The Mystery Which Binds Me Still
The main members of the Rebellion: Intelligence Expert Jeon Jungkook, Officer Kim, Captain Jung, and Ambassador Kim Seokjin
Commander Park, the Emperor's puppet
┊ ˚➶ 。˚ 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓜𝔂𝓼𝓽𝓮𝓻𝔂 𝓦𝓱𝓲𝓬𝓱 𝓑𝓲𝓷𝓭𝓼 𝓜𝓮 𝓢𝓽𝓲𝓵𝓵 ˚。➶˚┊
Her life was a dying light, fading from the sharpest eyes.
There he was: Commander Park. The rain caused his hair to stick to the sides of his face. His suit was damp, the cloak trailing behind him as he came closer. Y/n and Jungkook stepped back on instinct. Her first thought was to protect the rebellion. She had to lead the commander away from the tent. However, seeing as the man was already eyeing it, it appeared her plan came too late.
"What do you want?" Y/n asked even though Jungkook was in front of her.
"You caused quite the commotion at the address. The Emperor won't be happy about this," Commander Park said.
Commander Park kept trotting closer, almost as if he was waltzing his way over to the pair. Every step had his gaze narrowing more, showing off those siren eyes of his. Y/n had no weapons, neither did Jungkook. They were inside the tent. Every time there was an address, guards stormed into the town and gathered the citizens, searching them for weapons. It was foolish to try and hide a weapon from them; it'd only result in their deaths.
"That's a big tent," Commander Park continued, drawing his sword. "Care to show me what's inside?"
Jungkook and Y/n peered at one another, but there was no turning back. Jungkook did what was asked of them. Together, the three of them entered, stepping inside the gigantic tent. It was wide enough to fit over a dozen people, although there were only six there including the three that had just stepped in.
The rebellion's leader, Jung Hoseok, turned and froze upon seeing the devil inside. The other two, Kim Taehyung and Kim Seokjin, ran away. They went to the back exit, sneaking out as if Commander Park hadn't already seen them.
"Those two are imbeciles. I already saw their faces," Commander Park said, sheathing his sword.
The tent had several tables set up, with metal chairs that creaked whenever someone sat on them placed in front of the round objects. Commander Park took it upon himself to sit, crossing his legs and leaning back. He stared at them with his seductive gaze. Y/n attempted to contain herself, but her hands balled into fists anyway.
"What the hell is he doing here?" Captain Jung asked, Y/n waving it off. It didn't matter, Commander Park spoke before she could anyway.
"I'm cracking down on the rebellion. I have reason to believe this tent is harboring rebellion leaders. Names please."
"Jung Hoseok," Hoseok said. "Jeon Jungkook and Y/n L/n are my friends. Not rebellion."
"And that's why Miss L/n spoke up at the address?" Commander Park asked, clicking his tongue. "You have interesting friends."
"Watch your mouth," Y/n said, storming forward. Jungkook held her back. Commander Park had a glint of amusement in his irises as he smirked.
"Or what?" He stood, drawing his sword. The room froze at that. "Was watching me decapitate a man not enough? Do you need a more... creative example of what happens when you disobey the Emperor?"
"You're a fucking monster," she said, sucking in a breath and holding back tears. "You've killed my friends. I bet you killed my parents, too. All you do is take and destroy the things that aren't yours."
"Ah, the classic hypocrisy of the rebellion. Claiming I am the one who killed your friends as if they didn't bring it on themselves. They broke the rules, they knew the consequences." Commander Park paused, sheathing his sword once more. "I've heard there are stories about me. If the Emperor ever let me out of that damn castle, maybe I'd know them. Care to fill me in on what the people say?"
"They call you the devil," Jungkook mumbled, pulling Y/n behind him. "The Reaper, too."
"They say your sword traps the souls of its victims inside," Hoseok added, Commander Park grinning at that. It was strange. For a man so repulsive and monstrous, he had a charming smile that crinkled his eyes. "A villager once said you killed three men with one sword stroke. Decapitated them with a single swing."
Commander Park hummed, tapping his fingers against the wooden table. It wasn't until now Y/n realized he was missing the ring finger on his left hand.
"I'm sure you have drinks, don't you? Fetch me something. Alcohol, preferably."
Not knowing what else to do, Y/n and Captain Jung fulfilled the request. It was dim inside. There were lanterns set up, the grassy ground brushing by their legs as they strolled by. Jungkook monitored Commander Park while Y/n went with Hoseok to the corner of the room, where their refreshments were. Seeing as this was a discrete rebel base, they had snacks and beverages scattered all over the place along with paperwork and files, plans for future attacks. But, it was empty. The tent that was once packed now consisted of three rebellion members. Five if you counted the two who fled.
"I think he tracked me," Y/n murmured as Hoseok poured alcohol into a wooden cup. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to risk the operation. Maybe this is our chance to take him out."
"Take out the Reaper? I appreciate the optimism, but that's not happening." Hoseok finished pouring, his posture faltering. "I've been leading this operation for too long, Y/n. Everyone's relying on me, but we keep getting beat at every turn, including now. When will I get some peace? I just want to close my eyes for a little while."
She gave his shoulder a squeeze. "We'll get through this."
"At least one of us is hopeful," Hoseok muttered, a hint of venom in his tone as he stalked away.
Back when Y/n and Hoseok had first met years ago, he was the most optimistic man she knew. He started the rebellion in hopes of freeing New Theon from the Emperor's rule. Then, as more and more people died, many in his arms, he lost that spark. She wished she knew a way to get it back. She thought becoming a martyr would reignite the spark. Commander Park ruined that.
Hoseok placed the drink in front of Commander Park, and the man didn't bother thanking him for it. He took a swig, his legs still pressed together. When he was done, he smacked his mouth, rubbing his tongue along the outside of his lips to suck up any residue left over from the drink.
"I'm not here to kill you," Commander Park said, the trio halting at that. "The rebellion is in shambles."
"Thanks to you," Y/n said, rolling her eyes.
Commander Park glanced at her boots instead of answering her. "Nice shoes."
"You'll have to pry them from my cold, dead body."
Commander Park kept his smirk, his tongue shooting out again to moisten his lips. He didn't take his eyes off her the whole time. "That can be arranged."
"Enough," Hoseok said, stepping between them. "Why won't you kill us? What does it matter that the rebellion is in shambles? That doesn't change how you know about us."
Commander Park stayed silent. He didn't answer for a long beat. Not because he didn't have an answer. Y/n figured he had an answer for everything. Instead, Commander Park chose not to answer. It was as if he was trying to tell them he was in control of the conversation, and it would go where he wanted it to go.
"I kept princess alive for a reason," Commander Park said, pointing to Y/n.
"What the fuck did you just call me you piece of shit-"
"Don't engage," Jungkook interrupted, holding Y/n back from her rampage. This was the man who slaughtered hundreds, and here he was smirking and laughing at her expense. He chuckled and took another sip from his cup, Y/n doing everything she could to claw past Jungkook. "I know you've trained hard, but no one's trained hard enough to beat him."
With that, Y/n gave in. She couldn't argue with logic, as much as she wanted to. She'd give her left lung to have a run at Commander Park for the atrocities he committed.
"The Emperor is going to interrogate me about why I kept you alive," Commander Park said, continuing as if nothing had happened. "I'm still coming up with a good excuse, but let me tell you the real reason."
He stood, leaving his alcohol behind and brushing himself off. The cloak draping behind him followed as he approached. His four-fingered hand fell to his belt to grasp it while his five-fingered one held the handle of his sword. It went quiet again. Hoseok reached for his concealed knife. Y/n wished she could do the same.
"I want to join you," he finished, smiling afterwards.
It was their turn to fall silent. They heard the rain outside, same with the Mimos that had nothing to mimic but wind. No people were around other than the four inside the tent. Y/n was shuddering, Jungkook too stunned to bother with holding her like he normally would.
She picked at the calluses on her hands, her bulging eyes darting between Commander Park and Captain Jung. Captain Jung wasn't trembling like Jungkook and Y/n. He had his eyes set on the man who massacred the rebellion. The man who decapitated helpless civilians. The man who smiled through it all. Yet Hoseok only opened his mouth and said the one word Y/n never thought she'd hear.
"Okay."
┊ ˚➶ 。˚ 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓜𝔂𝓼𝓽𝓮𝓻𝔂 𝓦𝓱𝓲𝓬𝓱 𝓑𝓲𝓷𝓭𝓼 𝓜𝓮 𝓢𝓽𝓲𝓵𝓵 ˚。➶˚┊
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