A/N: So today I wore my Cooky shirt to school

and nobody recognized it or commented on it.

Saw some people staring at it though...?

Hmmmmm...

hahah ! I hope your day is beautiful like you, amazing reader!

:)

_IZZY_

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jimin brushed his fingertips against the cold walls. His trips to visit his father's spot in his "lab" weren't as frequent as they used to be. When the white-haired male was first changed into a half-demon, he would spend hours speaking with his dad about coping, regulating his powers, and finding purpose in his new self.

"You're a killer." His father would say to him. "You were born to kill for me."

And in an odd sense, Jimin accepted that. He felt proud doing what came easy to him, felt at peace in the strange niche of murdering for his father's growing collection. Initially, he had no idea what the corpses he brought back regularly were for. 

"Why do you need all of these people? And why am I only targeting the strong, healthy ones?" Jimin had asked when the killings began. "Why don't I get rid of the weak ones, the scum, the child molesters or evil-doers-"

"Everyone is an evil-doer, Jimin. In their own unique way. If you start getting sentimental about your kills or feel sympathy for these people, I can take it all away from you in a second."

The words burned painfully behind Jimin's red eyes, bouncing throughout his memories like hot coals. Being a stone-faced killer like his father was not hard for him to do. He was capabable, skilled, and trustworthy. That's how most ignorant people fell victim to him anyway.

But it pained him. Deeply. Immensely. How naive and hopeful people were when he treated them kindly.

Do you need help moving that firewood?

May I help you get your child out of that tree, ma'am?

Are you in pain? I know a medic not too far away...

Do you want my advice? Follow me...

The countless lies he had spoken in the hopeful ears of innocents made him gag. The looks on their faces when he would remove the disguise that hid his true, ugly self. The screams that rang out in his nightmares as they caught sight of his red eyes--the way their necks snapped easily under his cold palms.

It was haunting.

But he couldn't stop. No, Jimin couldn't stop hunting for people at night because his father would hunt him. Would hunt Lucio.

So, every night, he put on his mask before leaving the crypt to kill. Returning with another pale, lifeless body, and a growing urge to run. To flee. But he knew he couldn't. His father would always find him in the end.

*     *     *

One particular gloomy night years ago, Jimin tried to run with Lucio out of the grasp of his controlling father. They were headed south, the red-haired boy clinging tightly to Jimin's back as he ran over miles of terrain. The wind whipped tirelessly at their faces. 

"Why...why are we running from grandpa?" Lucio whispered in Jimin's ear. The tears from the small boy traced wet lines down the back of Jimin's neck.

"Because, Lucio...it's not safe there." Jimin was struggling to hold his own tears back. "It-it isn't the right place for us-"

"But won't...grandpa...miss us?" Tiny, shaking hands clasped around Jimin's black coat.

No, he won't miss us. He'll miss my ability to kill for him and the fact that he can't use you against me anymore to get what he wants.

"Yes, I'm sure grandpa will be sad...but...let's not think about that right now, Luce. Okay?"

And the little boy was silent. 

It wasn't until the man they were just talking about appeared in front of them that Lucio began to speak. 

"D...DADDY WATCH OUT!"

Jimin's reflexes were fast enough, and luckily he avoided the dagger aimed at his son. Pushing Lucio under him, he rolled behind a bush and surveyed the trees outlining the circumference of the field they were situated in.

"He's here..." Lucio whined, crumpled under Jimin's body. "G-grandpa...is mad."

The trees swayed in the wind. Jimin's breath caught in his throat as he listened in, waiting for his father's laugh or the sound of yelling. It wasn't long before the glass-shards of his father's voice trickled into his mind.

"Well, well, well..."

Jimin stood up. His father's tall, imposing figure slid into view.

"I won't let you hurt us anymore, father. This has to stop. You can kill on your own and try to complete the collection however you want, but I want no part in it. Let me and Lucio go."

A bead of sweat loomed over his eyebrow. Jimin was strong, sure, but matched against his father...and with Lucio there...

He was doomed.

"Hah, oh Jimin! I expected much better of you. Running away from your family? In a time of need-"

"Your collection isn't a time of need." Jimin gritted his teeth. "It's a selfish way for you to take back Noirwood, a useless piece of land! What are you going to do with land strewn with corpses?! Who are you going to rule over? There will be no one...n-no one left! It's fruitless!"

The wind tossed Lucio's red hair against Jimin's back. His son was trembling, holding tight to Jimin's back pant leg. The white-haired man continued.

"I thought you wanted to help people, dad. When you saved Taehyung and helped Eonjin, I thought you were just trying to be a good person. All the stories of you killing bands of savages...why did that have to end when Taehyung's father killed your mortal self? What happened?"

A cold, heartless glare painted Jimin's father's eyes. Jimin tensed. Did he go too far...?

"Hmmm. Interesting." His father stepped closer to the pair, peppering the duo with his icy gaze. "You still believe Taehyung's father killed me? That I was doing benevolent acts before I died? That Jungkook's father was a harmonious and wonderful leader that died last after giving his son the throne?"

Jimin blinked.

"What are you saying...?"

Lucio shrunk down even smaller as Jimin's father approached, cowering closer into Jimin's body. A harsh chuckle stagnated in the breezy air. When it ceased, Jimin's father spoke.

"You know nothing, son."

That was the day Jimin learned the truth.

"Jungkook's father despised me. Hated me. More than Taehyung's father. Both of them hated me...because they knew what I was. Knew what my offspring was."

A chill ran up Jimin's spine.

"I can't even remember how many times Jungkook's father sent undercover assassins to the Stone Castle in an attempt to murder you, Jimin. How whenever we met as the three princes, he would pretend as if everything was peachy. Under that false mask of genuine care for his people...that wonderous leadership he imposed over countless thankful people, he was power thirsty. Anyone close to him could see it. Sense it. He was still angry that Noirwood was divided among three princes. Nothing differentiated him from Jihoon."

"Wha-"

"If I didn't kill those two, Jungkook's father was planning to launch the Oak Army on Noirwood. Wipe out the factions of Laurel and Stone. Ravish the north--wipe out Jihoon and the last of the demons. The last of the people entitled to the land."

Jimin couldn't hide the shock vibrating throughout him. "Y-you killed the other two? I thought they died in other ways-"

"Made to look as if they were accidental. All lies..." Lucio whimpered as his grandfather spun around Jimin's body to get a glance at the boy. "Can't you see the issue with mortals? Their disgusting weaknesses...their greed and desires? They're all the same, Jimin. Demons historically held this land before they arrived. It's our turn to take it back...right, Lucio?"

The red-haired boy nodded in fear, unsure of whether he was doing the right thing or not. Jimin's eyes widened as his father reached down to pet Lucio's head almost affectionately.

"Don't touch him." The venom in Jimin's voice after learning about the truth shocked him. In reality, he felt numb, as if his entire life was a lie.

Which it was. 

"I won't hurt him...don't worry, son..." Suddenly Jimin's father swung his hand up to clasp Jimin's jaw. He tilted his son's head so that their red-eyes bore into each others. "As long as we have an agreement...and you don't try to run away again...understand that family comes first."

His nails dug deeply into Jimin's chin. 

"Why...why are you doing this to me? To us?"

His chin was released, accompanied by a low, harping laugh. "It's what we are. Half-bloods. Born to kill and reshape this world into our own version of the underworld..." 

Lucio sniffled, head pressing into Jimin's thigh. The half-blood reached down to pick up his son, who had snot running down his little, freckled chin.

"Hey now, Luce...it's okay, we'll play something when we get home all right?"

"O-okay..." A stray tear fell onto Jimin's shoulder. He turned to glare at his father, who was watching the pair curiously.

"Hmmm." Was all he said before he turned on his heel, son and grandson following close behind.

*     *     * 

Jimin thought about that same night now, as he was heading to speak with his father.

Family comes first.

The wedding was the following day, and Jimin was about to pull off a huge heist. If he could get this one plan past his father...

Then there was hope for him and Lucio.

And Rose.

*     *    *

"Rose, honey! What are you wearing? Ooooh, let us see!" 

Rose sauntered out from behind the massive column, flaunting a beautiful red dress that highlighted her soft gray locks. Jungkook and Taehyung applauded as their daughter strut past them with a bright grin on her little lips. The blonde had tears in his eyes. 

"OHHHH SHE'S GORGEOUS! I THINK SHE'LL BE EVEN PRETTIER THAN THE BRIDE TODAY-"

Jungkook lightly punched the blonde. "Volume, Tae. Volume."

Rose laughed and ran up to Taehyung who was cheering for her in a high-pitched and annoying voice...not like he would know or care.

"I'm so lucky to have such a beautiful daughter! Oh...well, I guess that husband guy over there is beautiful in that suit too, yeah?"

"Yeah, he's preeeeettttyy!" Rose leaped out of Taehyung's arms to be lifted up by the ravenette. Jungkook kissed her little cheek joyfully until she kicked around excitedly, nearly landing one on his crotch.

"Woah woah okay there Red, I know you're excited..."

Taehyung leaned over and spoke in Jungkook's ear. "I haven't seen her this happy since that one time I tripped outside and landed in horse shit."

Jungkook giggled, wrapping an arm around the blonde's waist. Both males looked dapper in their clean cut suits and sharp smiles. As a royal couple, they were matching with Rose, each sporting a rose in their suit pockets. It was cute to say the least, but the sight of it brought someone to Jungkook's mind.

Someone who he was trying to stop thinking about. Who he had his eyes peeled for at all times, afraid the demon would pop up in his room. Or in the shower. Or in his dreams.

In other words, he was paranoid.

"YES! Okay, let's get loaded up in the carriage then! We're all set."

"SSSSEETTTTTT!!!" Rose bolted down the large hallway to the carriage waiting for the family. It was decked out with golden ribbons in celebration of the well-known event that a majority of the kingdom was invited to.

Another marriage of royals.

The autumn sunlight streaked against the couples' faces as they exited the Oak Castle, hand in hand. A few servants cheered sporadically at the sight of the Oak Family all dressed to the nines, and Taehyung was sure to bow comically for them. Rose leapt into the carriage, followed by her fathers a few seconds later. 

"Wedding, wedding, wedding!!" She cheered, toying with the material of the leather seats. Jungkook leaned over and pulled her into his lap, smiling goofily at the way she sang the words like they were melodious. She continued, not pausing even once when Taehyung motioned for her to face him so he could see the words leaving her lips.

"FLORIAN AND EONJIN SITTING IN A TREE!

K-I-S-S-I-N-G!

FIRST COMES LOVE, THEN COMES MARRIAGE--

THEN COMES A BABY IN THE BABY CARRIAGE!!!!"

+     +     +