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Make It Right [BTS Mafia!AU]

Plot: “It’s always darkest before the dawn…” It’s a dog-eat-dog world in Seoul, South Korea. One has to dwell in the shadows in order to reach for the light. What are you willing to sacrifice in order to feel the sunlight on your face? What will it take to drag you back into darkness? How long will the journey be to make it right?

Rating: NC-17 // NSFW

Genre: Series | Mafia!AU | Crime!AU | Angst | Romance/Fluff

Pairings: Jin x OC | Taehyung/Hoseok x OC | Yoongi/Jungkook x OC

Warnings: Graphic Violence, Heavy Language, Angst, Slow Burn, Smut

Previous Chapters: Prologue 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

Links: FAQ || BTS Masterlist || Admin E’s AO3 || Admin E’s WP || [ REQUESTS ARE OPEN ]

Word Count: 2,868  

Chapter 21: Jamais Vu

“I just wanted to be good. I just wanted to make you smile...damn.”

Five Years Ago Seoul – Cheongdam; Gangnam District South Korea

The heavy downpour roared in Hoseok’s ears as he struggled to see, his eyes blinking rapidly. It was dark and only the single light pouring over an abandoned warehouse’s parking lot illuminated everything around them. Shouts and grunts sounded off in a loud chorus as glass shattered and wood splintered. Chains rattled and Hoseok spun just out of reach from the metal. The ground was thick and muddy; his shoes sloshed into the ground as he crashed to one knee. He spat blood, wiping at his mouth with the back of his forearm.

The opposing gang member raised his arms high, the chains clattering at his back just as he swung down. Hoseok crossed his arms over his head and cried out in pain when the metal smacked into his back. Twisting his wrist, he grabbed the chain and pulled down hard. His enemy stumbled forward, slipping in the wet mud, and Hoseok took advantage as he stood up to smash his knee into the other man’s gut. Just as he was about to double over in pain, Hoseok grabbed for the back of his hair, pulling his face toward the sky before dropping his elbow right onto his forehead.

The man’s legs collapsed under him and he fell to the ground. He heard a body slamming against sheet metal, and he whipped his head around to see who it was. Just to his right, he saw Yoongi’s body fall – spraying muddy water in every direction.

“Yoongi Hyung!”

Yoongi spun out of the way just as a metal bat smashed into the spot he’d just occupied. Hoseok tore across the lot, his legs springing up to lift him into the air as he felt his heel bury itself into the man’s spine. There was a sickening crack as the man tilted to his left, gravity continuing to take care of the rest. Hoseok reached out to grab Yoongi’s arm and pulled him back up onto his feet. Within seconds, Yoongi spun Hoseok around and he coughed when his back slammed into the wall.

His vision blurred for half a second, refocusing in time to see a plank of wood break across Yoongi’s shoulder.

“HYUNG!”

He watched Yoongi stumble forward, using the weight of his own body to spin around and he lunged forward to tackle the person who’d attacked him. Hoseok took a step forward, wiping at his eyes so he could see where everyone else was. They were all fighting and holding their own and he swallowed a mouthful of air to regain his senses. His gaze shifted to where a single person was standing and holding an umbrella, the rain falling around him as the rest of his upper tiers stood and waited for the perfect opportunity to attack.

His eyes narrowed. “Changkyun-ah,” he muttered and, as though he’d actually heard him, Changkyun smirked from under the shelter of his umbrella.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his switchblade and flicked it out. The blade gleamed under the fluorescent lighting. Hoseok roared, the sound covering up the noise of the rain for a split second, before he charged. Several others jumped in his way, but all he saw was Im Changkyun standing there. Hoseok’s body crashed into someone, his arms reaching out to grasp their arm and he slid the blade over their bicep before bringing it up and under their armpit. He sliced away from him, blood spraying from the wound and he quickly dropped the person in his arms.

Another jumped in his way and Hoseok wasted no time plunging the knife into their gut, pulling the blade out rapidly only to bury it into their thigh. He couldn’t hear their screams over the war drumming of his own heart and he brought the knife up and over their neck to bury it into their shoulder blade.

Spinning just out of someone’s reach, he snatched their arm with his free hand and issued multiple stabs into their forearm. Blood gushed freely and he slid the blade over their flesh like a well-trained butcher. They collapsed to their knees, cradling their mangled arm, but Hoseok spun on his heel and crashed his knee into their face so they hit the mud with a sickening squelch sound.

“Hoseok-ah!” he heard Namjoon calling for him, but Hoseok didn’t stop moving. He pushed forward and jammed his knife into another person’s collar bone without batting an eyelash.

“Hoseok Hyung!”

This time it was Jimin, running forward and smashing his shoulder into a gang member who was trying to impede Hoseok’s path. He kept marching forward, his pace increasing with each step. He saw Jin flip someone onto their back and Taehyung picked up a discarded bat to smash it into another Jade Fang member’s chest. Jungkook kicked and punched his way through anyone who tried to stand in his way, clearing the way for Hoseok.

And then his legs began to pump harder into the mud, his eyes zeroing in on Changkyun. His blade and hands were covered in blood – so thick that the rain couldn’t wash it away immediately. There was a madness that danced in his depths and he dropped two more Jade Fang members with a punch to the throat and a stab to the rib – the blade scraping over bone inside.

One by one, they all dropped like flies.

Hoseok ran full speed, his legs curling under him as he soared into the air – his mouth opening to scream as he prepared to strike.

“IM CHANGKYUN!”

He saw Changkyun’s smile fall, watching as the umbrella tumbled to the ground. But before Hoseok could land his strike, pain exploded over his ribcage and he flew onto his back into the mud. Water and rain sprayed over his lips and he coughed, the wind knocked from his lungs as his knife flew from his hand. It disappeared into a muddy puddle before he could recover it. Hoseok rolled onto his side and pushed his upper body from the ground with his forearms, glaring up at the one who’d struck him as their leg slowly went back to the ground.

It was Sohn Shownu.

“You…you bastard,” Hoseok coughed, blood staining the wet ground.

A leg shot out, slamming into Shownu’s shoulder. The body stumbled forward, immediately righting itself. Jungkook locked eyes with Hoseok momentarily and he bared his teeth before spinning around. Hoseok felt arms helping him back up onto his feet just as he watched Jungkook’s head fly backward from a punch he’d received. Jungkook staggered a few steps back, a line of blood spilling from his lip.

And then Hoseok saw Jungkook jump into the air, his right arm pulled back for a downward punch at whoever had managed to hit him.

Hoseok stretched his arm out, watching as two more people flanked Jungkook from the side.

“JUNGKOOK-AH!”

Present Day Seoul – Hannam; Yongsan District South Korea

“Hey, this is Jungkook. I can’t come to my phone right now so just leave a message and maybe I’ll think about calling you back. Later!”

Hoseok sighed as he lowered the phone back into his lap. He lifted his head to see that Namjoon was standing in the doorway, as if he were hesitating to come inside. He motioned for him to enter and his friend did so, slowly closing the door behind him. Hoseok tried calling Jungkook’s phone again, disheartened when it went straight to voicemail once more.

Still nothing?”

He shook his head before slumping forward to rest his elbows across his desk. Hoseok cradled his head in his hands, his eyes staring at the glass surfacing but not really seeing it.

“He’ll come back eventually,” reassured Namjoon, causing Hoseok to lift only his eyes to look up at him, “just give him time to cool off.”

“It’s been three days, Namjoon-ah,” Hoseok said through clenched teeth, “I’m worried something might have actually happened to him.”

Namjoon folded his arms across his chest. “Jungkook can take care of himself.”

Hoseok knew this as well, but it didn’t help his swirling worries any. He couldn’t erase the look that Jungkook gave him that night; that look of anger and betrayal. He’d said that everyone was focused on their own families and it was like the gut punch he’d given Jungkook was delivered back to him ten-fold. Hoseok’s anger almost superseded everything that was being spoken that night – his desperation to get everything in order his topmost priority. Truth be told, it wasn’t that he didn’t care for his entourage – for those who served under him.

But like all steps toward folly, Hoseok simply assumed that everyone was well prepared for the coming changes. A new dawn would soon be reaching their horizon and he was ready to put their horrible past behind them. It was the goal they’d strived to achieve these last five years. And it was a final destination they’d set for themselves before they left Hwaseong.

“How could I have forgotten about them?” Hoseok pressed a hand to his forehead as he sat back in his chair. His face turned toward the ceiling; he covered his eyes with his forearm. “How could I have done it so completely, Namjoon-ah?”

Even though he couldn’t see it, he heard Namjoon sliding into the chair across from him. “You can’t blame yourself. To be honest, I think we all did.”

Hoseok’s arm fell from his face and hung limply at his side. He craned his neck to look at Namjoon whose brows were furrowed in a mixture of what he could only assume was concern and shame. Was there even a hint of guilt in his expression? Hoseok sighed, sitting up a little more in his chair.

“But how could we have done that?” He averted his gaze, his hand curling into a fist on his desk. “Jungkook was right. We weren’t preparing to help them transition. We were just going to give them a fuck ton of money and send them on their merry way.”

“Hoseok-ah…”

He buried his face in his hands. “…we’re no better than Jungkook’s parents.”

Jungkook’s words echoed in his mind again, causing a deep pain to rise into his chest. He’d done his best to hide it all these years, but it was clear that Jungkook still had lingering abandonment issues. It was almost like he was afraid that, at any moment, they were all going to cast him aside like he didn’t matter to them anymore. Money and power changed people; it was true.

But had they all changed so much?

Once more, Hoseok’s hands fell to his side. He looked at Namjoon and neither of them said anything for what felt like a small eternity. He reached up to touch his chest where the pendant was hidden away from view. Then he stood from his chair, Namjoon following his motions.

“…I need to see her.”

Namjoon’s lips pressed into a thin line before sighing. “Hoseok-ah, do you think that’s—”

He looked at him. “Please, Namjoon-ah,” pleaded Hoseok, his brows knitting together as if he were in pain, “I need to see her now.”

Seoul – Cheongdam; Gangnam District South Korea

Hoseok made Namjoon remain downstairs in the main lobby. He had to do this. He had to see her and know that she was alright. Hoseok needed to see it for himself; a reminder of why he was trying so hard to accomplish his goals in the first place. If it meant her being safe and her reclaiming her freedom, then it would have been worth it. All the separation and the pain; the anxiety… It would have been worth every single second of it.

His hand reached up to press the button by her door – the buzzer ringing to life within her dwelling. It was late. He knew she would have just gotten home. Or maybe just getting off another late shift. Hoseok remembered many nights when he showed up, busted up and bleeding on her doorstep.

The security lock beeped, and the door latch clicked as it slowly opened. Raelyn rubbed at her eyes sleepily, squinting to see just who was at her door. She blinked once, then twice; like she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

“Hoseok-ah?” she said, her voice thick with sleep and her thick curls fanning out in various directions, “what are you doing here?”

“…I needed to see you.”

She blinked again, resting a hand on the flare of her hip. “See me? For wha—”

“I’m sorry,” he said, interrupting her.

Before she could finish or even ask what he was apologizing for, Hoseok took a step forward and crossed the threshold of her home. His arm shot out to wrap around her waist, lifting her with minimal effort and spinning inside. The door shut behind him and he pivoted on his heels, pressing Raelyn’s back against the surface.

Her eyes widened in alarm and she opened her mouth to protest. But Hoseok leaned forward, capturing her lips with his own as he pressed his chest against hers. He slipped his leg between hers, his thigh pressing against the warmth of her lower body and he slid one hand down to capture her wrist – only to raise it up so that it was pressed against the door parallel with her head.

Muffled sounds of protest came from her mouth and she tried to push him off her, but Hoseok was stronger. His need was stronger, and he needed to see her; to feel her; to taste her all over again.

His tongue urged her lips open and for a moment, she seemed to relax. His arm was still holding her around the middle and he lifted her up so that her legs could wrap around his waist. He felt her other hand thread through his hair, grasping at the back of his head and gripping with unspoken desire. Raelyn moaned and that was the end of it.

Hoseok flung his arms away from her, holding her aloft with his upper body strength alone as he shrugged out of his coat. His blazer followed suit; soft whispers that touched the ground. He licked and teased her upper lip, urging her to open up to him so he could slip the muscle in to scrape along her canines and press against her own tongue.

And then he felt her gripping onto his shoulders, her nails digging into his skin beneath the fabric – a sharp pain bringing him back to awareness.

He looked up at her; pupils blown wide and he gasped as she, too, took a deep breath of air.

“W-We can’t do this, Hoseok,” she whispered, breaking his gaze to look down at the floor.

“…Raelyn,” he whispered, his voice husky with need but he tried to rein himself back in, “are you still…?”

“I can’t do this again,” Raelyn half said, half sobbed, before she buried her face into her hands, “…I’m sorry, Hoseok-ah. I just…I just can’t.”

For a long moment, all he could do was hold her against him. His heart was pounding with a heavy cadence against his chest and he sighed, gathering Raelyn into his arms. He pulled her close, cradling her head against him and he slowly pet the back of her head.

“…it’s okay, Choseungdal,” he said, shushing her as she tried to stifle her sobs, “I’m sorry.”

Hoseok took a moment to pull her away from him, wiping her tears away with his hands. He cradled her face and pressed a kiss to her forehead, then he lifted her into his arms bridal style, carrying her to her bedroom. He pulled the blanket back and tucked her in, brushing his hand along her forehead. It didn’t seem long before she was starting to drift off to sleep, apologizing to him repeatedly as her voice grew more and more quiet as she faded away.

For a few minutes longer, Hoseok just watched Raelyn sleep. He watched her sleep peacefully and wished, more than anything, that he could join her in that restful sleep – to hold her against him as they fell blissfully into a world of dreams.

Instead, he reached behind his head and unhooked the clasp at the back of his neck, removing the silver crescent moon pendant. He held it in his hand, his thumb stroking over the grooves on the pendant, and then set it down on her nightstand.

“Goodbye, my Choseungdal,” he whispered. Tears brimmed his eyes and he breathed slowly. His hand swept the small tears that threatened to form, and then he headed toward her front door.

Hoseok gathered up his blazer and coat, draping both over his arm, and exited Raelyn’s apartment. The door closed behind him, the security lock beep indicating that she was safe and sound. He sighed, brushing his fingers through his hair in frustration, and then started toward the elevator. As he entered, he pulled out his phone and called Yoongi.

“…Yoongi Hyung? I need you to find Jungkook,” he said, the elevator dinging as he reached the ground floor, “whatever it takes.”

Make It Right [BTS Mafia!AU]

Plot: “It’s always darkest before the dawn…” It’s a dog-eat-dog world in Seoul, South Korea. One has to dwell in the shadows in order to reach for the light. What are you willing to sacrifice in order to feel the sunlight on your face? What will it take to drag you back into darkness? How long will the journey be to make it right?

Rating: NC-17 // NSFW

Genre: Series | Mafia!AU | Crime!AU | Angst | Romance/Fluff

Pairings: Jin x OC | Taehyung/Hoseok x OC | Yoongi/Jungkook x OC

Warnings: Graphic Violence, Heavy Language, Angst, Slow Burn, Smut

Previous Chapters: Prologue 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

Links: FAQ || BTS Masterlist || Admin E’s AO3 || Admin E’s WP || [ REQUESTS ARE OPEN ]

Word Count: 2,868  

Chapter 21: Jamais Vu

“I just wanted to be good. I just wanted to make you smile…damn.”

Keep reading

Make It Right [BTS Mafia!AU]

Plot: “It’s always darkest before the dawn…” It’s a dog-eat-dog world in Seoul, South Korea. One has to dwell in the shadows in order to reach for the light. What are you willing to sacrifice in order to feel the sunlight on your face? What will it take to drag you back into darkness? How long will the journey be to make it right?

Rating: NC-17 // NSFW

Genre: Series | Mafia!AU | Crime!AU | Angst | Romance/Fluff

Pairings: Jin x OC | Taehyung/Hoseok x OC | Yoongi/Jungkook x OC

Warnings: Graphic Violence, Heavy Language, Angst, Slow Burn, Smut

Previous Chapters: Prologue 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Links: FAQ || BTS Masterlist || Admin E’s AO3 || Admin E’s WP || [ REQUESTS ARE OPEN ]

Word Count: 2,327

Chapter 24: Moving On

“Back then I thought this was a big place. But my ambition grew too big.”

© thebiasrekkers (Admin E). All rights reserved. Reposting/modifying our work is prohibited. Translations are not allowed. Plagiarism/stealing is not tolerated by any means. Legal action will be taken in instances of theft.

Seoul – Hannam; Yongsan District South Korea

There were things in this life that some people just did not deserve. There were some things in life that they did. Everyone deserved love, life, and the pursuit of happiness. Everyone didn't deserve to be treated like the slop of swine and kicked to the curb like yesterday's garbage. People deserved to be treated the way that they want to be treated. They didn't deserve to have their most cherished possessions taken from them. Everyone was allowed to have at least one miracle in their life. No one deserved to have said miracle denied them.

Namjoon sighed, thinking back on all the things that the Golden Jackals suffered through, as well as accomplished. It was nothing to spit at, that was for sure. A lot was done in a seemingly short amount of time. They were finally getting to a head with all their hard work. Sacrifices had been made, bounties were gained, and dreams were soon to be obtained.

Finally, it was all going to come to a fruitful end.

The quietude of the office brought solace to Namjoon’s heart. Nothing pleased him more than to be surrounded by books, especially those telling bold tales of far off worlds – places he could only dream about. It was a shame, really, what limitations the human mind was succumbing to, as well as what lengths society was willing to go in order to snuff out the beauty of something so mystifying as magic, science fiction; as any form of literary art, really.

Beside him were four thick textbooks concerning various histories in several different eras of socioeconomic growth from many regions, not just Korea. In fact, he’d managed to secure one book regarding the Military-Industrial Complex of America. While he had no interest in being a lobbyist or securing funds through militant means, Namjoon knew there was probably a way to formulate a plan in the corporate aspect to help further their goals. As well as foresee any pitfalls that were sure to crop up at any point during their transition into legality.

History of any kind, real and fantasy alike, were realms in which Namjoon liked to dabble and explore of his own volition. Nothing brought him more pleasure than studying the past, because studying the past meant correcting current mistakes, as well as preventing future ones from occurring altogether.

Because predictably, history had a way of repeating itself. Namjoon wasn’t about to let that happen anytime soon.

Namjoon set his pen down with a satisfied smirk, pleased with the stack of completed paperwork he’d just fought his way through. The end of their arduous road was fast approaching. Tensions were high for the last few days, but it was necessary. Things needed to be put into perspective and while it hurt to have it thrown in their faces in such a way, he knew that Jungkook was right. They all did. They hadn’t thought that far ahead in advance, so focused on the finish line and not the aftermath that would ensue had they not properly gotten things lined up like they needed to.

His phone buzzed and rang with life beside him, causing him to jump slightly. He saw it was Seokjin and answered.

“Hello?”

“Ah, Namjoon-ah?”

“Yeah?”

“Where are you?”

“I’m on my way back now.”

“See you downstairs. The others just got back home.”

Namjoon hung up the phone and gathered up all his notebooks and folders, exiting his room and making his way downstairs. He’d barely made it to the main floor of their house when he saw Jungkook appearing from the basement area. He saw him drying his wet hair with a towel, presumably finishing his workout and showered. When he remembered how Jungkook looked after Yoongi brought him home a few days ago, it was clear that Jungkook would always be the type to bounce back from any injury like it was nothing.

From shaky legs to solid jabs. The recovery level of that boy was astonishing.

“Hyung?”

Namjoon blinked, looking at Jungkook as he stared at him with a slightly perplexed look on his face. “Huh?”

“Is everything alright?” Jungkook draped the towel across his neck. “You look like you want to tell me something.”

He grinned, shaking his head. “No, it’s nothing.” He reached his hand out to clap Jungkook on the shoulder. “You’ve really become a man these last few years, Jungkook-ah.”

The younger man blinked, then shyly scratched at the side of his nose. “…Hyung, cut it out.”

Namjoon wrapped his arm around Jungkook’s shoulder just as the others started filing into the main living room. There was a platter of fruit set out in the middle of the table and Jimin was getting ready to uncork a bottle of champagne. Taehyung was about to tell him to be careful just as he popped the cork, Seokjin already grabbing a champagne flute to catch whatever alcohol managed to spill from the mouth of the bottle.

Seokjin handed everyone glasses and they all waited until Hoseok held his hand up to present a toast.

“We’ve finally done it, my brothers,” he said, giving a wistful smile, “it took us a long time to get here, but we’ve made it.” Hoseok shifted his gaze to Jungkook, his brows furrowing slightly. “Forgive your Hyung, Jungkook-ah, for neglecting those who were willing to sacrifice everything for our dreams. They have dreams too and I shouldn’t have forgotten about that.”

Jungkook bit his lower lip, averting his gaze from Hoseok as his arm holding the glass lowered slightly.

Hoseok looked at Namjoon. “Did you get it all squared away?”

He nodded, holding up the notebooks and folders in one hand so that everyone could see. “I made sure that every single one of our Jackals will have job security in our new businesses, and those that want to simply take their earnings and return home to their families can do so. If any of them want to start their own business ventures, I made sure that they could get in contact with us for any assistance.”

Namjoon saw Jungkook lift his head up, looking between Hoseok and then himself, until finally his eyes settled on Hoseok. “H-Hoseok Hyung…”

“We’ve made it. It’s time we shared the wealth.” He raised his glass and everyone else followed suit. “To leaving the dirty and dark road behind!”

They all clinked their glasses, smiles on their faces. It was the first time in years they could all smile in relief. A heavy weight was thrown off their shoulders – a proverbial mountain they’d been lugging around all this time.

Three Months Later Seoul – Hannam; Yongsan District South Korea

There was a throng of reporters and curious pedestrians that gathered around in front of the large building in Yongsan’s central district. Flashbulbs exploded from cameras, several corporate board members standing on the other side of a large red ribbon made of silk. Namjoon and Seokjin stood on either side of Hoseok as he held a large pair of scissors in his hands. Everyone held their breaths in excitement, waiting for the moment when the shears would cut through the delicate fabric.

And then Hoseok’s arms moved, the snip sound almost lost in the seemingly endless chorus of shutters from cameras as they continued snapping photos.

It was a way to usher in the New Year.

That was what Seokjin suggested, pushing back the unveiling of their greatest achievement. Golden Star Tower Hotel was their crowning success and it deserved every single aspect of respect regarding its perfection. Namjoon hesitated at first, not sure whether it was a good idea to push the unveiling back. In the end, Seokjin’s eye for reading the market never failed them. Waiting until the holiday aftermath trickled down was smart. While everyone focused on families, festivals, and all the holiday push and pull, the focus on their hotel would have been lost.

Everyone cheered, the press rushing in to ask Hoseok questions, to which he readily answered. He’d been grooming himself for this for years now and all their preparation was starting to bear fruit.

The rumble of the Underworld was but a soft vibration under their feet. They no longer had to concern themselves with keeping their ears to the ground. The Golden Jackals were no more. What the criminal society decided to do with that information no longer concerned them. It was a fight they would no longer be a part of.

Nevertheless, Namjoon kept a keen ear out in case trouble decided to stir in the wake of their absence. Trouble that would, in a sense, try to drag them back into the darkness. He wouldn’t hear of it. Not when they were finally starting to feel the sun on their faces.

There was talk, of course, and repercussions for their actions. It came with the territory. Tabloids spread rumors that their money was dirty, and they were attempting to erase their dark pasts. Hoseok answered these accusations with the professionalism and charisma of a foreign dignitary. He didn’t hesitate with his responses and this threw the press for a loop. Within a few short weeks, the negative articles that were written about Hoseok and his gang of Golden Jackals were a thing of the past.

Every step that was taken was a step they were prepared to take. More than prepared.

Namjoon and Yoongi would help Hoseok with the hotel management – both regarding foreign and domestic visitors, as well as financial structuring. Seokjin handled the Golden Star investment firm with Jimin. Gaining Anastasia as a financial advisor had been paramount in tying up loose ends – finalizing their last few steps into legality and away from the criminal underworld. Seokjin sang her praises, as was customary with someone whose skills he valued. There were whispers that he and Anastasia were getting a little too close, according to Jimin, but it wasn’t something that anyone in the group really needed to worry about. Both Seokjin and Anastasia were professionals and kept their personal lives as far away from their business personas as much as possible.

Taehyung and Jungkook handled things regarding the entertainment aspect of things. While they sold a good portion of their nightclubs, the Golden Star label, while small, would focus on up and coming artists who thrived in the Indie Underground. With technology advancing as rapidly as it was, it was no secret that there were young and talented artists all over the country. And not just in music, but in theatre and art as well. Some were starving artists, wanting to hone their skills at the sacrifice of having to live on the streets.

Jungkook was particularly empathetic toward these cases, personally reaching out to help them achieve their dreams – one step at a time.

As they led the press inside to give everyone a grand tour of the hotel, Namjoon felt his phone buzz with life. He pulled out his cell and spied on the screen. It was Yoongi relaying a message that things were quiet at the investment firm. They’d left things in his hands since Seokjin’s presence was required at the grand opening of the hotel. He shot him a quick text back, saying they were going to be wrapping things up soon.

“Is Yoongi bored?” Seokjin asked, sidling up next to Namjoon and bumping his shoulder slightly.

Namjoon looked at him, eyes wide, before he craned his neck in varying directions to ascertain where Hoseok was. He took a breath when he saw that he was being surrounded by reporters as he showed them the many different check-in kiosks – built to help with the reservation process. They both watched Hoseok smiling and explaining things to the letter, not missing a single beat when more and more questions were tossed into his lap.

Seokjin nudged him again, causing him to stumble to the side slightly. “Well?”

He laughed, bumping his shoulder against his as well. “He’s fine. Probably just worried.”

“Should I go back and relieve him?” Seokjin grinned, shrugging. “It’s not like these people actually care about us. Hoseok is the star of this show, it seems.”

“Looks like it,” replied Namjoon, shrugging one shoulder as well, “if you want to head back, you can. I can handle things from here.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah, go ahead.” Namjoon grinned, narrowing his eyes playfully at Seokjin. “Besides, I know you’re wondering what a certain financial advisor is getting into.”

Seokjin scoffed, rolling his eyes. “Don’t start.” He looked at his watch. “We’re all still meeting up later, right?” His gaze lifted back up to meet Namjoon’s. “For the party?”

He nodded. “Yeah, I believe so. Taehyung and Jungkook should be finishing up their business by then.”

“Good.”

They both turned to see Hoseok was moving a little bit further into the large, main lobby of the hotel. He met their gaze, smirking at them, before returning to answer more questions that others were giving him. Namjoon shook his head while shoving his hands into his pockets. Seokjin patted Namjoon’s chest, brushing past him to exit the hotel.

Just as he was about to return to Hoseok’s side, his phone buzzed once more. Turning over the cell in his hand, he saw the message was from Shownu. His eyes narrowed, craning his neck to see if the sender was in the hotel. When he saw that he wasn’t, Namjoon’s gaze returned to the phone to read the actual message this time.

Shownu: Congratulations, Namjoon-ah. Don’t let the sunlight blind you.

He slipped the phone back into his pocket, not bothering to reply. There was nothing for Namjoon to say. No. They weren’t part of that world anymore. What the Jade Fangs did now no longer concerned them. They wouldn’t go back. No, they couldn’t go back.

After clawing their way out, there was no way they were going to let themselves get dragged back down to hell.

Make It Right [BTS Mafia!AU]

Plot: “It’s always darkest before the dawn…” It’s a dog-eat-dog world in Seoul, South Korea. One has to dwell in the shadows in order to reach for the light. What are you willing to sacrifice in order to feel the sunlight on your face? What will it take to drag you back into darkness? How long will the journey be to make it right?

Rating: NC-17 // NSFW

Genre: Series | Mafia!AU | Crime!AU | Angst | Romance/Fluff

Pairings: Jin x OC | Taehyung/Hoseok x OC | Yoongi/Jungkook x OC

Warnings: Graphic Violence, Heavy Language, Angst, Slow Burn, Smut

Previous Chapters: Prologue 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Links: FAQ || BTS Masterlist || Admin E’s AO3 || Admin E’s WP || [ REQUESTS ARE OPEN ]

Word Count: 2,327

Chapter 24: Moving On

“Back then I thought this was a big place. But my ambition grew too big.”

© thebiasrekkers (Admin E). All rights reserved. Reposting/modifying our work is prohibited. Translations are not allowed. Plagiarism/stealing is not tolerated by any means. Legal action will be taken in instances of theft.

Keep reading

Make It Right [BTS Mafia!AU]

Plot: “It’s always darkest before the dawn…” It’s a dog-eat-dog world in Seoul, South Korea. One has to dwell in the shadows in order to reach for the light. What are you willing to sacrifice in order to feel the sunlight on your face? What will it take to drag you back into darkness? How long will the journey be to make it right?

Rating: NC-17 // NSFW

Genre: Series | Mafia!AU | Crime!AU | Angst | Romance/Fluff

Pairings: Jin x OC | Taehyung/Hoseok x OC | Yoongi/Jungkook x OC

Warnings: Graphic Violence, Heavy Language, Angst, Slow Burn, Smut

Previous Chapters: Prologue 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

Links: FAQ || BTS Masterlist || Admin E’s AO3 || Admin E’s WP || [ REQUESTS ARE OPEN ]

Word Count: 2,734

Chapter 25: Let Me Know

“Maybe we’re all just a bunch of fools. Everyone lives with a love that has come to an end.”

© thebiasrekkers (Admin E). All rights reserved. Reposting/modifying our work is prohibited. Translations are not allowed. Plagiarism/stealing is not tolerated by any means. Legal action will be taken in instances of theft.

Seoul – Cheongdam; Gangnam District South Korea

Seokjin relieved Yoongi from manning his office, reminding him to not be late for the party. He replied with a half grunt, muttering to himself that he didn’t see a reason why he needed to be there. Seokjin sucked in a sharp breath between his teeth, catching the look Yoongi gave him. He would acquiesce or there would be hell to pay. His brother seemed to understand this, watching him wave his hand back and forth as he exited his office. Seokjin gave a satisfied smirk as the door clicked shut.

Crossing his office, he stood in front of a full-length mirror and adjusted the gunmetal gray collar of his dark blue dress shirt – his slender finger slipping beneath the black cotton turtleneck that was worn underneath. Both shirts were tucked into his black slacks, an elegant silver chain hooked from one belt loop and into the pocket of his pants. He readjusted the cuffs of his shirt just as a knock from the door resounded in the room.

“Come in,” he said, not bothering to turn around.

The door opened and clicks from heels could be heard against the hard floor before the door closed once more.

“Is this outfit you picked really necessary, Seokjin-ah?”

As he turned, the smirk on his face at an oncoming quip was immediately wiped from his features. Anastasia stood before him in a fire engine red dress, the hem just barely touching her knees. The high neck of the fabric hugged her shoulders, exposing her chest, and the dress accentuated her bosom. Her arms were completely covered with red lace – woven in floral patterns to give it an eloquent touch. She wore a pair of nude high heels and there were two large silver bracelets that adorned her wrists.

He took note of the flush around her cheeks, her dark blonde hair pulled up into a messy updo and tendrils framed her face. Anastasia’s makeup was modest, save for the deep red lipstick painted over her buds. She rubbed at her arms – whether from cold or from feeling shy, he couldn’t really tell.

“Well, are you gonna say something or just keep staring at me over there?”

The irritation was hard to miss in her voice, but what was missed in tone could easily be interpreted from her facial expression. Seokjin shook his head, grin returning to his features, and slowly made his way toward her. Anastasia took a step backward, averting her gaze just as he reached out to remove her glasses. She blinked rapidly, her brows furrowing.

“Seokjin,” she said, her green eyes peering at him, but he knew she wasn’t really looking, “I can’t see.”

“You should invest in contacts,” he said, gently replacing her glasses back onto her face, “though I can’t say I’m against this look either.”

Anastasia pouted, smacking his shoulder and he laughed. “Don’t be a jackass,” she muttered.

He grabbed her wrist, slipping her arm through his. “Did you finish everything you needed to?”

She nodded as they exited his office. “I did. The hotel opening went well, I take it?”

“It did,” Seokjin replied with a smile, leaning forward so he could brush his lips against the shell of her ear, “we couldn’t have done it without you.”

Anastasia made a very loud (and very unladylike) sound with her throat, causing him to throw his head back and laugh.

He couldn’t help himself when it came to her. It was just so much fun to get her all riled up, especially since they were clearly toeing the line between business partners and intimacy. Seokjin certainly wasn’t going to hide his attraction to her and during the last few months, it was clear that she felt something for him as well. He wasn’t quite sure what that was – not yet. Sure, he could make assumptions all day and night but that wasn’t going to bring him closer to the truth.

But he wasn’t in any kind of rush, either.

“So, are you ready for a well-deserved party?”

She shrugged as they began to take the elevator down to the main lobby. “I’ve never been big on this sort of thing. Honestly, I’ve had my fill of company parties.”

Seokjin huffed. “Well, this will be different. You’ll be around people you actually like.”

Anastasia gave him a sidelong glance, smirking. “Are you sure that I like you guys?”

“Wow,” he said, pressing a hand to his chest, “that might have hurt a little.” Seokjin turned slightly, cornering Anastasia as the elevator began to descend. Her hand slipped from his arm as he pressed his palms on either side of her, leaning in until their noses barely touched. “Are you saying you don’t like me, Ana?”

Her eyes grew wide and she tried to shrink back from him, her face showcasing her realization that she did, in fact, have nowhere to flee to. “I…I didn’t say that.”

Feeling she’d been sufficiently punished, Seokjin leaned back and turned to face the elevator door. Anastasia released an audible sigh of relief and he chuckled, reaching out for her arm so that he could loop it back through his. The elevator dinged for the main floor and Jimin stood waiting for them, clad in a silk black suit and black tie. He blinked a few times in surprise at seeing Anastasia. Whether it was because she was arm-in-arm with Seokjin or her entire ensemble remained a mystery.

Regaining his composure, he strolled up to them with his trademark smile. “The car is waiting out front,” he said, gesturing toward the main entrance. He gently nudged Anastasia as the three of them walked. “Ready to show off your two left feet?”

Seokjin watched Anastasia try to cuff Jimin as he twirled away from them, laughing. There was something about the scene that made his heart seem even lighter than it had earlier that day. This was it. This was their time to finally shine instead of remaining hidden in the dark. Jimin clearly appeared happier and there was a part of Seokjin that still felt a twinge of remorse toward him. Out of the entire group, Jimin was the last to come to Seoul because he was the most reluctant to leave. He had every intention of taking over his family’s pastry shop back in Hwaseong.

Would he eventually want to return home? To that life?

“Hyung?”

Seokjin blinked, realizing that both Anastasia and Jimin were staring at him intently. He’d gotten lost in his own thoughts again. Smiling, he shook his head and opened the door so that Anastasia could climb in first. He urged Jimin to enter next, but his younger brother smiled and told him to go ahead.

Once the three of them were settled inside comfortably, they told their driver their destination and simply waited to arrive.

“What about Taehyung and Jungkook?” he asked, looking at Jimin.

Jimin grinned. “They went to go pick up their plus ones for tonight.” Anastasia stifled a giggle and he watched Jimin rolling his eyes. “They’re meeting us there with the others.”

“Alright,” he said while pulling out his phone, “I’m going to let Hoseok and Namjoon know we’re on the way.”

  Seoul – Itaewon; Yongsan District South Korea

Soap Seoul was alive with the heavy bass beats of the DJs playing inside. They could hear the music booming out into the streets as they pulled up. There was a long line of those wishing to gain access, but as their car pulled up and Jimin exited the vehicle, they were immediately greeted by the security at the front door. Seokjin palmed a roll of bills into one of the bouncer’s hands and he unhooked the velvet chord, granting them entrance.

Seokjin helped to guide Anastasia through the crowd, various people greeting them. Some were familiar faces and others weren’t. He kept his hand on her waist, making sure that she was at his side so that she wasn’t swept up in the sea of bodies. Jimin already disappeared, presumably to search out the others.

“Seokjin Hyung!” he heard someone yell over the noise of the crowd and the pulse of music.

He looked around and spied Namjoon, clad in a slate blue three-piece suit. His tie was loose, probably from the heat of so many bodies crowding around them.

“Namjoon-ah,” he called back, seeing Anastasia lifting one of her arms to wave in his direction to get his attention, “over here!”

Namjoon slipped through the crowd, squeezing his way toward them. When he reached them, he flashed a half-smirk to them both. “You guys made it.” He pointed over his shoulder. “We have a VIP room toward the back.”

“Where is Jimin-ah?” Anastasia asked, her eyes scanning the crowd. “I haven’t seen him since we got here. He just up and left!”

“He’s already back in the room to see Hoseok and Yoongi.”

Seokjin canted his head slightly. “What are you doing out here then?”

“Well, I was looking for you guys, but Taehyung and Jungkook said they were pulling up.”

“Ah,” he replied, nodding his head slightly as he glanced down toward Anastasia, “did you want to go ahead and move to the back or wait for the others?”

He watched her shake her head. “No, it’s fine. We can go ahead and head toward the back. I don’t want them waiting on us.”

That was all he needed to hear. Anastasia seemed to press herself tighter against Seokjin and he took the opportunity to wrap his arm around her shoulder so that she could curl into him. Namjoon parted ways with them, heading toward the entrance as they proceeded to make their way toward the back. There were a variety of different booths, black curtains quartering them off from the rest of the dance floor, and then the pale blue lights of various atriums began appearing as they neared further toward the back of the club.

The music wasn’t as boisterous in this area – a soft, muffled pulse of a heartbeat by now. Their room had a single black triangle on the outside, a white circle in the middle of it. Seokjin knocked twice before opening the door, seeing Hoseok, Yoongi and Jimin inside – already pouring drinks. There was a large array of liquor bottles adorning the table, a tray of fruit and snacks, and several plush, leather sectionals to give everyone elbow and breathing room.

Hoseok was dressed in his most comfortable black and white silk suit, the shirt underneath unbuttoned and showing off the modest silver chain that hung from his neck. His pale-blue lensed aviators framed his face and he gave a casual smile to Anastasia. She immediately bowed her head out of polite respect and Seokjin had to refrain from laughing.

“It’s good to see you, Anastasia-ssi,” Hoseok greeted, gesturing for them to have a seat, “have a seat. Relax.” He held out a shot glass to her. “Can I pour you a drink?”

Yoongi snorted, his expression harder to read. He seemed amused, but the way his posture was, it indicated that he was slightly uncomfortable or annoyed. Or both. His black blazer hung loose over his black and red patterned shirt – a silver butterfly lapel pin shining against the modest amount of lighting inside the room. He was already nursing a shot of whiskey, his cheeks only slightly rosy from the alcoholic intake.

Seokjin could only imagine how much he’d been drinking these days, let alone tonight.

Anastasia took a seat, grasping for the shot glass as Hoseok poured her a drink. Yoongi was already doing the same for Seokjin when the door flung open. In burst Taehyung, a periwinkle blue blazer draped over his white fleece sweater – a pair of simple black slacks hugging his waist. He flashed his boxy grin at them, holding a hand up in greeting. However, it was the person that followed behind him that gave everyone pause.

Raelyn, their former Hyungsoo-nim, entered behind Taehyung – her arm looped through his as her other hand was holding tightly to the silver clutch at her waist. Her purple, handkerchief cocktail dress flowed delicately around her form – bringing out the color of her brown skin even more. The neckline dipped and curved over her chest, the straps reaching for her neck sparkling with rhinestone gems. The heels of her silver stilettos clicked loudly despite the noise of the club flooding into the room.

Everyone started to stand up, out of habit, before lowering themselves back down into their seats. The only one who didn’t move was Hoseok. Seokjin saw them make eye contact until Anastasia seemed to shake the strange atmosphere by getting up to go and greet her friend.

Something around Raelyn’s neck caught Seokjin’s eye and he spied the crescent moon pendant. Namjoon entered the room after them, locking eyes with Seokjin almost immediately. Neither of them said a word. Between the entire group, only Namjoon and Seokjin understood the significance of that pendant.

And who it originally belonged to.

Hoseok seemed to deduce what they were thinking, and he immediately shook his head, silencing whatever voiceless questions they were about to throw at him. Instead, he stood up and crossed the room, hugging Raelyn and she returned the gesture. She pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek in greeting and he stepped to the side to allow Taehyung to help her get situated.

Jungkook finally squeezed his way inside. Seokjin had to, yet again, remind himself that Jungkook wasn’t the little kid they adopted into their little circle of friends. He was a man. A man who apparently could fill a suit out very well. The silk black lapels seemed to shimmer, the rest of his blazer a pristine white – the black accents for the buttons and cuffs were sharp. He wore a black silk tie over a simple white dress shirt which was tucked into a pair of black slacks.

The woman on his arm, whether intentional or not, matched his sharp dress code to the letter.

Her olive skin seemed to glow under the light of the room, and the simple black dress she wore hugged her figure in all the right ways. The hem stopped just above her knee and the dress was draped over her chest at an angle. The piece of fabric that hung around her neck seemed to connect to the single sleeve of her left arm – clinging to her like a second skin. She wore black pumps with a silver accent on the toes and heels and she wore no other jewelry save for the large silver hoops that dangled from her ears – her thick, curly hair pulled toward the right of her neck in a low ponytail.

Yoongi was the first to rise from his chair, not necessarily from surprise like the others, but from something else. Seokjin saw him curling his hands into fists and he immediately rose to his feet, attempting to quell the mounting tension building in the room.

“Jungkook-ah,” he said, crossing over to the youngest of their group, “who is this lovely person and how did you convince her to tag along with you?”

Jungkook gave a shy smile, watching as her hand withdrew from his arm so she could shake Seokjin’s hand. “This is Eden McGee,” he said, casting her a sidelong glance. He looked like he wanted to say more, but refrained.

A glass clattered across the table and everyone turned to see the source of the noise. Yoongi took a step back from the small mess he’d made, his brows knitting together. “Sorry about that,” he said, moving to head toward the door to their room, “I’ll go get something to clean this up with.”

He brushed past them, his shoulder knocking into Jungkook’s as he seemed to purposefully push himself between Eden and Jungkook.

Seokjin saw Eden’s eyes peering into his as he shook her hand. But after a moment, her gaze seemed to linger off to the right where Jungkook was standing. She gave a polite half smile, a slight pink touching her cheeks, before looking back at Seokjin.

“I’m Jungkook’s girlfriend,” she said, which seemed to cause Jungkook’s jaw to drop slightly and Seokjin raised his brows. “It’s nice to meet you.”

A/N: And I decided to add this in because I know you guys were probably curious. I added links to their outfits that they wore, just in case the descriptions I gave didn't do them justice. Listed in order of appearance: Seokjin: Here Anastasia: Here Namjoon: Here Hoseok: Here Yoongi: Here Jimin: Here Taehyung: Here Raelyn: Here Jungkook: Here Eden: Here

Make It Right [BTS Mafia!AU]

Plot: “It’s always darkest before the dawn…” It’s a dog-eat-dog world in Seoul, South Korea. One has to dwell in the shadows in order to reach for the light. What are you willing to sacrifice in order to feel the sunlight on your face? What will it take to drag you back into darkness? How long will the journey be to make it right?

Rating: NC-17 // NSFW

Genre: Series | Mafia!AU | Crime!AU | Angst | Romance/Fluff

Pairings: Jin x OC | Taehyung/Hoseok x OC | Yoongi/Jungkook x OC

Warnings: Graphic Violence, Heavy Language, Angst, Slow Burn, Smut

Previous Chapters: Prologue 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Links: FAQ || BTS Masterlist || Admin E’s AO3 || Admin E’s WP || [ REQUESTS ARE OPEN ]

Word Count: 2,734

Chapter 25: Let Me Know

“Maybe we’re all just a bunch of fools. Everyone lives with a love that has come to an end.”

© thebiasrekkers (Admin E). All rights reserved. Reposting/modifying our work is prohibited. Translations are not allowed. Plagiarism/stealing is not tolerated by any means. Legal action will be taken in instances of theft.

Keep reading

Make It Right [BTS Mafia!AU]

Plot: “It’s always darkest before the dawn…” It’s a dog-eat-dog world in Seoul, South Korea. One has to dwell in the shadows in order to reach for the light. What are you willing to sacrifice in order to feel the sunlight on your face? What will it take to drag you back into darkness? How long will the journey be to make it right?

Rating: NC-17 // NSFW

Genre: Series | Mafia!AU | Crime!AU | Angst | Romance/Fluff

Pairings: Jin x OC | Taehyung/Hoseok x OC | Yoongi/Jungkook x OC

Warnings: Graphic Violence, Heavy Language, Angst, Slow Burn, Smut

Previous Chapters: Prologue 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

Links: FAQ || BTS Masterlist || Admin E’s AO3 || Admin E’s WP || [ REQUESTS ARE OPEN ]

Word Count: 2,450

Chapter 26: Young Forever

“Even when I fall and hurt myself, I keep running toward my dream.”

© thebiasrekkers (Admin E). All rights reserved. Reposting/modifying our work is prohibited. Translations are not allowed. Plagiarism/stealing is not tolerated by any means. Legal action will be taken in instances of theft.

Seoul – Cheongdam; Gangnam District South Korea

Dawn had not yet stretched its lovely red fingers toward the sky. She was still sleeping, waiting for the moon to take its rest after providing the world with its light. The world was cold; a chilly breeze rushed over Jimin’s body and he hugged the tweed jacket a little closer to his frame. He was accustomed to the shadows, the few people who continued to mill about on the streets serving as a faceless and nameless backdrop to his world.

A world of darkness.

Every day and night that passed, Jimin prayed that he would be able to greet the sun – to feel its warmth on his face. Spring was on the horizon, seemingly just around the corner. Despite the warmth that it provided, as it did every year, Jimin never truly felt he deserved the sun. He walked the dark and broken road that his brothers walked, not wanting them to face the hardships of the future alone. All in the name of a dream that they shared; together.

The dream was no longer a dream.

It was now reality.

And yet Jimin still couldn’t quite fathom it. For nearly ten years, it was a seemingly unattainable goal. Not that he didn’t believe in his Hyungs or the drive of his own younger brothers. They were determined and, as a result, he was equally determined to make impossibilities possible. Just as they depended on him, he regarded them as his own source of inspiration.

Without them, he had no dream of his own.

He didn’t know when he’d come to this realization, but it was something he kept very close to himself. Jimin never wanted to burden his brothers with the troubles that often circulated in his mind and in his heart. Years ago, when they were young and believed that their life path was already forged, Jimin thought that he would simply take over his family’s pastry shop. It was just something that was always assumed – a source of income readily provided for him. His passion for serving customers and throwing his heart into a cake seemed natural.

He foolishly assumed the same for the others.

Seokjin’s family was of old money – a line of aristocrats that continued to carry the tradition of handling the financial aspects of their little country town. Namjoon’s father was the local doctor and his mother ran the pharmacy. Hoseok’s line consisted of farmers and it was always believed that he, too, would take up farm work. Taehyung’s family were also farmers; their orchard was rich and always provided a bountiful harvest. Yoongi’s father was a police officer, slotted for the position of police chief in Hwaseong, and his mother owned a boutique.

Jungkook’s future was the only one that was uncertain; his parents dumping him off at an orphanage when he was still just an elementary student.

In a way, Jimin wondered if they were doing this for their maknae; the one whose place at the finish line was undetermined. He didn’t have the heart to outright ask Namjoon if this was the true endgame for them all. Because save for Jungkook, they had security; they had certainty.

They had a future.

At least this way, they all had a guaranteed one.

With this in mind, he was less worried about the path they carved to get to this point. Blood was shed and sacrifices were made. It was necessary in some respects. But now they could put it behind them. They could go back to being the people they once were. Wild and free from the chains that bound them; young forever.

That was the hope, anyway.

Jimin sighed, brushing some of his hair away from his face as he came to the end of the sidewalk. The crosswalk blinked and beeped, alerting all to stop. Traffic zoomed by in opposite directions of each other and people around him continued their conversations. Some were animated – boys consoling their beloveds. Others were the standard fussings of loved ones reassuring the people they were on the phone with that they would be home soon.

His own phone buzzed in his pocket and he pulled it out to see who was calling him. Seeing Jungkook’s name picture flash across the screen, he smiled and answered.

“Oh, Jungkook-ah,” he said with a smile, “what’s up?”

“Hyung, you look cold,” Jungkook said, causing Jimin to look around him. But as far as he could tell, he didn’t see his younger brother anywhere. He heard him laugh on the other line. “In front of you, Hyung. Across the street.”

Jimin looked across the street and saw Jungkook on the other side of the crosswalk, waving one arm back and forth excitedly. Jimin shook his head and chuckled, eliciting another laugh from Jungkook.

“Stay there. I’ll come to you.”

“Okay!”

He hung up the phone, dropping it back into his pocket just as the light changed. Everyone began moving at once and Jimin made sure to keep himself just a little bit ahead of the others. It was a short walk, but Jimin felt like he was literally walking down memory lane; experiencing everything they’d gone through in just a few short steps. When he reached the other side, it was Jeon Jungkook the man who was standing in front of him; not the boy.

I wonder when it was that he became an adult, he thought just as Jungkook reached out to wrap his arm around Jimin’s shoulder.

“Don’t worry, Hyung! I’ll warm you up!”

Jimin laughed at Jungkook’s wide smile. “This guy,” he said at the tail end of his laugh, “don’t be ridiculous.”

Jungkook pulled Jimin a little bit closer before releasing him, shoving his hands into the pockets of his leather jacket. “I can’t help it.” He shrugged. “I think we deserve to be a little silly, don’t you?” He saw Jungkook’s smile soften. “We can finally take a breath, right?”

The question took Jimin by surprise. In retrospect, it shouldn’t have, though. It seemed that Jungkook must have been worrying about their futures just as much as he was. Maybe even more. The end of the race was upon them and it felt like they’d been running toward that very end for so long.

So very long.

Reaching out with one hand, he ruffled Jungkook’s hair playfully – laughing when he saw his younger brother sidestep out of the way. Honestly, he didn’t know how to answer Jungkook. He wanted to tell him that he was right; that it was okay to breathe and take in all the clean air they’d been denied for all these years. But there was still a level of trepidation that existed in their world; as though things hadn’t been resolved quite yet.

Instead, he chose to change the subject.

“You’re out late, Jungkook-ah,” Jimin said, catching the look his younger brother gave him, “were you on your way home?”

He shook his head. “No, not yet.”

“Not yet?”

“I, uh,” Jungkook began, not sure if he wanted to finish what he was starting to say. Jimin watched him scratch the side of his head and he couldn’t help the laugh that spilled from him. Jungkook looked like a schoolboy who was about to get scolded. “…I was just taking a walk.”

“Did you go see Noona?”

Jungkook’s cheeks reddened and it wasn’t from the cold. Jimin laughed again, dodging a cuff that was aimed at his shoulder.

“Hyung, stop teasing me!”

“But you make it so easy.”

Jimin lightly bumped his shoulder against Jungkook’s, amused at the younger man hanging his head in defeat. He’d been caught. He decided to tease him some more.

“You could have just stayed the night.”

Jungkook balked at the idea, rearing his head back slightly as if Jimin had suggested he run for a political office of some kind.

Jimin shrugged. “What? It’s not like you haven’t stayed the night before.”

“That was different,” he said, shrugging both shoulders as he kicked the front of his shoe across the pavement.

“How so?”

“I was sick and could barely walk!” Jungkook pouted as he looked at him. “I’m a man who respects boundaries, okay?”

Jimin smiled, shaking his head as he sighed. “So what? You both were up binge watching some show or playing video games until she kicked you out?” He clicked his tongue against the back of his teeth. “Heartless, that woman.”

“Tell me about it!” Jungkook exclaimed suddenly, causing a few pedestrians to look in their direction. He cleared his throat loudly and Jimin stifled the urge to laugh loudly, biting his lower lip for an added measure. “I could have just slept on the couch.”

“Give it some time, Jungkook-ah,” he reassured, placing his hand on Jungkook’s shoulder to give it a squeeze, “she’s trying and showing she cares in her own way. Don’t read too much into it.”

Jungkook groaned. “Easy for you to say. She actually likes you.”

He raised a brow. “And you think she doesn’t like you?” Jimin scoffed, his hand falling back to his side. “I don’t recall her telling Seokjin Hyung that she was my girlfriend, do you?”

“That’s different.”

“How?”

“B-Because!” Jungkook looked genuinely flustered and Jimin smirked. “I mean, we hadn’t even discussed it before that night. Like, not officially anyway.” He rubbed his hair roughly. “I was going to ask her properly that night, y’know? But she up and said it like that and what was I supposed to do?”

Jimin shrugged. “She’s an assertive person, Jungkook-ah. You should know that by now. Are you even surprised that she took matters into her own hands?”

“No, but still…”

“She stole your thunder?”

“Yes, she did!”

“Don’t be so selfish,” Jimin said, narrowing his eyes at Jungkook even though he was still smiling, “let her have this. Give her control.” He looked away from Jungkook and stared up at the sky, his pace slowing a measure. “She had a lot of things thrown into her lap at once and I’m sure she’s still trying to process it all, even now.”

Jungkook slowed his pace down as well, casting Jimin a sidelong glance. “Are you talking about Yoongi Hyung?”

Jimin said nothing; he only nodded. He heard Jungkook sigh beside him and he suddenly stopped, causing Jimin to halt his steps just a couple of feet ahead of him. He turned around and looked at Jungkook whose gaze was now pointed to the ground.

“Jungkook-ah?”

“…I know I should feel guilty for Yoongi Hyung,” he said softly, his eyes still cast downward, “and I know that he’s doing his best to pretend that everything is normal. He doesn’t treat me any differently.”

Jimin remained silent. He didn’t want to interrupt what Jungkook was trying to say; what he was trying to process and properly digest. In a way, he understood fully what was torturing Jungkook. He could grasp the concept more than he let on. But this was something that he knew Jungkook wanted to understand and handle on his own. He wouldn’t interfere, no matter how much he may want to.

No matter how much he cared for her.

“But sometimes I wish he would.” Jungkook finally lifted his gaze to meet Jimin’s, his brows furrowing as the worry lines formed on his forehead. “Sometimes I just wish Yoongi Hyung would punch me, curse me, and throw me away. It would hurt less if he did.”

He watched Jungkook avert his eyes. Sighing, Jimin took a step toward him so that he could close the gap. Once again, he reached out to ruffle Jungkook’s hair. However, Jungkook didn’t step away. It almost looked like it hurt him slightly, but the real pain was tearing him apart from the inside. Jimin knew that look; the look of one who was bottling all their emotions inside in an attempt to appear normal and unfazed on the surface.

It was the look of a man who was doing his best to bury everything inside.

“It would hurt more to deny your heart what it wants, Jungkook-ah.” Jungkook looked up at him, his smile long gone despite Jimin’s remaining. “Yoongi Hyung? He’s a prime example of what you shouldn’t do. He may say otherwise, but I’m sure he regrets what he did and how things wound up. But you know what? That’s his burden to bear, not yours.”

“Jimin Hyung…”

“And regardless of the intent, Eden Noona was damaged by it. She was hurt and that’s something that Yoongi Hyung must come to terms with. That wound is deep, and it’s probably festered over the years.” His hand slid from Jungkook’s hair and fell back to his shoulder. “That is a scar on her heart that won’t go away. It will always be there. The only thing that you can do, what you’re now obligated to do, is acknowledge that pain and help her get through it. Not erase it.”

Jungkook blinked, seemingly unsure of what he was supposed to say next. But Jimin shook his head and smiled, patting his brother’s shoulder gently.

“By claiming to be your girlfriend, she’s giving you that opportunity. She wants to know what you’ll do with it.”

She’s stubborn and doesn’t believe she deserves to be loved by anyone.

“She wants to see if you’re going to be genuine from start to finish, wherever that might be.”

She doesn’t believe anyone will stay by her side; that she’ll be abandoned at a moment’s notice. Noona worries about that as much as you do, Jungkook-ah.

“So, the only thing you can do is continue being who you are; because you’re the one she chose.”

Jungkook’s eyes seemed to brighten and he nodded, his expression showcasing his newfound determination. They were now embracing the sunlight. They could enjoy the fruits of their labor and now, more than ever, could share it with someone.

“I…I gotta go, Hyung,” he said, turning to head in the opposite direction. “I’ll see you at home!”

Jimin watched as Jungkook began running down the sidewalk from where he’d originally come from. He paused, turning to look back at Jimin and he waved. Jimin returned the gesture and then saw him disappear into the small crowd of people.

It has to be you, Jungkook-ah…

When he was no longer in his sights, Jimin sighed and looked up at the sky. The sun was starting to paint itself across the sky. Shoving his hands into his pockets, he closed his eyes and waited for dawn to break through the clouds; for it to light up the world around him.

…because she didn’t choose me.

Make It Right [BTS Mafia!AU]

Plot: “It’s always darkest before the dawn…” It’s a dog-eat-dog world in Seoul, South Korea. One has to dwell in the shadows in order to reach for the light. What are you willing to sacrifice in order to feel the sunlight on your face? What will it take to drag you back into darkness? How long will the journey be to make it right?

Rating: NC-17 // NSFW

Genre: Series | Mafia!AU | Crime!AU | Angst | Romance/Fluff

Pairings: Jin x OC | Taehyung/Hoseok x OC | Yoongi/Jungkook x OC

Warnings: Graphic Violence, Heavy Language, Angst, Slow Burn, Smut

Previous Chapters: Prologue 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27

Links: FAQ || BTS Masterlist || Admin E’s AO3 || Admin E’s WP || [ REQUESTS ARE OPEN ]

Word Count: 2,395

Chapter 27: Singularity

“Did I lose myself? Or did I gain you?”

© thebiasrekkers (Admin E). All rights reserved. Reposting/modifying our work is prohibited. Translations are not allowed. Plagiarism/stealing is not tolerated by any means. Legal action will be taken in instances of theft.

“Shhh,” came Taehyung’s voice, breath and lips just barely brushing across the soft skin of the beautiful woman beneath him. “You just got back and you need to relax.”

Her skin tone, a lovely brown, glowed beautifully under the dimly lit lamp of her bedroom. He’d conveniently pulled the curtains to dim the early afternoon light. He smirked, watching as her stomach dipped with a sharp intake of breath and saw it still as she held the same breath she took. He began to undo the buttons that had previously been freed from their restraints with his deft fingers. Her ivory and black lace trimmed bra revealed itself beneath the fabric of the blouse, her cleavage prominent and oh-so-very enticing. Once he undid the final button that he could see, he pulled the hidden bits of the blouse out from inside of her pencil skirt – freeing them as well.

He lifted his gaze to meet Raelyn’s, watching as her dark hues took on an amber glow from the lamplight. She had been feeling down the past few weeks. Work was getting taxing, that much was certain, and while his own job kept him busy, Taehyung always made time to give Raelyn his absolute attention. The party was meant to serve as a celebration for all their accomplishments, for them finally walking the legal path they’d strived to reach. But it was hard to miss the hesitation and tension that permeated between Hoseok and her.

Taehyung was ever observant in this aspect.

It would be a lie if he didn’t say he felt a twinge of jealousy. How could he not? For the better part of a year he’d been pursuing Raelyn, despite her constantly giving him the cold shoulder. Something changed, however, in the last few months. He wasn’t sure if she was attempting to take a chance with him or if she’d fully gotten over Hoseok. She didn’t seem like the type to have lingering attachments, but Raelyn could also be a bit sentimental when she wanted to. She was beautiful and determined to remain free from any sort of shackles that attempted to bind her.

It was why he’d offered up the idea of simply letting things flow as they would. No pressure. And little by little, she started to open herself a bit more than she had in the past. Taehyung was elated at the opportunity, not wanting to waste it or any time once it was presented.

She sighed, bringing him out of his thoughts. The silver pendant around her neck shined under the lamplight and he leaned forward to press his lips on her skin just to the left of it. He felt something pulse at his throat and a ravenous hunger took over. Something was so sexy about a woman completely vulnerable. He could just eat them up.

He could just eat her up.

“You’re killing me,” she said, her hands moving to reach for the waist of his pants. Taehyung’s smirk remained as Raelyn began pulling at the hem of his shirt. “You do know that, right?”

He helped her along, leaning back so he could reach behind him with one hand to pull his shirt up and off his person. Taehyung threw it to the side without a care – hearing it land on the floor with a soft whisper of sound.

“I’ll make it a painless death, I promise,” he whispered, dipping his tongue into her collar before moving lower.

Taehyung pressed his lips to her stomach as he slid his hands beneath her skirt. She shifted beneath his hands and he dipped down a bit further so that they could situate themselves into a more comfortable position on the bed.

“Besides, you know you like it when I take my time.”

He leaned forward, his lips forming into a pout so he could press a kiss against the right cleft of her breast as his fingers wrapped around the fabric of her silk panties. Gripping them tightly, the tip of his tongue began sliding slow, affectionate trails along her skin. As he pulled his hands back, he brought her underwear right along with them. Once his hands were at her knees, he removed them from beneath the skirt as he grasped the zipper at the right side of her hip, tugging slowly to unzip the garment. A soft gasp pushed from Raelyn’s lips and Taehyung smirked, learning down to capture those same lips as he fed on her mouth in an agonizingly slow motion.

He wrapped his arm around her waist, lifting her up so she could shrug out of her blouse – throwing it to the side to join his own shirt. Her hands shot forward, digging her fingers into the meat of his thighs and he growled into her mouth, smiling into the kiss as his fingers slowly danced along her spine. He felt the clasp of her bra and flicked his wrist, feeling the constraints pop free. His other hand moved to rest at the dip of her breasts, curling under the cups of her bra before pulling downward – freeing her.

Taehyung groaned softly, his erection straining against the zipper of his slacks. There was a tinkling sound as Raelyn fussed with his belt, whipping it out of the loops and yanking it with such force that it flew into the wall with a clatter. He broke the kiss momentarily, blinking at her as his lips formed into an open-mouthed smile, his attention on Raelyn’s face as she busied herself with his pants. She cut her eyes at him and he silently obeyed, shimmying out of his pants – his simple black boxer briefs all that remained on his person.

He looked at her, still grinning, noting that she was still in her skirt. And only her skirt. Taehyung clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth, as if he was about to reprimand her. However, instead of verbally chastising her, he grabbed for her skirt and yanked them completely off her legs. She gasped, eyes widening with surprise and when it looked like she was about to protest, Taehyung silenced the verbal onslaught by sealing his lips over hers.

The moan of pleasure she released was almost his undoing. He pushed her body down with his own, his bulge practically bursting out of his underwear. Taehyung quickly slipped out of them, wanting to feel all of her against his own skin. Taking a moment to card his fingers through her hair, Taehyung inhaled slowly – taking in her perfume and the hint of sweat that peppered across Raelyn’s skin.

He’d never get tired of it; tired of her. Of waking up to her body molded into his, like jigsaw puzzles lost from the picture but finding each other in the corner of a child’s playroom. Forgotten by all except each other.

He wanted to believe they were a perfect match.

Taehyung’s lips caressed her jaw, his arm snaking down and dipping over her bare stomach - his hand gliding between her legs and relishing in the warmth of her folds.

She called his name, her voice thick with a need of her own; deep and rumbling. It made him ache for her even more; more than when he normally did. Wriggling down, his movements urged her legs to part so he could have his meal. There was no need to hurry. Not today. They had no obligations. Pleasing Raelyn was all he needed to focus on, and he took his sweet time doing just that. He groaned with pleasure as she keened against his mouth, and he drank all of her. He wanted to claim her soul by sucking it right out of her.

He never got tired of her mewling. He knew he never would.

Raelyn’s voice was softer now, hot pants leaving her lips as her thighs trembled against his shoulders. Taehyung wasn’t finished. Not by a long shot. His hands grasped at her hips, thumbs dipping into her skin as he pulled her just a little bit closer. He tugged her to the left, urging her to turn over, and he let his chest fall against her back. His hands gently caressed her ribs, sliding down the length of her arms, finally resting them at her wrists. Fingers curled around her slender wrists, feeling her muscles growing tighter as she reached for everything.

He pulled back to position himself behind her, nails raking up her sweat-tinged spine, and Taehyung whispered her name as his hips moved forward to slide into her in a single motion. He instantly saw stars, blinking them back as he let everything was over her – their motions slow; timeless.

Taehyung knew he wanted this and nothing else. All of her. Forever.

Stroke after stroke rolled from Taehyung and he felt her walls clenching around his shaft, squeezing what little control he had left out of him. His hips bucked into her backside and she cried out, the feel of her orgasm riling him up to the point of release; the need to chase her took precedence immediately. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he held her close as he pulled her back down onto the mattress with him as they fell on their sides.

Labored breathing filled the space of her room and Taehyung nuzzled his face into the crook of her neck. He felt her arm resting on top of his, her fingers lacing through his own, and he smiled against the softness of her skin. Still buried inside of her, he could feel her heartbeat in tandem with the throbbing of her velvet heat wrapped around him. He kissed her neck for good measure, and she laughed softly as it seemed to tickle now that the aftermath claimed them both.

For a while, they said nothing. Taehyung often engaged in pillow talk, but not with Raelyn. He knew she was the type to take in and marinate what just happened. This wasn’t the first time they’d had sex, but he treated it like the first time whenever he could think about it. Because it felt more meaningful that way. It reminded him to not take things for granted if he faced them as if for the first time every time.

He heard her sigh. Not a tired sigh, but a sigh that held a heaviness to the sound. Taehyung frowned slightly, his brows furrowing with worry. It didn’t help that he couldn’t see her face, but her body shook softly in his arms.

“What’s on your mind, Noona?” he asked gently, not wanting to come off as nosy but more concerned.

She shook her head. “It’s…it’s nothing.”

“Hey…” He shifted, moving her body so that she could turn over and face him. Leaning forward, he pressed his forehead against hers. “…come on. Talk to me.”

Raelyn looked like she wanted to say something, but didn’t know how to go about saying it. That was troubling all by itself. She never had a problem speaking her mind at any given moment. He didn’t understand why this time should be any different.

Her lips pressed together in a thin line, her brows knitting together as she wrangled with her words internally. Taehyung remained patient, however, wanting her to have complete control of this moment. He reached out with his hand to brush a few stray strands of hair away from her brow. His hand fell along the curve of her neck, his thumb moving in comforting strokes against her skin.

“Is it really over now?”

Taehyung lifted his brow curiously.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean…everything? The Golden Jackals, your work? Is it over for good?” She looked at him, like she was trying to look through him. “…or do I still have to worry?”

Shaking his head, he pulled her a little closer so she could rest her head along the crook of his elbow. “No, it’s over, Noona.” Taehyung couldn’t help but to pet her head, as if he was comforting a frightened child.

Her concerns were understandable. It wasn’t like he didn’t get it. He did. When she’d been with Hoseok, they were still at the height of establishing themselves in the criminal underworld. It was eat or be eaten. That was the way of things in a dog-eat-dog world. But like she’d expressed in the past, she was tired of wondering when someone she cared about would come banging on her door, beaten and nearly half dead. Taehyung felt the same when he was fighting alongside his brothers – witnessing the carnage that ran rampant in their world.

It wasn’t like it didn’t affect him. He had his own scars he carried. The difference was that he was never left to suffer alone. All the reassurances in the world from anyone wouldn’t be enough to satisfy Raelyn, however. He knew that. Because things were always so uncertain, especially back then.

He at least wanted to give her a guarantee of some kind.

“Raelyn…”

Taehyung spoke softly, dropping all honorifics on his part. This gave Raelyn pause, causing her to shift slightly in his arms. Afraid she might pull away, he closed his arms around her – securing the comforting embrace he was attempting to give to her.

“…you don’t have to worry anymore. And if you’re still afraid, if you’re still worried, then let me make a promise to you instead?”

She looked up at him, her brows knitting together as she bit the swell of her lower lip and waited for him to continue. He smiled down at her.

“I know you’re afraid to get close to me. Even now, you’re still pulling away somewhat. I accept that. I accept all of it; all of you.” He inhaled softly, feeling her breath shudder across his skin. “And if anything were to ever happen to me, you still won’t be alone. The others? They will be there for you.”

She pulled back to look at him. Raelyn’s eyes glistened with the onset of tears and she tried to avert her gaze. Wanting to indulge her, he moved his hand to rest against the back of her head. He pulled her close, allowing her to bury her face into his chest once more.

“I promise that you will never have to suffer alone. You will never be alone.”

A/N: Omg, we finally made it to the smut. Hang on to your waistbands, peeps. I know it took us a bit, but I hope it was worth the wait. ^_^

Make It Right [BTS Mafia!AU]

Plot: “It’s always darkest before the dawn…” It’s a dog-eat-dog world in Seoul, South Korea. One has to dwell in the shadows in order to reach for the light. What are you willing to sacrifice in order to feel the sunlight on your face? What will it take to drag you back into darkness? How long will the journey be to make it right?

Rating: NC-17 // NSFW

Genre: Series | Mafia!AU | Crime!AU | Angst | Romance/Fluff

Pairings: Jin x OC | Taehyung/Hoseok x OC | Yoongi/Jungkook x OC

Warnings: Graphic Violence, Heavy Language, Angst, Slow Burn, Smut

Previous Chapters: Prologue 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27

Links: FAQ || BTS Masterlist || Admin E’s AO3 || Admin E’s WP || [ REQUESTS ARE OPEN ]

Word Count: 2,395

Chapter 27: Singularity

“Did I lose myself? Or did I gain you?”

© thebiasrekkers (Admin E). All rights reserved. Reposting/modifying our work is prohibited. Translations are not allowed. Plagiarism/stealing is not tolerated by any means. Legal action will be taken in instances of theft.

Keep reading

Make It Right [BTS Mafia!AU]

Plot: “It’s always darkest before the dawn…” It’s a dog-eat-dog world in Seoul, South Korea. One has to dwell in the shadows in order to reach for the light. What are you willing to sacrifice in order to feel the sunlight on your face? What will it take to drag you back into darkness? How long will the journey be to make it right?

Rating: NC-17 // NSFW

Genre: Series | Mafia!AU | Crime!AU | Angst | Romance/Fluff

Pairings: Jin x OC | Taehyung/Hoseok x OC | Yoongi/Jungkook x OC

Warnings: Graphic Violence, Heavy Language, Angst, Slow Burn, Smut

Previous Chapters: Prologue 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Links: FAQ || BTS Masterlist || Admin E’s AO3 || Admin E’s WP || [ REQUESTS ARE OPEN ]

Word Count: 3,083

Chapter 31: Persona

“So I’m askin’ once again, yeah who the hell am I?”

© thebiasrekkers (Admin E). All rights reserved. Reposting/modifying our work is prohibited. Translations are not allowed. Plagiarism/stealing is not tolerated by any means. Legal action will be taken in instances of theft.

Eden’s dark curls were wet, falling across her neck and shoulders as she stepped out of the shower. Steam filled the small enclosure of her bathroom and she could feel the cold bite from the stone floor shoot up her ankles. Her olive skin glistened under the amber light fixture and she wrapped a towel around her body, half stumbling to the sink. The porcelain rattled under her as her hands slammed around the bowl of the sink and she muttered an expletive under her breath.

Steam coated the mirror, obscuring her reflection. Reaching out with one arm, her hand swept over the moisture to reveal the reflective glass on the other side. A wet streak formed, her own image looking back at her.

“In our world, it’s not so easy to step into the light. The world is a fickle place and treats scoundrels like us as little more than garbage.”

She took slow, measured breaths – her shoulders slumping forward in a need to defy proper posture. A curtain of her raven hair – curly, wet and messy – draped over her right eye.

“He wants to know if what Hoseok-ah and the others are doing is genuine or just some big show to hide their true plans.”

She scoffed, shifting away from the mockery of her image looking at her; forcing her to examine herself.

“And what it will take to drag them back into the shadows with the rest of us.”

Eden spun on her heels, her back leg slipping on the wet stone floor. Her back arched and she pulled her right arm back with it, screaming at the top of her lungs. The mirror shattered when her fist made contact, spider cracks spreading from her knuckles. There was no pain that shot through her nerves, despite her fist trembling against the now broken mirror. Shards tumbled into the sink, smeared with tiny flecks of her blood that also stained the white porcelain.

Pulling her fist back, more mirror shards fell into the sink, but she ignored them. Instead, Eden yanked the towel off her body and began roughly drying her hair. Throwing the door open, warmth hit her from the heater fan she had in the main area of her apartment. She tossed the towel into the laundry hamper, picking up her flannel robe off the couch and slipping into it.

Just as she was tying the belt around her waist, there were a few hard knocks from her front door. Glancing at the clock, she saw it was just after 9pm. She thought about not answering it, seeing as she couldn’t tell whose reflection it was on the other side of the frosted glass. Eden scooped her phone off the coffee table and swiped her thumb over the screen. The lock screen was a selfie Jungkook and she took three weeks ago. There were a few missed calls and text messages; some from her friends, one from Jimin and the rest were from Jungkook.

A week had passed and her shoulder still ached...

Three more loud knocks rattled her front door on its hinges and she sighed, slipping into her house shoes and shuffling toward the door. She unlatched the deadbolt and wrenched the door open with the handle, looking up to see Jungkook on the other side. She couldn’t quite read his expression, but anyone could tell that he looked a little rattled.

“What?” she said, not bothering to conceal the bitterness in her voice.

For a moment, all they could do was stand there; motionless and silent. However, when she saw Jungkook’s gaze lower she instinctively slid it from the door and tried to place it into her pocket. His hand was quicker, and she felt his hand snatching at her wrist. Eden tried to wrench it free, but his grip was stronger. She didn’t want to start an argument, so her arm grew slack so he could pull her hand closer to inspect it.

Unexpectedly, Jungkook tugged her toward him roughly and her chest slammed into his. She grunted upon impact, her arms lifting in an awkward position as his larger ones encircled her – pulling her into an embrace she wasn’t prepared for.

“J-Jungkook-ah?” Eden’s voice shook slightly. “What’s the matter?”

“I’m sorry,” he murmured into the juncture of her neck, causing the hairs on the back of her neck to stand on end.

She had no idea why he was apologizing and before she could ask why, he pulled her even closer into him, causing her to gasp. This was a hug of desperation and Eden was more unsettled by how easily she was able to identify this. It was the way a child would cling to a mother’s skirt so they wouldn’t get lost; the way a person dug their fingers into the side of a mountain – mustering all the strength they had to keep themselves from falling to their permanent end.

Eden felt his chest rise against hers as he took a deep breath, his hand pressing against the back of her head. Her neck grew rigid, forcing her chin up as she pressed up onto the balls of her feet to meet his height. Mixed in with his normal cologne, she could smell just a hint of soju. She sighed, reaching behind him so she could gently pat him on the back; like she was comforting a lost child.

“Jungkook-ah…” She smiled. “…you’ve been drinking, haven’t you?”

“I’m sorry, Noona,” came his muffled voice and she had to smother the urge to laugh. “I’m such a fucking idiot!”

She shushed him, rubbing comforting circles on his back in an effort to get him to loosen his grip on her. When he finally did, Eden looked at his pitiful face and saw the tell-tale redness around his cheeks and nose. Pressing a hand to his forehead, she sighed and shook her head. He didn’t have a fever, but he was slightly warm from consuming alcohol.

Without thinking, she reached out with her injured hand and led him into the apartment. He kicked off his shoes like a petulant toddler while she fussed over him to put on some house shoes. When he did, he stumbled inside and she had to help him settle onto the couch without sprawling him out. After pulling off his jacket, Eden quickly made her way into her small kitchen to set a kettle on the stove. Once the water boiled, she poured it into a mug and then dropped a few tablespoons of honey into it. Stirring the mixture, she returned and handed him the steaming mug.

“Drink it slowly,” she instructed, settling onto the edge of her bed while watching him blow the steam away. “Why did you drink so much?”

For a minute, he didn’t say anything. Eden wouldn’t press him. He normally didn’t drink so much and that meant there was something weighing on his mind. Something he wasn’t willing to divulge just yet. Eden couldn’t blame him, though. She’d considered opening the bottle of whiskey she had in the kitchen after her little episode in the bathroom.

“What happened to your hand?”

She hadn’t expected to have her question answered with a question. Eden tried to hide her hand again, but Jungkook was still faster. He held it between them, and he frowned when he noticed the cuts on her knuckles – his cool hands soothing the inflamed skin. His thumb stroked over the broken skin and she winced slightly. Jungkook took two large gulps of the honey water mixture, set it down on the coffee table, and pulled Eden from the bed by her hand. He led her into the bathroom and she tried to resist him, not wanting him to see the results of her temper tantrum  in the bathroom.

He gently pulled her along despite her bracing trying to tug away from him. They finally went into the bathroom and she felt the fight leave her, embarrassment setting in instead.

Jungkook appeared not to notice the damage she caused. Or he at least wasn’t voicing it out loud. Grabbing a face towel, he reached into the sink and scooped out the shards of glass – throwing them away without a second glance. He turned on the faucet and held her hand under the lukewarm flow. Again, she winced and tried to pull her hand back. He waited until the blood was cleaned from her skin, opening the medicine cabinet that doubled as her mirror. Nothing was said about the ruined mirror and he took an alcohol wipe, swabbing it over her damaged hand and she hissed.

Silently he worked, disinfecting her injury and then wrapping it with some gauze. She was out of band-aids.

Eden turned to head out of the bathroom, but Jungkook closed the door. Rounding on him to yell about how she’d almost run into the door, her protests vanished when his hands slammed on either side of her head. Swallowing hard, Eden pressed her back to the door. If he held the door like that, there was no way she could open it and she wasn’t about to tussle with him in her already cramped bathroom.

“What are you doing?” she demanded, her eyes narrowing slightly.

She felt the back of her head pressing into the door as he leaned in close, their noses barely touching.

Jungkook took a deep breath, as if he was wrangling with something, and then exhaled through his nostrils.

“Why won’t you let me in?”

Eden’s eyes widened, followed by her blinking rapidly. “What?”

What did that even mean?

His eyes narrowed and she bit her lower lip.

“Why do you keep pushing me away, Noona?”

“What are you talking about?!”

She couldn’t help her voice rising an octave. Jungkook had been following her for over a year since they met, relentlessly pursuing her, and she was even taking a chance on him. They were dating weren’t they? She didn’t care that he was a gangster, or even a former gangster at this point. His status as an orphan meant nothing to her. He was over her house all the time, at all hours of the day when he wasn’t working and aggravating her in Tekken matches.

How in the hell was she pushing him away?!

Cool fingers caressed her temple, causing her to jump slightly. She hadn’t expected the sudden gesture and it forced Jungkook’s movements to a halt. When her eyes met his, Eden was startled to see the pained expression painted over his features. Was he still drunk? She didn’t know what was happening…

His hand slid from her face, trailing down the fabric of her robe that covered her arm, and he clasped her uninjured hand in his. Eden wished she could read his mind, to figure out what was making him feel this way. She felt a measure of guilt at knowing that she was the source of whatever suffering he was trying to smother out of himself.

Jungkook pressed her hand along his chest, feeling the heavy drumming of his heartbeat against her palm. Eden sucked in a slow breath as her eyes searched his dark brown ones. He never let his gaze rove from hers; like he was trying to look straight into her soul. It didn’t take her long to realize that her own pulse was matching his; completely in sync with each other.

She was only able to whisper his name once – a breathy sigh as his mouth captured hers. Her eyes slowly closed, drinking in his scent as she wrapped her arms around his neck. The flat of her palm slid down between his shoulder blades, her nails gently pressing into his back through his shirt. Jungkook’s hands moved over her body, making the heat rise inside her body as he lifted her into his arms effortlessly. The kiss was only deepened through the movement and she tightened her legs around his waist while he supported her with his strong arms. A burst of cool air brushed along her bare legs as he pulled the door to the bathroom open, carrying her the short distance to her bed.

Eden was going to go crazy. She was losing her mind from all the sensations her body was being put through. She wanted to fall against him – to get lost in his eyes as he overtook her with every single bit of raw passion that was contained within them. Eden heard her name falling from his lips, and as she pulled back, she gently touched the swollen buds as she bit her bottom lip at the corner; her breathing heavy as her chest rose and fell slowly.

He set her down on the bed gently, her robe barely covering her as he clambered onto the bed slowly – looking every bit like a tiger on the hunt.

Jungkook towered over her, his arms braced on either side of her shoulders, and Eden could only look up at him. He’d always been stubborn, but this was a new level. He was worried about something; wanting to tell her something but he was still holding back. Even now.

And this hurt her. It hurt her because she was holding herself back too.

She could make up all the excuses in the world, but it was true. Jungkook had seen it. She really was keeping him away – refusing to let him in fully.  

“Noona,” Jungkook managed to croak, “please let me in. I’m tired of looking from the outside in…”

His voice was thick with yearning. It made her heart twist inside her chest. Her vision blurred momentarily, and she quickly covered her face with her hands, blocking out his painful expression.

She felt his hand on top of hers, pulling them away so she was forced to up at him; at his gentle smile. Tears leaked out the corners of her eyes and Eden smiled. She cupped his face in her hands, leaning forward to kiss him hard on the lips and slipping her tongue in between them as she felt the muscle rake slowly against his fangs - a slow intake of breath filling her lungs as she smelled him. His scent was still the same - even after all this time they’d spent together. Spring rain with a hint of spice. She could’ve died in his arms right now.

After taking the time to greedily consume his mouth as he had hers, Eden pulled back and moved her eyes back from one of his orbs to the other. Her dark hair fell in a jet curtain of curls that covered half her face. “I…I’m sorry, Jungkook-ah. I didn’t know you felt that way after all this time. But I should have…because I know what you’re worried about.” She paused, watching his smile fall slightly. “I’m okay. I’m going to be okay. We are going to be okay if you trust me. Trust that I’m not going to abandon you when things get hard.”

She watched Jungkook swallow the lump that began to form in his throat. Not wanting her own resolve to waver, Eden brushed his bangs off his forehead – her fingers tracing the line of his brow.

“You exist here, in my head and in my heart,” she said softly, moving her hand to each place while attempting to calm her heart; albeit in vain. “I’m tired of worrying about my past or even what tomorrow will bring for any of us. Aren’t you tired of it?”

His brows furrowed. “Noona…”

Eden smiled up at him. “As long as we’re together, then I know I can take on anything anyone tries to throw at me. Dislocated limbs, busted lips, threats, whatever the fuck they try to push at me? I can take it.”

“I can’t see you get hurt, Noona. I don’t know what I’d do—”

“You can’t protect me all the time, Jungkook-ah,” she interjected, seeing fear simmer in his gaze, “and that’s okay. You’re not supposed to. I’ve spent my whole life taking care of my life and until you guys can get your shit together, I’ll keep doing that.” She paused as he pressed a hand against her cheek. “I’ll keep doing it until I don’t have to anymore.”

Jungkook frowned, closing his eyes and leaning forward so he could press his forehead against hers. Her eyes fluttered closed in response and she felt his breath across her cheeks as he sighed.

“…this will always be what I want, Noona,” he finally spoke, his voice dropping an octave and coated with emotion, “it’s what I’ve always wanted.” He lifted his head off hers which had her opening her eyes to look back at him. “If you can let yourself go with me, if you can stay with me, then I won’t regret anything. You drive me crazy and you’re one of the most stubborn people I’ve ever met…” Eden rolled her eyes and he chuckled. “If you trust me, then that’s all I could ask for. I won’t break that trust, Noona. I don’t think I could live with myself if I were to let that happen.”

He leaned forward, his lips pressing against her ear as he softly breathed against the lobe. Her arms snaked over his shoulders to grasp at the fabric of his shirt, pulling it up and over his head so that his skin was exposed.

“…can I be selfish, Noona? Can I ask you to love me with everything that you are?”

Jungkook slid one hand down to rest at the folds of her robe, slipping further down to loosen the belt that held the material to her form.

“Can we fall into each other until there’s nothing left of us?”

Jungkook kissed her ear, then nipped it before he fully tugged the belt loose and pushed the folds of the robe off to the side to expose her naked form beneath. His hands moved across her skin, the heat radiating both from her own body and his as she pulled him into another kiss – the desperate need to feel his body against hers almost maddening. She nodded, knowing that this moment was what mattered the most. Nothing else.

There was no going back now. Eden was done looking over her shoulder at what was. She was done looking too far ahead at what could be.

She would live in the here and now with no regrets.

Make It Right [BTS Mafia!AU]

Plot: “It’s always darkest before the dawn…” It’s a dog-eat-dog world in Seoul, South Korea. One has to dwell in the shadows in order to reach for the light. What are you willing to sacrifice in order to feel the sunlight on your face? What will it take to drag you back into darkness? How long will the journey be to make it right?

Rating: NC-17 // NSFW

Genre: Series | Mafia!AU | Crime!AU | Angst | Romance/Fluff

Pairings: Jin x OC | Taehyung/Hoseok x OC | Yoongi/Jungkook x OC

Warnings: Graphic Violence, Heavy Language, Angst, Slow Burn, Smut

Previous Chapters: Prologue 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Links: FAQ || BTS Masterlist || Admin E’s AO3 || Admin E’s WP || [ REQUESTS ARE OPEN ]

Word Count: 3,083

Chapter 31: Persona

“So I’m askin’ once again, yeah who the hell am I?”

© thebiasrekkers (Admin E). All rights reserved. Reposting/modifying our work is prohibited. Translations are not allowed. Plagiarism/stealing is not tolerated by any means. Legal action will be taken in instances of theft.

Keep reading

Make It Right [BTS Mafia!AU]

Plot: “It’s always darkest before the dawn…” It’s a dog-eat-dog world in Seoul, South Korea. One has to dwell in the shadows in order to reach for the light. What are you willing to sacrifice in order to feel the sunlight on your face? What will it take to drag you back into darkness? How long will the journey be to make it right?

Rating: NC-17 // NSFW

Genre: Series | Mafia!AU | Crime!AU | Angst | Romance/Fluff

Pairings: Jin x OC | Taehyung/Hoseok x OC | Yoongi/Jungkook x OC

Warnings: Graphic Violence, Heavy Language, Angst, Slow Burn, Smut

Previous Chapters: Prologue 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32

Links: FAQ || BTS Masterlist || Admin E’s AO3 || Admin E’s WP || [ REQUESTS ARE OPEN ]

Word Count: 2,567

Tag List: @prisczero​, @pinkpjmin​, @btsaudge​, @flowerwrites06​, @unoriginal-username15432

Chapter 32: Waste It On Me

“And I know there’s no making this right, And I know there’s no changing your mind...”

© thebiasrekkers (Admin E). All rights reserved. Reposting/modifying our work is prohibited. Translations are not allowed. Plagiarism/stealing is not tolerated by any means. Legal action will be taken in instances of theft.

Seoul – Cheongdam; Gangnam District South Korea

The bigger you are, the harder you fall.

Jimin was aware of this saying and held it close to his heart more often than most. It was his way of maintaining a sense of humility. He tried to impart humble actions to others, remaining as sincere as he could and as it was allowed. Praying and fighting. Fighting and praying. It was a daily routine for him for the last ten years.

But now it was over and while he wasn’t suffering from a lack of purpose, there were other things that troubled his mind. Seemingly insignificant to some and very important to others. Jimin worried below the surface, attempting to hold onto a sense of calm despite the chaos that always seemed to erupt around them. Rain or shine, snow or a hurricane; none of it mattered. Because they’d overcome worse in their lives and this new path they walked would be no different.

Seeing Eden in the hospital – hearing that the Jade Fangs were the ones responsible – ignited something new inside of Jimin. A feeling he wasn’t aware that he could feel. One that he never knew simmered deep within the dark recesses of his own heart.

It was anger.

The feeling shocked him at first; the realization even more. Jimin couldn’t think of a time outside of his elementary years where he got angry. Annoyed? Of course. Irritated? Absolutely. But never anger.

Not until he’d seen Eden’s arm in a sling.

His eyes narrowed as he paid the cab driver. The bigger you are, the harder you fall…

Stepping out of the cab, he closed the door behind him and approached the Cha Gangnam Medical Center. The sliding glass doors automatically pushed open, granting him entrance to the main lobby. He looked around, smiling politely to the receptionist as she waved at him. Brushing his bangs off his forehead, he looked around to see if Raelyn was around. Not long after he shuffled in, she came around a corridor and stopped short upon seeing him.

For a moment, neither of them could say anything. Jimin watched her press her clipboard to her chest, the two of them sighing in tandem with each other. Raelyn did her best to put on a smile that he probably assumed she thought was believable.

It wasn’t.

“Jimin-ah,” she called softly, her voice almost lost in the noise of the lobby, “what are you doing here?”

She crossed over to him and he smiled at her. “I was just coming by to check on you.” It wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t the whole truth either. “Are you about to go on break?”

Raelyn looked at her watch, then nodded. “Sure, I can go on break now. Follow me.”

The two of them walked side by side as they made their way down the hall. Several orderlies and nurses greeted Raelyn, as well as a few doctors who were wrapping up their shifts. They rounded two corners and she paused in front of a room, pushing the door open and peering inside. Her shoulders seemed to visibly relax before turning to look at him while fully pressing the door wide.

“It’s just us. Come in.” Jimin followed her and Raelyn stood in front of one of the vending machines. “Coffee?”

“Sure.”

Pressing the button for two hot canned coffees, the machine dispensed the items and Jimin thanked her for the drink. They took their seats at a small round table near the back of the break room where they could talk. However, instead of talking, they opened the coffees and said nothing. Jimin wasn’t sure what was weighing so heavily on Raelyn’s mind, but he had a pretty good idea. The difficult part was broaching the subject in a way that wouldn’t set her off or, worse, cause her to build a wall even higher around her feelings.

“Noona?” She lifted her face to look at him and he could see her eyes shaking, as if Raelyn already knew why he was there. “Can I ask you something?”

Raelyn tried to put on a brave face, her fingers wrapping around the can of coffee. “Sure, Jimin-ah. What is it?”

He took a breath, pressed his lips together in a thin line, before releasing a puff of air from his mouth. “…is your freedom still important to you?”

There was a slight tink of sound as her nails scraped along the aluminum.

She scoffed, trying to brush off his question. “Where’s this coming from all of a sudden?”

“Because your reason for ending things with Hoseok Hyung stemmed from the world we lived in; the cloak of shadows that we wore.” Jimin laced his fingers together as he rested his hands on the table. Raelyn’s façade faltered. “We’re not in the shadows anymore, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t people who will do whatever it takes to drag us back. We are working to continue our path of success and to do it the legal way.” His eyes narrowed slowly. “And you’ve been actively seeing Taehyung-ah, knowing that people are still trying to grab at our ankles.”

Raelyn frowned this time. “What are you getting at, Jimin-ah?”

“It’s only going to get worse before it gets better.”

His tone was flat and his expression matched. Raelyn’s eyes widened, her brows raising simultaneously. Her hands slid from the can to the table and Jimin lifted his coffee to his lips. He knew how intelligent Raelyn was and so it wouldn’t take her long to figure out where he was headed with this conversation.

“Do you remember what those days were like back then, Noona?” He didn’t tear his gaze from hers. “I know you do.”

“Park Jimin, you—”

“I hope you’re prepared, because now that we’re walking the legal path, there’s no stopping what the others are planning to do. You’ve already seen for yourself what they’re capable of. What lines they’re willing to cross. We can’t just beat them back with chains, whips and knives. Not like before. Not anymore.”

This was the path they were striving to walk on. It was the way they wanted to continue living their lives from now on. Jimin didn’t have to ask his older brothers what was making them feel so uneasy. The bridge they were crossing was rickety. There was no guarantee they’d be able to make it to the other side before burning it behind them – preventing anyone else from breathing down their necks. Ten years of hard work could potentially incinerate in the palm of their hands. Determined to walk the righteous path, to bathe in the sunlight, meant giving up the tools they used when shrouded in darkness.

Money could only do so much. But what it could not do was buy loyalty.

It finally seemed to click for Raelyn, the realization of what Jimin was attempting to get through to her apparent now on her face. But he also knew that if she valued her freedom as much as she claimed, then now was the time for her to make a choice. There would not be another opportunity for her to backtrack. This was the only way out that he could present to her.

“Noona,” he called, his voice gentle and a touch warmer than it had been earlier. She sensed it immediately. “If you’re serious about Taehyung, about any of us, then I won’t interfere, and I will respect your wishes. We prepared for a lot of things, but we didn’t prepare for anyone to try and stop us from leaving.” He sighed, turning his head slightly to avert his gaze. “What they did to Eden Noona? I’m sure it’s just the beginning. They’re trying to make a point.”

“W-What point?” Raelyn’s voice shook only slightly, but he could hear the hint of anger tacked on at the end. “What do they think they’re gonna accomplish by fucking around with our lives?”

Jimin had a few ideas, but he wasn’t willing to voice them. Not out loud. Not yet.

“They’re trying to tell us we can’t keep anything we care about safe.” He craned his neck to look back at her. “Not anymore.”

He watched Raelyn sink back into her chair, as if someone had taken all the wind out of her sails and left her stranded out at sea.

Jimin rose from his chair, taking the can of coffee with him. He slid one hand into his pocket, pivoting on his heel as he turned toward the door. He paused, casting a sidelong glance over his shoulder to look back at her. Raelyn was still staring at the table blankly, trying to process what he’d just said.

“If your freedom is still important to you, then you need to push us away. All of us. For your sake more than ours.”

She blinked rapidly, turning to look at him as though she was seeing him for the first time all day. No, for the first time since she’d known him. Jimin offered her a soft smile instead. One she would recognize and hopefully take comfort in.

“Take care, Raelyn Noona.”

He bowed his head toward her and turned to head out the door. He didn’t look back as he was worried about what his warning meant to her. Would she take it to heart, or would she remain steadfast at their sides?

Will she make the same choice that Eden Noona has?

Seoul – Hannam; Yongsan District South Korea

The drive back to the house was quiet. The taxi driver must have sensed that Jimin had a lot on his mind and left him to his thoughts in the backseat. As traffic melded on the streets, many lights blossomed and painted the windows and streets of Seoul bright colors. Jimin heard pedestrians milling around, some holding conversations that were loud enough for him to hear through the window. He tuned most of it out, however, his own concerns going off like air horns in his brain.

Soon, everything passed by in a blur of colorful lines.

When Jimin walked through the main entryway of the home he shared with his brothers, he felt more exhausted than normal. Like he’d been carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. He announced himself, kicking off his dress shoes and loosening his tie before sliding into his house slippers.

A set of feet shuffled in and he turned to see it was Yoongi, a glass of scotch in his hand. “Just you?” He took a moment to peer over Jimin’s shoulder, as if someone had followed him. “The others?”

Jimin pulled his phone out of his pocket and saw texts from both Jungkook and Taehyung; one saying they’d be home late and the other saying they’d be home tomorrow. “Seokjin Hyung is still at the office with Anastasia Noona. He sent me home early. Namjoon Hyung and Hoseok Hyung are at a business meeting at the hotel.” He peered at Yoongi curiously. “You’re home early.”

Yoongi hummed in response as he took a sip of scotch. “Investors from overseas flew in so I saw to their needs. The official business meeting will be tomorrow. Hoseok-ah wanted to give them a chance to rest before going over paperwork.” He turned to head into the kitchen and Jimin followed after him. “What about the other kids?”

Jimin sat at the kitchen island, watching as Yoongi began pouring him a drink. He waited until the glass was set on a coaster in front of him before speaking. “Taehyung-ah is going to be late.” Reaching for the glass, he ignored the tinkling sound it made when his rings knocked against it.

Yoongi sidled up next to him, raising his glass so they could tap them together in a silent ‘cheers’ fashion. “Jungkook?”

The glass hovered near Jimin’s lips, not sure if he wanted to give him the answer. But he also knew he had no real reason not to. “He said he’s coming back in the morning.”

He saw Yoongi’s expression darken and Jimin sighed, not wanting to get into this conversation at all. But when he remembered what Eden said to him that day at church, as well as Jungkook’s own concerns, he knew he couldn’t avoid it. Jimin was also curious about something and the only way he would get the answers was by asking the person who’d hurt Eden the most.

“Yoongi Hyung?”

Yoongi shook his head, setting the glass down on the coaster and he tried to throw a casual smirk to Jimin. He wasn’t fooling anyone. Him least of all.

“Hm, what is it, Jimin-ah?”

“I know why you did that to Eden Noona.” Jimin stared into his glass, refusing to meet Yoongi’s gaze. “I get it more than you probably think I do.” A sad smirk passed over his features. “You were trying to keep her safe in your own way. I’m sure she’ll understand that someday, if she doesn’t already.”

Yoongi laughed but the tone was off; bitter and cold. “It doesn’t matter. She has Jungkook looking after her now.”

“Noona can take care of herself, you should know that.” Jimin continued staring into the glass, the pads of his fingers pressing into its cold surface. “You regret it, don’t you Hyung?” He turned his head to see Yoongi glaring down at the marble counter top. “You regret not trusting her.”

Yoongi blinked, his head moving slowly to look back at Jimin with confusion in his eyes. “What?”

“You didn’t let her into our world because you were afraid she’d get fed up with it. Not hurt by it.” Jimin paused, watching Yoongi’s eyes narrow. “Eden Noona is strong, you’ve seen that for yourself, Hyung. Her environmental safety wasn’t what you were worried about.”

“Ya, Park Jimin,” said Yoongi quietly, the warning clear.

Jimin had no plans to heed it.

“What you were actually scared of was Noona seeing the real you, weren’t you?” Jimin frowned. “You couldn’t trust her to stay with you when she found out. But now you see that isn’t the case, because she’s with our younger brother now, in spite of everything.”

Yoongi’s fist slammed into the marble, causing their glasses to rattle. The sudden action didn’t even make Jimin flinch. Instead, he placed a hand on Yoongi’s shoulder. The two of them said nothing and it wasn’t until Jimin gave it a reassuring squeeze did he let out a sigh.

“You’re scared she’s going to get hurt for real this time. And it won’t be by any of us.”

He watched Yoongi drain his glass and set it back on the table. “This is just the beginning. Those bastards have barely started scratching the surface.” Yoongi placed a hand on his forehead, turning to look at Jimin and his eyes looked more tired than they had just a few minutes ago. “…but you’re right, Jimin-ah. I’m scared. I’m scared of what they’re planning to do next.”

Jimin nodded, his hand sliding off Yoongi’s shoulder to return to the counter top. The two of them held their glasses; one empty and the other untouched.

“Me too, Hyung.” There was a heaviness in Jimin’s voice that he hadn’t meant to let slip. But it was too late to take it back and there wasn’t really a point to it. “…I’m scared too.”

Make It Right [BTS Mafia!AU]

Plot: “It’s always darkest before the dawn…” It’s a dog-eat-dog world in Seoul, South Korea. One has to dwell in the shadows in order to reach for the light. What are you willing to sacrifice in order to feel the sunlight on your face? What will it take to drag you back into darkness? How long will the journey be to make it right?

Rating: NC-17 // NSFW

Genre: Series | Mafia!AU | Crime!AU | Angst | Romance/Fluff

Pairings: Jin x OC | Taehyung/Hoseok x OC | Yoongi/Jungkook x OC

Warnings: Graphic Violence, Heavy Language, Angst, Slow Burn, Smut

Previous Chapters: Prologue 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32

Links: FAQ || BTS Masterlist || Admin E’s AO3 || Admin E’s WP || [ REQUESTS ARE OPEN ]

Word Count: 2,567

Tag List: @prisczero​, @pinkpjmin​, @btsaudge​, @flowerwrites06​, @unoriginal-username15432

Chapter 32: Waste It On Me

“And I know there’s no making this right, And I know there’s no changing your mind…”

© thebiasrekkers (Admin E). All rights reserved. Reposting/modifying our work is prohibited. Translations are not allowed. Plagiarism/stealing is not tolerated by any means. Legal action will be taken in instances of theft.

Keep reading

Make It Right [BTS Mafia!AU]

Plot: “It’s always darkest before the dawn…” It’s a dog-eat-dog world in Seoul, South Korea. One has to dwell in the shadows in order to reach for the light. What are you willing to sacrifice in order to feel the sunlight on your face? What will it take to drag you back into darkness? How long will the journey be to make it right?

Rating: NC-17 // NSFW

Genre: Series | Mafia!AU | Crime!AU | Angst | Romance/Fluff

Pairings: Jin x OC | Taehyung/Hoseok x OC | Yoongi/Jungkook x OC

Warnings: Graphic Violence, Heavy Language, Angst, Slow Burn, Smut

Previous Chapters: Prologue 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33

Links: FAQ || BTS Masterlist || Admin E’s AO3 || Admin E’s WP || [ REQUESTS ARE OPEN ]

Word Count: 2,764

Tag List: @prisczero​, @pinkpjmin​, @btsaudge​, @flowerwrites06​, @unoriginal-username15432, @halussali​

Chapter 33: Tomorrow

“I hope tomorrow will be different from today...”

© thebiasrekkers (Admin E). All rights reserved. Reposting/modifying our work is prohibited. Translations are not allowed. Plagiarism/stealing is not tolerated by any means. Legal action will be taken in instances of theft.

Occasionally there were things better left unsaid in life. This applied to every soul that could be counted, especially among people. Never tell the woman you were seeing that her ass looked fat despite how many times she asked. Never mouth off to someone who could kick the shit out of anyone who dared to cross them without batting an eyelash. Never reveal bedroom secrets to someone who had their eye keenly on someone else’s bedroom partner.

Yes, some things were better left unsaid and sometimes there were simply no words for what a person may have wanted to say. Keeping lips sealed was often for the best.

Jungkook kept his lips zip-lock tight the day Eden came home from work. She had “the look” on her face – the one that practically screamed ‘I’m deep in thought so don’t fucking disturb me’. He’d been waiting on her for nearly an hour, wanting to surprise her since he finished work early for the day. 

He wordlessly tried to take the groceries from her, but she refused. Instead, she insisted that he reach into her coat pocket for her keys. When he did, however, he was surprised to see that it wasn’t the set of keys he was used to seeing. The brass key was replaced with a stainless steel one and attached to it was a single keychain with a cartoonish looking puppy on it – its expression reminiscent of one of the faces Jungkook often made when he was pouting.

She waited for him to open the door, but the shock was too much. The meaning behind it was way more for him to process at that moment. When Eden shouted at him to open the door, he nervously slid the key into the lock and almost broke it in the jam. Finally, he opened it and quickly took the groceries from her, shuffling inside and almost tripping out of his shoes. She laughed when he tried to give the key back to her, brushing past him to head into the kitchen. Jungkook smiled, putting the key into his pocket. 

Neither of them said anything as they pushed around in the cramped kitchen, trying to put things up without getting in each other’s way. They were mostly successful and when he tried to grab her hand, Eden ignored him and started stripping out of her street clothes while fumbling for her shower things. Jungkook couldn’t keep the goofy smile off his face when he noticed her rosy cheeks, laughing and grabbing for her. He spun her around until he felt he might be sick. He kissed her hard, refusing to allow her to make it to the shower. Not before he made love to her on the floor.

Twice.

When he’d thoroughly worn her out, he laughed and rubbed at his sore shoulder from the punch he’d received from her. But it was worth it. So fucking worth it.

After they showered, Eden shuffled around in the kitchen and made dinner. Nothing fancy. Just a large pot of ramen with some chicken mandu thrown into it as an afterthought. For a moment, all Jungkook could do was stare at her; considering every movement and drinking in her presence. He loved the way she was in that moment: hair disheveled and loosely wavy, her clothes clean but torn and askew – as if she’d fumbled from the bed and walked into a thrift store to pick out her threads at random.

When they finished, he offered to do the dishes, but she insisted on doing them herself. Eden’s bare feet shuffled around on the polished wooden floor and every so often he could see the tattoo on her left thigh peeking out from under the hem of the extra-large shirt she wore. There was no way to explain why it was sexy, it just was.

Moo Shin, he thought, reading the hangul tattoo, Heaven’s warrior.

“I’m going out to smoke,” she said while drying her hands with a kitchen towel. She grabbed both her pack of cigarettes and lighter off the counter, shoving them into her pocket.

Jungkook stood up, grabbing one of the large fleece throw blankets off the couch and followed her. The nights were still a bit chilly, even heading into Spring, and he didn’t want her getting sick. Her hair was still wet.

She sat down on the perch of the roof, knees curled up to her chest, before lifting the lighter up to her cigarette. Jungkook took a seat behind her, wrapping the blanket around them both, before curling her close against his body. She was struggling with the lighter and he reached out, taking it from her and igniting it smoothly with one flick of his thumb. Waiting for her to inhale her first drag of pleasure, Jungkook moved to rest his chin on her left shoulder. Eden turned her head slightly to keep the smoke from his eyes and he smiled. While he often nagged her to quit smoking, he appreciated the little things she did to keep it from bothering him. Not that it did, but he never actually told her that.

“Jungkook-ah,” came her voice, gruff but the tone was soft, “do you want to keep living in the city?”

Smoke pillowed from her nostrils and he felt his left brow quirk slightly, his thumb pressing into her skin as it rolled under her shirt. He didn’t say anything. It was a question that was slightly jarring, and he took comfort in her warmth and scent in order to get his bearings.

It wasn’t like the thought hadn’t occurred to him before. City life was exciting, sure, and there were merits to living in the city. But there were days when he dreamed about returning to Hwaseong. It was country enough that he could see the stars and enjoy them, but small town enough that he wasn’t struggling or yearning for modern conveniences that made life easier.

Shifting while pulling her closer against him, Jungkook urged her silently to turn her body so that her legs were resting on the safer side of the roof’s perch. Eden looked up at him, cigarette poking out from between her lips while raising her brows curiously at him. His hands moved so he could cup her cheeks inside his palms. 

“If you want to stay, then I want to stay. If you want to go, then I’ll go with you.”

He watched Eden’s eyes widen slightly, clearly surprised by his answer. It was a simple one. Jungkook knew she was successful enough to pick up her business and move it wherever she wanted. If she struggled financially with that kind of move, then Jungkook knew he could pick up the slack. His brothers spent the better part of a decade making sure that he never had to spend his money unnecessarily.

“So honestly, Noona, that’s a question I should be asking you ,” he said softly, smiling down at her.

“Jungkook…”

“I’ve been alone for most of my life. Until I met my brothers, I didn’t have anyone. My parents didn’t want me, and I’ve always had to fend for myself. I moved to Seoul because that’s what the others wanted.” His smile fell a fraction and he felt his brows furrow. “…because I didn’t want to be alone.”

He shifted slightly, meeting her gaze, and Jungkook could feel his heart slamming viciously against his chest. Her eyes reflected the night sky, the amber colors of the streetlights giving them an ethereal umber glow. He reached out to grab her cigarette, disregarding it with a toss. She could yell at him after, but right now, at that moment, Jungkook wanted to kiss her and it was in the way. His kiss was not gentle, but possessive and borderline desperate as he claimed her mouth with lips, teeth, and tongue.

He didn’t want to share with her how much all of this meant to him. Not yet. It was still too new. Too fragile. It could be taken away before it truly began. Jungkook never wanted to be able to love her more than in the moment she’d first opened her heart to him, offering to simply be together in the here and now. To trust one another.

How could he tell her that? How could he tell her that he wanted to love her but also wanted to keep her for himself? Jungkook knew how independent she was and how determined she was to continue walking the path she chose for herself.

Would she allow him to walk beside her beyond the present? Beyond tomorrow?

Jungkook couldn’t help but dread every tomorrow that would pass.

Growling softly, he pulled back – sucking her lower lip in the process and releasing it only after he nipped it red and swollen. She breathed softly over his cheeks, smelling like spearmint and nicotine, and he grinned. Eden drove him to the brink. He’d said it before and felt there wasn’t a need to say it again. Instead, Jungkook drug one heavy palm down her side and pressed it between her thighs, flicking his wrist so that he was firmly holding the area he wanted to violate. She did this to him. Made his brain turn to shit and amped his body up for a lot of "mine" fucking. No one could blame him for it.

“This is your fault,” he muttered while grinning, leaning forward so that his mouth brushed lightly against her own, “you should take responsibility.”

He pressed his palm against her again, waiting for that soft little gasp that he loved to hear. He knew she would tell him no, but getting a rise out of her was almost as sweet as getting the green light. And when she said no and finished smoking her cigarette, they would go back inside to finish Empress Ki while cuddled up together on the bed. She would be revved up and distracted with wanting him, feigning sleepiness just to be mean.

But Jungkook knew she wouldn’t be able to take it anymore. She’d pounce and when she did, he would claim every inch of her until she was well spent. And as Eden slept for real, he would whisper to her how he really felt. About how much he loved her, how much she felt like home, and how he wanted to build something meaningful with her beyond tomorrow.

Nothing would be held back.

Seoul – Myeongdong; Jung District South Korea

The city was so loud.

There wasn’t a single instance of silence that could be had. Especially at night. Jungkook hated the city at night. The stars couldn’t be seen and there was so much white noise from the jumbled conversations that muffled around on the streets in conjunction with the ambient sounds from the city.

The parks in the city, thankfully, were a little bit quieter. Jungkook could tolerate the murmured sounds of metropolitan activity when surrounded by trees and nature trails. He sat down on a bench under one of the cherry trees. In a few months, the petals would be a soft pink. Dozens upon dozens of tourists came to take photographs while the locals simply enjoyed the landscape. A sign that winter was finally ending soon.

The bitter chill of everything dying would have renewed vigor knowing that a warm breath of life would follow suit.

“There’s at least one good thing about all of this,” said a voice nearby.

Jungkook lifted his head, peering into the face of Lee Jooheon. He flashed him his trademark dimpled smirk and Jungkook gave a half-scoff in response. Raising one brow, he watched Jooheon plop down onto the bench beside him.

“Oh yeah,” he asked, both of them leaning back in tandem, “what’s that?”

“I don’t have to fuck you up for wandering into our turf.”

“Fuck off,” Jungkook said dismissively, “you’re the one who told me to meet you here in the first place.”

“I know,” Jooheon replied simply, shrugging one shoulder as he rested one arm along the back of the bench, “but that’s because you aren’t some chicken shit. I knew you’d come.” He turned to peek at Jungkook. “You would have come even if you were still a Golden Jackal.”

Jungkook felt his lips press together in a thin line. “I’m still a Golden Jackal, Joo Hyung,” he said, tone even, “that hasn’t changed.”

Jooheon raised a brow at him. “Oh yeah?” He laughed. “Well, that makes oneof you.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“It means that you’re all a bunch of toothless mutts now.”

Jungkook’s arm shot forward, fist curled and aimed to strike. Knuckles smashed into knuckles as Jooheon’s own fist collided with his. Nerves twitched as the two of them pressed their own weight against the other, bodies shifted toward one another. Jooheon’s smirk still held but Jungkook was far from amused, their arms trembling from the amount of force pressing against each other.

“I guess you’re still the Steel Claw after all,” he said, almost laughing.

Nothing about this amused Jungkook at all. “You’re lucky I don’t rip your spine out for what you did to Eden.”

Jooheon pouted, adding an extra bit of force behind his knuckles to push Jungkook’s arm back a bit. “Hey, I wasn’t the one who did it. That was Minhyuk Hyung.”

“Don’t fucking play word games with me, Yellow Jacket.” The honorific was dropped, replaced with his alias. Jooheon’s expression changed from a playful pout to an actual frown. “As far as I’m concerned, you Jade Fangs are all one and the same.”

Both Jooheon and Jungkook thrust their arms out, breaking the connection and effectively ending the mini strength match they were having. While Jungkook brushed his hair out of his eyes, Jooheon frowned and shook his hand a few times. When he stood, Jungkook followed suit and the two of them remained just a couple of feet away from each other. They continued to stare, not wanting to give off any sign of weakness. They may have dissolved the group, but that didn’t mean that he didn’t still carry himself like a Golden Jackal.

Jooheon could see that now.

Scoffing, Jooheon pivoted on his heels while stuffing his hands into his pockets. Jungkook relaxed a bit, but immediately felt his spine go rigid when his old friend turned around to look back at him.

“Changkyun-ah was serious when he gave that offer to Hoseok Hyung,” he said, craning his neck to face the sky, “and if you guys aren’t going to come back, there’s a chance you’ll try to interfere.”

“Interfere with what, Jooheon?”

“Some advice? You all should leave this city.”

Jungkook narrowed his eyes but said nothing. Jooheon lowered his head, his gaze shifting back to look at him.

“Leave, Jungkook-ah, while we still just consider you eyesores.”

“Ha!” Jungkook half laughed, half scoffed – a single brow raising in question. “Yeah, right.”

This time it was Jooheon who narrowed his eyes. “I’m serious.”

“And why should we?” Jungkook slowly folded his arms across his chest. “Why the hell should I even listen to you?”

“Because whether you remember it or not, we were friends once, Jungkook-ah. If you don’t want to be part of this anymore, I’d rather you not get swept up in the shit-storm that is brewing. And trust me when I tell you that it is coming.”

Jungkook watched Jooheon turn and began walking away, holding one hand up in farewell.

“Consider it a parting gift from an old friend, Jeon Jungkook. Whatever happens after this, just know it isn’t personal.”

He waited until he could no longer see Jooheon before finally falling back onto the bench. Even though he hadn’t done it, Jungkook felt like he’d been punched in the gut. He heard from Namjoon Hyung that a deal was placed on the table in front of Hoseok Hyung, but he didn’t take it. He refused to let their goals be obscured or smeared over someone else’s ambitions.

Pulling out his phone, he looked at the lock screen to spy the time. Instead of paying attention to the actual time, he focused on the picture he took with Eden. They were both smiling. She’d been obstinate about not wanting to take the picture until his own stubbornness had her relenting. It was the first time he got her to smile freely.

His brows knit together harshly as his grip on the phone tightened.

…did we make a mistake?

Make It Right [BTS Mafia!AU]

Plot: “It’s always darkest before the dawn…” It’s a dog-eat-dog world in Seoul, South Korea. One has to dwell in the shadows in order to reach for the light. What are you willing to sacrifice in order to feel the sunlight on your face? What will it take to drag you back into darkness? How long will the journey be to make it right?

Rating: NC-17 // NSFW

Genre: Series | Mafia!AU | Crime!AU | Angst | Romance/Fluff

Pairings: Jin x OC | Taehyung/Hoseok x OC | Yoongi/Jungkook x OC

Warnings: Graphic Violence, Heavy Language, Angst, Slow Burn, Smut

Previous Chapters: Prologue 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34

Links: FAQ || BTS Masterlist || Admin E’s AO3 || Admin E’s WP || [ REQUESTS ARE OPEN ]

Word Count: 2,832

Tag List: @prisczero​, @pinkpjmin​, @btsaudge​, @flowerwrites06​, @unoriginal-username15432, @halussali​

CHAPTER 34: EPIPHANY

“Underneath the smiling mask, my true self is coming out.”

© thebiasrekkers (Admin E). All rights reserved. Reposting/modifying our work is prohibited. Translations are not allowed. Plagiarism/stealing is not tolerated by any means. Legal action will be taken in instances of theft.

Seoul – Cheongdam; Gangnam District South Korea

Anastasia groaned when she felt someone tugging at her shoulder, attempting to rouse her from her drunken slumber. Her body swayed back and forth and she swatted at the hand pulling her. Her hand fumbled around for the covers and she attempted to yank them up and over her head. Solace was given to her for a moment and she hummed in sleepy contentment.

However, her victory was short-lived when the blanket was completely ripped from her body, exposing her to the open air. Flailing like a toddler throwing a tantrum, Anastasia flopped onto her back and then sprung up into a sitting position. Her dirty blonde hair was messy and tangled but she didn’t care. Instead, she glared up at the person who was destroying her sweet slumber.

“Ana,” Raelyn said while shaking her head, “if you don’t get up and come on.”

Anastasia flung her arms around in various directions, fighting back an oncoming migraine and whining in the process. “Rae Unnie, it’s my day off!”

Raelyn held a glass of water out to her. She took it and automatically opened her other hand to accept the aspirin that was waiting for her. Raelyn smirked when she downed the aspirin and drained the glass.

“I made breakfast,” said the older woman, turning away from her to head down the small flight of stairs from the bedroom loft, “so get washed up and come down to eat.”

“Kay,” was all Anastasia offered before swinging her legs over the edge of the bed.

Not wanting to keep her friend waiting, she opted to wash her face and brush her teeth. She’d shower later. Once she made her way downstairs, Anastasia took note of the folded-up blankets and pillows on the couch. The previous night’s antics played out in her mind and she couldn’t help grinning.

Raelyn suddenly showed up at her door with two big bottles of booze. Anastasia wasn’t one to usually turn down free alcohol, but she also knew that Raelyn wasn’t the type to mindlessly indulge in binge drinking like some college student. There was clearly something on her mind and the only way to chase it away was through booze. Anastasia could relate and since she had the next day off, she didn’t mind spending the evening drinking away.

They played cards, Monopoly, UNO and vegged out on the couch watching Netflix. Neither of them talked about work or the boys. Anastasia could tell that Raelyn wanted to avoid those subjects as much as possible. Everyone deserved a night to escape and there was a part of her that felt bad that they hadn’t included Eden. When it was mentioned, Raelyn said that Eden had other plans. Without having to say it aloud, Anastasia knew that it was with Jungkook. The woman was brutally honest and stubborn, but her affection toward Jungkook was cute.

She would tease her about it relentlessly.

The smells from the kitchen made Anastasia’s stomach groan, reminding her that she was, in fact, starving. It reminded her of when she had her own aspirations to start a restaurant and ultimately failed. It was probably for the best, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t prone to thinking about those days from time to time.

Raelyn whipped them up a traditional Southern Style breakfast of sausage, eggs, grits and toast. A side of sliced strawberries were set on small plates. Anastasia watched her pour a glass of milk and a glass of orange juice for each of them. When everything was set, the two women sidled onto the chairs by the counter and began to eat, neither of them wanting to say anything until they’d gotten a few bites in.

Anastasia swallowed a mouthful of toast and scrambled eggs, washing it down with milk, before finally deciding to break the silence. “So, do you want to talk about it now?”

The fork hovered by Raelyn’s lips and stayed there for a few seconds. She sighed, setting the utensil down on her plate. Anastasia remained quiet, not sure if she should repeat the question. There was a glint in Raelyn’s eyes that almost screamed what was being turned over and over inside of her head. But doing that would mean she hadn’t processed anything; that she hadn’t been sitting on this something for days.

She wouldn’t have shown up with the offer to booze it up if she wasn’t prepared to get her mind right.

Stabbing at a piece of strawberry, Anastasia gripped the utensil and tried to slow her heart rate some. It never usually took Raelyn this long to speak her mind. Especially if something was bothering her. This, in turn, made her uncomfortable. But instead of prodding further, she waited.

She watched Raelyn pressing her hand to her forehead, sighing again. “Everything’s fucked up,” she finally said.

Anastasia blinked, canting her head slightly. “What do you mean?”

Raelyn was now pressing both of her hands to her face. “I mean everything is fucked up, Ana.”

There was a broken tone in her voice that was unfamiliar to Anastasia. She couldn’t help but worry that something terrible had happened. But from what she understood, the boys were doing okay. Their businesses were thriving, and they were walking away from the criminal underworld like they’d dreamed. Raelyn’s reason for worrying wasn’t even a factor anymore. She could date Taehyung freely and without the strain of having to look over her shoulder.

She didn’t understand what the problem was.

Anastasia reached out to place a hand on her friend’s shoulder. “Did something happen?” She paused, brows furrowing. “I mean, besides what happened with Eden Unnie?”

She’d heard about the incident that occurred when Raelyn was dispatched to another hospital. Eden got half a dozen voicemails from her that day and an earful of high-pitched screaming when she finally answered the phone. Regardless of how tough her friends were, Anastasia didn’t want them getting hurt. Not when there wasn’t a need for them to worry about it anymore.

Raelyn shook her head back and forth fervently, her fingers clenching into fists near her forehead. “Things were supposed to get better once they went straight, right?” Anastasia’s brows furrowed when the older woman finally turned to look at her, eyes wide and shaking. “So why does it feel like things are going to get worse?”

“What?” She felt a lump forming in her throat. “What in the world is that supposed to mean? Why would they get worse?”

The older woman laughed, border lining mania, and this caused Anastasia’s hand to fall from her shoulder. “God, how could I have been so fucking stupid? How could I have missed it?”

Anastasia didn’t understand what she was talking about. However, just because she couldn’t understand didn’t mean that the implications weren’t unsettling. It felt like she’d eaten a bag of river stones for breakfast – her stomach heavy and cold.

“Jimin told me something, Ana, and I’m not gonna lie, it rattled the hell out of me.”

“What did he—”

“The boys might be out, but there’s competition that wants them to stay.”

She blinked, unable to believe what she’d just heard.

“Whoa, wait…what?” Again, she blinked. “Why?”

“That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it?” Raelyn scoffed. “Why in the fuck—”

“—would they want their rivals to stick around when they could just claim the territory the Golden Jackals left for themselves?” Anastasia finished the thought and now it was Raelyn’s turn to look surprised. Averting her gaze, she curled her hand near her chin while glaring at her half-eaten breakfast. “That just doesn’t make sense. Strategically, when competition is gone, that leaves room for a takeover when the option for a merger is no longer on the table.”

From a marketing or bargaining standpoint, attacking the former Golden Jackals would lead to zero gain. She recalled a conversation she had with Seokjin about something similar. When companies refused to go along with mergers, a buyout option was presented. If the buyout option was refused, then eradicating all competition from the board was the next step. But if the competition chose to pull itself from the game, then the remaining competitors usually fought amongst themselves over who would take over what was left behind.

Pulling the competition back that chose to remove themselves would bring them no profit. It would create unrest all over again…

Is someone foaming at the mouth or something?

When she next met Raelyn’s gaze, it was like something dawned on the older woman. Several emotions passed over her face, but the one that Anastasia recognized immediately was anger. Something she’d said apparently set her off.

“They think they’re bluffing.”

“Huh?”

Raelyn stood from her chair suddenly, causing Anastasia to recoil. “They think Hoseok and the others are bluffing!” She began pacing and all Anastasia could do was follow her with her eyes. “They’re not sure if they’ve really dissolved or not. That’s why they’re not launching a war.” She smacked her forehead while letting loose a mirthless laugh. “That’s why the others haven’t started stirring up shit. They’re not sure what Hoseok and the others are going to do!”

Anastasia heard her laugh again, but it sounded terrible, making her skin crawl. “Rae…”

The older woman continued pacing for a few more minutes, muttering things to herself. When she suddenly stopped, Anastasia was halfway out of her seat. The two friends met each other’s gazes and it was like they both thought the same thing at that very same moment.

“What’s going to happen when they find out that it’s true?”

The work week seemed to crawl at a snail’s pace. It was unbearable and Anastasia was sure she would start the process of plucking her own eyeballs out. Seokjin and she hardly had time to see each other at all since he was doing his best to assist Hoseok and Namjoon at the new hotel in Yongsan. Not that she blamed him or needed her hand held. He wouldn’t have hired her if he didn’t think she was capable of handling things without him constantly being in the office.

Jimin being there was a boon and he was always at the ready to assist whenever she needed him. Even when she didn’t, he had coffee and snacks ready – encouraging her to take breaks before she got lost in a mountain of paperwork.

Burying herself in her work, however, was the only way she could successfully chase her worries from her mind.

She’d wanted to pick Jimin’s brain; to figure out what was going on behind the scenes. All she knew was the financial aspect of their businesses. It was her job to maintain it and make sure all the books were up to date. Nothing was out of place and Seokjin wasn’t asking her to fudge the books either. Accounts were stable and clean. No money was laundered since none of their funds were funneling in from an outside source even remotely associated with the criminal underworld.

Yet she couldn’t shake the frustration and worry that radiated from Raelyn. It was bleeding across to her now, making it hard to focus on her job. Seokjin and she were getting closer, sure, and others could clearly see that they were an item. But without him there to reassure her that things were going to be alright, Anastasia felt on edge. Hell, borderline neurotic. She could admit it.

Was their friend, Eden, suffering like this also? When she saw her a few days ago, it didn’t look like it. What was she doing that was different than what either Raelyn or she were? Had the mixed girl gotten her hands on some magic pills, being selfish and unwilling to share?

Wanting to stop by her friend’s shop on her lunch break, she took a breath of air in relief when she arrived and saw that nothing was happening. The garage was closed, a sign hanging out the window saying they were out to lunch and would be back in an hour. Anastasia finished her paperwork early and decided she would take a long lunch, so she had time to kill until her friend got back. Maybe Eden would have some answers to the questions that were constantly nagging at her.

Just as she was about to hail a cab to a nearby café, Anastasia let out a sharp squeak, realizing too late that someone was now in front of her. Her chest bumped into said person, causing her to stumble backwards. The stiletto points of her shoes scraped along the concrete loudly. When she was positive she was going to see the sky, a pair of hands grabbed her shoulders to steady her.

“Whoa,” said a gentle voice, a hint of amusement laced through it, “careful there.”

“I’m so sorry!” Anastasia apologized, taking a step back and bowing her head. “I should have been paying more attention.”

“It’s alright. I was just wondering where the fire was.”

When she finally lifted her head to look up, she saw an unfamiliar man standing in front of her. He had mouse brown hair, umber eyes, and a sweet smile that mirrored in motion with said eyes. Flushing at his appearance, she quickly shifted her gaze to look away from him. She felt more embarrassed than anything else.

“There’s no fire.”

“I can see that.” She moved to look at him again just as the man brushed some of his hair out of his eyes. “Were you here for an appointment?”

“Oh, no,” she said with a laugh, “I just came to see my friend. Looks like I just missed them.”

He slipped his hands into the pockets of his slacks. “In this day and age, you didn’t think to call her ahead of time?”

Anastasia pressed her hand against the side of her neck, giving a shy laugh while shrugging one shoulder. “I suck at surprises?” She laughed again until a thought struck her, causing a tiny shiver to shoot down her spine. Her hand slid slowly from her neck, falling to her side as she began narrowing her eyes at the stranger in front of her. “How did you know my friend’s a girl?”

“I assumed.”

“Assumed that I don’t have guy friends?” Anastasia took a step back when she saw the man’s gaze darken, his smile remaining. “Or that you already know who owns this shop?”

The man laughed, shrugging and then taking a step forward. She took another step back. He leaned forward, peering at her like he was examining a specimen in a jar.

“Clever girl,” he mused, straightening to his full height, “it didn’t take you long to pick up on that. No wonder you’re their financial advisor.”

Her eyes narrowed further. Anastasia didn’t appreciate being mocked. “…and who the fuck are you?”

“Ya, Yoo Kihyun,” called a familiar voice from the sidewalk. They both looked to see Yoongi approaching them and Anastasia felt a wave of relief wash over her. “What do you think you’re doing?”

Kihyun gave a lazy smile but there was no warmth in the gesture. Anastasia shuffled a few steps back when Yoongi closed the distance between them. He made a point to place himself in front of Anastasia, shielding her from the man who was getting his kicks out of messing with her. She had half a mind to throw her shoe at him.

Peering at him over Yoongi’s shoulder, Anastasia maintained vigilance as the other man scrutinized over her rescuer.

“Ah, Yoongi-ah. It’s been so long.”

She heard Yoongi scoff. “Not long enough. Now answer me: what do you think you’re doing?” Kihyun said nothing. “Actually, a better question: why are you here?”

“No reason,” he dismissed and Anastasia bit back her urge to pop off, “curiosity mostly.”

“I’m not surprised. You’ve always been a sick, twisted little fuck.” Anastasia blinked at the barbs coming from Yoongi. She gasped when he suddenly turned around to look at her. “When Eden gets back, don’t tell her about this.”

“Huh? But why?”

“Please, Ana-ssi,” he said, his brows furrowing.

Swallowing the lump in her throat, she finally nodded – albeit reluctantly. Yoongi’s expression relaxed somewhat and he bowed his head.

“Thank you.” He then turned around to face Kihyun. “You’re done here, Kihyun-ah. You talk to me now.” Yoongi strolled past the other man, not so much as giving him a backwards glance. “Follow me.”

Kihyun smirked, winked at Anastasia, and then followed after Yoongi as was demanded of him. Anastasia wasn’t sure of what to make of that encounter, but she knew she would have to thank Yoongi properly when she got the chance. Kihyun’s smile may have been charming, but the way he carried himself suggested something cold and unfeeling.

It left a knot in Anastasia’s stomach.

Is he one of the guys Rae was talking about? she thought, frowning, …are they the ones trying to pull them back?

Make It Right [BTS Mafia!AU]

Plot: “It’s always darkest before the dawn…” It’s a dog-eat-dog world in Seoul, South Korea. One has to dwell in the shadows in order to reach for the light. What are you willing to sacrifice in order to feel the sunlight on your face? What will it take to drag you back into darkness? How long will the journey be to make it right?

Rating: NC-17 // NSFW

Genre: Series | Mafia!AU | Crime!AU | Angst | Romance/Fluff

Pairings: Jin x OC | Taehyung/Hoseok x OC | Yoongi/Jungkook x OC

Warnings: Graphic Violence, Heavy Language, Angst, Slow Burn, Smut

Previous Chapters: Prologue 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34

Links: FAQ || BTS Masterlist || Admin E’s AO3 || Admin E’s WP || [ REQUESTS ARE OPEN ]

Word Count: 2,832

Tag List: @prisczero​, @pinkpjmin​, @btsaudge​, @flowerwrites06​, @unoriginal-username15432, @halussali​

CHAPTER 34: EPIPHANY

“Underneath the smiling mask, my true self is coming out.”

© thebiasrekkers (Admin E). All rights reserved. Reposting/modifying our work is prohibited. Translations are not allowed. Plagiarism/stealing is not tolerated by any means. Legal action will be taken in instances of theft.

Keep reading

Make It Right [BTS Mafia!AU]

Plot: “It’s always darkest before the dawn…” It’s a dog-eat-dog world in Seoul, South Korea. One has to dwell in the shadows in order to reach for the light. What are you willing to sacrifice in order to feel the sunlight on your face? What will it take to drag you back into darkness? How long will the journey be to make it right?

Rating: NC-17 // NSFW

Genre: Series | Mafia!AU | Crime!AU | Angst | Romance/Fluff | Smut

Pairings: Jin x OC | Taehyung/Hoseok x OC | Yoongi/Jungkook x OC

Warnings: Graphic Violence (bloody violence), Heavy Language, Angst, Slow Burn, Smut

Additional Warnings: Torture, drug abuse, graphic physical violence, captured/kidnapping, attempted homicide

Previous Chapters: Prologue 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

Links: FAQ || BTS Masterlist || Admin E’s AO3 || Admin E’s WP || [ REQUESTS ARE OPEN ]

Word Count: 3,048

Tag List: @prisczero​, @pinkpjmin​, @btsaudge​, @flowerwrites06​, @unoriginal-username15432, @halussali​, @shrimpmsg​​,

AN: Remember how I told you that you’re loved? Because you are. 11 more chapters, my loves, before this saga comes to and end. Strap in, ladies and gentlemen.

Chapter 50: Run

“Everybody say it is over but I can’t stop this. I can’t tell whether it is sweat or tears.”

© thebiasrekkers (Admin E). All rights reserved. Reposting/modifying our work is prohibited. Translations are not allowed. Plagiarism/stealing is not tolerated by any means. Legal action will be taken in instances of theft.

Three Days Later ??? - ???; ??? South Korea

4:45 AM

There was only darkness.

That was all she was granted to see, but her other senses were very much aware.

For example, Eden could smell the musky aroma of a decrepit building during the moment she was dragged into that place. The light scent of cheap men’s cologne, as well as the subtle fragrance of wood and dirt, lingered in the air. She’d been knocked unconscious and only woke up halfway during being tied up and blindfolded. There wasn’t much else she could do and it was making for a pretty shit-tastic day - of which it should have just been a successful day of boarding a goddamn train, meeting her family, hitting the tent house for some soup and soju, and then calling it a night after a hot shower.

Where had it all gone wrong?

She was losing count of how much time was passing by. Days must have gone by and the bastards kept her blindfolded after they filmed her. While she was deprived of her sight, Eden took comfort in knowing that they hadn’t stolen her necklace from her. The sons-of-bitches did, however, take her phone. Probably chucked it off Namsan Tower for all she knew.

The pain was immeasurable. So much so that her body was adjusting to it.

A soft shuffling sound echoed in the large, empty space. A metal door slid open, rattling on the track it was on. She unconsciously licked her lips as she waited for something else to clue her in to her location. More feet shuffled as a distinct set of heavy boots thudded along the concrete.

The person paused in front of her, their clothing shifting against their body as though they were inspecting her. She lifted her face to where she could only assume the person was standing. The scent was familiar, but it wasn’t until he spoke that she knew who he was.

“You have such lovely hands, Eden-ssi,” he cooed, stroking his finger along the back of her knuckle. Eden jerked back on reflex, growling as the rope scraped against her wrists. “I’ve always admired them – these hands that shouldn’t belong to a mechanic. You should take better care of them.”

He paused and she could feel his breath along her cheeks.

“Well, if you get out alive, I mean.”

A hand grabbed at the knot tied at the back of her head. When the blindfold was removed, she blinked rapidly from the light that seemed to always shine directly in her eyes. She tried to turn her face away, but realized that a set of hands held her head in place – preventing her averting her gaze.

Yoo Kihyun flashed a derogatory smirk at her.

She spit in his face.

A sharp pain registered at the crown of her head, her hair being pulled back with brute force. Kihyun removed a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped at his cheeks. He seemed unimpressed with her attempt at rebellion. It wasn’t the first time. If she had it her way, his shin would still have a bruise on it.

He stuffed the small cloth into his pants pocket. “String her up.”

8:15 AM

She barely heard Kihyun’s words.

Watching him bending her finger back as if to snap it, she could hardly register what was going on. There were so many numbing sensations moving through her body, having been moved from the iron chair and electric voltage to now being suspended in the air by steel shackles - toes barely touching the dirty, concrete floor. Her eyes stayed locked onto her captor.

I won’t give up, she told herself, narrowing her gaze at him, they’ll come for me.

“I’m impressed,” he said, cracking his knuckles, “most people would be begging me to either let them go or put them out of their misery by now.” Kihyun leaned forward to stroke the side of her cheek, smearing the blood leaking from her temple down to the corner of her mouth. “I like how stubborn you are. This makes it more fun.”

Eden scoffed. “You’re fucking insane if you think I’d beg you for anything, you brain-dead shit eating jackass.”

The insult was full of venom, but it lacked the audacity she desired from how dry her mouth and throat were.

Kihyun laughed. “I’m curious,” he said, grabbing a fistful of her hair and yanking her head to the side, causing her neck to pop, “do you think your husband is going to come save you?” Still holding her head, his other hand moved to trace over the chain where her wedding ring dangled from. His eyes narrowed, smile still in place. “I’m counting on it.”

Blinking at him, Eden lost track of her thoughts. What had he just said?

Then the realization hit, sweeping down on her faster than she could’ve imagined. This whole setup was a trap. She was the bait and it would only be a matter of time before Jungkook and the others fell into it. She couldn’t warn them and she couldn’t stop this twisted little game they were playing with her. Eden knew there was a high chance she probably wasn’t going to make it out of this alive.

And whoever came to her rescue wouldn’t either.

It was like a knife being plunged into her heart. Eden knew it. She now had the confirmation she needed. She accepted her fate for what it was.

Tears leaked out of her eyes and she shut them, not wanting to look at the cruel smile spreading over Kihyun’s face. Please, don’t come here. Don’t come here!

Again, she heard movement. Opening her eyes, Eden watched him. That's all she could really do. Weaponless, bound and at their mercy, Eden could only do so much. Talk or not talk. Perhaps the pain that she would have felt could’ve been avoided.

Perhaps.

But it was too late. She was already preparing herself for the end. And as she resolved herself to do, she came to terms with her demons. She apologized to those she’d ever hurt or disappointed. She apologized to those she wouldn’t be able to see again. She begged for their forgiveness, asking them for understanding. That her death wouldn’t be meaningless.

Her death would be meaningful.

It would not be in vain.

Jungkook-ah…

“I am sorry for this, Eden-ssi. By the way, the next time you see the others, tell them the Jade Fangs say ‘farewell.’”

She heard the laugh. The next time she saw them? It wouldn’t be until after she was good and dead. She hoped she didn’t see her friends and her husband for a very long time. The bitter laugh, twisted with the cruelty of the joke, was too much for Eden to have to face. Closing her eyes for a moment, she bit down on her lower lip - wishing to draw blood.

I’m sorry, Jungkook-ah... I won’t be able to keep my promise. Eden saw his retreating back as Kihyun slipped his coat off. It was as if it was in slow motion. ...you’ll forgive me just this once, right?

And then it came. The surge of pain hit faster than she could’ve expected. The lashes hit her from behind, the pain spreading through her chest and she dug her nails into her palms. Eden bit the inside of her cheek, feeling the blood dribble onto her tongue. The metallic taste was sharp, forcing all her other senses to become more aware. She’d never felt a pain quite like this in her life.

But all she could do was take it. He would have his fun - push her to her limits. However, she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of hearing her scream out. Jeon Eden would hold out for as long as she could.

The blows came in succession - slash after slash and whip after whip. The pain hit her all over - sweeping across her entire being. Even if she wanted to block it out and numb herself from it all, Eden couldn’t. Her body jerked involuntarily against the blows and all she did was take it. The pain was too much and she wanted to scream at him to finish her off. To stop playing these sick, twisted games and to just get on with it. To fucking kill her. But granting her death would’ve been too merciful.

It wouldn't stop. He would not stop. He would not grant her death.

Not before tormenting her mind.

A sharp prick of pain hit the back of her neck and she knew a needle was in her skin. The harsh burn of the liquid being injected caused her to hiss and, again, she wriggled against her restraints.

“No,” she managed to croak, using what strength she had to try and lash out with her legs at Kihyun, “No!”

Suddenly, the snakes appeared - hundreds of them. Eden didn’t fear snakes. Not in the least. However, when they multiplied and began to coil their cold, scaly bodies all over her, she tensed. The pain from the physical abuse was over, but a new horror had unfolded in its wake. The snakes began to devour her, making Eden bite her lip harder until she drew more blood. Little by little, the filthy things were ripping away at her flesh. She could see the bone. But Eden refused to scream out. A hooded cobra swayed in front of her, bobbing its head to the left and then the right before it barreled into her mouth, scraping its fangs down her throat - spitting its venom inside.

She didn’t hear her own scream spilling from her lips. She hadn’t even realized that sound was coming out at all.

The nightmare would not end. Coupled with the snakes tearing away at her flesh, Eden felt the wiggling cobra devouring her insides and crushing her bones in its jaws. She wanted it out! OUT! Then a flood of pain erupted across her entire body. Her back arched forward and then she blacked out.

This was it. Death would hold her in its cold, unfeeling embrace.

Then there was nothing.

Only darkness.

9:30 AM

Jeju Island – Seogwipo Yeongduam Coast South Korea

Taehyung took a deep breath, the smell of the island’s rich agriculture and salt of the ocean filling his lungs. On any normal day, he would have been planning all the spots he would take Raelyn after she finally gave birth to their child. She was due in three months and he could hardly wait.

But he had to wait.

This wasn’t a vacation. This was the farthest thing from it. The look on Hoseok’s face haunted his waking hours, serving as a constant reminder that he couldn’t afford to waste a single second.

They’d already wasted six days.

But his skills as the Shadow Claw hadn’t diminished. Leaving the mafia life behind was one thing, but losing touch with any of his contacts was almost out of the question. Hoseok commanded the search and everyone scattered like confetti, combing every single area of Seoul they were allowed. Taehyung was able to deduce that the Jade Fangs wouldn’t have been stupid enough to drag Eden into their own territory. That would have made things too easy; too predictable.

Anastasia and Raelyn were only told the bare minimum – undue stress in their condition would only make things worse. Once the girls were secured, they all broke off into groups to try and put their ears to the ground. Only Taehyung went off by himself. He worked better alone and could cover more ground that way.

A contact told him that the Jade Fangs’ upper tier were at Jeju Island, finalizing a few business deals and taking a “much-needed” respite. If he was close enough to them, he could figure out what their game plan was. Money still talked, thankfully, and he managed to bribe one of the lackeys to feed him some information.

Word had it that they had, in fact, snatched up a young woman before flying out to Jeju Island. There were rumors that she may have been in their custody there on the island, but nothing was solid. Taehyung pushed more cash toward his little turncoat with the promise that he would gather more useful information; a location, condition of the hostage, and what terms would need to be met in order to obtain her release.

Taehyung looked at his watch, making a note of the time. He was supposed to meet his informant half an hour ago. He idly wondered if he’d gotten caught digging around where he shouldn’t have.

His phone buzzed.

Kangta: I’m almost to you.

Craning his neck, he looked around while standing atop the large cliff overlooking the expansive ocean of the island. There were a few clusters of trees around and a narrow path that opened from the brush. The ocean crashed along the krags, splashing up white foam from below.

Another handful of minutes passed and Taehyung was still alone on the cliff of the Dragon Head. Other than the ocean and a flock of birds cawing in the distance, he heard no other sounds. He frowned.

“Where the hell is this guy?”

“Sorry for the wait.”

Taehyung quickly pivoted on his heels, clutching his phone at his side. He squinted, peering toward the path that curved from the small forest of trees. The figure that appeared made his heart hammer with anger.

Lee Jooheon walked out, two of his men standing on either side of him. None of them appeared to be holding any weapons which, frankly, seemed odd to Taehyung.

“It’s been awhile, Kim Taehyung-ssi.”

He scoffed, rolling his eyes. “So my little rat snitched back to his masters, huh?”

“Oh, him?” Jooheon shrugged as his two men flashed wide grins. “No, he didn’t. He’s just bad at being a rat.” He pulled out a cell phone, typed on the screen, and Taehyung felt the phone buzz in his hands. He didn’t bother looking at it. “But we took care of him.”

Taehyung watched Jooheon chuck the phone over his head, the device sailing over the edge of the cliff to meet its fate in the ocean below.

“God, you bastards haven’t changed one fucking bit,” he sneered, to which Jooheon snickered.

“While you guys have changed a lot , it seems.” Jooheon took a step forward, his men staying in place. “Though I see you haven’t lost your touch as The Shadow Claw . To think you tracked us down so easily.”

Taehyung smirked. “Nothin’ easy about it.”

“It’s too bad though.” He took another step, shuffling just slightly off to the right. Taehyung stepped back, moving to his right – his sight-line trained on the Yellow Jacket. “I was hoping to see Jungkook.”

“Why’s that?”

Jooheon stepped forward and to the right. Taehyung took another step back.

“I wanted to see what kind of look he has right now, knowing we took his wife.”

Taehyung’s eyes went wide, all focus momentarily knocked from his head. It felt like his stomach dropped down to his feet.

“…what did you say?”

At first, Jooheon could only smile. He watched it grow larger as a flicker of realization spread over his face. Taehyung felt a chill sliver down his back as he saw the Yellow Jacket burst into a fit of manic laughter.

“Oh my fucking god,” he said between breaths of laughter. Taehyung glared at him, causing Jooheon to laugh even harder. “You didn’t know, holy shit!”

Taehyung curled his fingers around his phone tightly, his arm trembling from the force of the squeeze.

Jooheon dabbed at the corner of one of his eyes with his wrist. “So much for your brotherhood. You’re keeping secrets from each other.”

“Shut-up,” growled Taehyung, emboldened to take a step forward, “shut your fuckin’ mouth.”

“I take it back. I prefer this look you’re giving me instead.”

“I said shut the fuck up!”

There was a sharp whistle of sound. Taehyung instinctively turned his body, pain blossoming over his shoulder and he moved to wrap his hand over the injury. His eyes met Jooheon’s and he could only see the cold smirk of victory painted over the Yellow Jacket’s face. Slowly, he removed his hand and saw that it was instantly covered in blood. There was a perfect horizontal gash along his shoulder that shredded through his jacket, the material staining crimson and spreading over the fabric.

His vision blurred for half a second and Taehyung quickly shook his head, stumbling backwards but thankfully not losing his balance. When he looked back at Jooheon, he realized with horror that the man’s image was appearing in and out of focus.

T-That fucker, he thought, rattling his head again to clear his eyesight, it’s poisoned!

Something clattered to the ground, startling Taehyung. It sounded like a small bomb went off beside him, melding with the sound of the ocean hitting the rocks. He could feel the cold sweat breaking out over his face and neck and he moved his hand to cover his shoulder again to stop the wound from bleeding freely.

“We kept telling you guys, but you just wouldn’t listen. Changkyun-ah offered his hand time and again, even though every single one of you turned around and stabbed us in the back.”

Taehyung coughed, feeling the bile bubbling at the back of his throat. It was getting harder to keep his eyes open. “I would never call him Hyung-nim,” he choked out, “none of us would.”

“And that’s where you fucked up.”

Jooheon sounded closer now, but Taehyung couldn’t determine where.

Not until the very last second.

“Watch your head.”

Taehyung felt a harsh blow to his stomach, knocking him off his feet. The air was pulled completely from his lungs and the world dissolved into a blur of green, blue and white. A lightheaded fog filled his mind, numbing him from the pain at his gut momentarily. Gravity seemed to grab him by the shoulders, pulling him into the air first before yanking him down slowly. Heavy gusts of wind whipped across his entire body as he descended. The world dimmed around him as the salt of the ocean seemed to overwhelm his senses.

He never hit the ground.

Make It Right [BTS Mafia!AU]

Plot: “It’s always darkest before the dawn…” It’s a dog-eat-dog world in Seoul, South Korea. One has to dwell in the shadows in order to reach for the light. What are you willing to sacrifice in order to feel the sunlight on your face? What will it take to drag you back into darkness? How long will the journey be to make it right?

Rating: NC-17 // NSFW

Genre: Series | Mafia!AU | Crime!AU | Angst | Romance/Fluff | Smut

Pairings: Jin x OC | Taehyung/Hoseok x OC | Yoongi/Jungkook x OC

Warnings: Graphic Violence (bloody violence), Heavy Language, Angst, Slow Burn, Smut

Additional Warnings: Graphic depiction of torture, graphic physical violence, captured/kidnapping, major character death

Previous Chapters: Prologue 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51

Links: FAQ || BTS Masterlist || Admin E’s AO3 || Admin E’s WP || [ REQUESTS ARE OPEN ]

Word Count: 5,133

Tag List: @prisczero​, @pinkpjmin​, @btsaudge​, @flowerwrites06​, @unoriginal-username15432, @halussali​, @shrimpmsg​​,

AN: And it all goes downhill from here, Ladies...

Chapter 51: Begin

“I can’t stand you crying. I want to cry instead, although I can’t.”

© thebiasrekkers (Admin E). All rights reserved. Reposting/modifying our work is prohibited. Translations are not allowed. Plagiarism/stealing is not tolerated by any means. Legal action will be taken in instances of theft.

Seoul – Samseong; Gangnam District South Korea

9:45 AM

Jungkook was three steps from heading to the insane asylum.

One step represented each day that he hadn’t been able to track Eden down.

He barely heard the words of comfort that Jimin was giving him. He knew that it had something to do with it not being his fault, but how could it not have been? He hadn’t heard from his wife in three days, assuming she got wrapped up with family affairs and was too busy to check in on the first day. The second day had him concerned that she’d gotten hurt. By the third day, Jungkook was at his wit’s end.

Only to find out that she’d been snatched up before she ever got the chance to leave for Daegu. He shouldn’t have put her second to his job. He shouldn’t have let her leave their house to go to the train station alone.

He shouldn’t have let this happen.

The image of Eden’s beaten form in the video clip was branded across the forefront of his mind. Hoseok was angry, determined to track down the Jade Fang members who’d done this. Jungkook was angry that they were still part of the equation. They should have been eliminated years ago.

It wasn’t like they weren’t aware of what Im Changkyun was capable of. They’d seen the vicious things he’d done while they were Jade Fang members themselves. He didn’t think it was necessary to attend district meetings, feeling the rest of the bosses were beneath his standards of proper mafia leadership. Hoseok was his only equal and it appeared that he continued to see him as such.

Divine Intervention prevented Jungkook from leaving the house that night and storming the stronghold of the Jade Fangs alone. He would have burned every single one of their businesses down; he was determined to do so. Jimin escorted him home that night and there was a parcel waiting at home for Jungkook. His brother made him a drink and when Jungkook opened the package, he collapsed on the floor and cried until he could barely breathe.

It was a gift Eden prepared for him for his birthday – a handmade model of his dream car. Seated in the car were miniature figures of Eden and himself. He didn’t remember passing out. He didn’t remember Jimin tucking a blanket over him. He could only remember Eden’s face, smiling as they shared breakfast together the morning she was taken.

“Jungkook-ah,” called Jimin, pulling Jungkook out of his inner musings. There was concern painted over his brother’s face and he took a breath, waiting for him to continue. “I think we’ve covered everywhere here.”

Jungkook said nothing. Instead, he pulled out the small notebook he carried with him and scratched out Gangnam from the list. For two and a half days, they combed every single section of Gangnam they could. There was a part of him that knew that the Jade Fangs wouldn’t be so arrogant to hold her hostage in their former territory. But there was also a part of him that could reason Im Changkyun doing something so ridiculous as a form of “poetic justice” against them.

To him, the Golden Jackals never disbanded.

“What about the others?”

Jimin sighed, leaning against the driver’s side door of the car. “They’re hitting the other areas. Hoseok called in some favors from the other district bosses to let us through.”

All Jungkook did was nod. There was something off about this whole situation. Very off. There shouldn’t have been a single obstacle in the way of the other district heads when it came to taking over their territories. Yongsan and Gangnam were completely up for grabs; Hoseok said as much. Jungkook could only guess that Changkyun’s influence prevented them from stepping a single foot into their turf. He more than likely was determined to get Hoseok and the others back so they could do a mass district takeover.

“I don’t like that Tae Hyung went off by himself,” he suddenly said, meeting Jimin’s gaze.

“Yeah,” he replied softly, “I don’t either.”

Jungkook frowned. “He still hasn’t checked in yet?”

“No.”

He didn’t want to prod any further. Jimin was probably more worried about Taehyung than any of them. While it was unsurprising that he went off on his own, it was unlike him to not have checked in by now. Taehyung wasn’t a morning person, which was why they all knew that he hadn’t slept while he was on the hunt.

Then again, none of them were really sleeping.

A soft ache throbbed at Jungkook’s temple. He pressed a hand to his chest, taking a small amount of comfort in feeling his wedding band dangling from the necklace chain. He didn’t know how much longer he could handle not knowing what was happening with Eden.

“Hyung, I—”

“She’s fine, Jungkook-ah.” Jimin’s words sliced through his own, as if he’d already predicted what he was going to say. When he met his brother’s gaze, he saw the reassuring smile tinged with just a hint of worry. “If I know her, she’ll make them regret the day they decided to take her.”

“Not before I do.”

Suddenly, Jimin and Jungkook’s phones chimed simultaneously – indicating they received a message. Both looked at their phones immediately and Jungkook felt his heart rate escalate. It wasn’t a matter of him losing hope as seeing the message renewed his vigor.

It was from Taehyung.

Taehyung: I found her. She’s near Namyangju in Gyeonggi-do. Somewhere in the Industrial District. I’m heading back now.

Jungkook looked at Jimin the same time he did. Without uttering a word, they flung the doors open to the car and hopped in. Jimin fired up the engine and punched it, speeding out of Gangnam. Jungkook stared at his phone as more messages came through from the others. It didn’t take him long to figure out that they were closer to that location than everyone else. It was a half an hour drive, traffic willing.

They’d get there first.

10:17 AM

Namyangju – Gyeonggi Province South Korea

Jungkook felt like it took them a hundred years to get to their destination. With every mile marker they passed, it brought him one step closer to finding Eden. One step closer to bringing her home. He clung to the smallest shreds of his willpower not to scream at Jimin to drive faster. They didn’t need to get into any kind of accident before they reached her.

Jimin swung the car into an empty street, the desolate district eerie even in the morning light. Jungkook tumbled from the passenger side, all but tearing his seatbelt from his body in the process. Jimin called after him, but he paid him no mind. His legs ate up the ground as he ran headlong into the central area of the decrepit buildings.

No one lived in the abandoned sections of the province anymore, but the government hadn’t bothered with tearing it down. His hope began to dwindle, realizing just how expansive the district was. It would take them hours to find her at this rate.

Resisting the urge to scream, he slowed to a jogging pace before stopping altogether. Running around blindly without a single clue as to where to look would get him nowhere. They were just wasting time. There was even the chance that the group would up and relocate themselves before they could even have a chance at finding them.

Eden would be lost forever.

He heard Jimin run up behind him, clapping a hand to his shoulder. Jungkook did his best to tether his scattered thoughts, chasing away the worst possibilities from his mind. He needed to calm down and think.

“There were a few cars parked near the back,” he said after catching his breath, “we might need to go up top to get a better idea of where they might be.”

Jungkook nodded, pointing straight ahead. “I’ll head to that building down there. Text me if you find anything.”

Just as he was about to take off, Jimin grabbed him – halting his movements.

“No, we stick together.” Jungkook opened his mouth to protest, but Jimin’s glare quickly silenced him. “If something happens, we won’t be able to do anything alone. We’re stronger together.”

While he wanted to argue, he knew that his brother was right. Even if splitting up would help them cover more ground, there was a good chance that they wouldn’t have a way to defend themselves if they got caught in a sticky situation. Jungkook did his best to push down his mounting impulsivities. Charging in blindly was foolish and would most likely get them killed.

“Alright, Hyung,” Jungkook said, relenting, “let’s go together.”

Not wasting another moment, they tore off down the center of the district – eyes rapidly searching in every direction their necks would allow them to turn.

10:32 AM

Minutes crept by at a snail’s pace.

Jungkook did everything he could to keep his head together. There were too many horrifying images playing rapidly in his head, like a flipbook that ended in blood splatters. Jimin stayed at his side, matching his pace as well as his fervor. Every so often, they would stop to peek into various buildings. They climbed up to higher vantage points to get a better lay of the area, dipping off to resume their search.

Everything looked so dead from the inside out.

A scream tore through the vast emptiness, causing Jungkook to trip over his own feet and he came crashing to the ground. Jimin was immediately beside him, grabbing him by the arm and hoisting him back up. Jungkook’s heart pounded double-time in his chest; it hurt. A cold sweat broke out over his skin and he couldn’t stop his body from trembling, even though Jimin rubbed small circles on his back.

“E-Eden,” he barely managed to croak, his legs shaking to the point where it was difficult to stand. Jimin continued to hold him up. “That was her!”

The sound was close.

Jimin said nothing. He continued to guide them along the path, turning around corners until he heard his wife scream again. It was even closer. They were almost to her!

He felt his brother release the hold he had on him and Jungkook involuntarily sagged against the side of a building. He didn’t know where they were or how deep into the district they’d gone. Jimin’s expression was focused and if he was feeling any sort of turmoil, it never showed. Not once.

The building they were pressed against was yellowed from age and neglect. Numerous cracks ran along the sides and bits of paint were peeling back; some pieces flying away from even the slightest gust of wind. The window had a long crack running from an upward angle to the corner of the pane; dirty and smudged. Jimin wiped a hand across the bottom to get rid of the dirt so he could see inside. Jungkook sidled up beside him to peek in as well.

He could feel Jimin’s vice-like grip on his shoulder, pinning him in place. Jungkook’s vision blurred momentarily before regaining focus, zeroing in on the image of his wife strung up like some animal. There were a few lackeys around and appeared to be bored – as if they were waiting for something interesting to happen. Jungkook felt the muscle at his jaw throbbing viciously as he clenched his teeth, grinding them in anger.

He wanted a gun. He would have emptied a clip into every single one of them.

Jungkook tried to move, but Jimin wouldn’t let him go.

“Hyung!” came his harsh whisper, but Jimin shook his head roughly.

“Wait, Jungkook,” he hissed back, finally letting him go, “just wait.”

“I can’t, dammit!”

“You can and you will.” Jimin’s words were final. “We don’t even know what kind of weapons they have in there. If Changkyun’s willing to play dirty like this, there’s no guarantee that his men won’t fill us full of holes with guns they obtained illegally.”

Jungkook wanted to protest, but he knew that Jimin was right. They needed to assess the situation fully before making a move. If they ran in there blindly without understanding what they were up against, there was a chance that Eden would die in the crossfire.

“So what now?”

Jimin continued to look through the window and he could see the wheels in his head turning. Strategy was his strongest suit so Jungkook did his best to be as patient as possible. A handful of seconds passed before he turned to meet his gaze.

“I’m going to go in from the front.”

“What?!” Jungkook gave him an incredulous look. “That’s crazy. Are you crazy?!”

“Shut-up and listen to me.” Jimin turned to look back through the window. “I’m going to draw their attention to me. This window is loose so as soon as I get them to chase me, I want you to go in and grab Eden and then get the hell out of here.”

He didn’t like this plan.

“There’s ten of them, Hyung. Maybe more. You can’t outrun them all.”

Jimin grinned, still peering into the building. “I can try.”

Jungkook grabbed his shoulder. “Hyung!”

He felt his arm being yanked off abruptly, causing him to take a step back. Jimin cast an icy glare in his direction.

“Do what I say.”

He wanted to protest again. He wanted to tell him that this was suicide. They should wait for the others. Wouldn’t that have been the smart thing?

But if they waited too long, then they may miss their chance. The Jade Fangs could probably swarm them, call for more men, and then overtake them completely. Jungkook knew that the plan was the best option they had right now.

It didn’t mean he had to like it.

Without waiting for him to agree or even disagree, Jimin turned and ran down one side of the building. He rounded the corner and disappeared on the other side, leaving Jungkook alone to wait. There was a distinct feeling of dread sweeping over him, telling him that there was danger to watch out for. But wasn’t that obvious? Didn’t they understand that, knowingly showing up to this place?

This was unavoidable.

A loud bang rang out inside the large interior. Jungkook peered over the bottom of the window, craning his neck as best he could. Light flooded into the dark space as he watched Jimin’s shadow stretching along the floor. All the men inside turned around, grabbing what weapons they had near them to launch an assault. Jimin immediately dispatched one of the lackeys close to the door before turning to run away from the building. All but two gave chase.

Now!

Jungkook thrust the window open, causing it to break further from the force. He leaped in through the opening and charged forward. Taking advantage of the momentary distraction caused by his entrance, Jungkook barreled into the man closest to him – taking him down with a swift grappling throw. The man landed on his head; a distinct crack heard from his skull smacking into the concrete.

He saw movement out of the corner of his eye, a flash of silver, and he dodged at the last second. Whirling his body around, he jumped back with his arms extended out as another man tried to hit him with a metal bat. Jungkook bobbed and weaved out of the way, moving just out of reach at the last possible moment. Pivoting on his back leg, he waited for the man to try to swing at him again before catching the bat in his hand and pulling it toward him. The man slid on his heels, the distance closing rapidly. Jungkook aimed a kick straight for his stomach and sent him flying.

He brought the bat down over the man’s head for good measure.

With the two men unconscious, Jungkook swerved around and ran toward Eden. He did his best to avoid looking at her injuries, not wanting to distract himself from the most important task he had: freeing her. As he looked at her restraints, he did his best to concentrate on her face. She was semi-conscious, the noise bringing her out of whatever fugue state she was in.

“J-Jungkook-ah?” She coughed. “Y-You shouldn’t be here…”

“Shh,” he admonished, his eyes flicking over her bindings, “save your strength.”

His hands moved with lightning speed, fidgeting over the ropes and chains binding her as she hung from a large hook attached to the ceiling. When he finally managed to loosen the ropes, he lifted her up by her waist so he could untether her from the hook. Her arms dangled limply around his neck; the chains clamped around her wrists jingling together with the sudden movement.

Her body lacked the strength to keep herself upright and she nearly collapsed to the ground. Jungkook held fast to her, moving her arms over his head so he could undo the chains around her wrists. He could tell she’d lost weight and she seemed almost a shell of who he knew her to be. He focused on getting her to safety – choosing to smother his fury into the pit of his stomach.

“Go,” she whispered as he held onto her, “get out of here.” She coughed again. “Leave me.”

“Not a chance in hell,” he snapped, draping her arm over his shoulder as he held onto her waist, “now come on.”

Jungkook wouldn’t hear anymore of this nonsense, even if it was coming from the woman he loved. She was barefoot, but there wasn’t any glass on the ground. If she didn’t think she’d be able to walk, he’d carry her on his back and dare her to say otherwise.

Shuffling toward the entrance, he could hear men yelling in the distance. But it sounded like it was getting closer. Jimin was circling back, probably to make sure that they’d gotten out. If they could hold out a little longer, the others would come and then they could cause a big enough scene to get the hell out.

Just as he reached the entryway, he turned to make sure the two men he’d dealt with were still on the ground. Satisfied that they weren’t going to be getting up anytime soon, he turned back toward the exit.

A shadow moved from the corner. Eden saw it before he did. Jungkook shuffled to the left. He was half a step short.

The pain didn’t register at first. All he could focus on was Yoo Kihyun who was now directly in his path to freedom. It wasn’t until he saw the older man take a step forward that Jungkook took a step back. But not of his own freewill. He was forced to step back.

The knife in his gut pushed him to move.

Eden screamed but he barely heard it. Jungkook nearly dropped her, but his stubbornness wouldn’t allow her to fall. Not in front of him; her captor. A chilling smile painted over Kihyun’s face as he tilted his head, peering into Jungkook’s eyes. It was like he was asking him what his next move would be without having to say it out loud. For a split second, Jungkook’s vision blurred.

Releasing the hold he had on Eden’s arm, he grabbed a hold of the knife and pushed back – pulling the blade slowly from his gut. Kihyun blinked in surprise at him, watching as he drew the older man’s arm away from his body while still holding his wife fast to him. Again, Eden screamed, but this time she moved with whatever strength was left in her body – arms reaching out in a feral manner.

She scratched her nails across Kihyun’s face, forcing him to reach up and cover his cheek. Jungkook stepped forward, pulling the knife completely from his stomach, before spinning it in his blood-soaked fingers to grasp the blade’s handle. Kihyun stumbled backward a step and Jungkook quickly closed the distance, plunging the knife directly into his shoulder and aiming a kick to his knee. He waited for him to hit the dirt before pulling Eden quickly behind him.

He didn’t have to express the need for urgency.

They both disappeared into a nearby cluster of reeds.

10:45 AM

Blood wept from the side of Jimin’s head as he rounded the corner of a building. He held onto a rusty metal pipe, clutching it at his side. He knew one of his ribs were broken, if not two, and there was a good chance he very nearly sprained his ankle hopping over a broken-down car to avoid being clobbered with a length of chain. He quickly did a tally in his head, making a note that he was able to knock down four of the eight that were chasing him. Two of them he tripped up along their pursuit and the rest were now trying to comb the nearby streets in search of him.

Hearing Eden’s scream forced him to double back toward the building where he’d left Jungkook. It wasn’t the sound of agony. It was of outrage. Something must have happened. He needed to get back to them and quickly.

Jimin wiped some of the sweat and blood from his head, spitting at the ground. Once his heart calmed down, he tried to ascertain his whereabouts. Just two buildings over and he’d be right back where he’d started.

Come on, Park Jimin. Calm down and focus.

His phone buzzed in his pocket and he fished it out, eyeing the screen. It was from Yoongi.

Yoongi: We’re almost there! Where are you guys? Give us a landmark!

Taking a moment to breathe, he turned his head in every direction to try and gauge a decent landmark for the others to follow. There was a cluster of blue barrels far away from the abandoned buildings, just toward the edge where a large field of reeds were. He quickly texted him back, letting him know the location.

He slid the phone back into his pocket, gripping the metal pipe in both hands. Now he just needed to get back to Jungkook who, he hoped, had Eden in tow.

His phone buzzed again; this time in succession. Someone was calling him.

Dipping into a nearby building, he hunkered down in a shadowed corner to look at the phone. It was Jungkook. He answered.

“Jungkook-ah?”

“H-Hyung…”

Jimin could tell something was wrong.

“Where are you?”

“T-The…the reeds…”

He had to refrain from cursing. There were reeds in every direction. He took a breath to calm his nerves.

“What else do you see around you?”

There was a pregnant pause and he wondered if something was happening with the call.

Jimin-ah?”

It was Eden. His heart practically jumped into his throat.

“Oh, thank God he got you out. Are you alright?”

“Never mind that. Jungkook’s hurt.”

He could hear the frantic tone in her voice. Jimin tried to smooth his voice out in a way that would help take the edge off for her.

“Okay, just breathe. Can you tell me where you guys are right now?”

“I can’t really see anything. The reeds are so thick.”

“Can you see any barrels around you?”

“Hold on.”

It was only a few seconds, but Jimin felt like he was losing years off his life as he waited for her to answer.

“I can see some blue ones. But they’re far away.”

He resisted the urge to smile. They weren’t that far from his current location.

“How far?”

“Several yards. They’re across that dirt path.”

“Okay, good.” His side screamed at him from the position he was in, but he ignored it. “I want you to meet me there, okay?”

It sounded like she was about to sob which unnerved him.

“Can’t you just come here? Jungkook’s hurt badly and I don’t have the strength to carry him.”

Jimin hissed quietly to himself. I told him to be careful… He took a breath. “Alright, I’ll come to you. I’ll be there soon.”

“Hurry!”

Ending the call, Jimin slipped out the back of the building and made his way around the next bend. Part of him wanted to throw the pipe off in a different direction, hoping the noise would distract others away from his path. But if they got flanked, he’d need a way to defend Eden, Jungkook, and himself. Especially if Jungkook was as hurt as Eden claimed he was.

This isn’t good, he thought, tearing through the back alleyway and heading up the side of the street to disappear into the thicket of reeds.

10:57 AM

Even though he knew he’d only traveled a few blocks, it felt like he’d been moving for miles. Each turn he made, Jimin thought he was getting more and more lost. Every so often, he’d turn his head to look over his shoulder and spy out the buildings – making sure that he was still on a straight path to the others. He heard some of the other men shouting at each other, trying to figure out where they’d gone, and each of these times, Jimin would pause so that he didn’t give away his position.

Just as he was about to resume his search, he heard a distinct shuffling sound off to his right. It was close.

“J-Jimin-ah? Is that you?”

It was Eden. She sounded exhausted and halfway to the underworld, but it was her. Jimin quickly darted in the direction of her voice, parting the reeds in front of him as he went.

A lump of ice dropped in his stomach at what he saw.

There, cradled in her arms, was Jungkook. A large blood stain blossomed from his shirt and he saw Eden pressing his jacket to his stomach and putting pressure on the injury. She was crying, doing her best to keep her sobs nonexistent so they didn’t alert the others of where they were. She looked up, relief and despair battling for dominance over her features. Jimin dropped the pipe in his hands, his legs slowly carrying him toward Jungkook just as he spit up blood from his mouth.

“J-Jungkook-ah,” he stammered, collapsing to his knees.

Despite the obvious pain he was in, Jungkook flashed him a smile full of blood-stained teeth. “H-Hyung,” he managed to get out, albeit garbled from a mouthful of blood, “what took you so long?”

Jimin didn’t have the energy to snap back. He felt like part of his soul just left him completely. His eyes roved over Jungkook’s body, trying to figure out the cause of his brother’s current state. He lifted his gaze to meet Eden’s.

“What happened?”

“It was Kihyun,” she said weakly while brushing some of the fringe off of Jungkook’s forehead, “he came out of nowhere and—”

“That doesn’t matter,” Jungkook interjected, causing them both to focus on him, “Hyung, get her out of here.”

Another piece of his soul was pulled away.

“W-What?”

Eden shifted him in her arms, clinging to him in desperation. “I’m not leaving you!”

“Yes, you are.” Jungkook reached up to his neck, grabbing the necklace and popping it off in one quick motion. He smeared blood over his skin and clothes, holding it up for Eden. “Take it and go.”

She emphatically shook her head and Jimin could tell that even doing this was zapping her of what strength she had left.

“You bastard,” she muttered, curling her fingers into the fabric of his jacket, “how can you expect me to leave you? Huh?” Eden lowered herself, pulling him against her body to hug him close. “Till death do us part, remember?”

Jungkook did his best to wrap an arm around her, coughing more blood out and staining her shirt. “…and this…is where…we part.”

Eden shot back, looking down at Jungkook as tears streamed down her face, dripping onto his cheeks.

“J-Jungkook,” she stammered, her bottom lip trembling as her voice shook.

Again, he smiled up at her. “I love you, Eden.” He grabbed her hand and placed the necklace inside her palm, closing her fingers over it. “If…if I’m reborn, let me love you in the next life too, okay?”

Jimin could hear his own heart shattering in his chest.

“Hyung…take her and go.”

“But Jungkook-ah—”

“Please.”

Tears leaked out of Jimin’s eyes. It took everything he had, but he stood up and crossed over to where Eden was. She continued to hold onto her husband, refusing to let go even as Jimin tried to pull her up and onto her feet. She fought him but even she knew that she didn’t have the strength to keep it up. Jimin held her against him and they both gazed at the satisfied and peaceful expression on Jungkook’s face. He nodded to them, mouthing for them to go.

Jimin turned, hauling Eden with him as she wailed silently into the crook of his shoulder.

I’ll come back for you, Jungkook. I won’t leave you alone out here...

11:05 AM

He knew that it was only a few minutes since he watched Eden and his brother leave. In those few minutes, Jungkook believed it was several lifetimes. In those few minutes, he thought back to everything that led to this very moment. All the choices he’d made, the road he’d traveled, and the people he’d traveled on that road with along the way.

He regretted nothing up until that moment.

The only thing he knew he would have to repent for would be leaving his beautiful wife behind alone. They’d had a few chapters written in their life together, but they were pages filled with hopes and dreams for an uncertain future. Life never gave guarantees. The only certainty for life was death. It was the same for everyone.

The sun was reaching its peak over the skies. There were very little clouds littering the pale blue blanket above him and he wasn’t sure if it was the bright light that was making it difficult to see or something else. Jungkook lost feeling to the lower half of his body nearly two minutes earlier.

Again, he coughed and more blood sprayed from his mouth. Tears brimmed his eyes, slipping from the corners to seep into his ears.

My brothers…

Jungkook could feel his eyelids growing a little heavier with each passing second, but he forced them to stay open.

Eden…

But the darkness began to creep around the corners of his vision, blurring out the light until it was a faint glow in his line of sight.

He wanted to keep feeling the warmth of the sun on his face until the very end.

…until we meet again.

Make It Right [BTS Mafia AU]

Plot: “It’s always darkest before the dawn…” It’s a dog-eat-dog world in Seoul, South Korea. One has to dwell in the shadows in order to reach for the light. What are you willing to sacrifice in order to feel the sunlight on your face? What will it take to drag you back into darkness? How long will the journey be to make it right?

Rating: NC-17 // NSFW

Genre: Series | Mafia!AU | Crime!AU | Angst | Romance/Fluff | Smut

Pairings: Jin x OC | Taehyung/Hoseok x OC | Yoongi/Jungkook x OC

Warnings: Graphic Violence (bloody violence), Heavy Language, Angst, Slow Burn, Smut

Additional Warnings: Graphic depiction of physical violence, captured/kidnapping, major character death

Previous Chapters: Prologue 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52

Links: FAQ || BTS Masterlist || Admin E’s AO3 || Admin E’s WP || [ REQUESTS ARE OPEN ]

Word Count: 3,525

Tag List: @prisczero​, @pinkpjmin​, @btsaudge​, @flowerwrites06​, @unoriginal-username15432, @halussali​, @shrimpmsg​​,

AN: I know I’ve been gone. I know people have been waiting. I apologize for my absence. I just needed a moment to collect myself again and write and really get everything out that I needed in the course of these last few months. Thank you for being patient. Thank you to all the new followers and old alike. Thank you for being fans of this work. Forgive me for all the tears you are going to shed, but just know that I shed them with you.

Chapter 52: Promise

“Even if you feel that you are alone, don’t throw yourself away.”

© thebiasrekkers (Admin E). All rights reserved. Reposting/modifying our work is prohibited. Translations are not allowed. Plagiarism/stealing is not tolerated by any means. Legal action will be taken in instances of theft.

11:11AM

Jimin felt like stones were in his boots and pockets, but he continued to pull Eden alongside him. She’d stopped crying shortly after they parted from Jungkook. He could only guess that she understood the urgency of their situation, keeping herself as silent as possible. Jimin held her hand tightly in his, giving it a few reassuring squeezes every handful of seconds. He didn’t know how far into the reeds they were heading, but he knew he needed to circle around a few times to make sure the Jade Fang posse didn’t try to flank them at any given moment.

The image of Jungkook’s bloody smile, urging him to go, made his feet fall heavier against the grass. Not paying attention, his ankle nearly rolled in a small pothole, causing him to stumble forward half a step. Eden followed suit, but her ability to recover on short notice was nonexistent, and she tumbled to the ground on her knees. He quickly knelt beside her, checking to see if she’d hurt anything major.

It was the first time he was able to get a good look at her.

Bruises and welts littered her arms and legs. A few of the angry red lines bubbled crimson, threatening to spill out across her olive skin. Her jeans were now cut-offs, having been ripped away from the abuse she’d endured over the past six days. She had no shoes. The vibrant raven curls were matted with blood and neglect, tangled around her shoulders with a collection of dirt nesting in the strands. Lips that were often pressed over a cigarette or curled into a playful smile were now cracked and dry from dehydration. There was a large bloodstain across the front of her shirt where Jungkook embraced her, still slick and soaked into the fabric.

Her eyes, however, broke Jimin’s heart further. They appeared soulless; empty. It was as if all the fight he knew existed inside of her was gone; knocked completely out of her system.

“You’re hurt.”

Jimin recoiled, the sound of her voice so close giving him a start. She’d been staring at the ground earlier, but now she turned those empty eyes toward him. Her hand went to his face, to the side where his injury was still weeping blood. He caught her hand by the wrist moments before her fingers could press to his skin. She blinked and he smiled warmly toward her while massaging the inside of her palm with his thumb.

“I’m fine,” he whispered.

He didn’t want to see any more blood on her. Not even his.

Releasing her hand, his own went to massage her bare feet. She tried to pull away from him, but he held fast to her ankles to keep them in place. They were swollen and bruised. He urged her to pull her legs up so that her knees were upright, and he pressed soothing circles along the tops of her feet. Every so often he felt her jump under his ministrations, a soft hiss escaping through her teeth.

Jimin was thankful that Eden let him work in silence. Neither of them could say anything; the heaviness weighing on both of their hearts so paramount that it rendered them speechless. He focused on alleviating the stress on her feet; nothing else. He couldn’t allow himself to think about too much else. They were still in imminent danger and there was always the chance that they could be overtaken at any given moment. His senses were on high alert, refusing to be distracted by any sounds not immediately in his range of focus.

“You shouldn’t have come,” Eden croaked weakly. His hands paused but he didn’t look at her. “You both should never have come for me.”

“Noona,” he said softly, resuming his movements, “stop.”

Jimin felt her legs tremble underneath his hands.

“If you’d just left me there, then Jungkook wouldn’t be…”

“Please stop.”

Eden covered her face with her hands, attempting to smother out the sob that threatened to come out.

“…you should have just let me die.”

“Jesu-ssi,” seethed Jimin.

His hands ceased moving and he cut his eyes toward Eden as she slowly lowered her hands down from her face. The honorific must have shaken her as this was the first time he’d used it. He couldn’t formally call her his sister-in-law since Jungkook was hell-bent on keeping their marriage a secret for the time being. The title gave her pause, long enough for her to cease her shaking – her hands moving to cling at the grass around them.

“Don’t dishonor his sacrifice. My brother, your husband, wouldn’t want to hear you talking like that.” His icy expression melted, easing into the face that he knew he could always show her. The face he always did show her. “And I don’t want to either.”

Eden appeared to regain her senses, her expression hardening with determination. She nodded and he smiled, waiting for her to catch her breath before he continued to massage her legs and feet.

He finished up, rolling back on his heels as he moved into a crouched position. Eden gathered herself up, resting her knees on the grass. Jimin erased his breath, hyper-focusing on the area around them.

…it’s too quiet.

He hadn’t heard any movements, save for their own, for quite some time now. This didn’t sit easy with him, but he swallowed his mounting nerves for Eden’s sake. She was already rattled from so much trauma and he didn’t want to add to it by revealing his own unease. Instead, he remained reticent and alert.

Jimin’s phone buzzed in his pocket and he held Eden’s hand when he saw her nearly jump to her feet from the sudden noise. Holding a finger up to his lips, he pulled out his phone to check the screen. It was another message from Yoongi.

Yoongi: We’ll be there in ten minutes!

Smiling, he didn’t bother responding. There wasn’t much time and Jimin knew he had to get them to the blue barrels. Judging from the distance and all the zigzagging they’d done, they were further from their destination than they’d been earlier. He slowly rose to his feet, pulling Eden up with him. There seemed to be a little bit more life in her eyes this time which gave him some relief.

“Who was it?”

“Yoongi Hyung.” He felt her squeezing his hand. “He and the others are on their way.”

She nodded. “Okay.”

Lacing his fingers through hers, Jimin pulled her along gently. He didn’t want to risk giving her a piggyback ride as that would put her head above the reeds. The lower they stayed, the safer they were.

11:17AM

Every so often, he would stop so Eden could take a rest. Jimin mentally cursed himself for running them deeper into the thicket instead of closer to the meeting spot. As problematic as Eden’s injuries were, they didn’t have the luxury to stop. They had to keep going.

“Do you remember when we first met?” he asked suddenly, his voice quiet as they moved.

“Who could forget?” Eden said softly. He could hear the smile in her voice. “You saw me shootin’ dice with those homeless guys.”

He bit back a laugh. Jimin mistook her for a homeless person because of all the grease and oil smudges on her clothes and face. Her clothes were frumpy and her hair was pulled back into one of her infamous work-buns with a bandana wrapped around it. The cigarette she smoked was a little beat up, but she smiled mischievously as she collected her winnings. It was a paltry amount, but she didn’t even keep it. Instead, she threw some of her own cash into the pile, making the men promise to use it on food and not booze.

“I can’t believe you thought I was some street bum,” she muttered.

“You looked terrible and I assumed.” Jimin pushed out a path for them, noting the terrain. They would need to circle around one more time to get back on their desired route. “What else was I supposed to think?”

“Apparently you thought I needed saving.”

He did. Jimin offered to bring her to his church. He didn’t know she was a Christian herself. He remembered her thanking him since, apparently, she’d been searching for a church to attend to for some time. Jimin recalled how hard she cuffed him when he told her she needed to stop gambling in order to get right with God.

“’Jesus loves me just the way I am’ is what you said.”

“No,” she countered, “’Jesus loves me just the way I am, and you should too’ is what I said.”

“And I do.”

He felt a tug at his arm from Eden stopping suddenly. Jimin turned to look at her and saw a confused look on her face. His expression softened, feeling an overwhelming sense of longing washing over him. He wouldn’t elaborate on the meaning of his words, however, despite knowing that the look she gave was asking for just that: elaboration. It wasn’t the time and it wasn’t the place. He didn’t think it ever would be.

Instead, he gave her his usual smile – the smile he knew she could trust and believe in; rely on.

I love you.

A twig snapped and Jimin’s body reacted. Lowering himself, he dashed to the right – yanking Eden along with him. Their position was compromised and they needed to hurry before getting overtaken. Jimin assessed their location as he pulled Eden down beside him, crouching low to cover themselves in the shadows of the reeds. Footsteps rushed nearby, the owners pausing every so often to look around and search the area. They quieted their breathing and he frowned when he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket again. The others were close, if not already there.

Jimin couldn’t worry about his brothers. They would be smart and stay out of sight.

“Let’s go,” he whispered to Eden, “we’re going to make a run for it.”

She nodded, gripping onto his hand harder.

“On the count of three, okay? One…two…three!”

They bolted from their crouched positions, barreling through the reeds as fast as they could. Jimin forced himself to steady his pacing, knowing that Eden’s strength was all but gone. Pushing her this hard would hurt, but he prayed that her stubborn nature would ignore her injuries long enough to get to safety. Even as the reeds cut and grabbed at them, Jimin pressed on. Eden’s labored breathing became more and more evident, and he apologized to her internally. They couldn’t stop. They had to keep going. Her freedom, her escape from this place, took precedence over everything else in Jimin’s mind.

He would shield her when the time came.

A sharp whistling sound cut through their breaths. Jimin grabbed Eden, pulling her hard to the left. His eyes darted to the side – noting that some kind of projectile was fired. But it wasn’t a bullet. He hadn’t heard a gun fire and even a silencer had a distinct tone when suppressing the sound of a bullet being discharged.

Horrifying realization squeezed against his lungs.

It’s a crossbow!

The shiff of another projectile resounded and Jimin jumped, slamming his shoulder into Eden’s. They both fell to the ground right as he saw the bolt fly by – just barely clipping Eden’s ear. He blanketed her entire body with his own, his hand resting on the back of her head to keep her face down to the grass. Their bodies moved in time with their breathing, heavy and rushed.

“Dammit,” he muttered, glaring over his shoulder, “we’re close.”

Eden whined. He felt her shoulders trembling and he knew that she was very aware of their current predicament. The sound of feet pounding into the grass and reeds breaking cut through the panic threatening to suffocate him.

“Noona, listen to me,” he said into the shell of Eden’s ear, “when I tell you, I want you to run straight in that direction.” Eden lifted her head as he pointed to the East of them. “Don’t even think about stopping, no matter what you hear. Yoongi Hyung and the others will be waiting for you.”

Something passed over her face and her eyes widened. “What about you?”

“They’re shooting at us, so I’m going to draw their fire.”

“Are you crazy?!”

“You sound like Jungkook right now.” Jimin smiled while shaking his head. “I’ll be fine. It’s faster for you to get to them first. I’m right behind you.”

“How can you be right behind me when you’re going to draw them away from me?”

“Stop being stubborn and just do what I say. I’m faster than you right now.”

Eden seemed to process what he was saying and she sighed angrily, tugging and ripping at the grass within her reach. He knew she couldn’t argue with him. Jimin left no room for her to.

Jimin took a breath, held it, then released it slowly. Then, he rolled from her body completely.

“Go!”

Like a track runner, Eden bolted from the ground and tore through the reeds – disappearing from his sight in a matter of seconds. He smiled ruefully to himself before rolling onto his side to stand. His eyes noted the fresh splatters of blood on the ground and he quickly checked his body for any injuries he may have missed. As he followed the trail, he saw that it led in the direction Eden was heading.

Her injuries worsened and she was bleeding out.

“Shit,” he said, doubling back and heading after her.

His mind was rattled with his need to chase Eden. How could he have put that pressure on her knowing what state her body was in? If he ran full-speed, Jimin knew that he would be able to close the distance she’d put between them easily.

He didn’t hear the crunch of grass behind him until the last second. He didn’t note the danger until it was too late. Pain exploded across his shoulder blade, the force of the impact knocking him off kilter. Jimin grit his teeth, whirling his body around and keeping it upright. He reached behind his shoulder, grasping at the bolt protruding from his back. His nerves screamed in protest to the amount of pressure he was forcing in his attempt to pull the bolt out of him.

The harsh whistle of another arrow flying at him caused Jimin to throw his body backward, the force of him hitting the ground breaking the bolt in half. He could feel what remained of the arrow burying itself further into his shoulder blade and he opened his mouth to silently scream.

Jimin’s vision blurred instantly. The pain he felt was immeasurable. More reeds broke as he heard the many approaching footsteps to his spot. He dragged his elbows along the grass, attempting to shuffle into a nearby thicket to hide himself. But as he moved, he saw the tell-tale trail of blood smeared near his legs. Even if he hid, they’d be able to find him without much effort.

Deciding to stay where he was, he waited for his assailants to reveal themselves. In seconds, he watched the reeds part as two Jade Fang members appeared with Sohn Shownu right behind them. Propped on his shoulder was a crossbow gun. It didn’t take Jimin long to see that another bolt was prepped in the chamber.

“You know, I’ve never been a fan of these things.” Shownu shrugged the shoulder the gun rested on. “But I have to admit, they’re pretty useful.”

Jimin scoffed. “A little unfair, don’t you think?”

Shownu lowered the gun, cradling it in his arms as he pointed the end of the bolt directly at Jimin. “I’m afraid this isn’t about being fair, Jimin-ah.” He squeezed the trigger to release the bolt directly into Jimin’s leg. The pain was expected, albeit sudden, and Jimin yelled in outrage. “It’s about making a point.”

A coppery tang registered in Jimin’s mind. He’d bitten his tongue.

“And what point would that be?” he growled through his teeth.

Smirking, Shownu reloaded another bolt into the gun. “That this isn’t personal. Any last words?”

Jimin said nothing. He only glared up at the man he’d once called “Hyung” years ago.

Shownu aimed the gun a little higher, the point of the bolt glinting off the morning sunlight. “You should take comfort in knowing that you and Taehyung are leaving this world the same way.”

For a moment, clarity sank in the pit of Jimin’s stomach. If Taehyung was dead, then the person who messaged them about Eden was preparing this trap. It was all a setup!

“Goodbye, Park Jimin.”

11:27AM

It was cold.

His body felt so cold.

He’d been alone for about five minutes now. Maybe six. His math might have been wrong.

Jimin’s fingers curled around the crossbow bolt that was lodged in his stomach. He felt the sticky trail of his blood leaking from his mouth beginning its descent along his neck. His body forced him to cough involuntarily, the pain around his stomach and back now a phantom ache humming along his skin.

Where his body lacked the ability to move, his mind raced – a rapid succession of flash frames. Jimin could only laugh weakly, more blood bubbling from his mouth and raining down on the ground. His body protested against the movements, but he shifted one hand from around the bolt to dig into the pocket of his jeans. Pulling out his phone, he scrolled through his contacts until he found the name he was looking for.

The phone rang twice before going to voicemail.

“Yo, this is Kim Taehyung! I’m probably busy, y’know, out livin’ the good life, but leave a message and I’ll think about hittin’ you back up. Later!”

“Ya, Kim Taehyung,” Jimin croaked, spitting up more blood as he chuckled, “you son of a bitch. How could you just take off for the gates of the Underworld alone? Huh?” Tears formed in his eyes as he stared listlessly into the sky. “Don’t even think about stirring up a bunch of shit without me. Jungkook and I will be there soon.”

With what strength he had left, Jimin hung up the call. His arm dropped limply at his side, the phone sliding from his fingers to rest in the grass. He blinked hot tears to clear his vision.

Huh , he thought as the tears continued to fall, strange. I don’t feel cold anymore.

As his vision began to focus, he saw the large expanse of sky above him. Jimin tilted his head, as though he were looking at it for the first time in his life. There was a sense of wonderment that lingered in his mind, the feeling in his body numbing slowly from his feet up.

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.”

Forgive me, my brothers...

And then he felt it. Warmth. He could feel the warmth of the sun on not just his face, but his entire body. Jimin smiled, closing his eyes slowly so that he could bask in it fully. The thought of Eden making it to safety passed through his mind as a soft breeze brushed against him.

...we will meet again, I promise.

Make It Right [BTS Mafia AU]

Plot: “It’s always darkest before the dawn…” It’s a dog-eat-dog world in Seoul, South Korea. One has to dwell in the shadows in order to reach for the light. What are you willing to sacrifice in order to feel the sunlight on your face? What will it take to drag you back into darkness? How long will the journey be to make it right?

Rating: NC-17 // NSFW

Genre: Series | Mafia!AU | Crime!AU | Angst | Romance/Fluff | Smut

Pairings: Jin x OC | Taehyung/Hoseok x OC | Yoongi/Jungkook x OC

Warnings: Graphic Violence (bloody violence), Heavy Language, Angst, Slow Burn, Smut

Additional Warnings: Graphic depiction of physical violence, captured/kidnapping, major character death

Previous Chapters: Prologue 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53

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AN: We’re almost at the finished line and I’m going to hurt your feelings all over again. Trust me...I’m hurting pretty bad. Anyway, just know that I love you all. Please feel free to critique, review, and like! 

Chapter 53: First Love

“Don’t let go of my hand forever, I won’t let go of you again either.”

© thebiasrekkers (Admin E). All rights reserved. Reposting/modifying our work is prohibited. Translations are not allowed. Plagiarism/stealing is not tolerated by any means. Legal action will be taken in instances of theft.

11:22 AM

Providence kept Min Yoongi from behind the wheel. There was a good chance that he would have killed both Seokjin and himself in the process. Instead, he focused all his attention on his cell phone. There was an ever-mounting feeling of dread as they sped their way toward Namyangju. Jungkook and Jimin were closer when it came to distance so he knew that they would arrive there first. It was his own fault for being so stubborn. Yoongi insisted that Changkyun wouldn’t have been stupid enough to keep Eden so close to Seoul. But he also wasn’t dumb enough to put her on a plane and fly her off to another country when there were CCTV cameras all over the place.

Taehyung tracked Changkyun all the way to Jeju Island, persistent in wanting to keep his ear to the ground and figure out any clues. Again, Yoongi believed it to be a fruitless endeavor. The Jade Fangs were too smart for that. They wouldn’t give anything away.

Call him a fool when they all received the text from Taehyung with the location of Eden’s whereabouts. Of course, as luck would have it, Yoongi and Seokjin were a full hour away from Gyeonggi Province. Namjoon and Hoseok were an hour and fifteen. Even if they broke all traffic laws, they’d still get there late. Every hour and every minute counted.

She’d already suffered for six days.

Yoongi wasn’t a religious man, but he clasped his hands together – phone pressed between palms – and prayed that they would reach them in time. He prayed that the boys got to her first and they were already meeting them at their agreed location. What patience and willpower he had, he used it to keep himself from shouting at Seokjin to drive faster.

Sensing his urgency, he felt Seokjin push the car even faster. They were almost there, but it worried him that neither Jimin nor Jungkook replied to his texts. Additionally, why hadn’t Taehyung said anything? It was only an hour flight from Jeju back to Seoul. He should have at least landed at the airport by now. Unless there was something else happening that was preventing him from getting to his phone.

The minute they arrived at the abandoned Industrial District, Yoongi burst from the car and took off in a dead run. His eyes quickly scanned the area for the landmark that Jimin told him about earlier. He was thankful that his younger brother had the wherewithal to take a photo, otherwise they would have been running around for ages; a literal needle in a haystack of bullshit.

Seokjin paused near the edge of the road leading to the heart of the industrial district. Yoongi ran past him, pausing long enough to see that his eyes were trained to the ground. He slowed his run until he came to a complete stop.

“Hyung, what is it?”

He watched as Seokjin knelt on one knee to inspect the ground. “…there’s tire tread here.” He touched it. “It’s warm.”

Yoongi frowned. “Maybe it was the boys?” His heart hammered in his chest. “Maybe they got Eden out.”

Seokjin stood while shaking his head. He pointed further down the road. “Jimin’s car is there. They took a different route than us and parked as far out of sight as they could.”

“Then where the hell are they?” He growled out the question, even though he knew Seokjin didn’t have an answer.

Again, Yoongi pulled out his phone and jogged around various streets to locate the blue barrels by the reeds that Jimin mentioned. He was able to take a full five steps before a scream tore through the silence. Yoongi felt his heart plummet to his gut before it shot back up and into his throat. He glanced over his shoulder to his older brother, seeing the look of fear clouding over Seokjin’s face.

“J-Jimin-ah,” murmured Yoongi.

His legs felt frozen solid. He couldn’t move. Seokjin moved instead, tearing through the street and disappearing into the reeds.

What was happening?

What the hell was even happening right now?

11:26 AM

He tripped.

He tripped and fell into the grass.

That was how Seokjin found Jungkook’s body.

When he managed to recover from the fall, he had to rub his eyes furiously to make sure that what he was seeing was, in fact, reality. Jungkook’s body lay lifeless, but there was a peaceful expression on his face. He was smiling, despite the blood smears coated around his mouth and chin. Seokjin could see where stains of tears were dried around his cheeks and eyes.

His gaze lowered to the gash in his stomach. He could surmise that this was what caused his end. His jacket was bunched near his hip, presumably where he was trying to stop the flow of blood. Jungkook’s eyes were still open, as if staring into the sky and greeting someone before being pulled from life.

Seokjin crawled slowly toward his little brother, his hands shaking violently. He hadn’t even realized he’d begun crying until he pulled Jungkook into his arms, cradling him like a child. Seokjin slowly brushed his brother’s hair out of his eyes before smoothing his fingers down and over his eyelids, closing them. If not for the blood around his mouth, Jungkook would have appeared to be asleep.

He wrapped his arms around him, pulling his bloodied body against his chest. Seokjin felt a sound bubbling around his chest, a sound he’d been suppressing for several seconds. But as he held his brother’s cold, dead body, he knew he couldn’t hold it in anymore.

Seokjin lifted his head to the sky, releasing a sorrowful wail.

He screamed until his throat hurt.

And then he screamed again.

He cried until he felt like his soul was weeping inside of himself.

But he knew it would not be heard by any deity.

Because they’d already reclaimed what was theirs.

But that didn’t mean that it was fair.

11:28 AM

“Seokjin Hyung!”

Yoongi stumbled as he walked around, holding his phone as he continued to try to find the barrels near the reeds. He forced himself to remain focused, ignoring the painful cry that he heard coming from the inner sanctum of the reeds. Yoongi refused to follow, maintaining his current course. Jimin was reliable and he would never let them down. He was the steadfast rock; always present and always ready to have anyone’s back should they trip and fall.

“HYUNG!”

He heard Seokjin in the distance as he continued to cry. With every step Yoongi took, he felt what strength he had seeping out of him and soaking into the ground. For a moment, his vision watered and he quickly shook his head to regain focus. His hearing was muffled under the heavy thrum of his heart battering against his chest.

This was a nightmare.

This wasn’t real.

“HYUUUUNG!”

Yoongi could barely hear his own voice. He tripped over his feet and tumbled to the ground, catching the concrete under his palms. He didn’t care that he probably had cuts under his fingers. All he could do was curl one hand into a fist and pound it into his chest over and over. He tried to quiet his heart; to keep it from telling him the one truth that he had absolutely no desire to hear.

Something snapped in the brush, causing Yoongi to jerk his head in the direction of the sound. He reached toward his leg, retrieving his boot knife, preparing to strike anyone who dared to come at him in hostility. But as the reeds swayed back and forth, he heard desperate and labored breathing pulsing from within. Seconds later, Eden burst through the thicket – looking like the very image of one who was being chased by the devil.

She didn’t seem to notice him, her eyes darting in every direction before she started running across and away from him. Yoongi’s ability to speak was momentarily absent, his eyes moving along the path she was half running, half stumbling toward.

The blue barrels were several yards away.

Scrambling to his feet, Yoongi dropped his knife and sprinted toward Eden. It wasn’t hard to close the distance between them and he didn’t have to look at her long to see the state she was in. Her eyes were wild – practically manic. She had one thing on her mind and one thing only. No one would stop her, but he had to try.

Yoongi slammed into Eden, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close. She immediately screamed, flailing her arms and legs in every direction. Sweat ran in rivulets along her face and neck, mixing in with the dirt and blood that coated her body. Yoongi leaned back just as she swung to hit his face, to scratch and maim and perform every act possible to obtain her freedom; like a wild beast.

“Eden!”

She screamed harder, crying. She hadn’t heard him.

“Eden, it’s me!”

Eden ceased her attack for a handful of seconds, her body shaking as he watched the adrenaline wash over her. She craned her neck to look at Yoongi. The fear and anxiety that seemed to cloud over her eyes visibly lifted. Her dry lips parted, as though she were about to say something, but then tears formed, and she began to cry instead.

“Y-Yoongi-ah,” she hiccupped, curling her fingers into his shoulders, “Y-Yoongi…”

Yoongi felt Eden’s weight collapsing against him and with as frayed as his own nerves were, he couldn’t maintain standing for very long. His legs gave out, but he continued to hold Eden close as they both hit the ground together. Wrapping one arm around her waist, he held Eden in his lap – cradling her as she continued to cry into his chest.

He couldn’t say anything to comfort her. What could he say to ease her sorrow? Yoongi thought of something to say, but it all sounded so contrived in his head. So he simply held her, cradling the back of her head with one hand as he rocked back and forth on the ground.

His eyes focused on the frayed bits of fabric around her shoulder where bruises and welts remained. She trembled in increments versus constantly which, in a way, worried Yoongi. As she continued to weep into his jacket, his gaze shifted to the place she’d come from. There was a trail of blood that followed her - scattered between shaking footprints and droplets. He furrowed his brows, his eyeline moving back to her beaten and battered form in his lap.

What he believed to have been her tears soaking his clothing was actually her blood. He gasped, pulling Eden away to get a better look at her. Trails of crimson seeped along her legs and arms and as he pulled his hand away, he saw it smeared with blood that wept from her back. 

“Eden! Hey!”

Yoongi shook her gingerly and her head rolled back along her shoulder. He didn’t think it was possible, but her olive complexion appeared slightly discolored. Her mouth opened and closed, as if attempting to obtain moisture from somewhere. Yoongi had no water to give her and the weight of that guilt caused tears to brim around his eyes. 

The sound of another vehicle approaching barely registered to him. The tires squealed and two pairs of doors slammed and desperately thudding feet grew closer. He didn’t have to look to know that it was Hoseok and Namjoon. 

“Eden-ssi!” he heard Namjoon say as he skidded down to one knee beside them. Yoongi brushed some of her hair from her forehead. “Yoongi Hyung, is she--”

“I don’t know,” he said quietly, “Jin Hyung is somewhere in the reeds. I don’t know where Jungkook and Jimin are.”

“We’ll find them,” Hoseok reassured.

Yoongi barely heard them running off in the direction of where he’d heard Seokjin’s screams. They wouldn’t be greeted with anything pleasant. It would break them.

No. They were already broken.

“Y-Yoongi-ah…”

Eden’s voice, frail and raspy, sounded like a gong in his head - rattling through his entire body. He slowly turned to look down at her, blinking at the weak smile she gave him. Canting his head slightly, Yoongi found himself momentarily amazed at the look she was giving him. He couldn’t remember a time when she appeared so gentle - so unguarded.

She slowly reached into her pocket and dug around for something. He wanted to stop her, but her calm expression prevented him from doing so. Pulling her hand from her pocket, she held her fist out to him. Using the hand that wasn’t holding her upright, he moved to situate his palm under where her hand was as she opened it. 

In his hand was a bloody necklace chain, a single band looped through it. He didn’t understand the meaning behind what she was holding until he saw Eden’s hand move to her own neck. She pulled at the pendant dangling from the chain, breaking it, and then placed the item into his hand alongside the other one. It was a ring.

It was a pair of rings.

Absolute certainty crashed through Yoongi’s heart, shattering what remained. Her fingers curled into his palm and over the two rings; he could feel her arm shaking from the strength it took to perform such a simple action. His vision continued to blur with the onset of tears, watching her hand move from his to lift and reach for his face.

He didn’t have the mind to reach back.

“I...forgive you, Yoongi-ah,” she whispered gently, “I’m...sorry...I didn’t sooner.”

Yoongi coughed out the sob he’d been pushing down into his stomach. His tears fell in succession, the ache in his heart shifting fully to the front and twisting in his chest. He didn’t have to be told what was about to happen. But that didn’t mean he had to be accepting of it. 

“No,” he said, his voice barely audible over the sound of his heart jack hammering into his ribs, “Nononono...NO! You can’t!” 

Yoongi succumbed to the selfishness in his heart, pulling Eden hard against him as he resumed rocking her back and forth in his arms. Something akin to a death knell reverberated through his chest as he cried, burying his face into the crown of her head. The childish part of him, the part that drew up a sliver of hope as though from an empty well, believed if he clung to her hard enough that she couldn’t be whisked away. 

That she wouldn’t leave him to drown in the suffering that was sure to come.

He could hear Namjoon and Hoseok calling for their brothers. Seokjin didn’t call back, but something inside of Yoongi knew this was the end. This was the end for the brothers he lost in the reeds. What Hoseok and Namjoon would find would only result in the same sorrowful cry he heard coming from Seokjin earlier.

The same sound erupting from him as he practically crushed Eden into his chest.

“Eden, you can’t…” His voice was muffled in the matted mess of her curls. “...you can’t do this.” As tears continued to fall, he could feel oncoming sobs wracking through him while rocking Eden like a sleeping child. “You can’t forgive me for all the wrongs I’ve done against you. You can’t deny me the opportunity to make up for all the things I’ve neglected to do for you...to make it up to you.”

His hand slowly stroked along the back of her head, pressing his fingers along the nape of her neck. Even though he knew she was gone, Yoongi still spoke as if she could still hear him; that her spirit had not yet departed from this world.

Somewhere in the distance, he heard the anguished sounds of his brothers. They must have found their other brother. Yoongi shifted his body so that he could rest his knees on the ground. He refused to remove Eden from him, instead maneuvering his body so that he could lift her in his arms like a groom carrying his blushing bride from the festivities of friends and family as they left the chapel.

He carried her in the way he’d longed to carry her, but knew that the opportunity was granted to someone else. To his youngest brother that he knew was gone.

Yoongi walked away from the reeds, his legs heavy with guilt and not from the weight of the woman he loved in his arms. His first love; his last love. 

Jungkook-ah, he thought, eyes staring listlessly ahead as he moved, you decided to take her with you, huh? Yoongi’s eyes moved to stare at Eden’s face; her eyes closed and peaceful, as if she was sleeping. It wasn’t fair but he knew he didn’t have a right to complain. I guess I can’t blame you. Forgive your Hyung for not being able to see you off.

Just as he made it to the car, he paused to look up at the sky - the sunlight blinding him to the point where he was left with no choice but to close his eyes.

...until we meet again in the next life.