The things I'd do to bend over for him. The pic I used is exactly how I imagine Commander Park in this story. Long, fluffy hair, some waves, messy af, curtains his face... ah shit, I'm drooling.

┊ ˚➶ ｡˚𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓒𝓪𝓻𝓻𝓲𝓪𝓰𝓮 𝓱𝓮𝓵𝓭 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓳𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓞𝓾𝓻𝓼𝓮𝓵𝓿𝓮𝓼 𝓐𝓷𝓭 𝓘𝓶𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓽𝓪𝓵𝓲𝓽𝔂 ˚｡➶˚┊

"Should I ask what's wrong, or is there no point?"

Y/n grunted, Jungkook taking that as a "there's no point" and deciding to keep quiet. The staircase made her want to die, her legs wobbling from both what just happened to her and how many flights they had climbed. They were nearing the top, Jungkook's bag jostling as they approached the top floor.

The staircase smelled of sweat, likely from how many people were channeled in and out of the cramped space. Stains covered the walls, Y/n tracing her hand by them and wondering where they came from. She couldn't tell if it was dried vomit, coffee, or a mix of both.

"Right here," Jungkook said, hesitating. "Once we step inside the Emperor's room, that's it. There's no going back."

"That's what we're here for," Tae said, Hoseok and Y/n agreeing. Taehyung went over to Jungkook, rubbing his shoulder. The poor boy was still in pain from the gunshot wound he endured. "Hey, it's okay. You can do this."

"And if I can't?"

"You will," Taehyung whispered, back-hugging Jungkook as if that'd comfort him. "We have faith in you."

"I wish I had faith in me," Jungkook said before slipping out of Tae's grasp and opening the door. The others followed him, noticing the room dead ahead. The Emperor's hotel room. Y/n felt bile rise in the back of her throat, but she held it back in favor of tip-toeing closer. Jungkook knelt, popping open the keycard scanner and getting to work with hacking it.

Y/n glanced at the cameras, hoping her mask and hood hid her identity well enough. The others seemed as though they were hoping the same. Hoseok shrunk himself, cowering back and staying as far away from the action as possible. Taehyung stayed right by Jungkook's side but made sure to keep his head away from any prying eyes.

One minute later, the door opened, Jungkook letting out a breath. "Come on, we need to hurry."

They did. They entered, shuffling through the room and finding the safe in the corner. Jungkook got to work, tapping on the hologram and attempting to open it. Hoseok kept watch, Y/n sticking with Tae.

"Search the rest of the room just in case Park missed something," he murmured.

Y/n agreed, slipping inside one of the rooms and finding an office. A window sat on the left, a bookshelf the size of the entire wall across from her. She went to the desk and searched it. She cursed. The Emperor and his damn gadgets. She wasn't familiar with them due to living in poverty her entire life. That meant she couldn't hack into the holograms and discover all the Emperor's dirty secrets-

"Y/n!"

She ran out and spotted Jungkook holding a pile of papers. Unlike the rest of the room, it wasn't technology. She went over and glanced at them, the grin on Jungkook's face warming her soul.

"Holy shit," he muttered, flipping through the sheets.

"Slow down. What is this?"

"Where does the Emperor keep his money?"

"His castle," she replied, but Jungkook's tongue click told her otherwise.

"Here." He pointed to the blueprints in his hands, showing a giant wall that appeared to have a bunker planted in the middle of it. It almost looked like a dam. "Near the outskirts, close to the sea where the Emperor's Flagship is. It's called Gestorben. Heavily guarded, but in the bunker is where the Emperor keeps all of it, Y/n. His money, the guard schedules, the uniforms, the weapons - all of it. Do you realize how big this is?"

"If we break inside..."

"We'll destroy the Emperor's income," Jungkook finished in a low tone, the excitement bouncing in his voice sounding euphoric to her. "This is the biggest opportunity we have. The guards won't get paid if we steal the money. You know what that means?"

"They'll quit or worse."

"Join the rebellion. Holy shit, Y/n. We can get freedom. We could, this will change the tide of the war."

"We can get freedom," she repeated, the words feeling foreign as they left her tongue. Her and Jungkook laughed, embracing. He gave her a squeeze before pulling back. He folded the papers and put them inside his bag.

"Let's get out of here before the guards come."

Hoseok and Taehyung followed Y/n to the office, Jungkook using the butt of the grapple gun to destroy the window. He handed everyone one hook, the metal of the weapon sliding into her hands. She attached it to the wall, not stopping until she was sure the thing wouldn't budge.

"Shut the door and block it," Hoseok said, Taehyung obeying as Jungkook double-checked everyone's grapple.

"Keep your feet steady and run down the side. Wrap the wire around yourself so you don't lose your grip on the gun," Jungkook said, helping her wrap the wire around her waist. He helped Hoseok too. When Taehyung was done blocking off the door with the Emperor's desk and chair, he came over. Together, they prepared for the drop. She peeked out the window, her body stiffening.

That was a long drop.

She didn't realize how far hundred floors was until she peeped out the window. Her gulp halted in her throat and refused to go any further. Jungkook rubbed her shoulder as he stepped on the windowsill, shards of glass cracking under his boots.

"You can do it. Just don't take your eyes off me. Maybe look at my ass? It's a big target," Jungkook said with a bunny-like grin.

"I hate you."

"Oh good, you're back to being grumpy. What's wrong? Can't last ten seconds without your dashing knight in shining armor to hold your hand?"

She tilted her head. "What?"

"Commander Park?" Jungkook asked, waggling his brows.

"Jungkook," Hoseok said, tugging on his wire to check if it was secure. "We need to get out of here."

"Sorry sir, but Y/n's love life is far more important to me than our imminent deaths."

"I'm on Y/n's side," Tae said with a fake smile as he glared at Jungkook. "I hate you."

Without another word, Tae took off. He led the charge. Y/n watched as Tae stepped down the building, his shoes squeaking against the glass. Hoseok went after him, running down with more confidence. Then again, Hoseok didn't have as much to live for as the rest of them. Jungkook followed, holding out his hand to her.

"Come on, I'll help. We need to go," he said, her nodding. She slipped her hand into his. Together, they scaled the building with their hidden weapons clashing against their backs.

The wind brushed by, Y/n trembling more with every step she took. Her legs stiffened. She swore her knees felt like they were about to snap. Still, Jungkook held on. He brought her with him as Taehyung and Hoseok gained distance. They were closer to the bottom than Y/n and Jungkook, and Y/n didn't know if that relieved her or not.

"Not too much further!" Jungkook shouted over the rushing wind.

"We're on like the eightieth floor you jackass!"

"Well that's better than the eighty-first!"

Y/n rolled her eyes and continued their journey, the glass shaking under her. She held onto the wire and Jungkook for dear life. She had never felt so much fear before. Her eyes watered both from the wind and the terror. She wondered if she'd freeze up. Seeing as Jungkook was practically dragging her, she figured it wouldn't matter; he wouldn't leave her behind.

They ran down the building, Y/n glancing over to see a Bassa storming the City. She almost lost her balance. So, that was Park's distraction? She had to admit it was nice work, but dangerous. A Bassa was no easy foe. If he lured it in, was he okay? Did he make it out?

Her heart burned, her mind racing, but she had to focus. One wrong step would cost her her life. So, she forced herself to tune in as they traversed. The cold air bit at her ringing ears. All she could smell was her snot. Maybe her tears, too.

"Focus on me, Y/n," Jungkook said. His curly hair blew behind him as he stared at his target: the ground. She kept her eyes on him the entire way. Surprisingly, it worked. The time slipped away as she focused on the side profile of her best friend. She fell into her memories, seeing him sitting in front of their makeshift campfire and singing songs. Y/n would kill to hear his sweet voice sing a lullaby right about now.

Two minutes later, they made it to the ground, unhooking themselves and dashing into the forest. Jungkook pranced around and grinned, but all of them kept quiet. They weren't out of trouble yet.

They went through the forest, avoiding the bugs that hissed at them as they passed. Jungkook kept his hand on his sword, Y/n doing the same. If Park lured a Bassa into the City, that meant he had to get it from somewhere. Y/n knew what that meant.

"Cut through here, then we go into the City and take off our disguises. Act like normal people, they won't recognize us," Hoseok said, cutting through the vines that hung from the curved trees.

They followed Hoseok's orders, stripping themselves of their disguises and hiding their weapons as best they could. Jungkook shoved his sword in his bag, covering it with Y/n's hood just in case. Then, they entered the City.

People were fleeing. Sweat stuck to the air and flooded Y/n's nostrils until her tongue overflowed with saliva. She swallowed the taste of her vile breath, rubbing her arms. Her fingers trembled as they touched the goosebumps on her skin. Her loose tunic hung off her, the strings banging against her chest.

"Split up. Jungkook, make a straight shot for the outskirts, you have the information," Hoseok mumbled, Jungkook agreeing. Jungkook broke off and went on his own, disappearing from their sight and slipping between the buildings.

The crowds slammed into them, Y/n gasping and only staying on her feet thanks to Taehyung. Tae guided her through, keeping his hand on her back and helping her toward the outskirts. They were ten minutes away at best. It didn't help that guards were rushing around and inspecting half of the civilians that passed. Y/n found herself searching for Park, but due to the chaos, she couldn't spot him.

Hoseok ended up sprinting after Jungkook, likely to back him up just in case. That meant they got lost in the crowd. Y/n stayed with Tae while Hoseok ran off. She pressed against him and begged whatever higher power was watching over them that her and Tae got out safely.

Two minutes later, they did. They parted from the crowd and reached a dark alleyway with trash piled up in circles. The waste stank of vomit and expired food. Her heart burned looking at all the wasted products the outskirts of New Theon could have used.

"We're out of the thick of it," Tae said, Y/n agreeing. She fiddled with her fingers, Tae tilting his head. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, but we should get back. Jungkook and Hoseok are probably waiting for us," she replied, Taehyung stopping her and forcing them to lock eyes. It seemed as though he was trying to convince her to talk, but she brushed it off and forced a smile. "Don't worry about it. We won. Let's go celebrate." He dropped it, but he was right. There was something on her mind. Or, more like someone.

Commander Park.

┊ ˚➶ ｡˚˚｡➶˚┊

Jungkook sang.

The sweet melody filled her ears and intoxicated her. She leaned into his touch, cuddling with him as the fire cracked before them. They were in the forest, their secret spot they snuck away to whenever life got hard. That meant they snuck out often, but they hadn't in a while due to the rebellion taking priority. Now, a day after the successful hotel heist, they sat and experienced what it meant to be alive.

The subtle moments like these were what gave Y/n a reason to keep going. She watched everyone she loved die. The only people she had left were the rebellion. Jungkook especially, but a new contender was weaving his way up. She hated that he was, but she couldn't deny the pull he had on her.

Commander Park.

That asshole was cunning and charming. As much as it killed her to admit, he was attractive. He had a sharp jawline and smooth, plump lips she adored. It didn't help that he was talented. The talent happened to be with weapons, but she admired that. In this day and age, weapons were imperative for survival.

It felt so trivial to say she liked him. She never went to school, not that any of the villages ever had it anyway, but she felt as though she was in a school, gushing over the mysterious boy that sat in the back of the class. She found herself attracted to his intelligence and charm. Although he didn't smile much, when he did, she got pulled in even more. It didn't help that he fucked her well despite how he left her a minute later.

"Want to talk about why you were waiting outside all day?" Jungkook asked, stopping his singing. She groaned from the sudden lack of peace, picking her head up to gaze into his dark eyes.

"I like fresh air."

"You hate standing."

"That's because I'm getting old. Standing is hard on my knees," Y/n said, Jungkook snorting. After, he sighed and brushed a strand of hair out of her face.

"You were waiting for him, weren't you?" She didn't answer. "Waiting for him to come home?"

"He brought a Bassa to the City. That's far too dangerous. What if he...?"

"He's Commander Park. You really think he's going to die to a Bassa of all things? He's either going out by stabbing himself or not going out at all." She appreciated Jungkook's attempt at humor, but it didn't ease her worries. He sensed it, pulling her back in and embracing her. "Hey, listen, I'm sure he's okay. We won, Y/n. We should be celebrating with the others."

"Celebrate? What are they celebrating with? The one half-empty bottle of wine we have? The leftover Mimos meat that can feed two people at most? We won a battle, not the war. We're still dying. I'd rather sit outside and wait for him."

"Are you saying that because you want to help the rebellion, or because you like him?" he asked, but it sounded like a statement.

"We're a rebellion. There's no time for feelings like that-"

"Don't be boring, that's the Emperor's job. Add some spice to my life, L/n. Tell me how you really feel."

She stayed quiet for perhaps a second too long. "He's an asshole. He's cocky, arrogant, and irritating."

Jungkook shrugged. "Well, yeah. He's not a good person."

She dropped her head, closing her eyes. "He doesn't know who he is. I thought we had it bad out here, but I'm starting to think he has it worse. Jungkook, the Emperor sells him. For all the bad that's happened to us, I'm grateful nothing like that came our way. But it does for him. He has scars on his back he won't tell me the origin of. He has genuine fear of Namjoon, Yoongi, and the Emperor. We have fear, but not in the same way he does. I'm scared. I'm scared for him and us and all of New Theon. This whole time, I thought we were on the right side."

"You don't think we are?"

"I know we're not. I'm not saying the Emperor's right either, but how many of those guards are like Park? How many of them are slaves to the system they can never defeat? How many are sacrificing morals for the sake of their families? We're slaughtering innocent people, planning to take away their money and food, trying to destroy their livelihoods, and all because they're just doing their jobs. I'm not saying we should stop since I don't think we should, but it gives you something to think about, doesn't it?"

Jungkook paused. "Yeah... yeah, I guess it does."

After a moment of silence, Jungkook hummed, stroking her hair and causing her to fall into a euphoric state. There weren't many times in her life where she knew what ecstasy felt like. Relationships were low on the priority list during war, so she hadn't had many partners before. Most of the time she resorted to casual hookups, like what she assumed she was doing with Park.

Then there was her lack of family. No biological family members of hers were alive. She considered Jungkook, Tae, Jin, and Hoseok her family. Sometimes Kastor, depending on the day. Her friends were in the rebellion, living in the various buildings scattered around their new town. She wondered if the entire rebellion could live in one place one day. It was a dream. A weak one at best.

"We've been fighting for almost two decades," she mumbled, Jungkook continuing to hum. "We're destroying ourselves for a world we'll never see."

"But the kids will. The future will."

"What future is left?"

"You're starting to sound like Hobi," Jungkook said, keeping a hand on her hair. "I know I'm a fuck-up, Y/n. My parents didn't love me even before they died, and I doubt they'd love me now either. I didn't love me. I still don't. All I have left is an obsession to take down the Emperor. If you take that away, there's nothing left."

"Jeon Jungkook is left."

"And not even Jeon Jungkook knows who that is," Jungkook whispered, Y/n shutting her eyes and soaking in his warmth. "I dreamed of a world where I can be whoever I wanted, but I realized that to get that dream, I have to know what to want. I don't know what that is."

"I wish I could tell you, Kook, but I don't know myself either."

"I know you," Jungkook said, giving her a squeeze. "You're a stubborn piece of shit."

"And you're extremely charming."

He chuckled. "But you're more than that. You're the woman who leads us. Hoseok is just the face, you're the brain that keeps him alive. When this is over, you'll lead New Theon to prosperity. No one will ever starve again. You'll give us peace."

"That's all I've ever wanted, but this world keeps taking and taking. Do you think I'll ever get to lead?" she asked, glancing up at her best friend. The man's sharp jawline came into view, his pinky stub reaching up to scratch his chin. He realized the finger was no longer there and dropped his hand, forcing a smile as he met her eyes.

"Yeah, I think you will."

┊ ˚➶ ｡˚𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓒𝓪𝓻𝓻𝓲𝓪𝓰𝓮 𝓱𝓮𝓵𝓭 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓳𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓞𝓾𝓻𝓼𝓮𝓵𝓿𝓮𝓼 𝓐𝓷𝓭 𝓘𝓶𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓽𝓪𝓵𝓲𝓽𝔂 ˚｡➶˚┊

A/N: This is a long story, but I consider it two "halves" that I'll talk about more when we get to the second half. We're about halfway through the first half, so I figured I'd ask: how are you guys liking it so far? How do you feel about Park? And, of course, how do you feel about Park x Y/n? I'd love to hear your thoughts since it'll help me steer the story in the right direction. 

P.S. Thanks again to everyone who voted. I'm going to set up another vote goal soon for The Cop From Busan, a police officer Jimin AU. I'm thinking 350-400 votes before 2k reads will be my goal for the next one, but we'll see.

Thank you guys for reading!