Chapter 47: A Golden chalice to lips of Ember

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A/N: hellooo

Recommended music for the latter half:
•Cheating on you- Charlie Puth (slowed version)

Happy Reading yall♡

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"What?!"

Silence permeated into the air, a deep frown settling onto the Detective's features.

Johnny chewed his lips, his hands resting on his hips. He gave away a scoff and then proceeded to heave a sigh, averting his gaze from Detective Kim, who was seething underneath his skin.

"Well... that just happened."

Taehyung was baffled, it hadn't even been a whole minute, since he had stepped into the Department and someone had already chosen to ruin his day.

"What did the Lieutenant say?" Taehyung questioned, walking beside the man in the bustling hallway.

"What could he say?" Johnny rolled his eyes "It was a direct order from the Committee, ofcourse he had to comply."

Taehyung eyed the new faces in the hallway, his eyes dark as he watched them carry out stuff.

Gritting his teeth, Taehyung pushed open the door and the bustling environment almost knocked his head over. He didn't pause to stare anymore and bee-lined his way to the Lieutenant's office.

He knocked at the door and pushed it open only when a crisp, 'come in' elicited from the other side.

Taehyung still looked pale, although healing, the rate of recovery was brutally slow. His usual disheveled state added to his appearance, making him look more sickly than he was feeling.

"Lieutenant." Taehyung called out, looking at the man who was seated in the chair, whilst avoiding the obvious gleaming eyes of another in the room

"Detective Kim, you're on recovery leave." Lieutenant Mingyu replied, firm and undeterred.

Taehyung clenched his teeth "I am feeling perfectly fine but as of right now, I'd like to know why the detainees are being taken away."

An insidious chuckle wafted up fron the black haired man, seated opposite to the Lieutenant.

"Detainees being taken away?" Superintendent Lee Minki guffawed. He glanced back at the Lieutenant and then turned to look at Taehyung. With surprise etched onto his face, he continued "Detective Kim, you're mistaken, it's not just the Detainees that are being taken away..." he paused "you are off the case."

Taehyung stilled.

He blinked, wondering if he even heard it right.

Minki, however holding no sense of perception, continued, enjoying the taste of the whole turn of events. "Infact the whole Seoul Department is, the Reaper's case will be taken care by a team of specialists out together by the Government henceforth..."

The Government?

Team of Specialists?!

What the hell is a Team of Specialists?!

Taehyung couldn't hold back the scoff that left his throat. Although the action was disrespectful and this was something he didn't want to act out infront of the Lieutenant, he couldn't just help it. Minki elicited a kind of rage within Taehyung that was unknown to the man himself.

Taehyung took a step ahead "I'll apologise for the rudeness beforehand, but I need to say a few words, Minki- this Department has been trailing the Reaper for months relentlessly and now that we finally have him in custody, you're telling that we're off the case?!"

"Relentlessly?" Minki sneered, leaning back into his chair "may I remind you, that nine people died under your so called relentless watch, Detective Kim?"

Taehyung grit his teeth. His fingers, clenching and unclenching on his sides. He exhaled, calming himself and then looked up, his face cold "yes, nine people died Minki. But if this were something you were to handle on your own hands, I assure you, you'd still be running up and down the fields right now with twice the number."

"Excuseme?" Minki scowled.

"Detective Kim." Lieutenant Mingyu interrupted, a hint of warning dancing in his tone, not wanting for the conversation to go downhill. His expression remained wary, face sour.

Taehyung fixated his gaze at Minki "We had to take measures that catered the best interests for everyone. There were victims that couldn't be helped, yes. But to capture this man, and Han SoJoong so many from our Department faced casualties, both severe and minor."

Taehyung flickered his gaze up to Lieutenant Mingyu, his eyes silent "Allow me to say a few more disrespectful words, sir-" he turned to face Minki "but this whole time, you have provided us with no aid, no information, and no action- let it be from your own side, or your Specialist team. We were left to carry this duty on our own with mobs parading outside the Department's gates and we haven't complained, not even once, focusing on the duty and doing everything we could to catch the killer and ease the citizens all at the same time"

"-And we caught the man, with Seoul Department's efforts accompanied by the stationed wards across the Hong-jil district woods alone, but now our efforts are no longer considered of value?" Taehyung paused, catching his breath. He then smiled with blatant insincerity "isn't stealing the efforts of another, unethical for your profession, Superintendent Lee Minki?"

"Detective Kim!" Minki shot up to his feet, furious. "You.. dare-"

Taehyung held his ground, dropping the smile and glaring coldly at the senior, holding no regards to his high position or his tainted batch of honor. His eyes seemed soullessly chilling, face full of frost, mildly startling Minki who stared deeply into them.

"Detective Kim." Lieutenant Mingyu voiced out. "Superintendent Lee, I understand these are the orders from the higher ups, but I must tell you, the Reaper's case has taken a toll on the Department right from the start."

"I cannot change what has happened, but I simply cannot have the efforts this Department has put into reaching today be disregarded just like that." Lieutenant Mingyu eased the tension and Taehyung glanced at the man, thankful.

"-now Detective Kim and his unit played a major role in the capture of the Reaper and his associates, and whatever requests he may have regarding this issue, is likely to be in light for the betterment of the citizens and the whole situation, so I would want you to listen to them too Superintendent Lee."

Minki didn't like it.

It could be seen clearly on his face, but he was very well aware of the Lieutenant's calm temper and didn't want to mess around.

He looked at Taehyung, his chin high. "The Department's off the case as I said, but I'll consider your amends if approved."

Fucking bastard, Taehyung cursed in his head.

"Since the Department has put their blood and sweat into this feat, Seoul Department is to be clearly mentioned in the reports that you will relay to the higher ups or the media or to whoever third person there is between you and me." Taehyung responded swiftly, tone unwavering.

"Secondly, I request to see the Reaper. I've crossed paths with him once, but I wish to meet him face to face, an interrogation if I might add."

Minki frowned, but didn't say anything further.

He fixed his lapels, chin upright and have a lop-sided mocking smile "that's a reveal to a lunatic you're asking here, Kim. You might want to reconsider."

Taehyung smiled back, just as insincere "I've seen the face of the Devil, Minki. If there must be something that could startle me anymore, then God himself should descend before me."

Minki let out a snort, amused but his teeth remained clenched shut. He didn't talk anymore and turned to face Lieutenant, to bid his goodbye and carried on with his way, out of the door.

Lieutenant Mingyu let out a sigh, pressing the bridge of his nose, clearly frustrated. "What a mess..." he mumbled and then looked up at the Detective who still remained in the office.

Lieutenant Mingyu cleared his throat and stood up from his seat. "As much it leaves a bitter taste with these events, this also seems like a good time for you to take few days of rest..  its been just three days since the encounter, I advise you to take it easy- yes, I know what you're going to say. But the teams that didn't face any situation during the mission have been feeling quite uneasy lately..." Lt. Mingyu paused, his arms crossed over his chest "the same after-effects as that of those who went into Han SoJoong's lair. There could have been certain chemicals, I'm speculating, so just to be on safer side, this period certainly calls for a rest for the lot of you now that the Reaper has been caught."

Taehyung's words collapsed in his throat, he lowered his gaze, remaining silent.

"The forensics didn't find anything absurd yet, and the genius of the lab is absent as of currently, even Dr. Min is on an extended leave due to health issues-"

Taehyung grimaced a little.

"-oh and... has Jin returned to his state of conscious?" Lt. Mingyu asked, eyes deep.

Taehyung shook his head, sighing "no, not yet. There's no sign of damage to his skull, but the doctors are unable to decide the factors-"

Lt. Mingyu let out a feathered breath, leaning against his desk "do you have any idea what he might have been researching on?"

Taehyung frowned "sir?"

Lieutenant Mingyu shook his head "it's nothing."

Taehyung oddly gazed at the man for few more seconds, until he was dismissed from the office. He stepped out of the room, finding Jihyo and Johnny engrossed in a conversation.

Jihyo tipped her chin to look at him, her eyes calm whilst Johnny seemed purely ecstatic.

"Never understood the beef you got with the Superintendent, but damn do I understand you now." Johnny clicked his tongue, grimacing "man's nastier than a wet cheeto"

Taehyung just sighed, shaking his head.

"Have you visited Hoseok and the others?" Jihyo piped up, walking forth.

Taehyung shook his head once more, in denial "no... I've got something to do first-"

Jihyo picked up, her hair pulled back into a pony tail "do you want me to come along?"

"No, It's alright, I can manage." Taehyung replied, he hummed a little and then flickered his gaze to Johnny before returning to Jihyo "oh- did you recover the footage from Jin's office?"

Johnny let out a groan "cameras in there have been fucked up for over a week and nobody noticed."

"What?" Taehyung frowned a little.

"The footage is Distorted, multiple blurrings, random shadows- oh and the day Jin was found passed out, there's been weird sounds recorded in there. And then Miss Jihyo here was found to be screaming. Shit sounded like a whole horror movie, got my cheeks a little tightened in the seat haha-"

The frown on Taehyung's face deepened "weird sounds?"

Johnny shrugged "sounds like Jin was talking to himself, you know how he is- if there was anybody who could work in the same space as him would have been that Dr. Min-" he sighed, shaking his head.

"And the shadows?" Taehyung stepped forth, something stirring in his guts.

Johnny narrowed his eyes but then let out a laugh "you believe that? Camera distortions dude. Camera distortions. It certainly did look like a faint shadow with its hand pressed into the Doctor's nape- gosh, creeped the hell outta me but that gotta be a glitch. Man- why the hell are you looking at me like I'm crazy- you can ask Jihyo, she runs the damned security ops in here-"

Jihyo simply sighed, exhausted "yes, the cameras kept glitching. And Lieutenant Mingyu has warned us against using any description to this matter, saying he himself will look into it"

"Yeah, say Ghost and you will be fired. That's what he said-" Johnny added.

Taehyung's eyes narrowed "Lt. Mingyu himself is looking into this? Shouldn't it be a matter of something serious then?"

Jihyo exhaled, gaze lowered "I trust Lt. Mingyu's judgment... if told not to talk about it, then that's probably for the best"

Taehyung sighed softly. He wasn't sure what Jihyo might have gone through when she entered Jin's lab that night, that had rendered her screaming with horror to a point where she lost her conscious.

There was clearly too much of a picture he was missing in here and Jihyo didn't seem to clearly remember the events of the night at all, mumbling 'too much blood' on repeat, traumatized.  But more to that, she seemed to wanting to avoid the topic of the night.

It wasn't all too obvious, but Taehyung's sharp gaze caught onto the sheer uncomfortablity Jihyo was discreetly portraying.

If it was something she didn't want to talk about, then Taehyung wouldn't pry it open out of her either. He had other ways to retrace to the events of the night.

He gave a stiff smile to the both of them and bid his farewell, making his way out of the Department door's.

He briefly glanced up to the sky, senses hyperaware now that he knew the Heavens was watching him.

Taehyung lowered his gaze to his new smartphone in his hands.

He stared at the name in his phone-log, before swiping through and pressed the device to his ears.

He pursed his lips close, nerves tingling.

Or maybe it was Hell that was watching him eagerly.

*********

Taehyung's white knuckles were tightly clasped around the handle behind the seat. The speed was truly too fast for his poor mortal heart, but there was nothing he could do about it.

The trees evenly blurred out of his sight but his eyes soon came to spot the landmarks and his idle hand tapped onto the shoulder of the figure seated before him in the motorcycle, the speed slowing down.

The darned daredevil of the matte black motorcycle soon came to a stop and Taehyung swiftly jumped off the vehicle, dizzy as he pulled off the helmet.

"We're here." He announced, "a little to the west from here and we'll be reaching the entrance."

Jimin pulled his helmet off as well, ruffling up his pink locks. His eyes were deep, not ecstatic and treacherous in the ways Taehyung remembered. The pink haired male had refrained from teasing and threatening, the excitement vanquished and Taehyung truly didn't know what to do of this change.

It was uncomfortable with the static silence, but he had to pick someone supernatural to accompany him since Jungkook was currently (surprisingly) unavailable for the whole day.

He didn't explain, Taehyung didn't ask.

The voluntary kiss from the day before was buried under the layers, atleast- that's what Taehyung thought about it, dismissing the events from his head.

Spontaneous. That was Spontaneous. Nothing to think about. Ofcourse.

Jimin shut the ignition and pulled out his key, hopping off from his motorcycle.

They walked in silence for a bit, the sounds of rustling leaves and chirps of crickets and the birds resonating through the woods.

The atmosphere was a little awkward.

The last time he had seen the Demon, the male had run away from him hearing his words and the last time he had heard his voice, he was getting choked to death with his soul being ripped out of his throat.

Delightful. Yes...

Taehyung couldn't understand who was more traumatized here.

"Watch the ledge" Taehyung mumbled, proceeding to climb down. He bit his lip with the linear strike reaching his head, embarrassed forgetting that Jimin could probably somersault from 30ft and still land on his feet with his knees intact.

Taehyung stuffed down the uneasiness and jumped to the ground below when he was closer to it and Jimin swiftly followed.

It took a little more while of walking before Jimjn finally opened up.

"You're... you're not-" he paused, mid-sentence.

"What?" Taehyung craned his neck to look at the shorter male strapped in leather from neck to toe.

Jimin cleared his throat "I.. I know what Jungkook did to you."

Taehyung held his breath.

Jimin continued "why do you stay beside him? Why aren't you- going away? This- you shouldn't be that dumb right? Jungkook... and I.. you know we're not good for you. Why do you stay?"

Taehyung exhaled, a little amused.

Jimin truly wasn't all that different from Jungkook.

"Why do I stay... hm.. I wonder" Taehyung responded, pondering on it for a bit before he looked up to meet the Demon's eager eyes "I don't have another place to return to..."

Jimin's eyes slightly widened.

"I know what Jungkook did was... was.. well... it was my own doing, a consequence. It was my choice, to save Hoseok in exchange of my life..." Taehyung paused rubbing his forehead with the back of his hand.

He met Jimin's gaze, a little more embarrassed that the other was watching him "and as to why I choose to stay despite everything is because my thoughts remain the same... regardless." He paused, averting his gaze completely  "I.. I cant- ugh, stop asking me. I'm staying alright? I'm staying. I cant explain something like this."

Taehyung whipped around, the miniscule of smile etched onto the Demon's lips not going unnoticed by the Detective. "Stop idling around. Let's go."

Taehyung quickly shuffled about, not wanting to linger around anymore.

He could handle Jungkook and Jimin's incessant yapping any hour of the day, but the moment they'd spout something deep and meaningful, Taehyung would find himself fumbling for words.

It was truly annoying.

It took some time before the Demon perked up, "You can't be forced out of your accord... so this- you're really staying back on your own?"

Having his back facing the Pink haired male, Taehyung readily rolled his eyes since the other couldn't see him eitherway.

"Does that- does that mean... we're good?"  He continued, sounding excited.

Taehyung wanted to snap with a,  Yes, I kissed the Devil, what do you think? but refrained from doing so. That was too much of a shock.

For himself ofcourse.

"Yes we're good Jimin, now would you stop asking me silly questions?" Taehyung sighed exasperated, leaving out the 'please' from his sentence.

The pink haired Demon quickly skipped his way beside the Detective, humming to a tune, completely delighted. A silly smile remained etched onto his lips with his pink locks bouncing as he happily trotted along.

Taehyung couldn't help but snicker lightly in amusement. If it weren't for all the visual representation of a gangster, Jimin would seem like a little puppy that Taehyung wouldn't dare to say outloud, that the Demon was indeed cute in his own mysterious ways.

They walked for a bit more until the Yellow tapes once more greeted them on the site.

Taehyung hummed, pushing away a branch "We're close.."

He turned to look back at Jimin, whose face was now scrunched up in distaste. He his eyes were darker, his gaze flickering upwards towards the tall trees.

He pushed his way forward, his voice low "stay close."

Taehyung's eyes slightly widened, hands moving to his holster "Is there something here?"

"Yeah-" Jimin paused, flickering his gaze to where Taehyung's hand was "that's gonna be useless. Don't stray further away than 3ft from me."

Taehyung gulped down a lump in his throat.

Mortal weapons don't hurt me.... that's what Jungkook had said.

If mortal weapons can't hurt somethihg- then that means something lurking in this forest other than them must be inhuman!

Taehyung stuck close to the pink haired Demon, not knowing what else to do.

"Should we head back?" He asked, a little worried. Not that he was doubting Jimin's abilities, but it was his basic human instinct questioning the rationality.

Jimin clicked his tongue, his fingers firmly clasped around the hilt of his knife. "Too late."

He threw his arm over the Detective, pushing the mortal back until his back was secured against a tree.

Taehyung couldn't see Jimin's face from behind, but with startled eyes he watched the pink haired male shift his stance, his knees slightly bent and heard an ominous hiss leave the Demon's throat.

Like a mother cat, protecting her kittens, Jimin had Detective Kim cornered against a tree. The parallel was a little too great for Taehyung to swallow, but he kept his eyes peeled open, not daring to shut them close.

"If you want to fight, then do it one on one. Why must you choose to gang up on me hm? Where are you ethics?" Jimin snarled out into the air and Taehyung blinked, wondering if his eyes were defective.

"Oh? You ask me? Well well, aren't you the lot of you quite late to the party as well?" The Demon sneered, not letting go of his defensive stance.

Taehyung felt his heartbeat escalate.

With the way Jimin was talking, turning to face two different directions as he talked and his clear words, signified there was more than one person before them.

And it wasn't just a person- an immortal.

That he, a mortal, couldn't see, nor hear.

Could the odds be anymore against his favor?!

Taehyung believed Jimin could probably grab him by the scruff of his neck and they could still manage to escape-

Or maybe, he could draw up a pentagram and stab himself a few more times and Jungkook could-

"Taehyung! What are you doing?!" Jimin's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

Startled, Taehyung looked up to meet Jimin's flaming red irises. They weren't as deep red as Jungkook's, but they gleamed brightly like a candle flame.

"You're bleeding?!"

Taehyung pushed his hand behind his back, feeling the sting on his palm spread "I- uh, I scraped my palm a bit. It's fine. It's nothing."

The frown deepened on Jimin's features.

He grit his teeth and whipped his head around, facing the empty air ahead.

"If you want to do this, we'll do this. But first, he is to be left alone. He's got nothing to do with this- will you shut the fuck up?!" Jimin barked, enunciating each word as he whup his head around to a new direction  "you already wiped the floor once do you want to go at it again? Bastard just because you're with the Warriors now you're flaunting power? Come here I will smush that ugly cheating bird face of yours again-"

Taehyung grimaced, a lot more fearful now.

Provoking your opposition, when you have the upper hand is fine. But Provoking an immortal supernatural force who have the advantage in both skill and numbers, is nothing more than digging one's own grave.

Taehyung now understood a little why Jungkook was always a little wary with letting Jimin know his 'cuts and gashes'.

Either Jimin was a little too overconfident or truly overpowered, but Taehyung didn't want to find that out in a match like this.

Definitely not where, he's a teammate lacking the sense of both heightened sound and vision, which was the primary basic requirements since he'd definitely fall short on skills and would like to not mention that at all.

The tense atmosphere soon shattered and Taehyung heard Jimin click his tongue.

"Aish- he's coming close your eyes."

"Hm?" Taehyung's eyebrows scrunched.

"If you don't want them burning into your skull that is." Jimin continued.

Taehyung needn't be told twice. He diligently closed his eyes shut and soon sensed a searing white light flash, his eyelids momentarily reddening before returning to its normal black.

When he opened his eyes, he spotted a figure standing in the few feet ahead of them. Jimin's posture was a lot more relaxed, but he didn't let go of his knife.

Taehyung returned his gaze to the familiar figure in the center, standing tall and graceful, with irises flaming with a sparkling golden shade.

Taehyung couldn't hold his gaze longer, feeling the need to bow or do something equally out of context, but since Jimin didn't act out, Taehyung too held his ground and simply resorted to lowering his gaze instead.

He noticed the pure white robes of the newcomer and something just as white peeking around his frame, except for they weren't layers of robes, but tufts of feathers, that seemed do be alive and breathing.

And soon, four more figures slowly enveloped Taehyung's vision. Two each standing on either side of the Immortal who had just arrived.

Angels.

They were angels.

Ofcourse.

Taehyung could now recognize another one, who he'd met before on a street alongside the one in the middle.

Jin- something was his name. Taehyung couldn't remember.

The guy in the middle was Namjoon... that he remembered.

The other three, Taehyung had absolutely never seen them in his entire life, but each one of them had their eyes fixated on him, with equally different gazes.

The one to his farthest right, to where Jimin was earlier threatening at, gazed at him with eyes full of loathing and disgust.

Nothing new, to Taehyung ofcourse.

The Jin-something gazed at him calmly, although jaw clenched and his brows knotted, as if something had been stolen from him.

The one to farthest left with ash grey wings, also gazed at him calmly, holding no emotions yet his eyes glinted with curiosity.

And the one beside that angel, was one with a short, shoulder length dark hair, who had golden irises fiercely locked at him, an aura so brutally cold, that Taehyung had to quickly avert his eyes.

They were all beautiful to look at, sure, pure flawless skin, distinguishable features and holding this sense of immense authority with the utmost gratefulness, but as ironic as it sounded, Taehyung found himself finding more peace from Jungkook's red irises than a pair of any of these flaring golden ones.

"Brother Namjoon, is this really alright?" The one in the farthest left asked, his voice low but deep, fitting to his graceful features.

The Angel in the middle, raised his chin a little, his dragon eyes pinning Taehyung down against the bark of the tree, the intensity, gentle but fierce "the mortal here knows all. There's no need to hide."

"Greetings, Detective Kim." Namjoon announced, his tone deep and rumbling. "Jimin." He addressed.

Taehyung's throat knotted over "Mm. Um- good day to you too-"

He heard Jimin snort and Taehyung inwardly panicked if he spoke out something wrong.

Should he be bowing instead?

The Angel before him smiled softly and Taehyung's eyes gleamed.

What a beauty-

"Detective Kim is here to carry out his mortal duties, we're here to carry ours. Considering the situation, it's understandable he seeked help from Jimin." The Angel, Namjoon, paused shifting his gaze to Jimin "but since we're all here for the same cause, I hope we can cooperate."

An air of silence lift up. It was obvious Namjoon had the highest authority amongst all.

But that didn't mean everyone would hold their tongues.

The one on the farthest right shuffled around, he snickered a little too outloud in an unkind tone,
"Colluding with a Demon and his Master, truly venomous."

A low growl elicited from Jimin's throat and Taehyung gulped softly, hands subconsciously reaching out to the Demon's leather jacket.

Jimin felt the tiny hold, heart warm. He bravely snickered back, his tone equally vicious "Ahaha now you've done it."

Taehyung hadn't even fully registered, before a figure drooped below right infront of the two.

Milky white bare back that was now a little glazed to a warm honeyed tone harboring wings of copper gold. Raven hair swayed, sunlight glinting off of his muscles.

The figure stood up to his feet, now appearing as a mountain shielding the both of them, as everyone on the other side apart from Namjoon stiffened

"Venomous?" The raventte laughed, his voice pleasant to hear for Taehyung's ears. "Well ain't that something now?"

He laughed some more "No need to get your panties all in a twist, we can go about on our ways. The earth's already going through the global warming, this land wouldn't appreciate if we were to uproot an entire forest now-"

Jungkook shrugged nonchalantly "cmon think about it, we gotta value each of our father's creations, now don't we?"

The Jin-something Angel let out a low scoff, judgemental eyes flickering between Taehyung and the Devil himself. He continued, "you've really got a face to talk about valuing father's creations after what you've done this whole time?!"

Jungkook scoffed back, feigning an expression of that of a wrongly accused. His wings disappearing behind his back in a flash, his shirt hooked onto his finger.

"Now don't say things I haven't done at all, I'd want to affectionately value Detective Kim too but he took off running the last time I saw him-"

BOY WHAT THE FUCK-

Taehyung's hand involuntarily flew to smack the Devil on his arm and the sound that was elicited was crisp and sharp, echoing right back to him.

He ran his gaze to surprised eyes ahead of him and Jimin's shocked yet amused ones.

He turned to face Jungkook instead with neck full of red and eyes brimming with fury "What nonsense are you spouting? Can't you talk normally for once?!" He hissed in a hushed tone, embarrassed.

Jungkook grinned, clearly enjoying "oh? Then should I lie and say that you stayed back and I affectionately valued you till dawn?"

Taehyung wished he'd just drop dead.

This was too much for his poor mortal self to handle.

"Jungkook!!" Taehyung hissed, the red coloring his pale skin vibrantly.

Jungkook lowered himself a bit, raven irises gleaming "alright, I apologise Detective Kim. You can punish me later-"

Taehyung grit his teeth, eyes hurriedly flickering to the beings before him, that returned his gaze with both surprised and uncomfortable looks.

Angels. Supernatural immortals.

Does that mean supernatural hearing too?

Cripes-

Taehyung whup his head around to look at the half naked raventte "you- you! What the hell's the matter with you- I-"

Taehyung chewed his lips and quickly dipped, turning back the direction they had come from. Maybe he could swerve around and avoid all of these immortals and find his way to the entrance.

At this point getting mauled by a spineless creature seemed more nicer than staying a minute longer amidst Jungkook's senseless yapping.

Taehyung let out an embarrassed groan, thinking how two different realms now would completely assume that they were tangling intimately-

Not that Taehyung really did mind with the act- but the publicity-

Taehyung slapped himself, the burn on his cheeks were blazing more fiercely on the inside than it did on the outside.

What the hell was he thinking?!

No. No. He didn't want that. He absolutely didn't want it.

As the mortal carried onwards drowning with misery and embarrassment, the Devil hummed in delight, turning his head over to face the Silver Angels.

Hiding the grin away, he pulled his black shirt over his arms. He looked up, running his gaze at each one of them, his eyes resting on the short haired Silver Angel with the cold gaze. Jungkook cocked up his eyebrows up in a playful noncholant manner of greeting.

"My! Look at you- has it been a century or two now?" Jungkook chuckled and the Silver Angel pursed her lips, her face stern.

Yinan turned to face Namjoon instead and bowed slightly, her voice stern and sharp "I'll be taking my leave."

Namjoon hummed and the Warrior burst into a bright white light, disappearing before their eyes.

"Goodness devils- I just greeted and she really had to leave like that?" Jungkook sighed out, shaking his head. He looked up to face Namjoon and continued "hah- anyway, I'll take my leave too. I've got a case with missing evidences to find, so excuse me."

Nobody put forth any objections or interrupted to the words delivered by the Devil who backtracked his way alongside his Demon guard to the path the mortal had just taken to leave, as a pair of golden eyes glowed intensely, fierce and untamed, etched onto the back of the King of Hell himself.

The sinister flames dissipated with a blink of an eye, and white light burst through, leaving behind a trail of Silver dust that drifted to the forest ground below.

*********

Taehyung's finger impatiently tapped on his elbow, his eyes narrowed and thoughts running astray.

The embarrassment from earlier remained fresh in his mind, searing and burning the skin around his heart.

He eyed the Yellow tape and to the pink-haired figure bent over at the entrance, picking away at the rocks.

Gaining judgemental looks from humans was nothing out of ordinary for Taehyung, but for the same expression to be delivered by some omnipotent beings, now that was a lot of damage to Taehyung's self esteem right there.

He wasn't really sure if the shocked eyes were registered at him for being too stupid beyond redemption to hang around the Devil and a Demon- not to mention, to also being assumed to be giving away his chastity- or whatever the hell with it-  or, now that he thought too deeply about it- did it have to do something with smacking the Devil and getting away without facing any consequences???

A random shiver ran down Taehyung's spine, his face still in a frown and lips tugged into distaste.

"There's too many rocks. Lend me a hand!" Jimin yelled and the raventte looming around the Detective, exhaled, exasperated as he straightened his hand and black mist flew out of his palm.

Taehyung's eager eyes shone brightly, watching the black mist flow between the crevices of the rocks that soon began rumbling down, in a justifiable manner. Jimin quickly stepped to the side, so as to not get crushed beneath the slide.

Dust lifted, alongside the black mist that soon returned to its owner's hands and the entrance of the cave once more stood wide and open.

"Let's go" Taehyung breathed out, climbing down, his footsteps careful and light.

Jimin stood up, after inspecting the rocks for some time "These rocks are different from the soil around-"

Taehyung hummed in response, already having noticed for the texture being quite different. "Someone deliberately put them here to keep people out"

Jimin walked in first, his frame disappearing behind the looming darkness sof the cave.

"Or someone did it to keep something away from people" Jungkook mumbled, eyes trained to the ceiling. He lowered his gaze to the Detective that was watching him with his curious eyes. Jungkook smiled, stepping aside.

"After you."

Taehyung let out a low scoff, shaking his head in dismissal and walked ahead with the Devil following him closely from the behind.

The three walked down the mysterious cave that narrowed with each fleeting second with a torch flipped on from Taehyung's smartphone as the only source of light.

Taehyung chewed his lips out of habit. The more further in they walked, the more anxious he grew. Ofcourse Taehyung felt a lot more assured, that this time, there was Jungkook and Jimin to deal with whatever this thing was, but it still didn't help him much since he was entirely powerless compared to the two.

"Detective Kim" Jungkook whispered, his time hushed and Taehyung craned his neck over with a 'hm?'

"Hand"

"Hm?"

"Give me your hand." Jungkook repeated, persistent.

Confused, Taehyung gave his hand and the raventte held it firmly in the dark.

Taehyung frowned, trying to pull away, still a bit shy with these sort of advances but the Devil didn't give in, holding it even more tighter until Taehyung let out a soft hiss, the hold once more turning gentle.

"You've scraped your hand... if it's too much of an embarrassment, then consider this as me healing your hand and not simply holding your hand..." the raventte responded in a hushed tone.

Taehyung felt his own blood rush "which one of it is to you?"

That was a supposed to be a fleeting thought, but he had accidentally blurted it out and now blazed even brighter with shame.

But Jungkook didn't rest, grinning widely "Ofcourse, Detective Kim's well being is my priority, but since I have vowed to speak truth, I must say, I am doing this also because I wish to hold you in my hands."

If Jungkook were to be Low Density Cholesterol, Taehyung would definitely be one hell of a Diabetic patient.

Taeuyung could no longer entertain the other with words, nor could he give any more of his thin skinned face to the raventte's jagged thick-skinned one.

With hands linked they walked further deep into the cave, a tingling sensation continously working against his skin that was warmly wrapped around by smooth fingers, unlike his own calloused ones.

It took some more time, before Jimin finally chose to break the silence, awkward and fed-up "there's blood stains here."

Jungkook stepped ahead, his shoulders touching with the Detective's.

"Human?"

"Nope" Jimin spit out.

Jungkook clenched his jaw, "well, let's see which one of the rats escaped their cage-"

Jimin stood up and carried forth, inspecting the trail that reached to a curve.

"You said it ran on four limbs right?" Jimin spoke up, back still facing the two behind him.

"Yeah- eyes hollow, um- naked and uh, I guess it was a woman?" Taehyung replied, pausing between a few times.

"Too many that fit the description." Jimin waved his hand nonchalantly.

Taehyung's eyes shone against the clawed trail of the ground as they neared the curve, the very place where the creature had been lying before that night, with its head only being displayed to the other side.

There was nothing lying there at the moment, but Taehyung still tensed up. A thumb ran up against the back of his hand and Taehyung's shoulders drooped at the tiny sign of affirmation and comfort.

He wasn't alone.

It was going to be fine.

He exhaled and followed Jimin's frame ahead of him, the scene from the night vividly flashing before his eyes.

The sounds of gunshots ringing in his ears and rows of goosebumps rising up on his skin.

"Wow, will you look at that?" Jimin's voice cut off the Detective's train of thoughts, diverting his eyes to a mass of unidentifiable blood and bones. "A rain of bullets can't do that now-"

Crouched before the gore sight to the eyes, Jimin readily drove his hand to grab the head and pull it up from the pile, pushing away the muck and tangled hair.

"Ah.." Jimin paused.

"What is it?" Jungkook asked, his tone deep.

The Demon momentarily turned around to face, with the head of the corpse in his hands. "Mui."

Jungkook's eyebrows furrowed "Her?"

"Yep." Jimin sighed, tossing the head back into the pile.  He turned his eyes to Taehyung "you said the creature attacked you and Detective Jung?"

"Well I- yes..." Taehyung frowned, jogging up his memory "it appeared out of nowhere and we were startled obviously- I asked to put it's hands up and face us.."

"And which one did it do first?" Jimin interjected.

Taehyung furrowed his brows, thinking hard "erm- faced us and then ran towards us?"

"Then you fired?" Jimin questioned and suddenly Taehyung felt there was something he was not being informed about.

"Um yes, uh Hoseok fired first and I followed- um we were both terrified..." Taehyung paused watching Jimin's eyes reach out to Jungkook's, but the other displayed no expression, his irises retaining its dark glimmer "..is there something I'm missing?"

Jungkook sighed, looking down at the Detective "the creature you'd seen that night, is from hell indeed... but Mui doesn't have the ability to travel to the mortal realm, that means someone else had sent her here." Jungkook paused for a bit "and Mui isn't really violent, isn't that strong either, but your description signifies it had something to do with her impulses...."

Taehyung hadn't registered the sentence completely.

Not strong?

Someone who is bulletproof is very much strong in terms of human context.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Taehyung questioned, confusion etched onto his face.

"Impulses, following orders, misinterpreted orders." Jimin mumbled, eyes fixated on Jungkook "or impulses to rush forth to something similar to itself."

Similar?

Similar to what?

Demon?

Who now?

Jungkook clicked his tongue "don't think about anything too excessive." He gripped his hand, the stinging pain long vanished underneath the enclosed warmth "it was orders. Misinterpreted orders"

Taehyung scoffed with his mind reeling, still lost "whose orders? Mine?"

Jungkook smiled softly, completely facing the mortal before him whilst readily ignoring the gleaming raven irises that were watching him from few feet away.

"Mm.. yours. When I revived you during the Geomjeongbaem incident, some of my- well, let's just say, a bit of my aura seeped into you. Nothing too troubling for your health, but indeed recognizable by my kind." Jungkook's thumb continued to circle the Detective's cold skin. "Mui is blind, so she might have mistaken you for me from the aura and hurtled forward, in a manner of greeting or wanting to return to hell, but I understand it must have been terrifying for the both of you..."

Taehyung pursed his lips, a shallow foam of guilt settling onto his guts.

Jungkook exhaled, eyes warm "this is not your doing, Detective Kim. Weaker beings from hell can't survive the mortal realm for far too long, Mui dissipated on her own."

Taehyung shut his eyes, heaving a sigh "well, may her soul rest in peace then..."

Jungkook said nothing, but kept the soft smile on his lips.

**********

"-so why would he then?" Taehyung questioned placing the book down on the exquisite glass table, the coarse binding just as same as he remembered.

Jungkook hummed a little "because I told him to."

Taehyung blinked rapidly "wait- why?"

The ravenette sighed out loud "because I thought it'd be better for you if you were to stay away from me.." he paused, his eyes solemn "that's why I had Namjoon write up a book that would signify you to avoid me in all means, he's good with words like that." He chuckled a little "but who knew you'd come rushing up to me, despite all the red flags Namjoon put up with his extreme efforts?"

Taehyung scowled at that "how was that even a red flag? It nowhere said you ran Hell. It just said, to run away from the Devil? How was I supposed to know you were the Devil himself?!"

Jungkook laughed out loud "alright, okay that one's on me for asking Namjoon to keep it as discreet as possible-"

Taehyung shook his head, hand hooked around the band of his wrist watch, "I could probably never have imagined for well- Angels and the Devil, hanging about together, if I have to be honest"

Jungkook shuffled around and let out a snort "we don't. Trust me. We have our differences and it's mostly Namjoon I talk to on the usual, the rest- well... not so much since they all despise me haha"

Taehyung snickered at that, faintly amused at his tone. His eyes followed Jungkook carefully, subconsciously tracing the raventte's features in his head once more.

The Devil skipped his way to the Detective, tossing him a small plastic carton which the mortal swiftly caught in a flash.

Taehyung chuckled softly looking at the banana-flavoured drink.

"For a Detective, you are asking way too few questions about me... is this something I should be terrified of Detective Kim?" Jungkook peeked below, eyes playful.

Taehyung twist open the cap and took a sip of the sweet drink. He paused and then looked up, "For an alcoholic, you sure are switching to flavored milk... is this something I should be worried about my King?"

Jungkook opened his mouth and then closed it, then opened it once more and closed it shut, unable to answer, frozen beyond his comprehension.

Taehyung laughed at the silly expression, feeling quite victorious he too could render the other speechless beyond wits sometimes.

"Can you say it again?" Jungkook's raven irises glimmered bright.

Oblivious to the intensity, Taehyung looked up from his drink and responded swiftly, snorting with an air of amusement "say what? My King?"

Taehyung pursed his lips shut to keep the grin away, face serious but eyes playful "do you really like it that much? Hah- you're so simple like that-"

"Should I greet you like that everyday from now onwards?" Taehyung teased, snickering "oh great King of Hell, please dub this knight with thy sword pft-hahaha- Does Jimin ever do this? Oh man- I can't even imagine him, really-"

Jungkook took hold of the Detective's wrists and pulled the mortal close, who was still laughing out of his wits. Jungkook gazed at him with fond eyes, a smile on his lips.

He patiently waited for the mortal to cease laughing and only then did Jungkook intervene, with a tilt of his head "My King, sure does sound nice to my ears..." he paused, hands running down to clasp the cold fingers and only then did Taehyung register the closeness between their bodies.

Jungkook's blazing warmth invaded his skin and Taehyung felt himself growing hotter with each second, the amusement and his laughs, long extinguished.

Jungkook smiled, his eyes glinting in a knowing manner of mischief  "But since you're not a people person or anyone beneath my eyes, I am willing to be renamed in whatever name that pleases you."

Taehyung felt his throat dry up, he chuckled awkwardly, his skin growing hot, he lowered his eyes to hide away from the intensity but his gaze instead met with the peeking honeyed skin from the parting collars "huh- um... that's too much power you're giving me right there-"

A firm press to his hands was delivered and a shock of electricty zipped past Taehyung's spine.

"You don't understand, do you Detective Kim?" Jungkook breathed out, his tone turning deep and huskier, the warmth beating around Taehyung's flushed skin.

"...you have me leashed down around my neck." Their foreheads touched, as Jungkook continued "You can no longer say you are powerless, when there is no one other than you who can overpower me like this Detective Kim..."

Their lips mere centimeters away whilst Taehyung's heart ran a mile in his chest. His blood rapidly gushing though his veins, his eyes once more clenched shut.

He could sense it, he could feel it.

The warmth, the sweetness.

Taehyung squeezed the hands enveloping his own, their lips still hovering.

"Call..." Taehyung paused, letting go of all of his restrictions and doubts. He whispered "Say my name..."

And a sweet voice called out to him, tender and soft, a whole new melody to the mortal's ears- that seemed a lot more affectionate, than Taehyung believed it to be, before their lips finally met.

Bodies pressed, once more, ice against fire, Jungkook's hand clamping down on the Detective's waist.

Spring enveloped his parched entity as he further drank from the chalice of pure gold that he dared not to sip from before. Keeping his hands and lips away, not wanting to taint its sheer beauty with filth but choosing to admire from afar instead.

He clutched onto the cold curve, now that he was allowed to. The gold gleaming under the palm of his hands, the gems shimmering, all of onyx and rubies. His hold drifting between a gentle caress and rough firmness, he drank, equal parts greedy and selfish, quenching his thirst with the finest liquor to ever grace his lips, greatful beyond compare.

"Taehyung." The Devil called out again, in a complete bliss.

______________

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Author's Note:

Gosh I can't take this anymore lol. I'm smiling like a fucking idiot.

I told yall it'd get better, haha trust me when I say so mmhmm

Anyway, I've been reading too much danmei lately and ao3 fics, but there aren't enough to satisfy me so I want to write them instead but I've got an attention span of a clownfish and motivational energy of that of a sloth- so welp- recommend me some good danmei fanfics lol (mdzs, tgcf, svsss, spl, shl, erha, thousand autumns) [if Erha, then Post Canon pleaseeeee, I don't have enough fics of domestic taxian-jun tending to his husband and his little backyard garden ahah T_T ]

Thankyou for all the love and support.

Take care and stay safe yall♡

Love,
J