Chapter Text
“Clean up on aisle six.” Taehyung snickers as he looks down at the corpse in front of his shoes, the vivid red of blood pooling slowly around the dead body, staining the white tiles and seeping into their cracks.
Jimin wrinkles his nose as he lifts one foot out from the mess. “I liked this pair.” He whines. “They were new.”
He shakes the blood off with a huff, looking around the dark, closed, mini mart for tissues. “Why couldn’t he just pay his fucking debt?”
“Stop sulking, we have to go. The security cameras will be online again in 15 minutes.” Taehyung says, already making his way out the door.
Jimin glares at his ruined italian loafer before trailing after Taehyung, snagging a pack of gum from the counter. “Why do you always have to be messy when you kill?”
Taehyung looks back with a smirk, “I told you, it’s not a mess. It’s art.” He says in a tone that indicates they’ve had this discussion several times before. “You can kill the next one.” He offers to Jimin as the glass door closes soundlessly behind them, the closed sign swaying gently. A few steps later and they’ve reached the parked car.
Jimin opens the car door and sinks down to the seat. “If the next one is tomorrow I just hope it isn’t before brunch.” Jimin says as Taehyung starts the car. “Namjoon hyung’s taking me to that cute little hipster cafe where they put chocolate in everything.”
“Oooh. I wanna join.”
“No way. You can’t even wake up in time for it.”
“Let me join.” Taehyung pleads.
“No!”
The cherry red ferrari peels off the driveway with a squeal, taking with it the duo’s bickering and leaving behind dust floating in the air and a dead body on the mini mart tiles, not to be discovered until the next day, when a sleep deprived part time worker opens up for his shift.
----
Namjoon lowers his newspaper and looks at Jimin seated across from him, taking pictures of his stacked waffles. “Good job by the way.”
Jimin looks at him in confusion.
“With last night’s job.” Namjoon elaborates. “You and Tae did well on your own. Hyung was pleased.”
Jimin beams at him, proud and soaking up the praise. “Thanks hyung.”
Namjoon smiles back at him, looking extra soft in the warm lighting of the cafe with his grandpa sweater and square glasses and his dimples. No one who looked at him would expect the massive tattoo covering his back or the knives concealed under all his layers. No one would expect the heavy gun tucked in his khaki clad waist either.
No one ever expects until it’s too late. Just how he likes it.
“Meeting tonight at the Castle.” Namjoon says when they’ve finished all their food. “Make sure to tell Taehyung.”
“You got it.” Jimin says. “Same time as always?”
“Of course.” Namjoon replies absently, typing on his phone. He stands up, swinging his brown messenger bag onto his shoulder. “Gotta go. The boss awaits.”
Jimin smiles at him from his seat. “See you hyung.”
----
“What did hyung want us to do before dealing with the Lee properties again?” Hoseok asks from the bench, decked in pristine white shorts and an equally white shirt with an embroidered flamingo on the left breast. The sound of tennis balls hitting rackets and then hitting the court floor surrounds them.
Taehyung pauses his stretching. “That was today? I thought it was tomorrow.”
“No? It's for next week."
"So what's happening today?"
"Boss called for a meeting at the castle tonight. You should’ve been informed already.”
“Fuck.” Taehyung huffs, adjusting his rainbow headband. “I was planning on taking Tannie to the groomers.”
“You should always check your messages.” Hoseok lectures. “Your phone isn't only for your digital cats, you know. And shouldn't you move on already? You're the only person I know of that still has neko atsume on their phone.”
Taehyung shrugs. “What can I say, i'm attached to Tubbs. That beautiful thieving glutton.”
Hoseok laughs. "Well, while you take care of your fictional cats try to remember what boss wanted us to do before we deal with the Lee properties."
“Should we be talking about that in public?”
“Yeah, beacuse all these overworked dads playing mediocre tennis are so dangerous.” Hoseok snorts. He tests his racket, rocking on the balls of his feet. “Besides, it’s not really public if we basically own the place anyway.”
“True. Hey, are you stopping by Stigma later?”
“Of course. It’s meeting night, I have to.”
“I’ll go with you.” Taehyung offers. “I already finished my reports last Tuesday.”
“Cool.” Hoseok cheerily slaps Taehyung’s back. “Now let’s go continue with your tennis lessons.”
----
“Sir please just give me more time, I can get it back.”
“We’ve given you enough time to prepare.” Yoongi says calmly to the phone. “So why are there still several bags missing from the shipment?”
Yoongi pauses. “The boss won’t be pleased when he hears about this.”
There’s a sharp intake of breath from the other side before desperate pleading fills the silence.
“We’ll send someone for the missing goods tonight.” Yoongi interrupts, voice indifferent. “Either provide them or pay.”
“Sir please, I’m begging-”
“Goodbye.” Yoongi cuts the call. He scrolls through his phone contacts before finding the one he needs.
“Yes hyung? ” A deep voice answers on the second ring.
“Namjoon-ah.” Yoongi greets. “Can you deal with Park Junseok and the missing shipment? I gave him until tonight.”
There's a short pause over the line. “He won’t have it.”
“Doesn’t matter. Let’s see what he does with the extra time he’s been given.” Yoongi squints at the digital planner on his computer. “I’d go with you but I still have a lot to finish before the meeting tonight.”
“It’s fine hyung. Park Junseok is small fry. He’s got no chance against me.” Namjoon assures him, easy confidence coloring every word. “The problem is that he lives at the opposite end of the castle. I might be late to the meeting.”
“I’ll inform hyung beforehand, don’t worry. He’ll understand.”
“Alright. Sounds good.”
“Thanks Joon.”
“No problem hyung. See you later.”
“Yeah, see you.” Yoongi hangs up and stands up to stretch, holding his breath and releasing tension with a sigh. His phone buzzes with a text message.
‘Add the new shipment to the report I asked you to prepare.’
Yoongi texts back an affirmative before grabbing his suit jacket from the back of his chair and heading out to check on the gun warehouse. When the boss orders, you deliver.
----
Jimin looks at his watch, tapping his foot impatiently. This is taking longer than he expected. He’s haloed in the dying light of sunset, the sea breeze ruffling his hair as he watches crates of smuggled weapons being moved from the boat to their trucks like a hawk.
He scans the clipboard in his hand, quickly going over the inventory. “There’s no need for a third truck. They can all fit in this last one.” He says to the person next to him, who repeats it to his customized handheld radio, immediately receiving a staticky affirmative from the other side.
“Should we drive the third truck back or leave it here for the next shipping?” Jung Ireh asks. He’s a man twenty years older than Jimin and one of their most loyal. Normally he’d be the one overseeing the arrival of weapons shipment but tonight was meeting night and Jimin can’t risk anything going wrong.
“Take it with the rest to the warehouse.” Jimin says, eyeing the last crate. The sun has gone down and the dim white light of the lamp posts barely illuminate the dock.
“Watch your step.” He calls out before glancing at his watch again. Slightly behind schedule but nothing too bad.
The final crate is securely placed with the others and the back of the truck closes with a satisfying slam.
Jimin watches the trucks leave one by one until he’s the only one left in the dock. He sends out a group message informing the others of the shipment status before getting into his own car and heading off. It's time for the meeting to start.
----
The night is young, the moon hanging full and bright and everything is peaceful in this part of the woods, far from the city. From the distance a rumble can be heard growing louder by the second and as a group of clouds move to cover the moon, a cherry red ferrari screeches from the bend of the road, its driver sticking his head out with a whoop, heavy rap beats spilling out of the window. The car zooms into the large gated mansion known as The Castle. Asphalt turns to gravel and it crunches and leaves a trail of dust as the car halts into a reckless park.
Taehyung spills out of his car, cheeks stretched out and beret askew. Hoseok exits from the passenger side, cackling.
“Looks like Yoongi hyung’s already here.” Hoseok says, patting the black aventador they parked next to.
“Seems so.”
They walk languidly towards the massive entrance, the warm yellow lights of the mansion casting their shadows like ink behind them.
Not long after they enter, a jet black maserati rumbles into a quiet stop, Jimin stepping out calmly, shaking his head at the awful parking job next to his car. He walks, humming a lilting tune, arms swinging gently, gravel crunching beneath his feet until he too, disappears inside.
Thirty minutes later, earlier than expected, a mercedez parks next to the other luxury cars, Namjoon stepping out and adjusting his suit jacket. He checks his watch and walks briskly towards the entrance. The massive doors closing with a formidable thud behind him.
The soft glow of the chandelier illuminates his way, the only sound in the whole place is the clack clack his leather shoes make as he walks on gleaming marble.
He arrives in front of another set of wooden doors, knocking twice briefly, before walking inside. The only standing figure watches him as he takes his place on the large table, opposite of Yoongi.
The figure nods his head at Namjoon’s greeting and takes his seat at the head of the table.
“Good. We’re all here.” Seokjin says, hands folded, back straight, undeniably the source of authority. He looks at each one of them, making everyone sit up straighter. Namjoon. Yoongi. Hoseok. Jimin. Taehyung. The best of the best. His inner circle.
He smiles at them, deceptively soft, eyes sharp. “Shall we begin?”
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“This is a good opportunity.”
Jeon Jungkook nods. This isn’t the first time he’s been told that.
“I mean it Jungkook. Use this chance to spread your wings and fly.” There’s a pause, and then more quietly, “Fly and don’t ever look back.”
“What about you?” Jungkook asks just as quietly.
His brother gives him a thin, tired smile. “I’ll be fine. I’ll take care of mom.”
“And what about dad?”
His brother’s eyes harden. “I’ll take care of that too.”
They both sit side by side on the bench in silence, waiting for the train to arrive.
Jungkook grips the strap of his duffel bag. “I can stay-”
“Don’t.” His brother interrupts sharply. “I’m not letting you do this Jungkook. You have a chance to leave and make something for yourself. There’s no way I’m letting you give it all up for this place. For the people here. No way. You deserve better.”
“Okay.” Jungkook says softly. “Okay.”
They fall silent again, the wind rustling their hair and clothes.
“You deserve better too.” Jungkook says, looking down on his lap.
His brother reaches out to squeeze his shoulder but says nothing. There’s nothing to say that hasn’t already been screamed or sobbed or cursed or cried by less fortunate than him. It’s life. The only way to keep going is to accept it and move on and live anyway because the only other option is to give up and Jeon Junghyun refuses to do that. Refuses to accept it from his brother as well.
“I’m gonna miss you.” Jungkook admits, standing up as he spots the incoming train. A steady crowd already forming on the platform for the trip.
In no time at all the train arrives with a gust of wind and sound, the PA system giving instructions overhead.
His brother pulls him into a tight hug. “Good luck.” He says sincerely before pulling back. “Try not to miss me too much.”
“Thanks hyung.” Jungkook says seriously. “For everything.”
Junghyun inclines his head with a small smile before giving him a gentle push. “Go on. Big new world. Bright new future.”
Jungkook gives him one last hug before making his way to the train. He looks back only once to see his brother standing there, hands deep in his pockets, standing solitary against the moving crowd. He gives him a wave goodbye before entering the train and making his way to his seat.
Settling himself he thinks about what his brother said, repeating it like a mantra. Big new world. Bright new future.
Two hours and a few minutes later, land whipping by the window, the city introduces itself to Jungkook.
‘Hello Seoul.’ He thinks, eyes taking in the buildings looming closer. Big new world. Bright new future. ‘I can’t wait to see what you have in store for me.’