Yoongi is an assassin, not a detective. He doesn't know how to search for clues, how to interrogate people. So, as he stands in the bathroom, the scene of the crime, he doesn't know what to do. He doesn't know where to start, what to look for—or how to look for it. He just stares, pretending he knows what he's doing whenever anyone comes in. But he doesn't. He doesn't know what he's doing... at all.

If only finding things could be as easy as killing things.

*  *  *

With Yoongi being promoted yet again—this time to temporary head detective—Jungkook is placed in the care of Hoseok. His jester and adoptive father would be by his side anyway, and has plenty of free time on his hands, so he seemed the logical choice. Namjoon, when he isn't busy trying to guide the knights' search for the amulet and run everything within his power, also stops by to keep him company—but he is being run off his feet, so this time is brief.

Jungkook still feels helpless. Despite the constant assurance that no harm will come to him, that the amulet will be found, he still feels like he'll die. He can't help but feel useless—his inability to protect himself means he can't do anything, except sit around all day. His throne is being run from bed, with his uncle standing in for anything that requires his presence. The assassin must already feel as though they've won.

"I want to get stronger." Jungkook sighs, sit up a little in his bed. Hoseok sits at the other end, playing with a small deck of cards that're always on his person. The kookaburra pauses mid-shuffle and glances up at his chick, an eyebrow raised in question. "I'm not strong enough."

"I think you're one of the strongest people here. You could kill me like..." There's a gap, a moment of silence hanging in the air in anticipation, as Hoseok puts all his cards in one hand. Then, with a hand now free, he clicks his fingers together, "Like that. You could kill me like that, if you wanted to."

"I could not. If you mean my magic, I don't even know how to use it properly; I've never really used it."

Hoseok snickers, "As a little chick, you would. Joon would get you for bed, when you were playing with your toys or something, and if you didn't want to go... any attempt to grab you would result in us being stuck—it'd suddenly be so heavy, we couldn't even move!" The kookaburra starts laughing, an obnoxious cackle that echoes excuses throughout the room. "One time– Once, you even turned your teacher into a puppet!" The laughter continues, though what he's saying doesn't sound that funny.

"But I barely know how to control those things! I've only managed to, recently, when I'm fearing for my life or upset."

With a careless shrug, the older male says, "Well, that's the only time it really matters anyway. But, if it'll make you happy, we can go train."

"That's what I've been trying to get at," The young king grumbles to himself, barely comprehensible, "Some father you are—can't even read my mind."

"Get dressed, we'll go down to the courtyard."

* * *

Yoongi is walking through the corridor, feeling thoroughly drained from asking everyone the same question over and over, when he hears a sudden crash. Nearing Jungkook's room, he panics and breaks out into a sprint; he rushes towards the king's bedroom, hands going to weapons and body tensing—preparing for some kind of fight.

Rushing around the corner, he comes to an abrupt stop. There, in the centre of the hallway, lies Taehyung. A vase is gripped in his hand, its stand toppled over his body. Eyes wide, body frozen, he's certainly a sight—one that makes the older male want to snigger as he approaches. But he can't, trying hard to maintain an air of professionalism.

"What're you doing?" The now-detective asks as he stands above the fallen male. After pushing the stand to the side, he extends a hand and helps Taehyung up.

"I was just trying to find the kitchen... but this– thing came out of nowhere and nearly toppled me over." The wingless male claims as he puts the vase back where it belongs. "I mean, it did, but only because I jumped out of its way and crashed into this. By the skies, I feel like I almost died."

"By the sky?" Yoongi repeats, now frowning suspiciously at the younger. "That's a hawk phrase."

"Don't tell me you think I'm a hawk, Yoongi—that's insulting. I've worked with and for a lot of people, picked it up along the way. Just like I would've picked up owl, seagull—even raven—things. Don't know what belongs to which anymore."

"What bird are you then? Kinda hard to tell without your wings."

Taehyung puffs his chest out proudly, wide smile spreading across his lips, "I was a Robin. Had the prettiest feathers, too—I would've been some famous performer if..." The wingless male sobers, shrugging his shoulders, "Yeah."

"What was the thing?" Yoongi tries to change the subject, growing uncomfortable with the sad male's face.

"What thing?" There's a moment, as the assassin frowns at his friend. "Oh, you mean that thing! Yeah, it was... I think it was a golem, maybe. It was small—smaller than most golems—but still made of dirt. Had a little 'K' carved into its head." The younger male draws the letter on his own forehead with his finger, as some kind of visual aide to his description. "Pretty sure it was a golem."

"What would a golem be doing running around a castle?" Yoongi mutters to himself, glancing in the direction the small creature had run. He'd never heard of golems in the castle—but then, he'd only ever heard them being used for war and protection. Both of which were probably required in the castle right now.

"Servants, sometimes. They can run around, do the little jobs—quite efficient, actually."

"Huh..." Yoongi glanced back at Taehyung, frowning once more. "You should go find the kitchens now."

"Right, my stomach is killing me. Good luck with your search!" And with that, the wingless male rushes off. The way he sprints down the corridor, it's no wonder he nearly crashed into the golem.

* * *

Giving little time to think, Hoseok's hand whips from a pouch at his side and he blows dust into the younger male's face. Suddenly blinded, Jungkook stumbles backwards, hands rising to rub the dust away. In that time, the kookaburra stamps down on his foot and pushes Jungkook to the ground. The king glares up at him with irritated eyes, starting to well up in an attempt to remove the dust from them.

"Why'd you do that?" He shrieks in frustration, having lost to the older male yet again. Each time, Hoseok pulls some trick move from his pouch or pocket and ends up beating him.

"To win, obviously." The kookaburra shrugs, closing the dust-filled pouch. With a grin, he brushes the excess from his hands and reaches out to Jungkook. The dark haired male ignores the offer and helps himself up, pride hurt.

"It's not fair."

"No real fight is going to be fair. If you want to get stronger, you're going to have to lose a few times." Jungkook still pouts, rubbing his eyes. "Besides, you holding back probably isn't helping."

"I'm not holding back!"

"Oh, so you're just one of those rare, magic-less birds, are you? Can only use physical combat?"

"No... I'm not holding back," the brunet repeats before sighing. He braces, entering a more defensive stance. "Let's go again."

Within seconds, Hoseok beats the younger by throwing a deck of cards at him, effectively startling him, and then knocking him down with a punch to the gut. Jungkook lies there for a moment, groaning quietly.

"You'd actually have a chance if you didn't hold back..."

"I'm not... I'm not holding back." Jungkook stands back up. "Again."

He really should have just stayed down, because it doesn't take long for Hoseok to beat him back down.

* * *

"Where were you a few nights ago?" Yoongi asks Jimin who frowns slightly at the question. The seagull stares at him for a few seconds, seeming to suspect the older male of something.

"Who's asking?" There's a moment, as Yoongi stares around the room in confusion, searching for someone else.

"Me... obviously." He frowns. "Are you blind?"

"That's not what I mean." Jimin sounds exasperated for some reason—Yoongi doesn't know what he's done wrong. "I mean, you obviously work for someone—you're obviously someone's dog. Who's are you?"

"I work for the King... but I'm not a dog." As if to prove a point, the assassin stretches his wings slightly. Again, Jimin sighs.

"Why does the king want to know where I was a few nights ago? Unless... you are a dog."

"I'm not. He just... wants to know." During the investigation, it has become clear to Yoongi that outsiders have very little information on what is happening to the king. No one has seemed to know that the amulet, his strength, is missing. It's made the magpie's job rather difficult, trying to get information without revealing too much.

Like now.

"I won't tell you unless I have a reason—a real reason." Yoongi sighs.

"I need to know. Why can't you just tell me?"

"Because... it's personal. Why don't you tell me where you were then?"

"I was with the king... I'm his guard, I'm always with him." There's a pause and Jimin seems to consider this. For a moment, Yoongi thinks he's got him—thinks he might finally reveal some information so he can continue searching.

But now, instead he just crosses his arms over his chest and shakes his head, "Still, I won't tell."

* * *

Jungkook has lost count of how many times he's lost. He knows how many he's won—zero—but he stopped counting losses a long time ago.

It's the final loss that pushes him too far. The way Hoseok beats him with a flower that breaks his final shred of pride. Face dripping wet with the water the flower had spat, he glares at his adoptive father. Hoseok looks like he's about to make some kind of quip, probably tell him to stop holding back, but the smug expression on his face suddenly morphs into one of shock.

"Stop with the stupid tricks!" Hoseok doesn't move, doesn't say anything either. Nothing seems to indicate whether he will or not. But he doesn't make any comments either, which is a little nicer.

"K-K...ook." He groans, lips barely moving to produce the sounds. His body twitches, slightly, but he looks almost frozen. The younger male stares at him distrustfully, confused frown growing. He waits for the trick, the twist that'll beat him. But Hoseok only vaguely gestured at the boy, hardly even raising his hand. Taking a risk, Jungkook glances down.

His arms glow. The veins in his arms are more visible, now throbbing with a dark purple hue. This causes him to yelp in surprise and shake his arms around, trying to remove the glow.

"What're you doing? How're you doing this?" He demands from Hoseok, who tries to shake his head.

"You." He mumbles. Now, Jungkook is beginning to think he might genuinely be frozen. Maybe he's done the same thing to Hoseok as he had the assassin. He hadn't meant to...

"I don't know how to stop it!" Doing all he can think of, the raven rubs at his arms and jumps about. Nothing seems to be working. Oh, how he wished he could control his powers—could turn them off at will, like a normal person.

And just like that, Hoseok collapses. He gasps, as though some big weight has been relieved from him. Immediately, the younger rushes to his side.

"Did it work? Has it stopped?" Instead of responding, Hoseok grins and wraps the king in a large hug.

"You did it. See! I told you, you've got magic. Strong magic too—oh my gosh, I thought I was gonna stop breathing."

"That's not good." Jungkook feels like crying. He could've killed one of the closest people he has to a father, all because he can't control his powers. He's hopeless!

"It is! Imagine if I was an assassin—they'd have no chance." But all the raven can think about is how easily he could've killed Hoseok. He sobs, folding into the hug. "Hey, hey, it's not that bad... I could breathe, Kook, that was an exaggeration. I'm sorry."

"I don't want to lose another parent."

"Hey, hey, you're not gonna lose another parent. Joon and I aren't going anywhere—we're staying right here with you." Hoseok grins, hand rubbing the boy's shaking back. "It'll take more than that to kill me, Kook. I'm stronger than that."

But Jungkook is inconsolable, continuing to cries messily in the hug. With a soft sigh, more exasperated with himself than anything, Hoseok conjures up an illusion—a shadowy figure that hovers expectantly, awaiting the instructions that the kookaburra then gives.

"Get Namjoon. Tell him I made Jungkook cry again."

NOTE: feel like I should put it out there—there's a reason I don't write mysteries or whodunnits... I mean, I did try once, but then there's a reason that's deleted too. I personally think it's probably one of my worst genres. So those parts are gonna be pretty awkward, like this chapter

I might just, if you guys don't mind... condense it a little? I don't think this chapter was very mystery & suspense, right?