Taehyung laughs with Jimin as Namjoon continues to go on about how horrible his day was at work.

"I'm glad you two can find humor in my suffering." The oldest of the three huffs as he sits down next to Taehyung. Handing him the water he went to get from the kitchen.

"If you hate your job so much, Joon, why don't you just find another one?" Jimin asks from where he sits on the opposite couch.

"Because I'm hoping if I stay long enough my dad will give me a more behind-the-scenes roll in the restaurant," Namjoon responds. "If that means a couple of hours of free labor every other day, then I'll do it."

"It's not fair for your parents to make you work for free. Even though you're their son." Taehyung says. "You should talk to them."

Namjoon shrugs dismissively. "We're going on a hiring spree next month, so maybe it'll happen then. And they're still paying my rent, so. It's not that bad."

"Why complain then?" Jimin asks. "If you're just going to keep putting yourself through it."

"I complain to get it off my chest. But I'm sorry, Jimin, if it bothers you." The older says grabbing the remote to the TV without looking at Jimin. "I just figured, as my friends, I could talk to you guys about it."

"Of course you can talk to us, Joon. And you can complain all you want. I complain about shit I don't bother to change all the time." Taehyung shrugs as he checks his phone. "It's cool."

"Thank you, Tae," Namjoon responds as he searches for a movie to play. "What should we watch?"

"I'm gonna go," Jimin says uncrossing his legs and grabbing his phone. "It was good seeing you, Taehyung. I'm glad the twins are okay."

"Thank you for worrying, Jimin. It really means so much." The brunette says standing to hug his friend. "I'm glad I have a friend like you."

"You're being all gross and sappy, Tae." The older laughs as he hugs him back briefly before pulling away. "I'll text you later."

"Okay." Taehyung smiles as he sits back down. A confused expression forming on his face when Jimin leaves without another word to Namjoon.

"What do you want to watch, Tae?" The older says completely unphased by Jimin's behavior. "I'll let you pick one of those shitty rom-coms if you want."

"Don't try to distract me." The younger laughs reaching over and grabbing the remote. "What's going on with you and Jimin?"

"Nothing's going on." Namjoon chuckles. "Why?"

"There was tension just now. Since when does Jimin not say goodbye to you?" Taehyung asks. "And you both are acting weird."

Namjoon shrugs, his smile fading as he looks down at his hands. "There's nothing going on. He just thinks I'm into someone else. Which I have every right to be. Jimin and I aren't together. We never have been."

"Wow, Namjoon. You actually sound like a dick right now." The brunette says shocked by Namjoon's words. "You and Jimin have been crushing on each other for years. Even if you never made it official there was still something there."

"You're right, Tae, we've been liking each other for years. And nothing ever came of it." The older says looking at his friend. "I'm just kind of over being stuck in that phase."

"Did you tell him that?" Taehyung questions with a raised eyebrow. "Maybe he's tired of it too."

"He's not. I've tried talking to him about it." Namjoon says throwing his hands up. "He's only interested in a relationship now because he thinks I'm into someone else."

"Are you into someone else?" The brunette asks.

"Yes. And I have been for a while now." The older says. "And I'm tired of waiting for him. I'm sorry if that makes me a shitty person."

Taehyung sighs, he didn't know what to say. Jimin was his friend, he wanted to convince Namjoon to keep trying with him but he understood Namjoon's feelings as well.

"You have your own shit going on, Tae. That's why I didn't say anything." Namjoon says after noticing that the brunette fell silent. "It doesn't even matter. I'm done with Jimin romantically. I think we're better off friends."

"I can't say anything about that," Taehyung says looking down at the water bottle in his hands with a sad expression. "But if that's what makes you happy..."

"Don't do that." The older says rolling his eyes a little at Taehyung's pouty expression. "I already feel bad enough as it is."

"I'm not doing anything." The brunette pouts. "I'm just sitting here."

"You're pouting."

"I'm just sitting here."

Namjoon sighs grabbing the remote again to search for a movie. "I'm sorry if I made you upset. I'm just tired of letting him use me when it's convenient for him. I'm not happy doing that anymore."

"I get it. Whatever makes you happy, makes me happy." Taehyung sighs looking up at the TV and holding his hand out. "We're still watching a shitty rom-com. I didn't forget."

Namjoon smiles as he hands the remote over. "The shittiest you can find preferably."

"Idiot." The brunette chuckles as he starts clicking through the films. His mind still preoccupied with Namjoon and Jimin's relationship.

He knew it wasn't any of his business, it was just going to be weird seeing them not crushing on each other.

It complicated things in the friend group. And he hated that.

~Later that night...~

Jeongguk's hands tremble as he walks into his uncle's house for the first time since they lifted the hard drive. His heart pounding in his ears when he sees the man.

"Jeon Jeongguk, it's been years. Hasn't it?" The man smiles. His overall presence far warmer than his father's as he opens his arms and hugs him. "You've grown so much."

Jeongguk frowns as he hugs him back. "It's good to see you, Unc."

"I know why you're here, Jeongguk." The older man says pulling away from the hug. "And I'm glad you came."

"I'll do whatever you want me to~"

"Ah, ah, ah." His uncle says holding up his finger. Chuckling at his eagerness. "Come, let's talk where the walls aren't listening."

Jeongguk nods, immediately understanding the odd choice of words. Letting his uncle lead him down the stairs to a room in the basement. It was the only room in the house that wasn't wired, his father had one as well.

"Now, you were saying?" He says leaning against the door of the small room. The dim light making his soft features appear harsh and daunting.

"I want him off the list. And I'll do whatever it takes to make that happen." Jeongguk says. He immediately rushed to his uncle's house after reading the list for the first time.

His heart almost came to a complete stop when he saw Taehyung's name on the list. Followed by the names of his brother's wife and their kids. He knew trying to get their names off the list would be a long shot.

So he decided to be selfish for once in his life.

"It's interesting that you're here, Jeongguk." His uncle says. "And it's interesting that you think I'd do you any favor after you broke into my home and stole from me."

"You put my family on a fucking hitlist. If anyone should be upset I'd think it'd be me." Jeongguk snaps. "I'm going to do what I have to do to protect my family. And I know you, of all people, understand that."

The older man smiles, nodding his head. "Of course I understand, Jeongguk. Of course, I do."

"Please, I'm begging you, please tell me what I have to do to get Taehyung off the list." The younger says desperately. He knew it was dangerous to be this desperate but he'd do anything.

"Do you know what I want you to do? I want you to protect that list with your life, Jeongguk. As well as the rest of the files on that hard drive." His uncle says. "A lot of people died because of what you and your brother did. What does that tell you about the hard drive?"

"That it's important."

"Exactly. And a lot of people are trying to find it. So I suggest you keep it in a safe place. Because if they get to it, you, Taehyung, and the rest of your little family are dead. And your deaths will be far from peaceful."

Jeongguk looks at his uncle like he expects him to continue. "You just want me to keep the hard drive safe?"

"Don't say it like it's an easy task or I'll change my mind." His uncle laughs. "That hard drive is worth more than your entire existence, and mine."

"Okay. Okay, I can do that." Jeongguk nods. "Thank you. I won't let you down, I swear~"

"You do know what this means, don't you, Jeongguk?" The older asks with a smirk on his face. Jeongguk waits for him to continue. "It means you're on my side now."

Jeongguk nods, he knew he was ending any chance of ever being in his father's good graces. And he knew that if anyone on the other side were to find out about this he'd be tortured to death.

"So we're going to protect you from them. Because you're one of us now." His uncle says. "I think you've always been one of us, honestly. Because you aren't cruel like your father and your brother. You have at least a smidgen of human decency, and it shows in you being here right now."

"Thank you." The ravenette says, the feeling of being accepted for who he is one he rarely ever feels.

"They moved your car to the back after wiping the GPS. Be careful going home." His uncle says as he starts to leave. "And don't go see your father any less. Go see him more if you can. It's gonna make it easier for us to work together."

"Okay." Jeongguk nods before they leave the room. The stress he felt when arriving now vanishing from his chest.

He was going to make sure no one ever found that hard drive. And he was going to make sure nothing ever happened to Taehyung.

When he gets to his apartment he finds Taehyung sitting in the living room on his laptop. Looking up and smiling when he sees him. "Hey, I didn't think you'd be back yet." The brunette says. "I was just browsing for some things for when the babies get here."

"I thought you'd still be at Namjoon's," Jeongguk says joining him on the couch. Leaving close to no room between them as he looks at the screen of the laptop.

"I left after one movie. Things were too weird." Taehyung sighs as he continues to scroll through the online baby boutique. "He's going through some things with Jimin."

"That sucks." The ravenette says, not at all interested in Namjoon's love life.

"And I want to have an opinion but I can't. Because they're both my friends." The brunette says suddenly shutting his laptop and shifting towards the ravenette.

Jeongguk's eyes widen as he's suddenly bombarded with unwanted information about Namjoon's history with Jimin.

"I know it gets old constantly being in the crushing phase but it's like their thing now. They've been crushing since we all became friends." Taehyung continues. "I really want him to just keep trying because it's so fucking unsatisfying for this relationship to constantly build up. Just for nothing to happen? Come on, that's such bullshit."

"Tae~"

"And before you say you don't give a shit, I do." The brunette says cutting Jeongguk off. "They're my friends and I want them both to be happy. Not just one of them."

"Taehyung, I get it. Okay?" Jeongguk tries again. "But you can't want them to be together and want them to both be happy. Because either way one of them will be unhappy. And I actually feel bad for Namjoon. Jimin is definitely playing him."

"Jimin isn't a player. He really likes him." Taehyung says with a pouty expression.

"Jimin's either using him or he's toxic, obviously. He won't commit to a relationship but wants Namjoon's dick to be off-limits to everyone but him?" The ravenette counters. "That's controlling and weird as fuck."

"You really think he's using him?" The brunette asks deflating a bit. "I've know Jimin for years."

"I'm just saying something's off about that situation. Who crushes on someone for years without making move? It's weird." Jeongguk shrugs. "They're your friends though, so."

"It just makes me really upset." Taehyung sighs, he knows he's being over-emotional but he can't help it. "I hope they work things out."

"They're big boys, Tae. I'm sure they will." The ravenette says rolling his eyes. "Let's change the subject. I'm done talking about Namjoon."

"Fine." The brunette sighs. "Where were you today? Working?"

"Yeah. I had to go to my uncle's for my dad." Jeongguk responds, suddenly remembering the hard drive that he needed to hide. It's like when he's with Taehyung that part of his life doesn't exist anymore.

"Mm." Taehyung hums as he opens his laptop again. "You know, you don't really talk about your job. Ever."

"There's nothing to talk about really." The ravenette shrugs. "I just do what my dad tells me most of the time."

"It just seems like you avoid talking about it. And you dismiss the subject every time I bring it up." The brunette says with his eyes trained on his laptop screen. "It makes me worry, honestly."

"Worry about what?" Jeongguk asks, he always avoided talking about it because he wanted to avoid lying to Taehyung as much as possible.

"I don't know." Taehyung shrugs before changing the subject. "Dr. Song wants me to go pick up my lab results tomorrow. She has the genders too. I'll pick them up for you."

    "You still don't want to know?" The ravenette asks, grateful for the change of subject. He knew that Taehyung was better off not knowing about his lifestyle. Even if he hated lying to him, it was better than putting his life in danger by telling the truth.

"Not yet. I might change my mind later on but I don't want to know right now." The brunette says with a sigh as he checks his phone. "I have an online class early tomorrow. So I'm gonna head to bed."

"Okay." Jeongguk nods as the younger stands from the couch. "And, Tae?"

"Yeah?" Taehyung asks looking down at him.

"You don't have to worry about me. Or my job. There's nothing to worry about." The older says looking up at him. "I swear."

Taehyung offers him a small smile but he seems unconvinced. "Goodnight, Jeongguk."

Jeongguk sighs a little as Taehyung turns to leave. "Goodnight."

Taehyung's worry was the least of Jeongguk's at the moment.

He needed to get rid of that laptop.