6. 06. Friends And Foes

Aside from Min Yoongi, and a few other random gangsters you’ve met throughout the years, there’s never been a direct connection to the Devil himself—Jeon Jungkook. That is until now… until Kim Namjoon… your counselor and ex fuck buddy…

Out of everyone in this godforsaken world, why does it have to be him? It couldn’t be anyone else? Seriously? You must have the shittiest luck or maybe none at all. The man who listened to all your problems, the man you had once been intimate with, isn’t what you thought he was. You feel like you don’t even know who Kim Namjoon is anymore. But maybe you never truly knew him at all. It stings because he knows exactly who you are. He knows everything about you. Everything from your darkest fears to the skeletons buried deep inside your closet. He even knows all that surface level bullshit, like your favorite color, and why your parents named you ____.

Hell, when you think about it, it seems like he knows you better than you know yourself. You wish you could take it all back now, but it’s far too late for any of that. What’s done is done. Now all you have to do is deal with the consequences of your actions. You just hope they aren’t too bad, but knowing Min Yoongi, there’s going to be hell to pay.

For everyone.

Staring at Namjoon now, with his back turned to you, it’s hard to believe you’ve ever opened up to him. You should’ve kept your mouth shut and your legs closed. You let him inside of your mind and your body. You’re not ashamed of having sex with him. Your body is a temple and you’re allowed to invite people in whenever you feel like it.

But there is something eating away at you when you look at him now. He has listened to you talk about that monster for hours on end to the point where he can probably recite every last vicious word you’ve said about Jeon Jungkook. He knows what you went through and the pain that disgusting excuse for a man has caused you. How can he help you when he’s trying to help the very man who hurt you? No wonder he kept on defending that bastard. It makes so much sense now.

Kim Namjoon knows Jeon Jungkook. He says that he’s only his patient, but what if they’re friends? It wouldn’t be the first time someone tried to play both sides of the fence. Some people like to play dirty. Some people are willing to lie and cheat to win, but honestly, so are you.

Namjoon is the common link between you and Jungkook. He’s the thread that ties you two together. He’s the only thing separating you from getting what you’ve always wanted. Revenge. You didn’t think Dr. Kim was capable of helping you anymore, but maybe he can be useful after all. He can lead you to the one person you’ve been looking for ever since you were an ornery child with a crooked grin. He can take you to the person who turned that unique grin into a permanent scowl.

Although Jeon has been in the spotlight a lot lately, he’s also been careful enough to spend most of his time in the shadows. For every so-called fan he has, there’s two more enemies standing in their place. He prefers to stay in the dark because he knows there’s people like you out there waiting for him. People that want him dead and gone… people that won’t stop until he’s buried six feet under… or they are.

He’s had good luck in defending himself—probably due to the army of soldiers he has ready to lay down their lives for his on a regular basis—but that won’t stop you or Min Yoongi from getting what you want. Jungkook may have a greater force standing behind him, but you guys have something that could potentially be more lethal; the element surprise. If you can convince Namjoon to talk, then all your dark desires can finally come to fruition. It doesn’t matter how long it could take—or what you might have to do to him—but you will make Namjoon squeal like a dirty little pig. That’s not a threat. It’s a promise. And you’ve never broken one before, so you sure as hell aren’t going to start now.

At this point, the only thing separating you and Yoongi from Jungkook is a simple game of hide and seek. One that you hope Namjoon will be a willing player in. If he isn’t willing to participate, then he’ll lose more than just a game. He’ll lose his life. Not because of you necessarily but because of the people who stand with you. No one will stand in the way of Min Yoongi or Jung Hoseok when they want something. Or Kim Seokjin for that matter, his brawny shoulders are too wide for that anyway. He’ll push everyone out of the way if he has to or use them as stepping stones. No one will stop any of them.

When they’re all together, standing side by side, they are a force to be reckoned with. One that cannot be stopped or slowed down. In regard to Jeon’s huge army, there’s something he’s too young and naïve to understand. Quality is always better than quantity. They all are eager to teach him that themselves. You are too.

Despite all of that, there’s still one little thing standing in your way. And you have to get past it as soon as you can. Time is running out, the clock is ticking down, almost to the point where you can hear the minute and hour hand spinning around.

It’s the fact that Jungkook has always kept his distance from the rest of the world, tucked far away where he’s safe enough to keep running and expanding his enterprise. The closest he’s ever been to you since that terrible day is on your television screen, interviewing with news anchors to tell them about his latest business venture where he often forgets to mention the fact that they’re all extremely illegal. No one seems to care about that though. Instead, everyone chooses to treat him like a goddamn saint. They worship the ground he walks on, fooled by his fake charm and innocent looks. They don’t know the wickedness he hides behind that bunny-like smile.

You wanted to storm the local news station when you first saw Jungkook’s chiseled face on your television screen, smiling all smugly while going on about how well his career had taken off, but Yoongi stopped you right as you went out the front door. He told you that all those interviews were prerecorded, probably at Jungkook’s own estate with a green screen to make it look like he was somewhere else. There was no way in hell he would ever broadcast his exact location to anyone. Not when half of Seoul wants to take him down. That would be too damn easy.

A true king rarely ever leaves his castle, unless the kingdom is at war, then a king is no longer worried about keeping his castle. He’s only worried about keeping his crown.

Those words left Yoongi’s lips so softly when he spoke them to you, like the ghost of a whisper masked by the sound of howling wind. Despite how low it might have come out of his mouth, you heard every word he said loud and clear. They resonated with you, deep within your soul, hanging over your head like a cloud of understanding.

It meant only one thing to you. One terrible thing that you’ve never been able to forget…

It means that Jeon Jungkook only cares about working on his business from the inside to keep all the pests like you on the outside. That way he can carry on his father’s disgusting legacy safely, in a kingdom built on lies and the blood of the innocent, but if the walls ever come tumbling down, the only thing he’ll be worried about is escaping with his own life to continue his father’s name. He probably wouldn’t even give a damn about preserving the lives of the people that make up his twisted little kingdom. All those men ready to put their lives on the line to save his life could die in vain, and they probably will, but that doesn’t matter to him. They could go down with the castle for all he cares long as it means he could get away. His thinks his life is more valuable than theirs anyways.

But all of that only applies if the war comes to him, right? What if he’s the one who starts the war? What happens then?

It suddenly dawns on you that going to war isn’t just about losing power. It’s about gaining it, too. Yoongi told you early on that power is one of the most addictive drugs on this planet. It’s right up there with heroin and methamphetamine. Once you get a little taste of it, you can’t help but want more. A little isn’t enough. Hell, a lot isn’t even enough. No matter how much power you may have, you will stop at nothing to get more. That’s why war has been waging for ages. It’s why gluttony and greed make up two of the seven deadly sins. People want all of the power and they want it all to themselves. So much so that they’re willing to fight for it, willing to die for it even.

“It’s somewhat endearing that you seem to care about your patients so much, but I have to ask you one thing.” Hoseok applies pressure to Namjoon’s windpipe, making him cough violently in his deadly grasp. It’s so strange to think those very arms had once filled out the sleeves of the jacket hanging off your shoulders. Now they are busy hoisting someone up midair, practically squeezing the life out of them unapologetically. Suddenly, you feel the need to rip the jacket from your body, your stomach dropping at the horrific sight taking place in front of you. You don’t want to feel close to Hoseok anymore. Not when he looks like this… not when he looks so much like the man who helped murder your family. He has that same stone-cold look to his eyes, a stare that’s so distant it looks like there’s nothing but darkness inside of it. “Are you really willing to die for them, Kim Namjoon? Because the man I remember only cared about one thing. Himself.”

“I’m n‐not like that a‐a‐anymore.” Namjoon chokes out hoarsely, his voice coming out in choppy syllables. It’s kind of hard to talk when you can barely breathe. “I’ve c‐c‐changed…”

“Oh really?” Hoseok arches an eyebrow, letting go of Namjoon’s throat to flick him in the forehead childishly. You hear Seokjin snort in the corner of the room, running his hands through his silver hair to mask a chuckle. You almost forgot he was here, having been too preoccupied with watching this ludicrous showdown take place. Your counseling session has practically turned into a wrestling tournament. All you need is a referee. “Are you sure about that? Because you still seem like the same goddamn idiot to me!”

“Excuse me?” Namjoon pipes from the ground unevenly, struggling to stand his ground now that he’s able to breathe again. His hands clasp his raw throat, trying to relieve them of the pain Hoseok’s caused. There’s a red mark across his neck, remnants of Hoseok’s fingerprints clearly visible. “I’ll have you know, I have a very high IQ, pea‐brain.”

Did he really just call him pea‐brain…?

“What the fuck did you just say?” Hoseok glares at him with a look so vicious it could kill. “At least I’m smart enough to know when to shut the fuck up! I should’ve killed you when I had that chance—”

“Yeah, you probably should have.” Namjoon agrees with a smirk on his face, standing to his feet suddenly, as if he hadn’t been lying on the ground weakly only moments ago. Before you know it, he’s bringing his fist down on Hoseok’s sharp jaw, blindsiding him before he can get the chance to strike first. Crack! Your not sure if the sound is coming from the force against Hoseok’s jaw or the pressure against Namjoon’s knuckles. Either way, it definitely sounds like something broke. Someone’s going to need to see a doctor later… “Because now, I’m going to kill you!”

“Oh yeah? Bring it on, tough guy.” Hoseok chuckles darkly, recovering from the hit like it never happened. He doesn’t even look remotely bothered by the situation. It’s as if being clocked in the jaw felt more like a love tap to him. The bruise already beginning to form on his face seems to say otherwise, but still, he doesn’t show one once of discomfort. Maybe he has a concussion or something. You might have to play nurse later and check on him to make sure he’s okay. He doesn’t seem like it. “I’d like to see you try. Last time I checked, you could only fight with your words, pussy.”

“There’s only one pussy in this room.” Namjoon turns to look at you crudely, sending a devilish wink your way. He’s been ignoring you this whole time until now. You feel your cheeks redden with embarrassment, shifting away from his blatant stare. Your body seems to heat up at his words and you’re suddenly thankful you took Hoseok’s jacket off already. You would be too hot for comfort. There’s already a tiny bead of sweat running down the expanse of your forehead. “And judging by how upset you’re getting, I’m guessing you haven’t gotten it in a while. Are you sure you’re okay with sharing, Hoseok? Because you’re acting like a little bitch. Maybe there are two pussies here after all.”

“Do you ever shut up? I’m about to cut your fucking tongue, so no one has to listen to you. Then I’ll cut your dick off and feed it—”

TMI! That’s an image you didn’t need in your head...

“Enough!” Yoongi steps forward from the corner of the room, garnering everyone’s attention immediately, as the bottom of his black dress shoes rut against the floor forcefully. You don’t have to look up at his face to know he’s angry. His callous tone of voice and cold demeanor give that much away. He’s done sitting on the sidelines, watching as things unfold before him. It’s time for him to make some shit happen. That’s what Min Yoongi does best after all. “This is getting a little boring, isn’t it, ____? If you two idiots want to fight, do it on your own precious time, got it? And just so you know, when you work for me you’re always on the clock. Now, stop wasting my fucking time already. We have more important shit to deal with.”

“Sorry, hyung.” Both of them say simultaneously with their heads cast down, catching you by surprise. The entire mood in the room has changed almost instantly, giving you side effects of whiplash. It was filled with rage from two hot heads only seconds ago, but now the atmosphere is somber and ice cold. It’s the dead of summer in South Korea, which means it’s horribly hot and humid, but you feel like you can see your breath in the air all around you. If Yoongi can make it seem like the seasons have changed by the sheer power of his voice alone, you’re scared to see what else he can do with his mouth… if not a little excited, too.

“Jeon is busy is trying to start a war, while you two dumbasses are over here trying to start a fight!” Yoongi throws his head back laughing, shaking his head in disbelief. The messy strands of his dark hair stick to his forehead like glue, as he runs a hand over his face. This is the first time you’ve heard him laugh in so long that you’d nearly forgotten what his laughter sounds like. It’s beautiful but a little sorrowful too. Just like him… just like you. “If these are the kind of warriors I’ve got on my side, then I might as well surrender now. Goddamn! My father must be rolling over in his grave right about now. What a total shit show! I’m glad he isn’t alive to see this bullshit.”

You’re surprised to learn that Yoongi already knows about Jungkook mobilizing men for war. You’ve spent the last hour on the edge of your seat, thinking about how you were going to break the news to him. How foolish of you. You thought you were ahead of the game for once, only to realize you’re stuck right where you have always been. Behind everyone else. Below them.

Namjoon only told you about Jungkook because he knew Yoongi wasn’t going to. Add that to the overgrowing list of things Yoongi has been keeping from you lately. For fuck’s sake, you didn’t even know that Namjoon has been working for him this entire time. It makes sense now why Yoongi insisted that you only see Dr. Kim and no one else. You thought it was because this establishment was built to cater to the underground, to help people like you, but it’s because this place belongs to Min Yoongi.

It’s just another way for him to keep you under his thumb, so you don’t do anything he doesn’t want you to. It’s another way for him to control you. As much as you love him, it’s getting harder and harder for you to trust him when he does shit like this. You don’t know how much more of this behavior you can take. He’s treating you like a child, like you have to be monitored at all fucking times. Maybe he’s the one who doesn’t trust you.

“When you told me you heard Jungkook was preparing for war, you said it came from an infiltrator.” Yoongi says quietly once he’s regained composure from his outburst of hysterics, the humor in his voice completely gone. His menacing gaze settles on Namjoon who is leaning against the wall nonchalantly, suddenly back to his demure self again. “Was that part true? Or is there something else you’re keeping from me, Joon? You know I hate liars.”

“I didn’t lie to anyone.” He looks away, unable to hold his glacial stare. “I just forgot to mention a few things.”

“Such as?” Yoongi continues pressing him for the truth, his voice teetering on the edge of calm and chaotic. He’s going to lose his patience soon if Namjoon doesn’t cooperate. The last time you saw him look this way, he came back to the estate with blood drenched all over his lean body, dripping from his soiled clothes onto the marble floor. You were worried sick about him that night. Your concern was only remedied when you realized it wasn’t his blood. It was someone else’s. That was the first time you realized Min Yoongi isn’t just a man. He is a monster too. You’ve come to know that they are one in the same.

Perhaps that’s what Namjoon meant about light not being able to exist without darkness. Maybe good and evil exists inside everyone. Maybe there isn’t a middle ground between the two. Maybe it’s just an open battlefield where they both exist, trying to overpower the other one. What if the darkness gets pushed to the bottom one moment, then rises to the top the next, like the tip of a scale? If that’s the case, then we all have the potential to do both amazing and terrible things.

You can’t help but think of a certain someone as that thought crosses the back of your mind. The same someone who’s trying to think himself out of a shitty situation right now. If you could help him, you probably would. Then again, there’s been plenty of times he’s left you to deal with the messes you made all alone.

Why should you help someone who’s never helped you? He’s a big boy anyway. He can fend for himself, right?

“I didn’t tell you about Jungkook because I thought I was protecting all of us.” Namjoon sighs heavily, raking his hand through his soft brown locks of unruly hair. It’s like you can hear the stress in his voice as he struggles to swallow the lump in his throat. He’s finally starting to realize that he’s walking on a thin sheet of glass. It can shatter at any moment if he makes the wrong move. “An old friend of mine—the one who told me about Jungkook finally stepping to power—was the one who convinced him to come see me. I thought I could get some information out of him, but it was pretty useless. My… uh… friend is an undercover informant, not for the police, but for the, um…”

“Having trouble keeping your story straight, Namjoon?” Yoongi arches an eyebrow, sneering in his direction. An awry smirk pulled at his lips, making you feel a bit uneasy.

“No, it’s just that he works for…” Namjoon hesitates softly, his posture hunched forward, his head drooping to avoid eye contact. He doesn’t look like he’s lying. He just looks like he’s scared. “He works for Samang Nojo.”

“The Death Union?” Yoongi’s face seems to ashen to a pallid color, losing the bronze glow you’ve become so used to. His hand grip his knees quickly, his knuckles going white. You’ve never seen him freeze like this before. He looks like he’s just seen a ghost. “What does Samang Nojo want with Jungkook? What do they want with you?”

“They want to take over his empire…” Namjoon bites his lip hesitantly, drawing blood from the pressure, unsure if he should continue or not. The glass he’s walking on could crack at any moment. “And they want our help.”

“Why?” Yoongi grits out through clenched teeth, clearing his throat loudly. Hoseok stands behind him supportively, patting him on the shoulder to encourage him, and to keep him from losing his patience. Yoongi is on the verge of losing every once of self-control he has. If he does, Namjoon will be his prime target. “I said why?”

“Because you have something we don’t.” A chilling voice says from the front of the room, the door opening to reveal a tall young man standing in the threshold. His deep, rugged voice doesn’t fit his soft looks. Blonde hair falls over his tanned forehead gracefully, shielding his black eyes from view. It takes you a moment to realize that he’s looking right at you. “And we want her.”