Jimin gaped at Hoseok. Had he lost his mind?

"What do you mean we can't tell Mr. Yoo?" Jimin asked, eyebrows scrunched together. After Yoongi, Hoseok was, as far as Jimin knew, Mr. Yoo's most loyal lackey. Most people that got in trouble had been ratted out by Yoongi or Hoseok.

"I'm not supposed to be here." Hoseok answered bluntly. Jimin's eyebrows rose. "This is Yoongi's territory and I'm supposed to be elsewhere. The magical presence in this town though. . ." Hoseok stared off, over Jimin's shoulder. His eyes were looking, but not truly seeing. "There's something here," Hoseok murmured so quietly Jimin almost missed it. "There's something drawing magical beings here."

Jimin couldn't deny the truth of Hoseok's words; there was an abnormally large magical presence in this town. It wasn't unusual to run into other Wishing Well agents while on a mission, but running into so many in such a short period of time was odd. It wouldn't surprise Jimin if there weren't other beings in town that he either hadn't run into or wasn't aware of yet.

"I still don't understand why we aren't supposed to tell Mr. Yoo about that man," Jimin said, shrugging. "He would want to know that Veil is—"

"No!" Hoseok cut him off sharply. "If he knew that we ran into a Veil agent and didn't take him down or apprehend him we would be done for."

"But we didn't do anything wrong!" Jimin exclaimed, taking a step toward the older man. "We were all but powerless against him! He surely wouldn't blame us for something we had no control over!"

Hoseok scoffed. Bracing his hands on his hips he gave Jimin a withering stare. "Are you really that stupid? We would be powerless if he found out. Do you really want to risk your powers over this?"

Jimin considered Hoseok's words carefully. Wishing Well was his life. He couldn't remember anything before it, and really wasn't sure what he would do if he wasn't an agent--if he didn't have powers. His intensified powers were what made him special; who was he if he was just a typical genie again?

Jimin knew that there were some magical beings in the world that didn't belong to Wishing Well and he knew he didn't want to live like them. Uncontracted genies and other magical beings were easy prey for Veil. Jimin had heard horror stories about magical beings captured and tortured for any information and power they possessed. A shudder rolled through Jimin's body as he considered a life with weakened powers.

But what if Hoseok is trying to trick me? What if this is a test?

Jimin's eyes flicked to Hoseok. The other man was shifting his weight as he waited on Jimin's response. If it was anyone else, Jimin would believe without question that they shouldn't tell Mr. Yoo, but Hoseok was a trickster. Jimin knew he couldn't trust Hoseok no matter how nervous he acted or sincere he seemed; he refused to be punished for falling for one of Hoseok's tricks.

It was almost as if Hoseok could sense the moment Jimin made his decision. His eyes widened and his head snapped toward Jimin. The last thing Jimin saw before he transported himself was Hoseok eyes wide, hand reaching for him. I'm sorry, but I can't take the risk he thought bitterly to Hoseok.

///

Yoongi snapped to attention when he felt magic stirring, signaling someone transporting to him. It wasn't often that people transported straight to his office, but when they did, it was never good news for someone else. As Mr. Yoo's right hand man, Yoongi got to do most of the dirty work at Wishing Well. Need to rat someone out? Tell Yoongi. Rogue agent needs to be apprehended? Ask Yoongi.

Honestly, if he was any of the other magical races at Wishing Well, Yoongi might have grown to resent his position a long time ago, but being what he was, who he was, Yoongi did his job without question or complaint. What use was there in complaining or questioning one's superiors anyway? No job was perfect, but each job should be done to the best of your ability without question. Anything less than perfect submission and execution was unacceptable.

Yoongi rose from his chair, stuffing his hands into his pockets as he waited for the agent to materialize before him. If Yoongi wasn't so practiced in concealing his true feelings his eyebrows might have jumped to his hairline when Jimin appeared before him.

"I have to report something," Jimin said.

Yoongi stared at Jimin without speaking. It wasn't that he ever thought Jimin was traitorous, but he never thought Jimin would report on anyone or anything; since the incident that resulted in the removal of an agent and a partial memory wipe for Jimin, Jimin had kept to himself. After another beat of silence, JImin seemed to realize Yoongi wasn't going to speak. Twisting one of the rings on his fingers, he continued speaking.

"There's a Veil agent in town."

Yoongi's eyebrows shot to his hairline. "What? How do you know for sure? Where is the agent now?"

"I ran into Hoseok in town; he told me he needed my help. When we transported to the location he needed help at there was a man there that was impervious to our powers." Jimin paused, pulling in a breath. "We tried to get him, but he was also physically more powerful than us. Before he got away, he told us that if we ever wanted to overthrow Mr. Yoo we should reach out to him. We transported back to my apartment and Hoseok told me we shouldn't tell Mr. Yoo about this."

Yoongi glowered at Jimin. This was an unfortunate turn of events. There had been no trace of Veil for years, now suddenly here they were again and Hoseok of all people wanted to keep that from Mr. Yoo. Looks like I know who my next apprehension is.

"How are you supposed to get in contact with him? And where is Hoseok now?" Yoongi barked.

Jimin flinched at the harsh tone of Yoongi's voice. "Hoseok was at my apartment the last time I saw him. As for the Veil agent, he hangs around my mark sometimes."

"Have you interacted with him before tonight?" Yoongi asked.

Jimin nodded in confirmation. "Earlier today I was talking to Emily and he approached us."

"But no contact other than that?"

"None." Jimin confirmed. "I saw him around campus, but today was the first time we interacted."

Yoongi nodded once before brushing past Jimin and making his way out of his office. Jimin stared after him, a little shocked by his prompt exit when Yoongi's voice came through in his mind, Thank you for the information. You're dismissed.

Without hesitation, Jimin transported home, guilt and relief warring within him. He'd done the right thing, but at what cost to Hoseok?

"It can't be helped!" Jimin exclaimed to his empty apartment. Jimin wasn't willing to risk his life on the off chance that Hoseok was trying to trick him. The relief in his chest wasn't enough to still the guilt churning in his gut at the thought of what was going to happen to Hoseok. As relieved as he was that he wasn't going to be on the receiving end of Mr. Yoo's wrath, he worried for Hoseok and felt guilty for his relief.

Dropping onto his couch, Jimin shoved his hands through his hair. Who even was he anymore? What was this job doing to him? He needed to finish this job and get out of this town before he was completely ruined and unrecognizable to himself. Unable to stand himself or his thoughts anymore, Jimin curled up on the couch, guilt all but swallowing him whole as he eventually drifted into a fitful sleep.

Happy Thanksgiving.

I purple ya'll and I hope you enjoy this chapter!