is!"Jungkook dismisses his question entirely. Jimin groans and stands up straight, rolling his neck as if this conversation has tired him out.

"Do I need to spell it out for you? I'm suggesting we find them!" 

"I knew exactly what you're suggesting, Park! I just think it's a terrible idea!"

"God, you're so..." Jimin breathes out.

"Charming and devilishly handsome?" Jungkook interrupts. Jimin just smirks at him, mischief glinting in his eyes. "I advise you to be very careful of what you finish your sentence with if you like your job, Park."

"Try...stupid, and devilishly frustrating." Jimin corrects him anyway, and Jungkook's eyes narrow at him, but Jimin doesn't show any signs of fear. God, this man is infuriating, Jungkook thinks to himself.

"Me? I'm the stupid one? You're the one suggesting we try to uncover the real killer, which we would have to do without the help of the police and without being detected by them, either. The entire idea is illegal. That's profoundly stupid, if you ask me. Not to mention, the person we're looking for is a murderer! You want to know what murderers do, Mr. Park? They murder people! If they catch us before we catch them, we're dead meat." Jungkook says matter-of-factly. Jimin rolls his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest. "Look, Park, I can see you want to be brave and make things right for Mr. Walker. Believe me, I want to make things right, too. But, there's a fine line between bravery and stupidity, and you're toeing it."

"Luckily, no one asked you if the idea was stupid or not. I asked you if you wanted to help. You and I both know that if the real killer made a confession, it could get Mr. Walker out of jail. Hell, if we play our cards right, this could not only clear his name, but go into landmark case territory, set a precedent. It could help so many other people like him, Mr. Jeon." Jimin insists. When Jungkook doesn't say anything, Jimin sighs. "Listen, I know this sounds crazy. I'm aware that I sound like an idiot. You could very well be right, and this whole idea could be stupid. But I'd rather be a guy that's stupid and has tried his best to make things right than be a guy that's safe and hasn't tried hard enough. I've made my choice. You need to make yours. Which guy to you want to be?"Jimin asks, and Jungkook's heart contracts. 

He's right, he's right, Jungkook knows Jimin is right. As terrified as he of what Jimin is proposing, he knows he would much rather have fought tooth and nail for Mr. Walker than give up now. He's having trouble moving on from this case, and it has only been one day. If he exhausts every last option, including Jimin's suggestion, he can at least allow himself to move on with his life. If he goes along with Park Jimin, he might be able to go back to loving his squeaky chair, his job, and his wife. He won't feel so incredibly discouraged with his own life, on top of saving Bruce Walker's. 

Jungkook has his mind made up. But, there's no way in hell he'll make himself sound like an idiot in front of Park Jimin by giving in now. So, instead, he says "I'll think about it." Jimin's smile somehow changes, and there's a sense of gratitude in it now that make's Jungkook want to return the smile. Jungkook almost lets himself smile, but the muscles in his face are so used to frowning that even Park Jimin's infectious smile can't help him out.

"If you're on board, meet me in Washington Square Park on Friday night at nine o'clock. Don't be late." Park Jimin orders him, and Jungkook just sighs as the other man walks over to the door and opens it to leave.

"You're welcome, Mr. Park." Jungkook says with a pointed look, and Jimin glances over his shoulder at him with a grin on his lips.

"I'll thank you when you've done something worth my gratitude, Mr. Jeon." Jimin replies snidely, and shuts the door before Jungkook can get the last word. Jungkook lets out the breath he didn't realize he was holding and slumps in his chair. In response, his chair squeaks.

But, for the first time all day, Jungkook isn't bothered by it at all.

eeeeeeeek the plot is progressing so well i'm hype

lmk your thoughts & thanks for reading hehehe!! <3