TW: This story contains graphic violence/ physical & mental abuse.
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Managers.

Every group had them. Every solo artist, every actor, pretty much everyone in the entertainment industry had one. Some had good managers, some had bad managers. BTS was one of the lucky groups, as they had the best manager in the world. Unfortunately though, every good thing eventually comes to an end. Their manager stepped down to focus more on family, resulting in him moving to a separate part of Korea. The members had been preparing for months for this new change, as they were told pretty early on that the day was coming. Still nobody was as ready as they thought. The day they had to say goodbye to manager 'Kip', as they called him, was too soon, and too emotional. Jungkook cried the most tears that day, although everyone else was close behind.

And now, it was time to meet the new manager. Manager Man Shik, they were told was his name.

The members were in the dance studio when a staff member popped their head in to let them know manager Shik had arrived and was in the conference room waiting to meet them. They put their things aside and headed to the room, to be greeted by a smiling face.

"Ah, hello BTS, I am manager Man Shik, but you can just call me manager Shik." He bowed to them, and they introduced themselves one by one and bowed in return.

"Please, take a seat." Shik gestured to the chairs sitting around the long oval conference table.

"I'm excited to be working with you, as I know you all have achieved great success as of late. I would like to share with you a little about myself and some of my own achievements." Shik turned on the overhead projector and began an entire slideshow presentation about his achievements, his work history, his family, and for whatever reason, his favorite restaurants. Jungkook couldn't help but chuckle at how random that was, Jin gave him a playful slap on the thigh gesturing for him to be quiet.

"Is there a problem, Mr. Jeon?" Shik asked.

"No, no. I'm sorry. It was a great presentation, you've accomplished so much." Jungkook began to clap and the others followed.

Shik took a bow. "Thank you, that is all for today, you may return to practice."

The members got up and exited the room one by one, Jungkook being the last one out. However before he stepped out the door, Shik pulled on the back of his shirt and pulled him back.

"We aren't going to have any problems moving forward, are we?" Shik whispered sternly into Jungkook's ear, as to make sure nobody else who might still be around heard him.

Jungkook gave him a nervous look. "N-no manager Shik, not at all." He tried to hide the anxiety that was beginning to course through his chest. 

"Good, I'm glad to hear that. I would hate for there to be a problem. However, I don't appreciate rude-ness, Jungkook. You're the youngest, so make sure to show respect where respect is due." Shik was holding onto Jungkook's arm while saying these things, and squeezing it noticeably hard.

"I...I'm sorry. I didn't intend to be rude. I apologize."

Shik looked at him without saying a word, but continued squeezing his arm.

Jungkook got the hint pretty quickly. "I apologize, sir," he said as he gulped down his nerves.

"Good, now get to practice. You don't want to be the reason your members are behind." Shik let him go and gave him a small shove out the conference room door then slammed it closed.

Jungkook stood there for a moment staring at the door, what the fuck was that?  He rubbed his arm where Shik had been grabbing it, and headed to the dance studio to join his other members.

He wanted to believe Shik was going to be a good manager for the group, a nice manager, but that little confrontation raised some anxiety and suspicions in him that he had never experienced with any other staff member before. The man seemed a little...stern, or rough, or just plain mean. He tried to brush it off but felt guilty for not making the best first impression. He shouldn't have laughed at the PowerPoint.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. He just hoped this didn't have an effect on the whole team. 

He finally met up with the others.

"Oh there you are, we were starting to think you were abducted by aliens," Jimin joked as he grabbed some water.

Jungkook let out a nervous laugh. "Sorry hyung, I had to go to the bathroom." Hobi gestured that break time was over and they all got back in formation, the rest of practice went rather smoothly and they all ended on a happy note, even Jungkook.

He had already almost completely forgotten about the incident with their new manager . He decided to stay late at the building that night, he wanted to get in a good gym session before heading home. Usually Jimin or Namjoon would join, but they were exhausted from today's practice and promised to go with him next time.

"Just don't stay too late, hyung is cooking up something good for dinner!" Jin shot him a playful wink.

"I won't, hyung." Jungkook pinky promised he'd come home soon. They all parted ways and Jungkook headed to the gym. He was having a pretty intense workout session, and had even lost track of time. An hour and a half had gone by and he frantically checked his phone to see he had a few missed calls from some of his members, and a nice text from Jin scolding him.

Jinhyung: I said don't be out late where are you?! yahhhh! A brat! I'm too old to worry like this!

Jungkook let out a small laugh, leave it to my Jin hyung to worry too much.

Jungkookie: Sorry hyungie, got caught up. Almost done!

He decided to finish his workout with a quick running session on the treadmill, but as soon as he saw manager Shik walk in, he didn't want to finish at all. Suddenly he felt like he wanted to run home as fast as he could. Why, though? Why did he feel such a rush of anxiety when his new manager walked in? It's not like his manager had really done anything. A small scolding hadn't hurt him. Although that grip on his arm earlier sure did. Managers and staff weren't supposed to do that kind of thing, hurt their employees. Especially not me, or any member, right? 

"Oh, hello Jungkook-ah." Shik smiled menacingly.

Jungkook bowed. "Hello manager Shik."

"In here for a late night gym workout I see," Shik laughed.

"Yes, sir, but I actually just finished and was heading home now. Hyungs are waiting for me." Jungkook made sure to emphasize that last sentence. That he had six people at home waiting for him. Six people at home who would be worried if he wasn't home soon and would come looking for him, making sure he was okay.

But why wouldn't I be okay?

"I'd like to see what you can do, show me what you got," Shik said as he gestured to some of the gym equipment. Jungkook followed his gaze.

"I...I really can't. I'm exhausted. How about another day though? I really have to get home to hyungs before they-" Jungkook was walking towards the exit while talking, but Shik  grabbed his wrist and dragged him to one of the machines, pushing him down to sit in it.

" I said show me," Shik demanded.

Jungkook fought past his anxiety and tried his best. He really did, but his body was so tired. He couldn't do all that much.

"That's seriously all you can do?" Shik snarled.

"No. I can do more but I'm too tired. I really need to stop," Jungkook pouted. He felt on the verge of passing out. He just wanted to go home and be away from this man.

Shik grabbed both of Jungkook's arms and pushed him onto the ground. "Now show me how many push ups you can do."

Jungkook fought back tears as he looked up at the manager with pleading eyes, did he not just tell him he couldn't do anything else? His body was already giving up on him, how the hell is he supposed to do push ups?

"I-Manager Shik-please..."

Shik took his foot and placed it on Jungkook's back, kicking him to the ground. He held his foot there and put pressure on it, crushing Jungkook's ribs into the floor.

" I said do push ups."

"I can't, you're hurting me." Jungkook gasped for a breath. Doing a push up was the least of his concerns right now, he couldn't even breathe underneath this man's crushing foot.

Shik took his foot and kicked Jungkook in the ribs instead. "Absolutely pathetic. I knew it from the moment I met you that you'd be a pathetic little baby."

Jungkook clutched his ribs and groaned in pain. He tried getting up but Shik kicked him in the chest this time, sending the maknae straight back to the floor, crying. What had I done wrong?  He curled up into a ball on the floor while clutching his chest.

Shik came over and grabbed a handful of Jungkook's hair, forcing his head up to look at him. "Let me just make this clear. I don't like you, Jungkook. Just something about you. I don't like. I think I'm going to have a lot of fun with you, though."

Jungkooks tears ran down his face even faster. He really wanted to go home. Or for one of his hyungs to burst through the doors and save him. But he was alone, alone with this scary man. His hyungs had always done their best to teach him self defense, he couldn't even count the amount of times they'd have wrestling matches.

Hyungs always told him he needs to be able to take care of himself and defend himself if he ever ended up in a situation where he was being harmed and they weren't there to protect him. A situation like this. But Jungkook couldn't fight his manager. His boss. The man who controlled the entire group. There was no way! He could, however, try to at least talk to the guy.

Jungkook finally sat up, wiping his tears away. "You can't do this."

"Do what?"

"Hurt me. You're not supposed to hurt any of us. No staff member is supposed to use physical or emotional harm to control us. It's literally in your contract. You can't...you can't hurt me."

Shik grabbed Jungkook's wrist and started twisting it. "Oh, you mean like this?"

"Ahh! Stop! Stop! Please! Ow! Please! Stop!" Jungkook screamed as Shik twisted his wrist further and further.

"You're going to listen to me, Jungkook. I frankly do not give a shit about paperwork. Like I said, I don't like you. I'll deal with you whatever damn way I want to. And in the end, it's your word against mine. And I have a lot more power over you than you think. Do you understand me?" Shik stared at Jungkook, who only stared back in silence with a tear flooded face.

Shik twisted Jungkook's wrist even more, the maknae was sure it was about to snap in half. "I said, do you understand me?!"

"Yes, yes! Please! I'm sorry. I understand. I understand!" Jungkook cried.

Shik let go of his grip and Jungkook instinctively pulled his arm close to his chest, cradling his hurt wrist in his other hand. He looked over when he saw his phone ringing, seeing that Taehyung was trying to call him. Shik also looked to see Taehyung calling.

"Alright. That's enough for tonight. Get home to your hyungs now, kid. And don't mention this either. It will be our little secret. And just so you know, if you don't keep this our little secret, I'll make sure you're not the only one I start keeping little secrets with," he gestured to Jungkook's phone that had Taehyung's name lit up on it.

"You wouldn't...you can't hurt Taehyung. He hasn't done anything wrong!" Jungkook pleaded. And neither have I.

"I can hurt Taehyung, I can hurt Yoongi, I can hurt Jimin, I can hurt any of them. And I will. I will hurt every single one of them if you open your little mouth. Got that champ?" Shik landed a few harsh pats on Jungkook's face. "Get home now."

Jungkook didn't wait for Shik to make another gesture, he quickly got up to his feet and grabbed his things, favoring his left hand as now his right wrist hurt too much to even move. He decided to walk home that night instead of being driven, he really needed the fresh air and time to collect his thoughts. His hyungs told him to never walk home alone at night, ever. He didn't care right now. He needed to be alone.

I don't understand, what have I done so wrong to cause this?

He thought about when he laughed at the PowerPoint, but something so mundane didn't deserve such a punishment. He knew that. He thought about telling his hyungs as soon as he stepped in the door that manager Shik had hurt him. But guilt crept into his chest. He didn't want to scare them, or burden them.

And what if Shik really does hurt one of them if he tells them the truth?

He could never live with himself if one of the other members got hurt because he couldn't keep his stupid little mouth shut. This was something he'd unfortunately have to endure alone. He had to keep his members safe from harm, there was no question about it. He couldn't understand why Shik had singled him out of the group and wanted to harm him. However, he'd rather it be him instead of any of his hyungs. He may not have understood it, but Shik understood it completely.

Shik knew the moment he lay his eyes on Jungkook he wasn't going to like him. Hated him, even. Before the damn kid even had a chance to open his stupid mouth.

Jungkook reminded Shik of someone. Someone he hated. Someone who was once in his life who had caused such turmoil. His brother. His brother who made sure to make Shiks life an absolute living hell growing up. His brother was older and hated him. He'd beat on him every single day until he had managed to land himself life in prison for murdering some thugs.

Jungkook resembled him. A lot. And that made Shik want revenge. Revenge on the man from his past who had ruined his life. Revenge was sweet. Seeing Jungkook hurt, seeing him in pain, gave the sweet taste of that revenge that he's been seeking for years. When he had hurt Jungkook, he saw his brother laying there in pain instead. It felt good. It felt so, so good to see that boy cry and plead to not be hurt. To see him curl up in himself and shiver in fear. It made him feel so powerful.

Jungkook finally reached home and made his way into the front door, the whole dorm smelled like the dinner Jin had made, making him realize how hungry he was. It was pretty late, and the members were scattered around the dorm.

"There you are!" Taehyung ran to him and embraced him in a tight hug. Jungkook winced but he tried to hide it, fighting against all the pain shooting through his chest and his ribs and his wrist.

Jimin rounded the corner at the noise. "Jungkook-ah. Maybe answer our calls next time? Jin hyung was ready to have a heart attack before you finally texted him." He wrapped Jungkook in a hug.

"Sorry, I got caught up and lost track of time. I won't do it again hyung."

Jin came out of the bathroom, now being the third member to wrap Jungkook in a hug. The poor maknae was exploding with pain at this point, but he could not let them know. "Ahh Jungkook-ah. Finally! I left dinner out for you, go eat something." He pointed to the kitchen. "Now that I know you're home safe, hyung can finally lay down." Jin gave Jungkook a kiss on his head and disappeared into his bedroom.

Jungkook felt guilty, he hadn't meant to make everyone worry about where he was. He thought he'd have been home right after texting Jin, until that situation came up. Yoongi, Hobi, and Namjoon also popped out of their rooms for a second to say hello before retreating back with some drinks and snacks. Jimin also made his way to bed.

Taehyung decided to stay up with Jungkook so he wouldn't be eating dinner alone. He had noticed his maknae was keeping his right hand curled up in his hoodie sleeve, even though everything he was doing would be easier with two hands. He noticed Jungkook trying to only use his left.

"Kook-ah?"

"Yeah?"

Taehyung pointed to Jungkook's hidden hand. "What's wrong?"