When Jeongguk opened his eyes again, he was no longer in the cemetery. He wasn't lying on the soggy ground that stuck to his naked body. No rain was streaming down his face. His pupils, however, did not penetrate the harsh light of the morning, but the delicate twilight that prevailed around him. At first, he didn't know what had really awakened him. It took a moment for him to hear the flapping of wings and realize that a moment ago he had heard a loud croaking that was apparently the cause of his interrupted sleep. He pushed himself up on his forearms and looked at the perpetrator of this cruel wake-up.

The crow was sitting on the pile of cardboard boxes in the middle of the warehouse. Jeongguk broke in here last night to hide from the rain for a while and warm up his frozen body. He was going to stay here until the rain calmed down, but before he knew it, Morpheus took him into his embrace. Apparently he must have slept all night here. He wasn't sure what time it might be, but it was definitely another day.

He blinked a few times, allowing his eyes to adjust to the lighting, then stood up slowly. He was sleeping in a sitting position, leaning against some cardboard boxes. So his body felt a bit sore from this unusual position. He stretched and twisted his head involuntarily from side to side to loosen his stiff neck. He was still wearing the clothes he had stolen from a group of strangers yesterday, so he adjusted the leather jacket over his bare shoulders and pulled up his pants, which were sliding a little too low on his narrow hips, and approached the crow cautiously.

Only when he was one step away from it did he notice that the bird was holding something in its beak. He pinched his eyebrows together and gently parted his lips to ask what it was, when suddenly the raven, as if understanding his intentions, opened its beak, letting what it held in it fell to the ground, landing at his feet still clothed in heavy, black shoes. The black-haired man looked at the ground, then bent down and grabbed in his fingers what the bird had just dropped. A key appeared to his eyes. He twisted it carefully in his fingers, as if hoping that if he looks at it closely enough, he might remember something. However, nothing like that happened. So he shifted his gaze to the raven that seemed to be watching him.

"What is this?" He asked, as if the bird could answer him.

In response, the bird only croaked loudly and then took off for flight. The raven, however, did not fly far. On the contrary, it flew as if it wanted Jeongguk to follow it. So without thinking for a long time, the black-haired man followed in the footsteps of the bird. When the bird flew out through a small barrel located above the exit. He pushed carefully at the warehouse door and made his way back through the narrow slit. As soon as he left the warehouse, he was greeted by quite intense morning light. There was hardly a single cloud in the sky now, the puddles from yesterday's downpour were almost completely dry, disappearing from the cracked pavements. But there was still a damp smell in the air. Although perhaps it was only due to his acute senses that he was able to feel it at all.

Yesterday he only stole the jacket, so his chest was still naked underneath it. As he felt the crisp air lash against his skin, an unpleasant shiver ran down his strong back, his body shuddering. His jet black hair was still curled into the soft waves from yesterday's downpour, so he combed it gently with his fingers, then slipped his hands into the pockets of his black jeans and started walking. The pants taken from the assaulted man turned out to be a bit too loose at the waist, making them slide a little more than they should be, exposing the hipbones and lower abs creating a sexy V-line that tightened with every movement, but he didn't care. It didn't matter what he looked like now.

He followed the raven quickly, taking long, confident steps. This time his body showed no signs of fatigue. On the contrary. He felt as if he was bursting with strength. He moved nimbly, almost gliding along the sidewalk like a black panther. He felt that his senses were extremely acute, especially his hearing, which allowed him to locate various sounds from far farther away than the human ear could. He couldn't explain it, but he knew it had something to do with this bird.

His memories were still just a chaotic jumble of images and sounds. He wasn't sure if everything he remembered so far had really happened. It was enough for his eyes to narrow for a moment, and he could accurately recreate that evening. But he couldn't understand how it was possible that in his memories he was dying on the operating table, and now he was pacing the streets of Seoul as if nothing had happened. The last things he remembered from his life went down in his memory when he was under six, and now he was an adult man. He couldn't remember what he was doing the night before, and for some reason he was sure he didn't even exist then, yet he could feel the pulse in his wrist and feel his heart pounding in his chest, speeding up with each successive step.

Was it even possible? Has anyone brought him back to life? If so, for what purpose was he allowed to return?

He couldn't make sense of it all or any logical explanation of what had really happened, but he felt that this black bird might help him find answers. He couldn't explain it, but he felt some strange, inexplicable bond with it.

He ran across the street and headed towards the slightly busier part of the city. As he passed one of the shop windows, he almost automatically slowed his pace and studied his reflection with interest. He had expected to see the same strange makeup that adorned his face yesterday when he first saw his face in the car window. This time, however, his skin was a natural color. It was even gently sun-kissed, swarthy. The lips were a raspberry shade, and there was not even a hint of shadow under the dark, almost black eyes.

He stared at himself for a moment. He raised his right hand and ran his fingertips over the skin. He could feel the slight stubble beneath them, as if he hadn't shaved in days, but otherwise his skin was warm, soft, blemish-free. He knew it was his face, but he couldn't remember if he had ever seen it like this before.

He was handsome. His eyes were very dark, pupils almost hard to distinguish from irises. They were also quite large, especially for a person with Korean roots, surrounded by long, thick eyelashes. As he stared at them, he was almost able to see the six-year-old boy staring at his mirror image. He moved his fingertips a little lower, marking the sharp line of the lower jaw and soft, delicate lips. He remembered his mother had the same lips. He inherited them from her. However, as he tried to remember her face, all he could see was how those lips parted in a silent scream, letting a trickle of scarlet blood roll from her mouth and her life disappear from her body.

At this cruel memory, he withdrew his hand sharply and took a few steps back. He didn't want to remember. When the events of that evening began to tear into his head again, he put his hands over his ears to prevent it from happening. He cowered until the screams died down, and the bloody images faded under heavy eyelids.

It was only when the sounds of traffic crept into his ears again that he was able to move. When he looked up, he met the black bird's gaze. The raven tilted its head as if it was watching him, then it croaked loudly and took flight, guiding him further into the city. Jeongguk followed it, not looking at his reflection anymore, fearing that he would see the reflection of his past in it again.

After a dozen or so minutes, however, the raven stopped in front of some small, four-story block. Jeongguk scanned the area carefully, as if he wanted to find something familiar there. They were near the busy and lively Itaewon district, but here it was a bit quieter. He slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out the key that the raven had brought him. He couldn't explain it, but he was sure it was the key to one of the apartments in this block.

Pushed by some inexplicable force, he walked slowly towards the building. He paused in front of the door leading inside and looked at the intercom. He reached cautiously towards the panel and punched in the first code that came to his mind. To his surprise, the door swung open. He stepped inside and took the stairs to the top floor. He didn't even know why he chose this particular one. For some reason, however, he only stopped when he reached the top. There was only one flat here. He looked at the key that now rested in his hand and moistened his lips nervously as he slowly approached the wooden door.

He sucked in a gulp of air and slipped the key into the lock. To his surprise, this one fit perfectly. Holding his breath, he turned it slowly, then carefully pushed the door open. He stood there for a moment longer, gathering the courage to finally go inside. He was afraid of what he might find there, and that he would be flooded with those nightmarish memories again as soon as he stepped through the door. But he knew that if he wanted any answers, he had to. He reached out and pressed his hand against the door. Standing there, he closed his eyes for a moment, trying to even his breath and gather enough courage to finally enter the interior of the apartment. But when he felt something settle on his shoulder, he lifted his eyes again. He didn't know how the raven flew in here, or why he felt a little more secure with it on his shoulder, but thanks to it, he finally managed to move. He pushed the door open and cautiously crossed the threshold of the apartment, listening carefully to see if there was anybody inside.

As he scanned the place, he saw a small loft apartment decorated in a rustic style. The floors, walls and ceiling were made of wood, the smell of which filled the entire interior. In the background, he could see a large circular window that let sunlight in, illuminating the room with a warm glow. There was quite a large double bed under the window, and next to it a shelf full of books. On his left, an open kitchen with a small wooden island and a door that probably led to the toilet. He scanned the room carefully with his eyes and saw nothing unusual. However, what caught his attention was the fact that there was a black case on the bed.

He moistened his lips again and, holding the air in his lungs, approached it. The case was made of a hard material, but it was clearly worn out by time. He noticed that the logos of various famous rock bands that were at the peak of their careers when he was a little boy were stuck to it. Some stickers were also a bit frayed, as if someone had stuck them there a long time ago. Fascinated, he knelt on the ground in front of the low bed and carefully stretched his hands towards the case.

As his fingertips touched the black upholstery, an image of a smiling man crept into his head, with a look so similar to the one he had recently seen in the reflection in the display window. It was enough for him to know who this case belonged to. He traced its texture tenderly, gently lifting the corners of his mouth, but something squeezed painfully in his chest. Holding his breath, he quickly opened the clasp and lifted the lid. As he guessed, there was an electric guitar inside. Before he even picked it up, he knew exactly which model it was ― the Ibanez Prestige RG 1451.

It was his father's guitar.

He scanned the beautiful instrument. The body of the guitar is made of light linden wood, which has been finished in a high gloss black pearl lacquer called Night Crow. He always dreamed of being able to play it. He remembered his father sitting him on his lap and explaining to him how to tighten the strings or how to place his fingers on the fretboard.

He grabbed the neck and carefully took the guitar out of its case. He sat on the edge of the bed and let his fingers dance on the strings, producing a wonderfully familiar sound from the instrument. He had heard that the guitar needed to be tuned a little, but at the sound something squeezed his heart tighter. His father did not do music professionally. But he wouldn't even count the number of times he'd watched him play, wishing he'd be as good at it one day as he was. As a little boy, he dreamed of being a musician.

His fingers glided with passion and precision over the strings, forcing the instrument, unused for years, to come to life in his hands. He didn't have to look at the fretboard, he closed his eyes and, listening to the music filling the little attic apartment, he recalled the image of his father teaching him to play and his mother watching them with a smile on her face. He remembered the evening as clearly as if it had happened yesterday instead of twenty years ago. He tried to focus on that fond memory and not think about the fact that a few hours later, the three of them would face death.

***

The black-haired man adjusted the guitar case that hung on his right shoulder and looked around carefully. He was in the Itaewon district near his apartment. It was one of those parts of the city that was teeming with life almost every day. This is where many great restaurants and bars were located. He's been around for a long time, but hasn't decided to go anywhere yet. He himself did not know what exactly he was waiting for. For some sign?

He hadn't seen the raven since he left the apartment, although he still thought he could feel its eyes on him. So he knew he had no choice but to rely on his own instincts. So far, however, nothing had looked inviting enough to make him decide to go inside. As he passed another bar, he peeked through the ajar door to quickly judge that it wasn't what he was looking for either.

Sighing heavily, he lifted his right hand and ran it through his jet black hair. He did not tie them, so they fell in gentle waves over his shoulders, still clad in the black leather jacket stolen from the tall blond. He decided to replace the rest of his clothes. After inspecting the apartment, he took out clean clothes from the wardrobe. After taking a hot, relaxing bath to wash off the last night's mud, he pulled on jeans and a plain black T-shirt. He also found heavy black boots at the bottom of the wardrobe. So he threw out the ones stolen from one of the men and exchanged for the ones he found in the apartment. As a result, now his feet were adorned with heavy boots that reached the ankle. He didn't even tie them. He let the black laces hang loose around his feet.

He ran across the street and took the road along one of the side alleys. His keen senses picked up the sounds of rock music, which immediately caught his attention. In addition to the vocalist's voice, it seemed to him that he could also hear the melodious voice of the person who seemed to be humming the song under his breath. Fascinated, he followed the voice until he saw a tall man with dark hair. His lips moved gently as he hummed the following lines. Jeongguk stopped and studied him for a moment. The man looked a little older than he was, but probably not much. He was slim, but his shoulders were insanely broad, and his face had delicate, almost angelic features. His slightly fuller lips kept moving.

Jeongguk looked around and saw the man taking the rubbish from the bar next door. The door to the back room was still open, and there were two sacks in the doorway. The stranger lifted the lid of the bin and threw the garbage he was holding in his hands inside, then turned on his heel to start toward the open door. But something obviously caught his attention, because he suddenly turned his face sharply towards him.

"Oh, fuck!" He shouted, placing a hand on his chest. "Oh, jeez! You scared me!" He added, turning completely towards him and carefully measuring him with his eyes, as if to see if he should be afraid of him or not. His body relaxed, however, so he obviously felt he didn't need to be afraid of him. "You can't sneak up on other people like that!" He scolded him.

"Sorry," Jeongguk replied quickly. "I didn't want to scare you, I just heard the music and... I don't know..." He paused for a moment, not quite knowing how to explain what was really driving him.

"It's okay," the other said, waving his hand, then turned on his heel and took a few steps towards the bags left in the doorway. He picked it up and started toward the container again.

"You work here?" The black-haired man asked, looking through the open door to the interior of the building.

The sounds of the song the stranger had been singing a moment ago still heard from inside, and even though he couldn't see much, he felt it was exactly what he was looking for. He looked back at the stranger and followed him closely. The other threw away the bags and closed the trash can lid, then turned back to him.

"It's still closed. We don't open until six," he said, resting his hands on his hips.

His dark eyes carefully scanned the boy's silhouette, pausing for a moment longer on the guitar case that was slung over his right shoulder.

"That's not what I mean... I'd like..." Jeongguk began, but paused, as if carefully weighing the words that are about to come out of his mouth. "I'd like to work here," he said in one breath.

The older one drew his eyebrows together as if he was clearly surprised by his words. This was certainly not what he had expected. He must have taken him for some student who came here to relax a bit after a hard week at the university.

"We don't have enough traffic to hire new bartenders. This is Itaewon. The competition is so strong that we barely manage to break even," the other replied.

Jeongguk considered his words for a moment. Eventually he adjusted the guitar on his shoulder and took a few steps down the aisle, but stopped when he noticed that a tall, well-built man with slightly bleached hair that now looked like a mocha appeared in the door leading to the back room. The other glared at him, then took a step forward and slipped a cigarette between his lips. After setting it on fire, he took a drag and looked at the dark-haired man.

"Is this guy bothering you, honey?" He asked, glancing from Jeongguk to his friend and back again.

Jeongguk noticed that cute dimples appeared in his cheeks as the man spoke, though he himself didn't look a bit cute now. His eyes narrowed and his tall form tensed, as if he was ready to drag him out by his jet black hair. The man was certainly quite a frequent visitor to the gym, which was revealed by his muscular arms and biceps exposed by short sleeves.

The dark-haired one with whom he had spoken a moment ago turned to face him and covered the distance between them. He reached out to stroke his cheek, then placed a gentle kiss on the man's lips.

"Don't worry, Joonie. This boy was just asking if we were looking for a bartender," he explained. After a while, he looked back at Jeongguk. "My husband gets his job as a bodyguard too serious sometimes," he joked. "Anyway... Like I said, we don't need anybody to help."

"I don't want to be a bartender here," Jeongguk said quickly, taking a few steps further, and as he met their confused stares, he shifted the case slightly over his shoulder to reveal the guitar. "I want to play here," he explained.

The bodyguard huffed and took a hard drag on his cigarette, then measured him from head to toe and ran his hand through his bleached hair.

"There's no live music here," he replied, clearly trying to get rid of him.

"Exactly. That's why you're not doing as well as you'd like," Jeongguk replied. "You said yourself that you barely manage to break even..." he added, pointing to the dark-haired man with whom he talked a moment ago, as if he expected the other to support his words.

"Yes. We barely manage to break even, and that is why we cannot afford to hire new people," the one with dimples said with a hard voice. He brought his hand to his mouth and took a long drag on the cigarette. As he did so, he never looked away from the young boy. He stared at him with such determination, as if he didn't trust him. "So? What are you waiting for?" He asked, seeing that the black-haired man would not budge. "Get out of here and stop bothering my husband," he ordered, nodding him away.

The nicer man smiled apologetically at him, then turned away from him and walked towards his husband. Jeongguk stared at his broad shoulders for a moment, then finally looked up a little and once again faced the security guard who was still standing in the doorway. Though the other was silent, he could see his hostile attitude. He could feel his eyes on him. Perhaps he should let go, but something prevented him from doing it, as if he felt this was where he belonged.

"Wait!" He called, trying to stop the dark-haired man from going inside. "What if I play for free?" He asked quickly as the other looked at him again. Hearing his words, the man furrowed his eyebrows together, clearly surprised by his proposal. "If you're not convinced... Let me play here tonight. I will play for free, and if it turns out that the guests like it, and you manage to make a bigger turnover, you will give me a job here. If not... You won't see me tomorrow..." he suggested, deciding to put everything on one card.

He didn't quite understand why he had insisted on this particular place. He needed to find a job to get a steady income, and he didn't know if he could do anything other than playing a guitar at all. But he might have looked for a pub where he would be welcomed with open arms rather than a hostile glare.

He was silent for a moment, only staring at the dark-haired man, hoping that he would give him a chance. When he noticed a loud sigh escaping from his parted lips, and his eyes involuntarily found the security guard's gaze as if seeking his approval, he knew he was on the right track.

"Can you even play?" He asked finally. "I'd rather you didn't scare out our last customers..."

Jeongguk curved his lips in a broad smile. He didn't know why, but he felt just like a child who saw his dream gift lying under the Christmas tree.

"I'm fucking good at this," he replied quickly, and in response he heard only the loud, melodious laugh of a dark-haired man.

***

Taehyung ran his tongue over his lips, feeling his mouth go dry. Their usually soft and delicate texture was a little rough now, dry with an excess of emotions that seemed to fuel his body. He could feel the adrenaline crawling up his back, now clad in a black T-shirt over which he was wearing a bulletproof vest, slowly spreading all over his body. His right hand gripped the Smith & Wesson service gun tightly. He held his breath as he listened carefully to the sounds coming from the house where they were now. He knew that now even the slightest noise could make a difference to someone's life or death.

He looked up and met Yoongi's dark eyes. The man stood on the opposite side of the door, listening as well. It was on his correct judgment that the success of the ambush and arrest depended. Taehyung looked at him for a brief moment, but saw the man's hands rise and his fingers gripping the revolver's stock, enough to tell him what was about to happen. As the elder nodded to indicate that they could go inside, Taehyung straightened and aimed a strong kick straight at the door of the house, almost breaking it off its hinges.

As soon as he did so, he burst inside the house, followed by several other agents. He didn't look back, but he knew that Hoseok, also wearing a bulletproof vest, was right behind him. He felt much more confident knowing that two of his friends were here with him. They made a great team together, and he knew that each of them would give his life for him, just as he would jump into the fire to save them.

It took just a few moments, and they found themselves in the living room, where they noticed a group of four men. Everything happened incredibly fast, but Taehyung scanned their faces for the one that was their primary target. When their eyes met, the man rushed towards the inside of the house, wanting to escape. The others also jumped out of their seats, running away or to grab something that could be used as a defense or attack tool. However, without hesitating a moment, he ran in pursuit of the escaping man.

He crossed the living room in a few long strides and threw himself down the narrow corridor in pursuit of the fugitive. He burst into the kitchen after him, shouting quickly for the man to stop, even though he knew his order would be ignored. But they were only a few meters away, so he knew that he was physically fit enough to catch up with him. With each step he took, he narrowed the distance between them. He saw the hunted one look at him nervously over his shoulder, trying to run away. As he ran past the stove, he knocked down the pot on it with his right hand and threw it almost at Tae's feet. The young policeman managed to jump away at the last moment so that the boiling water did not burn him. He managed to jump over the pot, however, and, continuing to run, following the criminal.

After a while, they ran out into the garden together. The wanted man rushed towards the fence and, climbing on it, jumped over to the neighbors' property. Taehyung also ran to the fence and, gripping the metal mesh tightly with his fingers, jumped over to the other side. He continued in this pursuit for a brief moment, the distance between them narrowing with each step. Eventually they came to the end of another mansion. However, this one was fenced with an extremely high fence and the man had difficulty climbing it. After the first attempt, he fell back to the ground, allowing Taehyung to finally stop and aim at him with his gun.

"Hands up!" He instructed, breathing hard, and quickly flicked off the safety.

The man, knowing he could no longer escape, raised his hands up to his head, then slowly turned towards him. Kang Inseong. Taehyung had seen him previously in record photos that he almost knew by heart. The man was five years older than him. In fact, he looked younger than in the photos. His hair was longer, now wet with sweat. He, too, was breathing heavily, exhaling a shaky breath through his lips parted wide. His eyes, however, were focused on the barrel of the pistol pointed at him.

Keeping his sight on him, Kim grabbed the handcuffs that were attached to the belt around his narrow hips. He was about to take a step towards the man to bind his hands when suddenly the door to the terrace opened and a little boy appeared in it. The toddler may have been five or six years old. Taehyung, frightened that the attacker might want to hurt him, almost instinctively looked away from the man and looked at the boy. It literally took a few seconds, but it was enough for Kang to give him a hard kick, knocking the gun out of his hand.

"Fuck!" The policeman swore aloud, looking at the revolver, which was now about a meter from him on the ground. "Go back inside!" He hurried quickly towards the boy, then without thinking, he lunged towards where his weapon had fallen.

The attacker did the same, but standing closer, he was the first to grab the gun. He clenched his hand and turned sharply towards him. He aimed the barrel at his head and was about to pull the trigger when suddenly a large black bird appeared just above him and attacked him. The man almost involuntarily dropped the gun and covered his face with his hands, shielding himself from the animal's sharp claws, and a loud whine escaped from his mouth. Taehyung quickly picked up his gun and slipped it into the holster, still looking at the scene in front of him. He couldn't look away. It was hard to believe that this was really happening. It was almost like a scene from a horror movie. The raven waved its wide wings, croaking loudly, and took turns scratching Kang with its sharp claws or its beak. The bird was so aggressive that in the end the man curled up on the lawn, hiding himself behind his hands. The young policeman took out the handcuffs and approached the attacker very carefully, fearing that the raven might accidentally attack him as well. But the bird, as if sensing that the situation was under control, left Kang alone. It flew away a little further and sat on the fence, croaking loudly at him.

Taehyung, still staring at the crow, dashed quickly to the man lying on the lawn and turned him over on his back. Pressing his body with his knee to the ground, he arched his arms back and began handcuffing his wrists. His heart was beating hard in his chest like never before, and adrenaline was pumping through his veins. He recited a formula about the reason for the detention and his rights, still unable to take his eyes off the bird that seemed to be staring at him.

"Oh, Jesus!" A voice suddenly called from behind him. "I feel like I ran a marathon! You really couldn't run any further, huh?" Hoseok asked, putting hands on his hips and leaning forward slightly to catch his breath into his contracting lungs.

Taehyung looked up at his friend. Hoseok was breathing heavily, his chest, also covered by a black bulletproof vest, rising and falling rapidly. His temple was slightly damp with sweat. He also had slightly matted hair. He wasn't sure if it was the run or the fact that his partner might also have fought someone else. Even so, his lips curved into that famous grin.

"I just nearly died. A little understanding, Hobi," he scolded him, yanking the handcuffed man upwards to make him rise to his feet. As he did so, he noticed that Kang's face was now adorned here and there with red scratches caused by the animal's sharp claws.

Hoseok looked around as if to see what damage his friend had done to the strangers' property. His gaze, however, lingered on the big black bird sitting on the fence opposite him.

"What is this nasty bird?" He asked, staring at it with narrowed eyes.

Taehyung looked at the raven again. The bird was sitting in the same place all the time, and it looked as if it was also watching him. He couldn't even explain it, but again it seemed to him that it was the same bird he had seen in the cemetery a week ago when he visited his parents' grave. Additionally, he couldn't shake off what happened a moment ago. Were it not for the fact that this crow literally attacked his attacker, he would most likely be lying on that perfectly cut lawn in a pool of his own blood by now. At the very thought, he swallowed hard. Probably he had never come so close to death during his service. He knew he had made the mistake of letting this child distract him. But when he saw the boy, he was paralyzed. He couldn't let anything happen to him. This moment of inattention, however, could cost him his life. He knew that the fact that he was still in one piece was due only to one ― that strange crow. Without taking his eyes off it, he parted his lips and let this strange confession roll down from his mouth:

"That bird, it just saved my life..."

***

Yoongi ran his fingers through his dark hair and looked at all the agents gathered in the room. Most of them were smiling, but even if someone else's face didn't have a big smile, he was sure they felt exactly like him. You could see they were tired, but just as happy. He was extremely proud of them and pleased with how the whole action went. They have worked for this success for a long time. However, as his gaze caught Taehyung, the corners of his lips drooped involuntarily, and his eyebrows tightened together.

The young agent was still wearing a black short-sleeved T-shirt, over which he was wearing a bulletproof vest. Since returning to the unit, he did not even have time to change, perhaps because everything was happening very quickly, and he, as soon as he got to the office, dragged everyone to the briefing room so that he could talk to them for a while. He wanted to summarize the result of today's action, but most of all he wanted to tell them how great they did.

He always did this when his agents were successful. He cherished honesty, so he never complimented them when he felt they deserved it, but he was also not embarrassed to tell them they screwed up. He knew that being aware of the mistakes made was the first step to correct them, and in their profession, sometimes even the slightest mistake could lead to one of them dying, and he had no intention of saying goodbye to any of them. So he preferred to speak openly about what was done wrong, so that a similar situation would not happen next time. Today, however, everything went according to plan. So he did not understand why his friend had such a gloomy expression.

Taehyung was leaning against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest and his head slightly tilted. A dark, long fringe formed in soft waves on the young agent's forehead, covering his eyes, but still he knew his gaze was absent, as if the boy was a body here, but his thoughts were somewhere far away. Lips pulled in a narrow line. For a better contrast, it was enough for him to shift his gaze to the man standing next to him and to see Hoseok smiling from ear to ear.

"I'm so damn proud of you," he said, lifting the corners of his lips again. "You've done a great job today, and I'm glad each of you will come home safely," he added, collecting the documents that lay in front of him, briefly shifting his eyes to them, but quickly looked back at the crowd. "It's over for today. You can go," he ordered, bidding them farewell with a gentle bow, then slipped the documents into his briefcase. "Taehyung, please stay. I wanted to have two more words with you," he didn't even look at him as he said that.

He stood in the same place for a moment, watching people leaving the room. As Hoseok passed him, he stopped in front of him and patted him on the back.

"Great job, boss," he commended, curving his soft lips in his famous smile. His dark eyes shone brightly.

"Without you, I wouldn't have done anything," Yoongi replied, looking his friend straight in the eye. "Wait a minute, I'll have a word in private with Tae, and maybe we'll make an appointment for the evening, huh?" he suggested.

"Sure, I'll go change and be right back," Jung replied, then patted him on the back again and started toward the exit.

Min watched him go and waited a moment longer for everyone in the room to leave, leaving him alone with the summoned agent. It was only when the last of the policemen left the room that he closed the door behind him and turned to Taehyung. The boy was still standing in the same place, but when he shifted his gaze to him, he met his gaze. He measured him carefully from head to toe, as if he were searching for an explanation for the strange aura that seemed to surround him. He knew the last few days had been extremely hard for him. Less than a week has passed since the anniversary of his parents' death. He knew his story and knew how difficult the time was for him, but before the action he seemed to be excited, focused. There was something new about him now, and he couldn't decipher it.

"You seem strange," he said finally, breaking the silence. He hoped the words would encourage his friend to confess, but Kim was still silent. "Everything's all right?" He asked, taking a few steps towards him.

"Y-yes," he replied, although he knew his words did not sound convincing at all.

"Tae, I can see something's wrong," Min replied, pausing two steps away from him and measuring him carefully with his eyes again.

As they set out for action, Taehyung seemed different. He was very focused. There was determination on his face, but there was something else about him now. He looked as if something was bothering him. But everything had gone as planned, so he didn't know what might have triggered such a reaction.

"Did anything happen during the action that I don't know about?" He asked. "You've been strangely absent since we got back. We caught Kang..." he continued, still not taking his examining gaze from him. "You got him," he added, emphasizing that it was largely due to his hard work and commitment that he had been arrested. "Shouldn't you be happy now?" He asked, drawing his dark eyebrows together.

"I..." Kim began, but fell silent again.

"What happened there, Tae?" Min asked, not giving up.

He knew Taehyung didn't like confessions very much. He was rather introverted. Perhaps because he didn't want anyone to think he was weak. This is probably why he asked to keep his files secret, so that no one would link him to the story of his parents' death. He didn't want those strange looks, awkward chit-chat, sloppy condolences, pity.

The young policeman was silent for a long moment. He wasn't looking at him, but he looked as if he was thinking very intensely about something. Finally, he pushed himself off the wall he had been leaning against and ran his fingers over his dark locks. He moistened his lower lip with his tongue and finally looked up.

"While I was chasing Kang, he ran onto someone else's property. It turned out, however, that there is a very high fence at the end, and he was unable to climb onto it. I aimed at him and was about to arrest him, when suddenly the boy came out of the house..." he confessed, feeling strangely relieved that he finally let it out. "He might have been five or six years old... That took me off guard. I got scared that he might want to hurt him and yelled for the little one to go back inside. But..."

Taehyung paused and was silent again for a long moment, his gaze shifted to his own hands. Even at the mere mention of it, he felt his pulse speed up and his stomach twist painfully.

"I made a mistake," he confessed suddenly, seeking his boss's gaze again.

Yoongi drew his eyebrows together and parted his lips slightly to ask what the boy meant, but before he could do so, Taehyung spoke again.

"When that boy appeared, I automatically looked at him," he explained. "It took literally a few seconds, but that was enough... Kang kicked the gun out of my hand," he admitted. "I made a basic rookie mistake, Yoongi. Never lose sight of your enemy," he recited.

"Tae, everyone makes mistakes..." Min replied, his voice soft. "The most important thing is that you managed to get the situation under control. Nothing happened to anyone. You arrested him," he added, as if to cheer him up.

"I'm not everyone ", Yoongi, he protested, running his long fingers frustrated over his dark curls. "I don't make mistakes."

"Tae, don't beat yourself up. The important thing is that the boy is safe, and you are okay."

"That's not all..." Kim continued.

He moistened his lip, feeling his mouth suddenly go dry. His pulse sped up involuntarily. It almost felt as if he was staring into the barrel of his own pistol aimed at him.

We both rushed towards the revolver, but Kang was closer. He aimed at me...

Hearing his words, Yoongi shifted from foot to foot as if what he heard made him suddenly feel nervous. Taehyung was pretty sure that for a brief moment, the contents of his stomach were in his throat. The man parted his lips to ask what had happened, but for some reason closed them again.

"A crow," Kim said suddenly, and Yoongi looked at him with a surprised look, apparently not understanding what the younger one meant. "When Kang was aiming at me, a bird attacked him. Maybe I'm still alive because a bird saved me. A goddamn crow..."

"Well... Maybe we should get it into our unit," Min joked.

"It shouldn't have happened at all, Yoongi. But when I saw that boy... I couldn't stay indifferent and... I screwed up. For the first time in my life, I screwed up so badly..."

Yoongi smiled gently, then took a step forward and stretched out his hands to put them on his friend's shoulders.

"Tae, look at me," he commanded, and the younger one looked up. "What happened doesn't mean you screwed up. It means you are a good person. Someone who cares about protecting others. That's why this boy's safety was so important to you."

"I was terrified," he confessed. "I was afraid that he might kill me, and I... I haven't even started to live yet..."

"It's normal. Anyone in your position would be afraid. I'm also scared whenever I'm in a similar situation."

"I am almost twenty-eight years old, and apart from this job, I have nothing. I sit after hours looking through files, shoot at the shooting range or swim late in the pool because it's better than returning to an empty apartment," he continued. "If Kang had killed me, no one would even have come to my funeral. Nobody would cry for me. I have no family. Parents were killed twenty years ago. My aunt who raised me died more than two years ago. For over a year I have been completely alone, because I am still reminiscing the breakdown of a five-year relationship, and in fact I don't even know anymore if what I and Soohyun had in common was ever true. I don't go on dates, I don't meet new people, except, of course, the criminals we pursue. Jesus, I don't even remember the last time I had sex at all."

"Tae, we're your family. Me and..." Min paused, then nodded toward the door. "And that idiot who's waiting for us right now," he added, laughing.

Taehyung looked up at the door. But when he saw Hoseok peering at them through the open blinds, almost resting his nose against the glass, he laughed as well. Yoongi motioned to Jung, gesturing with his hand for him to come inside, and without hesitation he pushed the handle and pushed the door open. As he stuck his head in, Taehyung saw his beaming smile. Meeting his gaze, the elder clapped his hands together and opened the door harder to finally enter the office.

"So what? Shall we go out for a drink?" He asked as he approached them.

Taehyung parted his lips and shook his head.

"Noooo. Please," he groaned. "It's been a week since we last went somewhere, and I can still taste the tequila on my tongue."

"We don't have to go to the club. We can always go to that bar that your friend runs. This... what is his name..." Yoongi suggested.

"Seokjin," Kim replied.

"Oh, is he the handsome one with dimples who looks like he wants to punch you?" Hoseok asked with obvious enthusiasm, leaning back on his desk and staring directly at Taehyung with that broad smile of his.

"No. This one is Namjoon."

"Uuu, even his name is sexy," Jung said.

"He's Seokjin's husband," Taehyung replied, rolling his eyes. "And you're straight."

"Hey, for him, I could change my orientation for a moment," the elder confessed , raising his hands in a defensive gesture.

"And a week ago I was your number one," Kim snorted.

Yoongi approached him again and stopped only one step away from him.

"Don't make me beg," he said, smiling gently. "I think an evening with friends will do you good. You are not alone, Tae. You have a family. You have me, Hobi, and these two who will surely be glad to see you again.

"Okay," the younger one finally agreed.

Perhaps Yoongi was right. He didn't really want to be left alone today. He didn't want to go back to the empty house again, especially now that his head was still filled with memories of today.

"But surely, before I go anywhere with you, I need to go home and get a little warm," he added after a moment.

His hands rose, and he began unbuttoning the bulletproof vest he was still wearing. Upon returning to the unit, he was so distracted that before he could do anything, Yoongi summoned all the agents to his place. So he went as he stood. He was still wearing heavy black boots and black cargo pants. His narrow waist was girdled with a belt with a holster and handcuffs attached to the right side.

"Oh yes. Take it easy," Hoseok said quickly, waving his hand. "Go and doll up yourself. Maybe you'll finally get some nice ass."

"And you start again," Taehyung snorted, folding the vest in his hands, from which he had just managed to free himself.

He glanced quickly at the watch on his left wrist and quickly analyzed how long he needed to get home, shower, get dressed and drive to his friends' bar.

"I think I'll be there around ten," he finally said. "Do you remember the address?"

"Sure," Yoongi replied.

So Taehyung nodded, then turned on his heel and left the room. He could still feel his friends' eyes on him as he headed for the exit. But he didn't turn around. He walked quickly to the locker room. He left some of his belongings there, then took his cell phone and car keys and, not even bothering to change, walked towards the exit of the unit.

Once outside, he quickly found his private car and ran towards it. Without thinking, he jumped into the driver's seat and, fastening his seat belt, headed for his apartment. Fortunately, the journey did not take long. He parked in his permanent spot and headed towards the low building. As soon as he entered the apartment, he hurriedly took off his heavy boots, then went deeper and, on his way to the restroom, pulled his T-shirt over his head, tugging at his long fringe, which then fell back softly over his eyes. He tossed the T-shirt to the ground and, without pausing, let his hands find their way to the black belt, unbuttoning it hastily. When he finally reached the bathroom, he kicked off the black pants that bound his ankles, slipped off his boxers and socks to finally enter the shower cubicle. He closed the door, turned on the tap, and, slipping under the stream of warm water, rested his hands on the cold tiles. He closed his eyes and for a long time just stood there, as if he hoped the water would wash away the memories of today, with the water running down his body.

He didn't even know how long he stood there, just letting the warm stream run down his dark hair and broad shoulders, washing his tired body. Finally, he pushed himself off the tiles and took a step back. He lifted his head, facing the rain shower, and tilted his head, pushing his hair back. Due to the relatively high water temperature, the entire cabin fogged up. Finally, he poured a large amount of shower gel on his hand, filling the cabin with the scent of green tea and citrus and began to spread the preparation slowly over his body, running his strong hands over the wet skin. After he finished washing, he turned off the water and left the booth, placing his feet carefully on the tiles to avoid slipping, and wrapped a blue towel around his narrow hips. He glanced at the mirror to look at his reflection. He didn't look long, however, he just ran his fingers through his dark hair, brushing some long strands back a bit, and left the bathroom.

He entered the bedroom and made his way to the cupboard where he kept his underwear. As he approached it, with the corner of his eye, he caught a frame that had been standing in the same place for almost a year. Instinctively, he reached out and took it in his fingers to examine the photo. He knew it by heart. He was the one who took this photo on one of his dates with Soohyun, about a year or so after they started dating. His hair was then slightly bleached, shorter than it is now. He grinned at the camera, and Soohyun pressed his lips against his swarthy cheek.

He didn't know why he was still holding this photo.

When he found out about his partner's infidelity, he knew it was over. There was nothing Soohyun could do or say to persuade him to stay. He couldn't trust him anymore. When he moved in, he avoided anything that might remind him of his ex. As time passed, however, as his initial anger and disappointment subsided somewhat, he set this photo here. He didn't seem ready to completely wipe him out of his life and memory. It was hard to close this chapter.

But now, as he looked at the photograph, he felt almost nothing. It seemed to him that everything that had happened between them had happened in another life. As Kang aimed his gun at him, all the people most important to him appeared in his head, but Soohyun was not one of them. He didn't even think of him for a fraction of a second.

"I guess it's time to close this chapter and say goodbye to you, huh?" He asked, staring at Soohyun's face as if he could answer him.

After a while, however, still with the frame in hand, he walked towards the bedroom door. He stopped right next to them. He looked at the photo again, then, raising the corners of his lips in a gentle smile, he tossed the frame directly into the garbage can.

"It's high time to start living again..."

***

Ayashee:

The second chapter of "The Crow" is behind us.

We slowly get to know our heroes. I'm curious who is your favorite.

How do you like agent Kim? Will he finally decide to forget his ex? Or maybe someone will help him?

Is Jeongguk really as talented as he thinks he is and will Seokjin let him play in his bar?

In the next chapter, our talented agent will finally get to know a rebellious musician, so many emotions are ahead!

PS. By the way, I have a little announcement.

I am planning the next chapter for Monday 14/11, but I am going abroad and I will have very limited access to the Internet. I will try to upload the chapter anyway, but due to the considerable time difference, it will probably appear earlier. 

If I am not able to share it, the chapter will be published after my return, i.e. on 21/11.

xoxo