Third Person’s P.O.V.

“You think we should tell Taehyung about this” Hoseok spoke eyeing the email again as he read through it more thoroughly this time.

“He’s going to know about it anyway, he agreed to join again” Namjoon spoke sitting back in his chair.

Hoseok’s eyes went wider at the news “whoa! Really? I thought he wanted out of all this…”

Namjoon shook his head with a smile “you never saw him in his early days did you?”

The swivel chair rolled back a bit as he picked a file from the table and handed it to Hoseok who got busy to check through it while Namjoon mused on his own “he’s a soldier Hoseok, and there’s one thing we just cannot look away from no matter what…the need for justice” his eyes set on the screen going through the email again, the words there a solace and yet a gnawing premonition of some danger that might occur lurked at the back of Namjoon’s head “he may have given up on his revenge but I’m sure as hell he’s gonna see to the end of Byun’s final sentence…after all, do you think he could forgive the man who made sure to take away every single person in his life?”

“Taehyung actually suggested for Byun’s death sentence? I mean of course he did…he never considered Byun as his father anyway” Hoseok chuckled to himself “how long have they given him before the sentence?”

“Twenty-one days” Namjoon sighed checking on other stuff now “it’s classified information though…remember that, we need to break through all of Axels’ hidden heads before that…Jungkook said there are still people on the inside who believe Byun will come back and Axel will rise again, and once the news of his death sentence gets to the press I’m sure these hidden heads will try to take revenge in every way they can or try to get him out…we can’t accept such casualties anymore”

“They are already pissed, especially on Taehyung for betraying them…they have all become fugitives and are being constantly hunted because they believe he being the traitor had given all the info to us” Hoseok spoke realizing they were treading on thin ice right now.

“You sound scared” he eyed the other with a smirk “and relax, we have already eradicated two of the big ones…I don’t think these rats would be too troublesome for us…we got this” he patted at his shoulder earning a scoff from the other “I sure hope you’re right about that” and their conversation deviated to those times when life had seemed to be this close to being over, and how things had changed. 

“One minute! He’s almost ready!” Jin yelled back at Namjoon’s constant hankering to hurry as he pinned a glittering gold-plated badge on Taehyung’s uniform.

“Where does this one go?” He picked up another badge from the dresser checking hastily where to pin it.

“Right..no left…yeah left” Taehyung said checking himself in the mirror as he took in the sight of him dressed as a Colonel after such a long time, years…it had practically been years and more importantly he had given up the hope to be addressed as a soldier ever again, being welcomed back and promoted had been the last thing on his mind. His eyes softly moved to Jin’s keenly working hands on him, those brown eyes diligently set to help him and he smiled to see how those hands had been there to help him every time he had needed them.

Jin pinned the badge in place, finally setting the array of accolades which Taehyung actually deserved. He gazed at him, taking in the sight of him in a uniform for the very first time and a proud smile lingered on his lips.

“If they accuse me of being late, I’ll tell them you were being adamant about dressing me up yourself” Taehyung taunted reciprocating the smile as his hands habitually coiled around Jin’s waist, pulling his beloved to himself.

“Tell them I waited for you more than a year to come to me…they can surely wait a few minutes” Jin spoke with head held high as he placed the service cap on Taehyung’s head, fixing it appropriately before he softly stole a kiss, smiling to see those dark eyes glinting with mirth before Taehyung pulled him into a kiss. 

Jin kissed him back instinctively before a wide smile took over his lips and he giggled into the kiss “I thought you’re getting late” however he kissed him back again realising that Taehyung was completely avoiding his words as he felt his lips demandingly moving on his, tongue sliding teasingly till Jin parted his lips to let him in.

“You’ve got to be kidding me” they could hear Namjoon grumbling at the door and Jin pulled away blushing as if the Colonel hadn’t seen them kissing before and awkwardly dusted and straightened Tae’s new uniform “g-go…I’ll get Soo ready and come along in a while”

Taehyung couldn’t help the smile that curved on his lips to see Jin be this shy suddenly, for a moment reminding him of the clumsy fifteen year old misfit he had first laid his eyes on and he stole one last peck before heading to follow behind Namjoon.

Surely, it was a new beginning for Taehyung as he walked into the headquarters in his new uniform, the badges of merit glimmering proudly. For a minute he felt like the day he had been appointed as a Major, walking down these same halls beside Namjoon. The only difference was he had his entire team walking behind him that day, a short sigh slipped his mouth at the pang in his chest…truly so much had changed.

“They might ask questions, you can choose what you want to answer and what you don’t…they’re eager, rather over-eager actually…I guess it’s gonna be a big news, a special force officer working as a covert agent among terrorists, served jailtime and is now being promoted to become a Colonel…adventurous indeed” Namjoon’s voice was calm yet profoundly proud as he gave the younger a smile and Taehyung just smiled along.

“Well, I gotta thank you General” he taunted but Namjoon’s smile faded to hear the words “no don’t thank me…to be honest I don’t think I was any better than Kai…he too had sought to use your rage to make you one of them”

Taehyung frowned at the odd comparison not understanding what he meant.

“When you and your brother came to me and said you’d give anything just to see Axel fall, I had actually thought of using that zeal and anger you had to achieve what none had the guts to attempt…you two were practically kids back then, I shouldn’t have spurred your greed for revenge” Namjoon went silent for a bit before speaking again “it’s the only regret I have…I keep thinking that if in my thoughtless zeal to see those criminals behind bars, I hadn’t allowed your overambitious plan to trap Axel, all of them might still be alive…”

Taehyung had gone completely numb at those words “there’s no need to blame yourself, you know I’d have done it anyway” he inhaled fixing his collar “it wasn’t just about revenge, I wanted to see them destroyed…and I’m sure you must have guessed why I took up the offer to join again…”

Namjoon nodded still a bit sceptical though “he’s been given a death sentence…there’s not much he can do anyway-” “I just…I’ll feel more at peace when I actually see him dead…I will have avenged all their deaths when I watch his lifeless body…that will be the end. I’ll never again take up a weapon after I see that happen…I promised Soo…” he smiled to himself a little, thinking back to the morning he had sat to feed Soohee after Jin had gone to work and although he knew she didn’t understand his words at all and had played with the bowl and tried to feed him her lunch instead when he had leaned to make her listen to him as he had made the promise, telling her to take care of her Appa and keep him happy while he would be gone for missions and being moved by Jin’s words had promised that this would be the last time he would be taking up weapons…never again.

Namjoon smiled listening to the words “that’s very unlike you but I guess I do understand you…nothing comes before their happiness, and honestly they’ve been through a lot already”.

“I don’t want my daughter to grow up the way I did, it’s not the kind of life any father would want for their child” he sighed dropping his gaze to the floor “I think that is what Jin actually fears”.

“You can’t blame him for that” Namjoon spoke a smile still lingering as he tried to lift Taehyung’s mood from how heavy it sounded “with how moody and determined your daughter is as a mere toddler, she could practically wreck havoc in case she decides to fight for revenge…I mean she makes Yoongi look like a softie…imagine that!”

“No kidding” Taehyung nodded agreeing as he remembered what a ball of trouble his little girl could be “she literally had me crawling and crying due to her tantrums…” they shared a short laugh at that before Namjoon showed him the way to where everyone waited for him.

The large auditorium was filled with reporters and for a moment Taehyung felt his dislike with loud crowded places come back, the flashing cameras jabbing at his already agitated mind as he took a few steps back, letting Namjoon deal with them as he tried to even out his breathing and prepare himself for the announcement and the questions.

However, even in the middle of all that noise a tiny voice caught his attention and he instantly turned to see Jin standing among the crowd with Soo in his arms as he made her wave at him while the little one called out to him trying to get his attention again and again feeling excited to be among so many people for the first time in her life.

Taehyung instantly felt all his apprehension and agitation flush out, smiling loudly to see them there as he softly nodded back at them. And even when he was called up on stage after the announcement of him joining the special forces again and being promoted to a Colonel, he kept his eyes solely on them, his little world.

“Don’t you think this playing the double game makes him a very good liar?” “Last time General Lee declared him as a fugitive soldier who defied his duties and fled from taking responsibility…you think it is right for you trust him again?” Reporters threw blatant questions to Namjoon making Taehyung avoid their accusing eyes.

“He did not defy his duties, it was recently proved that he had to be kept in hiding because Axel was actually hunting him before he infiltrated their organization” Namjoon began replying to their chain of questions and with every question Taehyung realised how much people still doubted him, his principles and actions making him feel rather guilty as memories of all those wicked deeds he had done in the name of conning Axel to make them believe he was one of them.

In truth he believed he deserved to be shamed and doubted…there was too much blood in his hands to make him seem innocent. But the minute he picked up his eyes he could see Jin’s starry eyed gaze still fixed on him, that proud smile holding him in high esteem as always and it was quite impossible not to acknowledge the fond happiness in those brown eyes. The affection and pride in Jin’s eyes made Taehyung stand tall again, and he told himself it really didn’t matter what they accused him of, he had people who loved and trusted him, people who knew his struggles and stood by him no matter what.

More officials poured in to welcome Taehyung back, and they settled down as Namjoon went up the stage again, to address the team that had been disbanded and their mission stamped as a failure who had turned the tables to achieve the impossible. They had actually infiltrated Axel and had succeeded in eradicating the infamous terror organization. He boasted, thanked and saluted his team, calling up Hoseok and Jungkook to join him and Taehyung on the stage as he bestowed on them their medals of honour.

The crowd broke out in loud appreciation and when the reporters were cleared out of the auditorium, Jin could trace more familiar faces in the crowd. Colonel Wang was there, so was those two officers-Officer Kyungsoo and Officer Mark who had interrogated him. Hopping off the stage as the others became busy in congratulating Namjoon, Hobi and Kook made a beeline towards Jin instead, instantly pulling Soohee from his arms to coddle her as the place filled with more cheers and happy greetings.

And although there were a cluster of faces across the room when Jin turned to check how Taehyung was doing at the other end of the room, standing on the platform surrounded by proud pats on his back and friendly salutes, he could see that dark gaze time and again darting towards him. Jin smiled softly, seeing Tae’s eyes fix on him now and felt his smile growing as he imitated the officials and saluted at Taehyung from afar.

It was just a playful gesture on Jin’s part and he actually wanted Taehyung to know that he was very proud of him…proud of his strength to endure through everything he had and knowing how difficult it had been for both of them to get where they are today. The brimming happiness in Taehyung’s face told him how much he had actually wanted this. He too believed that Taehyung deserved this and although there was a little clawing fear in his own heart, he had decided to stand by him just as he always had.

But what he hadn’t expected was what Taehyung did next…

“Umm…I’m not really good with words…but yeah I guess I could manage a few” Taehyung fidgeted as they urged him to speak a few words after he had received the merit of honour for his selfless sacrifices and indomitable will power to pull down the biggest terror organization.

The crowd settled after the greetings their attention being instantly drawn to that deep voice “well to begin with I really hadn’t thought I’d survive through it to see this day” he chuckled a bit to himself “and definitely did not expect to be summoned in here again, an honour indeed” he held the medal in his hand, loving the weight of it around his neck, loving the new uniform, the proud eyes of the people gazing up at him and his eyes instantly zeroing in on the impeccable face looking up at him from the back row.

His mind threw him into the memories of those days when he felt like ending his life and surely would have if Jin had not opened his heart unquestioningly for him…he had asked for his help that night feeling broken from within and not a day has gone by since then when Jin hadn’t stepped up to show him he deserved to live…to be loved…that his life wasn’t all bloodbath and revenge and pain but it could actually be something beautiful.

“But I don’t deserve it really…” he gulped, gaze fixing on Jin’s whose smile paled to hear him say those words “it wasn’t just my selfless sacrifice, neither was it my will power because most of my strength was borrowed…” the crowd looked a bit confused to see him walk away from the microphone “I realized that no matter how well trained and skilled I was, I had lost my grit after the failed mission that took my team away…” he spoke walking down from the stage as he walked through the aisle with his gaze fixed on a startled and frozen Jin.

“There were days I felt like I had become one among those monsters and I couldn’t breathe…felt like killing myself…I would have done it too, I didn’t really have anything to hold onto life anyway…” the heads turned to follow his steps as they realized where he was headed.

Jin had stopped breathing as he watched wide-eyed when Taehyung walked past the others to head to where he was seated with Soohee in his arms.

In the very next moment, he saw him pulling the medal off of himself and placed it around his neck instead and Jin felt his heart melt when he saw Taehyung kneeling in front of him, kissing Soohee’s cheek in the process, while he wore the softest smile on his lips, his hand gently caressing Soohee’s head before his eyes came back to him.

“Hi baby…” his voice was low as he took Jin’s hand, leaving a soft peck on his knuckles “thank you for everything…thank you for helping me find myself…thank you for loving me more than I could ever ask for…and thank you so much for agreeing to marry me, I’m quite hopeless without you…”

Jin was stunned, eyes pooling with water without his knowledge as he tried to breathe, he was completely at a loss of words. Taehyung pecked the inside of his palm before standing up and kissing him on the forehead, smiling to himself as he felt content like never before.

“I’m going to share it with him, he deserves it way more than me” he smiled widely as he turned to let the others know who watched at the scene with parted mouths “oh sorry I forgot to introduce him…” he turned to a still frozen Jin and caressed his cheek “he’s Seokjin, my fiance”.

The words as if tore through Jin’s frozen state and he looked up at Tae, who was pulling at his hand to help him stand, his arms casually gliding to coil around his waist in a sense of gentle possessiveness.

The others burst into cheers at the news, congratulating Taehyung a second time and the pair bashfully accepted the wishes as they let everyone know that they had decided to tie the knot soon.

Jin couldn’t help but gaze at the side of Taehyung’s face in ardent glee that he tried to hold back but it evidently spilled through his overly fond gaze on the other. Taehyung felt it and turned to see Jin give him a smile feeling the hand around his waist pulling him a little closer.

“I just remembered I never thanked you for that time you fought with those bullies for me…neither the time when you bought band-aids and painkillers for me with your lunch money…” he spoke drawing Taehyung’s attention who looked a little confused to hear Jin mention that suddenly, even though it was such a long time ago he realised the memory was still very alive to both of them.

“How could I not stand by you when you needed me when you stood up for me even though you didn’t really need to?” Jin spoke watching Taehyung look at him as if he was his entire world before he saw that fond smile break on his lips again.

“Stand by me just like this…that’s all I’ll ever need anyway”

“Always” Jin’s short but firm assurance made Taehyung steal a short kiss feeling ecstatic “I love you” he spoke right over his mouth before kissing him again.

Truly, he had made it through the darkest of maze to find his one in a million…

á na márië

[A\N] it's been a while...I apologise to those who had been waiting 💜