Family Ties | JJK

45: Pandora's Box

With the name the atmosphere drops, Jimin slips out a strangled gasp from behind shaking hands.

'Of course, then it all made sense. I knew the police weren't going to help us, the moment we sat down in front of them we were betrayed, they probably made a call the moment we left, letting Kang Sun know our plan.'

'But they're the police!' Namjoon cries out, a bittersweet thread of hope still in his heart, he wasn't like Yoongi, he hadn't grown up on the Daegu streets, his truth in authority was still naively in place. And Yoongi knew he had to shatter that innocence if they were to have any hope of rescuing you.

'It doesn't mean anything Joon-ah, trust me,' he says with kind, understanding eyes, 'many organisations are corrupt, and the police are no different.'

'It's true.' Tae states, in a deep voice, his face strangely hard and unforgiving. 'With them being the top Mob in Seoul, it makes sense they would have a deep connection in places no one can find...'

'And we led them directly to Y/N, a time date and location, it couldn't have been easier for them.' Yoongi finishes.

'But.'

'No Namjoon. The police were never coming, we were set up, we failed the moment we stepped into the station.'

'So what do we do now?'

Silence.

Jin and Namjoon sit bodies touching, finding strength in one another. Hoseok looked deadly serious, eyes swimming anger and rage. Yoongi sat next to Jimin, who had, part way though Yoongi's story, subtly moved to take his hand into his own, a silent apology for not believing him, and for Yoongi, his touch calmed him, kept him grounded in this mess.

Across from them, Tae was lost in thought, so deep into his own mind, he wasn't responding to anyone. You could almost see the shake of his body as he fiercely hunted down answers. Inside his head he was planning, he would get you both back, Jungkook, his brother, and you, his best friend. He had seen how close you and Jungkook had got, you needed each other, they could all see that, and now he couldn't imagine what was happening to you both.

So he sat and analysed and planned harder than he had ever thought before.

**

Hours past and no one moved, no one wanted to leave without a plan, it was as if the moment they got up and walked away from the bubble they were all sitting in right now would burst, and they couldn't face reality.

The reality of what horrendous abuse the two of you may be facing right now, as they sit in this very moment.

So they focus on what they could possibly do. Assessing every possible option, and shooting down each failed one. It was only when Taehyung spoke up for the first time that a plan wasn't immediately given up on.

He looked almost regretful for what he was about to say.

'Yoongi-hyung,' the tone of his voice draws unanimous attention, his voice was guarded and heavy with the implication of what was to come.

'Yes?' Yoongi turned away from Namjoon, angling his body towards a guarded Tae- his expression giving nothing away.

'I know we don't talk about Daegu.' The six all became even tenser- if that was possible, breath bated, muscles taut.

'I know it was rough, and we did things we don't mention, but hyung, for Y/N and Jungkook, I would do anything, would you?' His question holds a hint of a challenge in it, and Yoongi forces himself not to rise to the implied meaning. Of course he would do anything. But what Tae was asking? It was suicide.

'What you're asking is impossible.' He says flatly, no one needs an explanation of why- they all knew.

'No it's not.' Tae argues back, surprising everyone. Their silent stare down is witnessed by the other four. The members itching to diffuse the situation but knowing this was between Tae and Yoongi.

'You know we can't expose those old connections, our future could be put in danger, everything we've worked for-'

'Without Jungkook we have no future,' Tae explodes.

'We're not Bangtan without every single one of us,' Hobi replies gently, trying to help, taking tae's side of the argument.

'He's right Yoongi-ah,' Jin says- as the eldest, he could use his sway to advantage in situations.

The group had always respected that Jin had never pulled that card, they were more like brothers of the same age than anything else, but his tone now definitely has an implied power enforced, and it was oh so needed right now, as they all tilted on the edge of destruction.

Yoongi sighed at everything, knowing he was about to open Pandora's box. 'I'll do it, the question is, will you?

'You don't have to ask,' Tae replies instantly, his voice confident, albeit shaky. Everyone holds their breath not wanting to consider the impossible, did they have a chance?

'How quickly can you get it done?' Hoseok asks seriously.

'And how dangerous is it for us all?' Namjoon adds bleakly.

'By tonight,' Tae answers looking at Yoongi for assurance- who nods grimly. 'Together with both of us, they can't say no,' Yoongi agrees, eyes never leaving Tae's face.

Taehyung relaxes slightly, 'How dangerous?' He pauses emphasising the deadly question Namjoon asked. 'Like you can't imagine.' He grins devilishly, a slumbering part of his old life waking up in the heat of the danger, flames licking across his alight eyes.

It is only Yoongi who stays grounded, but just as intense. 'The situation is delicate, but to hell with it, I don't care, I want them both back, no matter what.' With his words, Tae stands.

'Let's go then.'

Yoongi gets up, sensing the others twitching he speaks, 'You don't have to worry- We will get it done.'

Seokjin laughs drily, 'We're worried about you two, Yoongi-ah,' he says, looking at Tae with a depth of worry and fear, 'You're treading stormy waters.'

With that warning, the two walk away...

Away from their brothers.

Towards powerful old friends and dangerous memories.

**