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flowerwrites06 · 2 years

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lion and the fox III — jjk

Plot: In a turbulent world of crime and intrigue, a fiery journalist makes an unlikely alliance with one of the country’s most notorious bosses. Pairing(s): Mafia Boss!Jungkook x Journalist!OC (Name: Belle) Rating: G | PG | M | R 18+ Type: Drabble | Oneshot | Two Parter | Series Word Count: 7.8k Genre: Mafia AU | Vintage (1940′s vibes) AU Tags & Warnings: crime, violence, sexual content, forced prostitution, mild scenes of harassment, some misogynistic behaviour, mentions of war, heavy mentions of drug use, infidelity. Authors Note: another part out! sorry I didn’t post this at 10 pm like promised, I had a dinner to go to. For some reason, my family suddenly decided to make random plans on saturday the moment I write up a schedule lmaoo hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: Please note that while some historical research has been done for this story, the MAJORITY of it has been altered in some way with creative liberties to match the themes and motifs of the plot.

Every assignment, no matter how detached he tried to make it, was a web of connections. The man in the warehouse had grabbed a prostitute in a brothel which was an investment source for Yeou Pa. These webs were what Taehyung considered luxurious information. He could never attached himself to anything but the webs so he held in the corners of his mind with care. It kept him grounded to the world and allowed him to decide how to carry out each assignment.

The man in the warehouse had to be done quick. No questions asked and no need to create any ruse or backstory. However, the prostitute needed explanations. She may be a blank slate for the Madame to dress up how she wanted but there was still weight in her death. People will still request her and ask what happened, friends in the brothel will wonder, the Madame herself might investigate the loss of a high ranking worker.

Cho No Su was also a well-protected establishment. At least the blind-spots where the man was instructed to go only to be thwarted by a third party. Taehyung took a moment of freedom to wonder who the mysterious rescuer was. Even Master Kim couldn’t seem to be identify who must’ve interrupted the kidnapping. No time for freedom.

Taehyung sharpened his gaze, scanning across the red neon displaying Japanese characters that meant Butterfly Nest. Yeou Pa called their spies butterflies. Except no one knew which ones were the real butterflies though. He padded into the building as regular customer, traditional overcoat with his strawberry blond hair glowing in the golden ambience.

It was a simple building. Almost resembling the entrance to a massage parlor with a receptionist desk in the front. Faux forest setting on the right with a waterfall fountain, sounds of birds chirping to possibly hide the sounds coming from inside. A small aquarium on the left as well glowing in blue. Guards standing at attention at least in his line of vision.

Except there won’t be anyone watching the rooms. Anyone who wasn’t a customer or a worker could not be allowed past the receptionist desk. It seemed unsafe but people who attempt to assault a butterfly are legally ‘dehumanized’ therefore can be killed within the walls and their bodies merely burned somewhere. Lucky for him Taehyung had no intention of dragging on an assault. He never liked having to think about it for too long. Quick kills were his forte.

“Here is the pamphlet. Just let me know who you want.” The receptionist smiled, lines on the corners of her eyes crinkling as she did.

Taehyung smiled back and walked to the sitting area as he opened the pamphlet. Master Kim didn’t know what the butterfly’s real name was but they had an alias. That was all he looked for. She was the first name really. But his heart jumped seeing the face. He kept a neutral expression despite the way his stomach kept twisting and lurching like he was going to be sick. The sounds of the birds chirping almost made his ear bleed from how loud it sounded.

It couldn’t be.

Her hair was a wine red and eyes were a sky blue. She looked different but he could never miss that look. The alluring look she’d have on her face without even trying, entrancing anyone who walked her way. Taehyung remembered her saying she wanted to succeed in the city. Before the war, he remembered. No. He can’t remember. He shouldn’t remember anything before he was a Tiger. He was a Tiger. No past. No memories.

Taehyung looked down at the alias to bring himself back to work. Angel. He swallowed down his heart trying to escape through his throat. This was his assignment. Bringing the pamphlet, he placed his index finger on the picture. The receptionist raised her brows clearly shocked by someone paying that much but Master Kim always gave him a large budget for these situations.

He paid the amount and was led into the designated room. It had a traditional Japanese design. Folding screen printed with cherry blossoms on the left, a closed bathroom on the right, floor mattress just near the center and floor table with a tea also printed in pink blossoms.

The door closed behind him. Taehyung watched the butterfly walk out of the folding screen. A modernized kimono loosely hanging off her body, lined with charcoal fur, her hair still as long as it always was but just colored to perfection. Sky blue contacts flickered up to meet his presence. A smile had already been plastered on her rose tinted lips before it faded seeing his face, a sense of recognition across her expression.

Taehyung needed to be quick. No questions asked. He should move his fingers to the weapon and do the deed. But his body froze. Eyes watched the way the wheels in Angels mind began to move, remembering every crevice of his being. Despite the amber eyes and blond hair, she knew exactly who was standing before her.

“Taehyung?” Her voice cracked, meek and sweet. Blue pupils blurred with tears, padding closer to the figure and examining everything that changed about him. “It’s you?”

Say no. Grab the knife. Do something. Taehyung’s lips quivered a little, fingers curling up into fists as she kept moving close until he could smell the vanilla staining her skin. “A—Theia…” He whispered.

Angel let out a small laugh, tears trickling down her cheeks. In a rush of emotions, she wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her body against his own. “It’s really you.” She sobbed against his shoulder.

Taehyung felt his mind burst in colours he couldn’t even recognize anymore. A sense of warmth travelling through his body, limbs trembling as her embrace tightened around him. He still remembered her name. Her real name. Anantheia Clement. Theia. He called her Theia or Angel. She used Angel. It was too dangerous. She should’ve changed her alias after the attack. His arms still shook but he managed to move them to wrap around her body. A lot more toned than he remembered but warm all the same. “It’s me.”

His name was Kim Taehyung. In this very moment as he answered a question for the first time in years, he wasn’t a Tiger.

Contrary to the scars adorning her body and the deep cut in her thigh, Belle did prefer to go out on field trips for the most part. When she wrote stories Hoseok usually had all the credit for it so in a way, she basically never did anything. Out here in the wide world of physical investigation it was just her. People looked at her face and knew her presence. She loved Hoseok but as his shadow grew bigger, she kept dissipating in the line of sight.

Not tonight. In front of an old alcohol factory stood a black van where Jungkook and a few of his guards stood in place. Belle was a little confused as to why Jungkook decided to come for himself.

“I’ve called the police.” Jungkook stated simply. He had his dress shirt sleeves rolled up and burgundy suspenders still in place, fingers brushing against his own lips.

Belle felt her heart jump to her throat only for a moment before she swallowed it down. “You couldn’t tell me this earlier?” Two of the female guards held up a large cloth to hide her naked body. They opted it was best she wore the outfit within the van so no one could spot her coming out of the mansion. A white, diamond encrusted gown with exposed shoulders and a white fur shawl to keep warm.

He kept his eyes wandering around the van. Even though there wasn’t much to look at and the silver pin on her hair kept glimmering at the corner. “This is an opportunity to dissipate suspicion on Yeou Pa for these rings. If I’m found helping you take down the prostitution ring then they’ll understand I’m not part of the culprits scheme.” Jungkook moved his gaze back when the cloth was pulled away to reveal Belles plump curves now hugging by a dress shimmering like stars in the sky. “Since you’re the one with the most information on Yeou Pa, it shouldn’t be hard to ensure my innocence.”

Belle attempted to hold back a clear glare, pouted red lips looking down at the dress to ensure everything was secure. The plan made sense however. Jungkook couldn’t ask the police to give him information on Holangi Pa because it would only arouse suspicion. Planting a mole and starting a raid at the same time on the same night. Confuse and overwhelm.

“Is it comfortable?” Jungkook took a moment of selfishness to rake his gaze up and down her figure. One of her golden calves sticking out from the slit to show off the white heels.

“As comfortable as a fifty pound dress can get.” Belle sighed, draping the fur shawl over her shoulders. “You can stop staring at me now.”

A soft smirk played on his lips, keeping his eyes fixated on the woman more as a challenge than a relish in beauty. “Getting flustered, sweet lioness?”

“Why would a lioness get flustered at a little fox?” She held her smile like her teeth were fangs ready to pierce into his skin at the given chance.

Excitement jolted in Jungkooks belly. “We’ll be watching from the camera stuck on one of your breast cups. It has audio but we need to rely on your memory too just in case it short circuits.” He gestured to her dress, mentally thanking Rosyne for having her special tailors create such an intricate design. “You ready?”

Belle nodded. She still felt an uncomfortable nudging on her thigh but the painkillers managed to soothe anything past her tolerance. Thankfully whoever she had to interrogate had no interest in nudity.

The explanation for the owners behavior was strange. He likes watching a womans body fully clothed. Not even a breast flash. It’s honestly drawling and a little creepy and I’ve had quickies in playgrounds. She remembered one of the prostitutes telling her.

Van doors opened and Belle made her way towards the entrance of the factory.

There was a forged form folded in her white gloved hands as she stood in the bronze, rusted monster of a building that still smelled like decade old whiskey. Hazel orbs flickered down to the guards stationed at the gates. Tall, suited men who stared at her like a statues. “Session for Master Kobayashi.” She handed them the form.

Cho No Su’s Madame was kind enough to stamp the form as a thank you for protecting one of her butterflies. Technically it wasn’t forged if one didn’t know the inside workings.

The guards took another look at her form before pressing some kind of buzzer on the left for the gates to open. Belle walked through the courtyard, fingers curling around her dress fabric. Encrusted diamonds poked into her palms as the smell of alcohol turned into a nasty taste on her tongue. She must’ve looked like some kind of glimmering ghost in the oil lamp and rusted atmosphere.

A few more guards glistened in sweat led her towards some metal stairs. Steam pushing through some of the old machines like the factory was still working. Maybe it was a ruse. However the blankets and sheets forming a maze on the ground floor spoke a different story. Belle tried not to fixated herself on the scenery below too much. She had to stay strong.

Her emotions had to be airtight for this mission to work. Dirty champagne lights shone through the crated path making her grateful that she wore thick heels. Heat condensated on her skin, a layer of shine forming on her chest and cheeks. None of the guards spoke a word to her. This was a business as usual for them.

The top floor seemed to work purely on these metal bridges. A few control rooms here and there with dirty glass windows showing some watching cameras and writing notes. While others drinking from mugs and watching the scene below. Most of them were smiling. Others were calculating almost.

An eerie reminder popped into her head that this was still a business to some people. As much as Belle felt like vomiting right there and then.

Past another bridge, they now stood in front of a metal door. There was a glass window that looked like it could provide an entire view of the whole ring but once again Belle kept her eyes on the door. No label or name. Just a big, crumbled blob of what used to be sturdy iron. A guard knocked on the door and immediately received a response to enter.

Once the door opened, Belle walked into a normal looking office. Almost resembling Hansuke’s office except the window was on the study table’s left rather than right behind him.

Kobayashi was a stumpy looking man. Grey hair neatly combed back with a face that looked like he was good at running away from things. All his wrinkled fingers adorned in gold rings while a cigar was perched in between his chapped lips. A noticeable tattoo of a fox at the back of his hand that started fading from the longevity or the heat in the factory.

The door closed behind her with a clang. Kobayashi raised his head up to see Belle standing in the center and he smiled. “Ah, yes.” He stood up from his chair, padding towards the girl.

Pungent scent of tobacco touched her nostrils but Belle tried not to wince too much. Instead she decorated a smile on her lips. “What did you want to do today, Master Kobayashi?”

Kobayashi chuckled the way a child would when he got the toy he’d been throwing tantrums for. He strode around her, humming in admiration. “You’re a voluptuous one.” He rasped.

Hot air hit her left shoulder blade from the smoke he blew out. Belle tried not to shiver. “Thank you.”

“Call me Master.”

Belle gulped down, fingers digging into the fur shawl. “Master.”

“I assume your Madame has informed you of my…complications.” Kobayashi took another sharp puff of his cigar. “The boss has been grinding on my ass about this stupid ring.” He scoffed which only formed into a rough, wheezing cough. Clearing his throat obnoxiously, Kobayashi brought a brave hand down the curve of her back. “Fuck, you’re a pretty thing. Where’d your Madame find you?”

“It’s confidential, Master.” Belle gave him a pretty smile. “But is there any way I could relax you?”

“Just stand there.” Kobayashi squeezed her bare shoulder, bloodshot eyes moving to the fake tattoo on the back of his hand. “Have to wear this stupid fucking sigil. Yeou Pa. I remember a time when all the gangs would just stick to their own goddamn business. This new Don wants to take over the whole damn country.”

Belle’s façade almost cracked into concentration. Thankfully Kobayashi had his eyes on other places of her body. She couldn’t answer any of his questions, of course. That wasn’t her purpose here. She was an empty vessel. Simply present to be a pretty view for the man. So he could feel like he had some power over the opposite sex even though his dick couldn’t stand to save his life. Belle wondered if it would still hurt if she cut it. Although she really wanted to cut his hands more than anything else.

“My God.” Kobayashi stood in front of her now. Gaze completely glued on her breasts without a care in the world. Admiring the toy he bought as his hand reached out to grope one of her breasts.

Belle hoped the camera would stay intact no matter how much he touched it.

“Brothels have some serious goddesses.” Kobayashi chortled. “Too bad I can’t enjoy you the way other man can.” He turned on his heel towards the table, smoke flowing to his side. “I have to stay here in Gyeongseong so the great Master Kim can carry out his major plan. Stupid plan. Hasn’t even been a decade since the war, he wants to brew a new one.”

Stains of the mans’ touch still lingered on her body. Belle reminded herself to scrub hard in the shower once she got home. Hoseok always asked her how she stayed calm and fearless in situations like this while investigating. She always answered that this was just another day at work. By standing here, pretending to be a pretty toy for the impotent pig in front of her, she gets her bills paid and helps people.

Belle had more than enough information. Seokjin wanted to take over the country and he wanted to start with Gyeongseong. There were bits that she could feel were missing but the problem was she couldn’t ask too much. “It must be hard on you, Master. Having to do all the work for them.”

People like Kobayashi didn’t prefer questions. Not from people like her. They liked blind agreements. It made them talk more. “It is a nuisance but the young man has a way of doing things. Fascinating way of doing things to ensure they go his way. He could make an entire city go insane if he wanted to.”

Shivers travelled under her sweat-glistened skin, silver pin feeling a little heavy against her skull. “You admire him.”

“Oh yes.” Kobayashi walked towards the window. Eyes casually looking down at his business, cigar placed back between his chapped lips. “For a Tiger to enter a Fox’s territory without no one so much as batting an eyelash.” He scoffed. “It’s almost laughably clever.”

Belle narrowed her gaze. Metal doors clanged with a slight muffle, coming from outside the office. Eyes flickered to the window and caught a glimpse of the factory entrance doors opening with a few guards frantically trying to fight them off. The door barged open behind her with a heavying guard.

“It’s the police, Master!” He breathed out.

Kobayashi furrowed his brows, trembling as he stamped his cigar into an ashtray.

“Why would the police be here?” Belle tried to look baffled, fiddling with her fingers. “I thought this place was secret.”

“Shut up.” Kobayashi squeaked. In the burst of screaming and yelling from the door, he pushed past her and walked out of the office. “Where’s my fucking car?”

Belle rolled her eyes with a sigh, walking towards the window with a braver face now. She saw the blankets and sheets being ripped and taken down. The victims moved out of the factory in a scurry while the guards were probably trying their best to run towards their Master rather than trying to preserve what was already lost. “He’s going out to a side entrance.” She spoke loud enough for the tiny camera to capture it.

Another day at work done.

Reality felt like a bubble he was observing from outside right now. It felt more comfortable that way. Pretending he grew up in a normal way and could talk to her normally. Taehyung sat at the floor table with Angel in front of him. Anantheia to him. No one else must’ve known that name anymore. He always thought she’d end up becoming a famous actress or a singer travelling abroad but their upbringings were not privileged.

“Do you always come to a brothel?” Angel asked, not intending to be judgmental but more curious. She wanted to ask so many questions. Too many swirled in her mind. Instead she poured some tea for the both of them and watched Taehyung think his answer over. “You know I’m in no position to judge.”

“It’s not that, I—” Taehyung chuckled nervously. “It’s actually my first time.” Brothels weren’t really a prime source for his assignments. Especially Cho No Su being the exclusive organization it is, only gathering clientele that could pay the ridiculous prices. “My—friend paid for it. A gift in his own way.”

Angel smiled. “Yes, we have a few of that.” She brought one knee to her chest, the accessories in her hair tinkling as she moved. “You’ve grown taller.” She grinned again. Trying so hard to bring some kind of normalcy with the strange way they’ve reunited. “And your hair…” With a breath of courage, she reached out and touched a strawberry blond strand.

Taehyung forced himself not to flinch. He was too dirty for her to touch him. Like the blood on his hands drenched every inch of his body now, prone to staining her kind hands if she touched him too much. The reality bubble looked severed and he felt as if he was already naked. “You changed your hair too.”

She hummed although not too happily. “Procedure every time Cho No Su is in some kind of danger.” Angel brought her hands back to her own form, squeezing her own arms to forget the heavy breathing against her face from that night.

“Cho No Su is in danger?”

“Not anymore but there was one night…a member was attacked.” Angel rested her chin on her lifted knee, not wanting to receive any questions from Taehyung if she revealed that the member was her. “She’s okay thankfully.”

“That’s good.” Taehyung faced the cup of tea, watching the steam flow up but not drinking it. He wanted his stomach empty during assignments.

Fingers grew courageous again as she moved to trace unintelligible patterns at the veins of Taehyungs hand. “I can still do what you came here for.” Angel muttered. “If you want.”

He gulped, feeling his taint staining her beautiful fingers. “You don’t have to do anything.” Taehyung attempted a smile but his muscles felt overwhelmed by the action. It’s not like Angel would believe such a fake grin anyway. “I’m just glad to see you.”

There were things being left unsaid between them. Angel had been trained long enough to know that this was true. Except she couldn’t read his eyes like a book nor could she ask him extremely personal questions. As far as their friendship is concerned, it was still old and withered. They were different people now. The feeling of softness was only from the remanence of what once was; a nostalgic attraction. “I’m glad to see you too.”

Taehyung left the room after that. If he stayed any longer then Seokjin might have him called over and the whole assignment would lose its edge.

Across the hallway, he kept his ears sharp for a room without moaning or rustling. Palm rested on one of them which only had a female humming on the other side. With a sigh, he opened the door to a slight gap and walked inside.

A woman with green hair and amber eyes looked his way. Half-naked and quick to smile thinking he was a customer. The butterflies must not get warnings of who enters the room. They just have to do their job. Taehyung hoped she understood that he had to do the same.

Padding further into the room, Taehyung reached into his pocket. His traditional cloak flowing through the air he left behind. Steel blade brandished, shining in the golden glow of the room and the smile disappeared. Except she didn’t get the chance to scream.

The prepared tea set left ignored as the blood oozed on the floor mats.

“So he wants to take over the entire country’s underworld?” Jungkook muttered solemnly after Rosyne pulled out the tape. Hands gripped at the edge of the dark wooden table, back resting against it as his head remained low to focus on his leather shoes. They kept it a private meeting.

Yoongi sat on the leather couch next to the bookshelf where the entrance door was. Freshly lit cigarette burning in between his lips and a crème dress shirt. Belle was now in more comfortable clothing, a burgundy skirt with a white blouse. Her hair still in the previous style without the heavy pin while her makeup seeped into her skin perfectly, leaving a mild glow. She sat on one of the clientele chairs.

“Seokjin was always the ambitious brother.” Rosyne spoke. The bouncy red curls now relaxed on her head, easy for her to run her fingers through it in slight frustration. “The eldest Kim decided against the exemption, didn’t he?”

Jungkook hummed unable to connect why Rosyne had to ask the question. “Died during combat.”

“That’s not confirmed.”

“Why do you ask, Rosie?” Yoongi rasped, smoke flowing freely from his lips.

“Motives.” Rosyne held onto the tape with care as she usually did with evidence. Placing it in a wooden box on the table and locking it, she walked over to the second clientele chair to relax her aching feet. “Your father started doing deals around the time of the war. Which included selling things to the army. Faulty things.”

Jungkook tried not to wince at the memory too much. There was a time of pure desperation when his father would sell defected weapons and untested ‘pep’ pills to the soldiers. “You think Seokjin’s brother was a victim of it?”

Rosyne shrugged. “A lot of soldiers were. It’s not impossible that he might take it out on you.”

“That doesn’t explain the whole country though.” Belle chipped in with a gentle voice. “If it was just a personal vendetta against Yeou Pa then he would just target you, right?”

Yoongi coughed lightly, cigarette loosely placed between his fingers. “What if he’s trying to eliminate Japanese influence? He can’t take over the government or military base. But if he restores Korean influence in the underworld—”

“It might create a domino effect.” Jungkook nodded, suspenders hanging by the sides of his hips. “But then he’d target Busan first. That’s Takahashi territory, it’s the strongest Japanese influenced base.”

“Maybe it’s all of it put together.” Rosyne rested back against the chair.

The group silenced for a few moments. Jungkook moved his attention towards Belle in his process of thought. Though he knew Hoseok might be better at reading her expression, he could guess that the wheels were turning furiously. Her tinted lips moving to form words but no sound was coming out. Hazel eyes wandering every which way, not looking up but still brimming with questions—and perhaps some answers. “Let’s hear it then.” He spoke softer this time.

Belles gaze flickered up, eyes wider than he’d ever seen them making her look adorable. “What?”

“You have something.” Jungkook folded his arms over his chest.

“It’s—a problematic assumption.” Belle pressed her lips together, trying to quickly come up with a proper way to word her suspicions. “But what if the reason Seokjin isn’t targeting Hebi Pa—is because they already have someone on in the inside?” Her heart started pattering against her ribcages. The last thing she wanted was to start a false rumor but this just felt far too plausible with the information they have. “That means they’ll have to keep away from the gang just in case Takahashi starts an investigation.”

“A spy in Hebi Pa?” Jungkooks’ brows furrowed.

“If Seokjin really wants to take over the entire country then he needs your alliance to–weaken somehow.” Belle waved her hands around, somehow allowing the movements to structure her own thoughts. “He can’t take down two gangs at once. He’s smart, I’m assuming so he must’ve figured that out by now.”

“So let’s say the spy theory is correct…” Yoongi gestured towards Belle. “They would have to plant them high up in the ranks. Extremely high.”

“Does Takahashi have a friend he’s been talking to?” Rosyne added.

Jungkook made a noise of disagreement, shifting from one foot to the other. “He’s horrible at keeping his mouth shut but he actually knows how to keep business things confidential. Even with lovers.”

Belle hesitated for a moment, biting down her bottom lip before sighing. “What if the spy is involved in a more delicate situation?” Her voice was low and perhaps even a little reluctant despite knowing that this might help in narrowing down the investigation.

“Delicate…how?” Jungkook knew where she was heading. Maybe his guess was wrong but he saw the way she tried to hold herself back, fingers fidgeting. Usually Belle would confidently spew facts like all the times before. But this wasn’t a fact. Not in her mind or in his.

“Alliances are hard to break if you have enough to trade links and connections to keep it sturdy. From my research, Hebi and Yeou Pa don’t have much when it comes to trade. You both share one major associate who owns the largest club chain in Gyeongseong. Even then that was by his accord, not you or Takahashis’.” Belle shook her head. “But business wise, that’s pretty much all there is, isn’t it?”

Jungkook attempted a small nod.

“Then you have the second link. Inter-syndicate marriage. Between those two links, the marriage is supposed to be the strongest link because it provides heirs to both fortunes.” Belle felt her thigh prickling again. The pill was slowly being eaten away in the rush of anxiety and the true pains of her wound arising back again. “But you don’t have any heirs…in this specific case, that weakens the alliance.”

“Get to the spy part.” Jungkook spoke through slightly gritted teeth even though he felt a tug in his belly when he did.

“Your marriage is out of convenience. As much as we’d like to think it’s for the good of everything, dubious consent for an arranged marriage creates problems. Especially if your gang’s survival is relying on it.” Belle expected the hardened look on the mans’ face. “Is there any possibility that one of you is having an affair? With someone you don’t completely know anything about?”

Despite knowing that something like this was going explode on his face at some point, Jungkook still felt a burn under his skin. “You just get braver and braver the longer you stay here, don’t you?” He narrowed his gaze. “Went on a couple of missions and now you think you have the right to accuse me and my wife for cheating with a spy?”

Belle tightened her jaw. “I’m only addressing the possibilities.”

“Here’s a possibility.” Jungkook moved forward, grabbing on the arms of the chair Belle was sitting on. Leaning in until the remanence of tobacco on his breath filled her nostrils. “As far information is concerned, you’re the one with the most knowledge on Yeou Pa and who knows even Hebi Pa.” His voice rung low as if he was speaking straight from his gut. “How do I know you’re not just trying to get a few seconds of power from all this? Since petty little Hansuke won’t even allow your name in your own articles—”

“Jungkook—” Yoongi warned but the other didn’t flinch.

Belle kept her posture straight, unwavering as she locked onto Jungkooks rough gaze.

“Hoseoks’ the pillar you always have to rest on…just to feel relevant.” He tilted his head, mocking whisper laced with venom.

“And Gaia’s the pillar you have to stand on.” Belle replied simply causing the death-like silence in the room. “I do want your gang to crumble to pieces, Jeon. I want to take a picture of you holding the broken, pathetic remnants in your sorry hands.” She seethed. “But right now, there’s a man out there who wants to be a single ruler to a whole country’s underworld. There’s a high possibility that either you or Gaia has been giving information to a spy without knowing. For once…you’re the lesser evil.”

Smoke could’ve come out of Jungkooks ears at this point as he closed in on her, noses touching before a harsh grip pulled him away to proper distance. Yoongis’ disappointed face meeting his.

“Like it or not, Yeou Pa would’ve been done for if Belle decided take her information to the grave.” Yoongi patted Jungkooks chest. “So you can angrily fuck each other later. Right now we have a possible spy leeching out information from a blind-spot.” He sucked in another puff of smoke. “We’ll narrow down the investigation to both Gaia and your whereabouts. I’m not saying you’re easy talkers but in a moment of weakness, you’re still humans. Something can always slip.”

Her fingers ached from gripping onto her skirt too tight, trying to hold in the deeply heavy breaths forcing out of her lungs. Belle didn’t look up at Jungkook after Yoongis’ last word. Even though for a few moments, she could feel his gaze on him. Heat trailed down the back of her neck as the traces of tobacco and cologne still lingered around her personal space. She knew bringing up the subject was going to rip the fabric of civilization even more between them. It couldn’t be helped now.

Morning arrived with more trouble that they wanted. Belle had gone back to work with Hoseok in Saja Ilbo when both the gang and media company received troubling news from Cho No Su. Autumn air just barely flowed while the sun increased in its strength. Jungkook and Yoongi opted to be present together in front of the brothel to pay respects to the Madame.

“Quick knife work.” Yoongi said as a body covered in white sheet was being dragged out of the brothel into the ambulance.

Cho No Su seemed to lose the glamour during the day. Most of the butterflies and junior members looked out from the windows with their faces covered, tears glistening in her eyes at least from where Jungkook could see. The brightness of the sky added no soothing to the dreariness of the establishment.

The Madame Kim Hyuna chose to walk out of the brothel. Bone dry eye with her samurai sword attached to her belt, silver vectors on the black sheath shining like her silky orange hair. A symbol. Showcasing that one death isn’t going to scare her off.

“Kind of you to visit, Jeon.” Hyuna flickered her crimson eyes from Jungkook to Yoongi. “Still single, Min dear?” She tilted her head with a mocking smile.

“Still obsessed with me, Kim?” Yoongi smirked.

Jungkook suppressed the urge to roll his eyes as the ambulance slammed shut a distance away from the brothel entrance. “This isn’t the first time something has happened to your members just this year.” He muttered so only the three of them could hear. “Mind explaining why the hell your establishment is being targeted?”

“It’s not my fucking fault.” Hyuna whispered. “Just come in.” She turned on her heel back into the brothel while the ambulance drove away with the body.

Jungkook and Yoongi followed suit. The inside was warmer than expected but he welcomed it. Following the Madame deep into the establishment, past the rooms which were now heavy with silence or crying from the other side. A flight of stairs led to the top level, glowing in red neon even during the day time with no windows. Just the smell of something vanilla.

The Madame’s office oozed in Japanese design. Tapestry on the right of an old painting with naked women with long black hair bathing. Bamboo plants on the left with a stack of samurai swords and red-tinged wood varnished to glow against the warm lamp lights. “Someone is really starting to piss me off.” Hyuna placed the sword back on the rack before making her way to the study table in the center.

Yoongi closed the door behind him while Jungkook sat down on one of the clientele chairs.

“First the missing cases, grabbing right on my perimeter and now fucking this…” She sighed, her body loosening to show off more of her true feelings. Worry and a hint of fear. “No fucking American seller wants to sell this company cameras otherwise the asshole would be on his damn knees right now.”

“Did it look like an accident?” Jungkook asked.

“No. It was too clean.”

“Assassination.” Yoongi sat down on the second clientele chair. “Did the girl make any enemies?”

“It was her first fucking day.” Hyuna whispered mostly to herself, raking her fingers through her orange locks. “Nineteen and a good kid too. Never complained in her training.”

“You train underaged people here?” Yoongi narrowed his gaze.

“For spy training, dipshit I have some humanity.”

Jungkook sighed. “An assassination on a new kid doesn’t make any sense.” He shook his head, more tangles forming in the web of connections. Connections. “The girl…what’s her name? Angel…the one who was grabbed.”

“It’s Diamond now. Had to change all of their looks and names after the death.” Hyuna explained. “What about her?”

“If there was an assassination scare, high chances it’d be towards her.” He dug into his coat pocket to grab a cigar and his lighter. “Something must’ve happened for the assassin to change his target. Maybe it was a rogue decision.” Jungkook placed the cigar between his lips, flicking the lighter and placing the small flame near the end.

“You think this is still connected to Holangi Pa or something else altogether?” Yoongi turned to Jungkook.

“Holangi Pa? The Tiger heads from Busan?” Hyuna tapped her red painted nails on the wooden surface of her table. “What the fuck do they want?”

“Lots of big things apparently.” Jungkook muttered casually. “But from your brothel in particular, I think they want to tie up loose ends. Except the assassin seemed to have other ideas. They could have a connection.”

“Aren’t these assassins supposed to forget about past connections?” She grimaced.

“They’re supposed to distance from them. But you can’t wipe out memories, can you?” Yoongi spoke. “Something must’ve clicked between the two and he decided to get his job done without having to hurt her.”

“Don’t you think it’s too much of a silly mistake?” Hyuna argued. “Of course he should know that someone might be suspicious if he pulled shit like that.”

“Maybe he wasn’t thinking like an assassin at that moment.” Jungkook remembered Belles words for a moment, bringing that tug back in his belly again. “What if he just assumed no one would look into the fate of a prostitute?” He noticed Hyuna’s fingers curl into a fist against the table. “You’d be surprised at how many people make that mistake.”

“We’re not going to make that mistake, are we?” Hyuna spoke through gritted teeth.

“Of course not.”

“Good.” The Madame sighed. “In exchange, I have something that might be of use to you.”

Jungkooks soft expression turned to concentration again. “For me?”

Hyuna rested back on the leather chair, leaving out a small squeak. “I’m going to send it to Rosyne directly so she can confirm everything for sure. But all I can tell you now is to watch Marionette Hotel.” She pointed at the both of them. “You two are getting too soft for the Takahashi. No one who chooses a fucking snake as their sigil is to be trusted blindly.”

His stomach lurched at the Takahashi name, noticing Yoongi shift in his seat, clearly having the same feelings. That name slowly turned into somewhat of an anxiety inducer. Like the very first time they initiated the alliance, diving into desperation to ensure Yeou Pa stayed in its power stance. “Marionette Hotel?” The only building that didn’t have Yeou Pa guards. Fucking stupid.

The Madame held her palm up. “I’m not going to be the one explaining it all to you. It’s too fucking personal even for me and I train spies.”

Jungkook didn’t even have to look at Yoongi to realise what he was thinking too. Belle’s suspicions were right and they may be screwed.

Jungkook arrived back home, his clothes pungent from tobacco. He smoked four already after hearing the news on Marionette Hotel. It made sense. If Gaia wanted to go anywhere to unwind, it would be there. But that didn’t confirm that she was liaising with anyone.

Yoongi went back to his estate to take care of putting extra security in Cho No Su. Leaving him to hope for a few more minutes of calm.

If he could somehow avoid his dear wife, Jungkook would breathe a little easier. The one who came into view was Belle. She sat in the center courtyard, surrounded by pages and writing some notes. She wore a pretty dress of soft yellow and peppered with tiny periwinkle flowers. Her face was glowing under the mellow autumn sunlight.

Belle saw him before he could say anything. She quickly stood up. “How did the meeting go?”

“The girl will be buried properly. Hyuna always makes sure of it.” Jungkook waved for a servant to prepare some drinks. “Do you always hand-write your notes?” He gestured.

Belle’s eyes widened again like they always do when she’s confused. It was a rare sight but Jungkook found it ever endearing. “I don’t have a typewriter in my house.” She shook her head. “There’s only so much I can do with the one in Saja Ilbo.”

“Why don’t you have a typewriter?” His brows furrowed.

She lifted her shoulders. “I can’t afford one. Journalists like me get paid half of what journalists like Hoseok would.”

The servants returned with drinks, placing a tray in the centre. Jungkook poured a cup of tea of Belle.

Jungkook blinked softly. He nearly forgot that even talented people like Belle were pushed back due to social standing. “It’s too bad you’re not a journalist for me.” He traced the brim of his cup. “You’d get paid twice as much as your boss.”

“Are you trying to hire me?” Belle smirked. Deep hazel eyes pulled him in like a sailor to a siren.

If he didn’t have the slightest ounce of self-control, an agreement may have escaped him. A smile did escape. “You’ve done pretty good work for me so far.”

Her smirk spread into a proper smile, making her face glow like a pearl. “You can read through my resume later.” She looked down and began to ruffle through papers. “I have something we can work on until the investigation is over.”

Jungkook felt a pull of emptiness when she stopped looking at him. “What is it?”

“I suggest that Saja Ilbo should publish positive reviews and articles in your favor.” Belle gestured to a few papers with her scribbling. Jungkook noticed some of them were drafts of articles regarding Yeou Pa. “Since you have a few dozen charity organizations, you can push more movements and flood the media with your good deeds.”

“Isn’t that pandering a little?”

“It’ll only be Hoseok’s writing.” How easily she was able to name Hoseok when her own words were lovingly scribbled on those papers. “And it’ll be done with control. People get distracted easily and they will be distracted well enough for us to get our bearings.”

They sat in comfortable silence for a moment. Jungkook took a stray thought, pretending that nothing else was happening in his life. There was comfort in watching Belle calmly sip tea, wearing a simple knitted top and floral scarf. Her curls were soft like it was a casual Sunday. Jungkook wished it would last a little longer but he knew work still had to be done.

“Did Hyuna say something else to you?”

Jungkook had so easily forgotten that he had another job which didn’t involve talking and relaxing with Belle. “She said that there was a lead on Marionette Hotel.”

Belle stopped mid-drink. “That’s a Takahashi building.”

“Rosyne’s going to give us a confirmation soon.” Jungkook nodded, attempting to hide his distress somewhere behind a neutral expression. “You don’t want to gloat?” He raised a brow.

“No.” Belle crossed her arms over her chest, relaxing back on the chair. “I needed some confirmation too. Are you prepared for what you might hear?”

“It was inevitable if it is true.” Jungkook waved his hand.

Her expression softened. “Do you also—”

“Once. I saw Gaia with Hebi Pa’s consigliere and I wanted to get even.” Jungkook remembered the girl’s face. She was an heiress of some sort with pretty red hair. She had a slender form and her noises were a little too exaggerated. Jungkook assumed the heiress knew who he was and knew a boss’s mistress got more attention than the wife. “I didn’t even know the girl’s name.”

Curiosity glimmered. “So Gaia has done this before.”

“Of course she has.” Jungkook chuckled. “Why do you think I was being petty?”

Belle gave him that look again. The deepened gaze that stripped him down to his darkest secrets, forcing him to expose his vulnerabilities. “Do you love her?”

“No.” Jungkook knew this for a long time but a part of him still twinged when he said it. The statement reminded him that he was stuck in a marriage that meant little in terms of romance. “It’s—it’s a power struggle rather than love. An affair that’s hidden holds unnecessary power.”

Belle hummed. “It does.” Her voice grew incredibly soft. “Perhaps next time you should have an affair at the ready just in case.”

Jungkook smirked. “Are you volunteering?”

She scoffed. “Like you’d be able to court me.”

“Don’t challenge me.”

Seokjin liked drinking gold-speckled rum in autumn evenings. His stone garden had a pretty grey tinge and tree leaves danced. Some gently landed at his feet. It was the only thing that calmed him. The cold air paired perfectly with the dark burn down his throat.

The newspapers for the week had been piled in front of him. Saja Ilbo posted a plethora of articles complimenting Yeou Pa. The people jumped happily on the train to support their beloved figure, Jungkook. Each and every one of their charitable deeds plastered each headline, letting approval bloom to all corners of the city.

“You’ve read the papers then?” Akira muttered, sitting on the arm of his wicker chair. Her blue silk robe were just barely clinging onto her form.

Seokjin outstretched his hand, hooking it around her waist. “Saja Ilbo. Tanaka Hansuke’s company.”

Akira caressed the side of his neck, leaning on his head. If it wasn’t the garden, her small gestures of affection brought a wash of comfort in his belly. “A familiar name.”

“It is.” Seokjin knew Hansuke claimed to be neutral. The man was far too cowardly to expose anything of substance to his public. Was this his pathetic way of pandering to one gang? He must’ve known the tension between the syndicates and hid under the most attractive one. “Might be time to pull up some old files on our mighty Lion.” He stared up at his wife.

She was still glowing from her nightly routine and her smile was tender. Seokjin knew that smile of determination. “It’d be my pleasure.”

The Lion would be done with soon enough.

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