Chapter 58: The prodigal son returns
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Hi sup yall?
It's been a while I guess.
Recommended music:
•Deacons of the Deep - Nobuyoshi Suzuki [for the first half, for movie feels haha]
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"What the hell did you just say?"
The priest stares, eyes full of life and perseverance. The hems of his charcoal grey robes, fluttering as the winds pick up.
"Word of God." The man responds, his mouth pulled into a thin line. The stubble on his chin matching the faint Greys in his hair– possibly someone who had crossed his 40s.
The Devil scoffs and breaks into a chuckle. A much.. dangerous chuckle.
"Word of God... Word of God. Huh. Did you just not hear what I said, priest?" He looks down at the man. "Do you have too much time on your hands, hm?"
The Priest smiles.
"Why is that I should leave when this is my path?"
Jungkook thinks about it, tucking his malicious thoughts away. He crosses his arms over his chest and holds his ground— a mountain that cannot be moved, he speaks in subtlety, words fluent but full on venom.
If this is your path, you better walk around then.
"Say, nameless priest, what message has lead you to this path then?" Jungkook asks, civil despite the itch to grab the mortal man by his neck growing under his skin.
Jungkook half expects, madness or poor decisions, for an answer from the priest yet the suspiciously oblivious– or perhaps a very suspiciously all-knowing man, goes, "The Light."
The light.
Right.
Jungkook purses his lips and then grins, full of mockery
"The light does not lead its way to darkness, Priest. Your path is in a dire need of redirection here." He replies with faux politeness.
The man's eyebrow twitches and Jungkook feels smug at the tug.
"The light spreads to all crevice there is.." The priest replies cooly "it is only the marred, tainted, flesh that hides in cowardice."
The Devil sneers, his pearly whites growing wider. Each smile more gut wrenching that the one before.
"It is only Human who hides in cowardice." He retorts, gesturing the pedestrians walking past— barely paying attention to either of them.
"Ofcourse" the priest replies with a knowing look in his eyes. "And it is the Devil who walks the Earth"
Jungkook fixes his coat, buttoning up his suit and then his cuffs, he looks up, smug "That's right."
The priest doesn't say anything to that.
Jungkook glances at his watch and then back up at the man.
"Well, would you look at that? I got a tight schedule to catch upto—" Jungkook speaks, voice gravel yet calm as he walks up ahead to the man "Perhaps you could stop by to chat sometime. I've got some of the best whiskeys in my bar."
"I rather not collude"
The Devil laughs at that and slaps a firm hand on the mortal's shoulder.
The man stiffens under his hold, probably having unexpected this interaction— Jungkook knew this ofcourse for he could feel the man's heartbeat spike up as his own palm tingled, the searing sting crawling up his skin. It'd take more Holy water doused robes to set his hand alight—
"Good for you." Jungkook whispers and gives a faint squeeze to the man's shoulder "Oh and don't play tag with me." He smiles at the faint fear in the man's eyes.
He could feel the mortal shake under his grip,almost imperceptible— but it could sense it all.
Jungkook reads the man's lips, the faint whisper of Litany leaving them and he smiles even more viciously, blood rushing into his veins, enthralled at the fear oozing out.
Oh... oh.
The Devil devours it.
"I, for one enjoy it immensely but I'm sure you wouldn't" he pauses, faces inches apart, all but nothing for intense hostility in the air to rise. The looming pressure envelopes the man, almost as if the fires had encroached the mortal priest.
"And trust me when I say this, you do not want to play tag with me."
Jungkook tightens his grip on the mortal's shoulder.
A warning.
A threat.
The Devil walks past with steely eyes, his gaze cold yet intense warmth emanating off of his skin. He leaves before the inconspicuous religious man could run his mouth any further, all the while flexing his palm.
He walks into the lobby, the air conditioning wrapping his skin trying to put off the blaze of his body. He turns his attention to look down at the palm of his hand and grimaces at the nasty sear, digging half way to the bone. Skin and flesh alike, corroded to a mess leaving behind pus and pores paired with a rancid smell emanating off of it.
Jungkook grits his teeth and focuses on controlling his mind instead.
He picks his keycard with his idle hand and places it to the panel of his elevator. He eyes the little box for a bit until the elevator dings open and he swiftly steps in.
Jungkook averts his attention from the wound knowing it was pointless trying to heal it for it'd take atleast an hour or three for it to naturally stitch back.
He thinks about the primary events on the otherhand.
Jungkook puts his mind to work— there isn't much he can connect to but he knows what's it to be marked as a target– Jungkook knows he's a stain that can't be rid off, but then again he's very much aware although being the target himself, the red spotter Laser isn't pointed at his head.
Jungkook sighs heavily stepping into his apartment.
Maybe he should put a 24/7 running barrier— he thinks about it and plops down on his couch.
He laments and dreads an earful from a particular older brother—
Jungkook clicks his tongue wondering which loose lip slipped up— he doesn't really have much time to go all the way down to the Vatican city to hound them. He's got more pressing matters to handle here— starting with, his kind messing things up, his ex family making things difficult for everyone, not to mention the deaths— the corpses piling over– he already heard enough from Jinhwa, this was annoying as it is, affecting all the realms. Even the residents of Hell seemed antsy about something, he could feel it in his bones.
Something was stirring, but Jungkook didn't want to take a painstaking trip down to Hell.
He doesn't have time for that— not now atleast, he admits.
There was something far more important of all his problems that he had to take care of—
Detective Kim was severely upset with him.
He groans and throws his head back into the cushions, a pleasant lingering scent invading his senses. His tense shoulders sag a little, relief washing over him.
The scent of life, blood and bones. The scent of mortal warmth that has him hooked.
The Detective is alive and well.
He exhales, staring up at the ceiling.
Jungkook pulls out his phone, swiping into the call log, he presses the device to his ear.
It rings thrice before a voice cuts in, quite rudely.
"What?"
All thoughts about the meeting the overly nosy annoying priest evaporated– well this ofcourse wasn't the first time a religious man had thrusted a crucifix or a proposed religious artifact in his face—! He shakes his thoughts away and thinks about ways to console the Detective instead.
Jungkook smiles. "Ah Jimin I've got a job for you— oh and I need a favor."
************
Taehyung walks down the hallway, the scent of disinfectants stinging his senses. He scrunches his nose, a little distraught. His steps measured but in a state of flurry.
"Hoseok?" He calls out and the man turns to face him, hands crossed over his chest. He flashes a smile "Oh? You're here. That was fast."
Taehyung nods, exhaling "yeah you did tell me we're cutting close to visiting hours—"
Hoseok makes a thoughtful 'Oh' sound all to himself and then snickers a bit.
"What about Jihyo? She's not here yet?" Taehyung asks and Hoseok shifts uncomfortably
"I'm right here!" A voice chimes in and the two turn to face the woman "I was right behind you and you didn't even see me!"
"Oh your stealth prowess has surpassed mine now I suppose" Taehyung snorts and the woman beams.
"Mm maybe we should change our divisions." Jihyo chuckles
"No offense but nobody wants to be in your division at times like these" Hoseok adds in.
"That's rude! It's not proved its someone among us alright? Speculations are speculations." Jihyo stomps her feet, pointing out an accusatory index finger.
"Besides, who knows, it just might end up being someone you both know too well and they're just waiting to gut you hm?"
Hoseok shivers at that and narrows his eyes at the woman who smiled smugly "Alright that's not funny."
"Mm the image isn't helping Jihyo" Taehyung adds along, shaking his head "I'd rather it be a stranger than a friend"
Jihyo scoffs and rolls her eyes "you both are no fun. You wouldn't last a single hour at my scary movie marathons."
"Exactly why I haven't invited myself over or accepted any of your requests Jihyo." Hoseok clicks his tongue.
Jihyo grins and sways as she walks, delighted.
Hoseok simply shakes his head and looks over to his right "oh– Lt. Mingyu is not with you?"
"Headquarters. Something came up in Busan, apparently they called it an emergency" Taehyung replied sighing
"Emergency?" Hoseok frowned.
"I wasn't briefed on it much before he left, but apparently they found a warehouse with 4 corpses." Taehyung averted his gaze to the other side as they walked further down the hallway.
"Oh oh... that's messed up." Jihyo grimaces
Hoseok exhales "Shit— and the take?"
"Someone's trying to retrace our Reaper's footsteps."
Hoseoks pace falls short. His eyes widened and face full of sheen fear.
"Are you kidding me?" He mumbles, hoarsely
Taehyung purses his lips, pushing his own horrors deep within his chest.
"I wish I was."
"Shit shit shit. We've barely recovered from it— not to mention that in this whole madness at our Department and now you're telling me there's a copycat out there??? " Hoseok furiously whispers, catching up with the other.
"Its just a speculation, thats what Lt. Mingyu said. It's not the same– the victims weren't drugged but then their murders were similar. I'm not sure how though." Taehyung sighs.
"A copy cat... the eyes and the chest?" Jihyo looks up "did they find that too?"
Taehyung shakes his head "I don't know..."
"Do you think it's possible these guys sired from some sort of cult or something?" Hoseok steps infront of Taehyung, blocking off his path. "I don't know some weird... practice... worshipping.. group or something?"
Taehyung watches the gestures and his antics with a straight face.
"You can say Devil worshipping Hoseok, nobody's gonna bite your head off." He deadpans.
Caught red handed, Hoseok quivers at that, touching his neck uneasily he chuckles nervously "I really doubt that."
"What are you scared for? It's not like some Demon will lunge at you or something jeez..." Jihyo clicks her tongue and walks ahead.
"Scared— scared‐" Hoseok scoffs, baffled, having first hand experience at Demons and the Devil himself, lunging at him. "Gor your information, they do lunge at you Ji—"
Taehyung sighs, watching the two as he slowly recalls the conversation he had earlier with the said damned being. He frowns.
He didn't mean to explode and dump his frustrations on the other, but then again he has been feeling extremely anxious for the past few days.
He thinks about going up to the man and sorting it out but then immediately drops the idea knowing it was futile to attempt prying Jungkook's mouth open.
Taheyung purses his lips at the image. His pride and ego would absolutely not allow him to walk up there first.
The three pause infront of a shut door. Throwing a glance at each other, Hoseok opens the door and steps in, followed by the other two.
The hospital room was fairly nice, private and secluded, with no noise from outside reaching in– except for the noise on the inside was far more louder.
Music and chiming sounds rang through the enclosed space that grew even more louder as they crept closer towards the bed.
"Ah– Ah! Ah no! No not you bastard– ah ah Fuck!" The voice yelled, followed by a frustrated groan and some more long defeated groans, followed by rustling of sheets.
"Mr. Kim if you continue to strain your eyes and mind, I'll have to put in a word to the Doctor to limit your phone usage." A firm feminine voice cut through, almost as if commanding the air.
Another groan. "nurse Joo, with you here I don't really miss my mom" The voice laments.
A click of tongue and a disapproval shake of head later, the nurse– a woman in her later 40s moves aside and turns to the new faces who had arrived.
"Oh and you are?"
The three bow their head, greeting the woman but before they could reply the patient on the bed, none other that Kim Seokjin yells aloud "Ah! My friends! Haha come here! Give your elder brother a big hug!"
"Mr. Kim you still have not recovered yet, do not over work yourself" Nurse Joo reprimands with a subtle hiss in her tone.
Jin visibly deflates at that and the nurse shakes her head, sighing "well then, excuse me young men, miss" She speaks, as they awkwardly bow to her and watch as she walks out of the room.
"How you feeling man?" Hoseok breaks the silence.
Jin rolls his eyes "like I slept off my entire life's sleep in a go. And Now that I have opened my eyes I feel like I can go without sleeping for whole 2 months"
Hoseok chuckles at that and throws a look at Taehyung "that's troublesome, looks like we'll have to finally ebay the coffee machine in our Department—"
"Dont you dare." Jin grits out.
Taehyung snickers and clears his throat, "Its good to see you awake Jin, the Forensics Department felt too quiet."
"Ofcourse ofcourse" Jin chuckles "you don't have to worry about silence anymore now that the prodigal son has returned haha!"
"Dont toot his horn so much" Hoseok whispers, chuckling along.
Taehyung shakes his head, smiling faintly.
"Tell me, how does my face look? Still 11 out of 10?" Jin squabbles.
"Still 11 out of 10" Taehyung replies without missing a beat and Jin's amusement knows no bounds. He beams with the admittance and begins squirming around.
There was a gruesome cut to his brow, slicing it up mid way and his nose bandaged up with healing red rashes running down his cheeks, but Taehyung wasn't somebody to go out of his way to point it out. Jin was awake and well. That's all that mattered.
"Oh I heard that yall caught the guy— and made it to headlines too—" he sighs "whoa looks like I missed a whole Lotta chunk here."
Hoseok smiles painfully, reflecting Taehyung's expression.
That night was bound with too many painful and horrifying experiences— each one, to their own– which neither wanted to disclose, not explicitly for sure.
"Oh— Jihyo I heard you found me first. Sorry if I scared you!"
Jihyo sputters and chuckles awkwardly "no no.. I was just startled– but I was more worried though. It was too sudden and.. " she sighs, eyes forlorn.
"Aha no worries, I'm fine now aren't I?" Jin smiles and Jihyo returns it, a little awkward but nonetheless, a soft smile. The grip on her purse eases as the tension in her shoulders fade away.
"Its good to see you." She speaks, her eyes shimmering.
Jin grins at that "Yes yes, I know"
"How do you feel now? It was... very much confusing for us when we found you in your cabin." Taehyung speaks, picking his words carefully.
"Oh? Oh... right."
The three watch in anticipation, with eager eyes.
Jin's shoulders droop and then he sighs "I don't remember."
"Dont remember?" Taehyung frowns.
"Mm.." The man nods "this one second I'm trying to decode the formula and then my vision goes black. My head grew heavy and I thought it was exhaustion from having skipped sleep but who even knew I'd sleep my way into a fucking coma and a nose job— huh the Department must be thinking I'm having a plastic surgery aren't they? "
Taehyung glances over to Hoseok, eyes signaling, you haven't told anything to him?
Hoseok shakes his head, eyes wide, how can I tell what the Department's thinks about this?
Taehyung sighs and swallows a lump in his throat.
The video Lt. Mingyu had made him privy two was still fresh in his mind. Ofcourse, Lt. Mingyu no longer remembers of it having the memories erased from his head, but Taehyung still has images replaying over in his head.
It wasn't exhaustion that drew Jin into a deep sleep, he was attacked– by something supernatural and far more insidious.
It was something of a miracle that he was even left alive at this point.
Taehyung shudders.
"No.. infact they're quite wary." Taehyung quietly replies.
"Of?" Jin chimes, eyebrows scrunched.
"That there's a ghost walking the halls– a ghost who's got it for certain Forensics Department employees diving deep into their research—" Hoseok cuts in, tone devoid of any joy.
"Ghost?!" Jin screeches "ghost?! Am I cursed by some jealous maiden of an ancient dynasty for being more handsome than her?! Is that why she went for my face?!! It really makes sense now that you said it really— Dammit I shouldn't have blocked my aunt who told me to visit a shaman to get a protection charm from ghouls and ghosts! That woman is crazy but I thought it'd be more crazy if I betray my degree of Forensics science to go ahead and do that aish!—" he continues to ramble
Taehyung dumbly stares, speechless.
Maybe this was a bad idea.
"Hya hya hya! And what about research? What did you say about research?"
They tense.
Hoseok hums "Do you recall what were you researching on that day by any chance?"
Jin squint his eyes and frowns and then frowns some more.
"Uh— it should be on my computer I suppose? Unless I pressed onto the delete key when I smacked my face into the keyboard."
Singular. Not plural. Taehyung purses his lips. Jin doesn't have to know about that.
"Yeah... you kinda did and uh– please do not freak out but—" Hoseok exhales
"But?" Jin leans in
"Ahem—yourwholesystemcrashed." Hoseok replies without a breath
"My what?" Jin narrows his eyes.
"Your whole system... crashed.. wiped out... blacked out"
Three seconds of silence pass until the man on the bed breaks into a howl, gripping his hair.
"YOURE KIDDING ME ? YOURE KIDDING ME RIGHT??? PLEASE TELL ME YOURE KIDDING ME!!"
Taehyung shuts his eyes.
"Ah.. hah... I'm doomed. Doomed. Ahhh!" Jin groans "stupid head! Stupid head! Stupid ghost! I'm really doomed. All my treasure. My updates. My files. My lucky 7 ultra rare pauline... this is really the worst."
The Detectives blink, dazed.
Hoseok interrupts, baffled "Is that a Mario kart ref—"
"Dont steal my thunder Hoseok, let me mourn over my computer peacefully."
Hoseok zips his mouth shut at that.
*********
With no ability to coax another, Taehyung remained futile with his awkward attempt to seek information of the research that had been wiped out from the man's computer. Jin however was inconsolable and the whole picture was only worse when Nurse Joo returned, only for her to reprimand him some more and successfully manage to throw Taehyung out of the room, with a curt 'visiting time is over. Please leave.'
Failure at all ends, Taehyung sighed aloud, shoulders sagging. He silently continues to walk down the hallway, only to realize Hoseok had completely disappeared ever since he excused himself for a bit.
Jihyo too had excused herself, saying she had an appointment to run to.
All alone now, Taehyung walks along the path, glancing at the nurses that walk past him. Their eyes meet and they quickly avert their gaze. A little uncomfortable, he shifts his eyes down to the neatly trimmed lawn instead only to momentarily pick his gaze up and catch a familiar figure leaning against a pillar to the right.
"Hoseok?" He mumbles to himself, confused and shoves his phone back into his pockets, changing his direction towards the man instead.
He recognizes Hoseok more clearly as he walks closer and at the same time spots a person in blue scrubs standing before him.
"Ah! Taehyung!" Hoseok greets with a nonchalant wave of his hand. "Were you looking for me?"
Taehyung shakes his head "not for long, I just stepped out of Jin's room–" Taehyung drifts his gaze to the other figure who stiffens on the spot.
Yelping a little, the woman points out an accusatory finger "Ah ah you again— right, ahem.. hello." She straightens up, expression sour but quickly pulled into a neutral mask "I see you're well."
Taehyung nods "Hello, Ms. Park."
The woman lurches a little at that and sputters.
"Ah haha– my break's almost over. Gotta dash. See ya later Hoseok!" She titters at her feet and with a quick wave at the aforementioned, she turns away and speedwalks down the hall, quite literally disappearing.
Taehyung watches his friend's gaze follow the woman, with gleaming eyes and a silly dopey smile, his hand still half way up, waving dazedly.
The man turns to face him, suddenly aware of his presence and quickly drops his hand, clearing his throat in an attempt to hide himself away, but it's all too obvious before Taehyung's observant eyes.
He smiles, knowingly and nudges the man with his elbow. He feels the tension within himself ebb away, now succumbing into enjoying the faint red splattered across his friend's face.
"So... the nurse huh?" He teases, a whisper of smirk on his lips.
Hoseok groans embarrassed, his face in his hands "Minah's... really nice"
"Ofcourse, ofcourse." Taehyung chuckles. "When is the wedding?"
"Oh leave me alone—"
**********
Taehyung stares at the man seated on his couch, hair damp and... red?
"Ah?" Taehyung mumbles, confused.
"Come give me a hand." Jimin cuts in.
Taehyung squints his eyes but then complies, dropping his bag on the table and walks closer to the Demon sitting with a tank vest and a towel around his neck.
Taehyung takes the dye brush, the man hands him and stands awkwardly, waiting for further instruction.
"Check if I got my roots in." Jimin speaks, crossing his arms over his chest and Taehyung follows, drawing the red dye across the parts that were missed.
"You could have clearly gone to a salon—" Taehyung begins, eyebrows scrunched together "and why red?"
"I like doings things my own way" Jimin shrugs "and as for red... mm, Say, Taehyung do you miss my pink hair?" He grins, smug.
The Detective scoffs for the response.
Jimin chuckles "I had a change of heart. Besides, don't you think this red would match my eyes?" He looks over upto the mortal man amd flashes his red irises.
Taehyung no more flinched at that— they were far past that stage, but Taehyung still finds himself failing at responding to it and so instead gives a tight-lipped smile.
"Yeap." He goes along, muttering.
He clears his throat and focuses on the hair dye "anyway, where were you for the past few days?"
"Did you miss me Taehyung?" The Demon laughs, excited.
Taehyung huffs "dont go overboard. You admitted to co-paying rent, so by the end of the month you better not say something about not having resided that long to escape it"
The Demon squirms and huffs louder "you think I'm that petty?"
Taehyung doesn't respond and bites back his smug remark, a flicker of smile embracing his lips.
Jimin scoffs "you're growing meaner Taehyung and for your dear concern, I was out in Busan"
Taehyung's hand stops.
"Busan?"
"Er– yeah I had to run down some task." He replies, rather stiffly for Taehyung's comfort.
Taehyung resumes coloring Jimin's hair.
"You're not gonna ask me what it was?" Jimin tilts his head after a brief minute of silence.
Taehyung keeps the dye brush aside and steps away from the male.
"I'm curious, but I figured I'd rather not ask." Taehyung replies, back facing the other.
Jimin narrows his eyes "that's unlike you."
Taehyung doesn't reply and heads into the kitchen instead.
Jimin hops out of his seat and follows the man, eyes eager but seemingly forced to calm.
The Demon buzzes around, watching the Detective prepare some tea for himself and Taehyung who bares it in silence, purses his lips tight shut.
"Why would you rather not ask?" The nosiy bee asks him, looming over him.
Taehyung sighs "Jimin, it's called minding my own business."
"But you're a Detective aren't you?" The Demon prattles
"Yes I am... but I'm a little tired now so, I'm—"
"Whoa no wonder that bastard—" Jimin mutters under his breath and steps infront of Taehyung "you fought with him didn't you?!"
Taehyung sighs, exasperated. He opens his eyes and gives a tight lipped smile "we didn't fight, Jimin. It was just a disagreement."
"Oh shit it really was that bad huh?" Jimin gawks. "You're even refusing to say his name now like you must be really pissed haha Jungkook's in deep shit."
"I'm not refusing to say his name" Taehyung deadpans.
"Okay say his name then." Jimin retorts, leaning closer with hands on his hips.
Taehyung turns his face away and walks past the Demon, unwilling to comply.
Jimin breaks into a laughter and scurries to join the fleeing man.
"Aw cmon you can vent out to me, if there's anyone who knows what absolute shitshow work of a jerk he is, it's me here." Jimin laughs "I could go run down and get some beer if you agree."
"No drinking, I've got work tomorrow" Taehyung shakes his head, in denial
Jimin juts his lips and raises his eyebrow "so venting is still on?"
Taehyung grits his teeth.
The Demon slaps his back as he walks towards the kitchen.
"Its going to be a long night Taehyung, we just might need some drinks"
***********
"That's enough drinks Taehyung!—" Jimin snaps, prying the can away from the mortal man who was apparently shitfaced drunk.
"Ehh–? Just one more... one more—" Taehyung slurs, head buried in the table and his index finger weakly hovering in the air.
"No more no more" Jimin begs, clicking his tongue and quickly begins to clean up all the while, avoiding the pointed gaze that seems to burn into his back.
"I told you to accompany him because he bottles up his emotions and loses his mind with it and not because I wanted you to get him drunk!" Jungkook whisper yells, furious.
"How else the fuck am I supposed to accompany him and have him unwind to vent if I don't throw in some drinks?!" Jimin whisper yells back.
"There are other ways!" Jungkook screeches, voice still hushed.
"Oh yeah? And what's that, penance?!" Jimin grits his teeth. "Maybe you should have told me, Jimin do not whatsoever give Taehyung alcohol when he's stressed because he goes absolutely RABID over it?!"
"Isn't it a known fact for you to understand our normal chugging is their ALCOHOLIC POSIONING?!?!" Jungkook bares his teeth, equal parts frustrated and furious.
"OH DONT Y—"
"Ah.. my head hurts..." a soft voice groans out and the two immidiately pause, throwing their fits away.
Jungkook quickly walks over and carefully overturns the Detective's face, cradling his head in his hands. He watches the red flush splattered across the icy skin and he let's out a soft sigh.
"He's so bad..." The Detective mumbles, eyes screwed shut and eyebrows in a deep knitted close. "Jungkook... so bad.."
Jungkook feels a tremor run through his spine at the words, his fingers tremble and lips draw close.
Jimin who silently watches from the sideline, winces inadvertently, pausing entirely at the task at hand.
Jungkook feels his throat dry up as something inside him churns.
He gently brushes the Detective's eyebrow, to ease the scrunch and he hums "Yes, he's so bad."
The Detective gives a small huff, "...keeping.. secrets..."
Jungkook tilts his head, a soft sad smile on his lips "yes, keeping secrets. He's so bad."
"Lies... about not lying..."
Jungkook chuckles and gently wraps his hands around the man, drawing him closer to his chest. "Yes, he's a terrible liar. He thinks he's so smart for that"
Effortlessly, Jungkook picks him up with a single swoop and stands tall to his feet, with the Detective's head buried into the left side of his chest.
"I miss... times... I believed I was... stronger than him.."
Jungkook briefly glances down at the tuft of raven hair and proceeds to make his way to the bedroom. "And why is it that so?"
The reply is incoherent and muffled.
"Hm?" Jungkook hums as he gently sets down the mortal in his bed, torso first, head next.
"He's so.. bad" Taehyung mumbles, eyes still closed shut.
"so bad..." he repeats, throat moving "but.. good to me..."
Jungkook stills, watching the Detective's eyes stir open, just briefly. They were glazed and unfocused, his pupils blown.
He blinks slowly, lethargic.
"Do you... think he knows?" He asks, lips quivering.
A vague question. It could be anything. Perhaps something too silly or something too deep. Literally Anything.
Jungkook's frame remains frozen solid. He thinks to say something, anything at all, but no words make their way out. He quietly tucks the Detective in and softly brushes his hair away from his eyes— that still, for Jungkook's own turmoil, begged for an answer.
He sighs and leans in, pressing his lips to the corner of Detective's eyes, who in return sighs, eyelids shutting close.
"I'm sure he knows" Jungkook whispers and pecks his lips once more to the mortal man's forhead before leaning away.
His body refusing to part with the cold of the other, his hand remains glued to the Detective's cheek, in an unconscious need of wanting to warm him up. He stares deeply, perhaps it might seem a little unnerving to be caught watching someone asleep, but Jungkook doesn't hold any mind to that. His thoughts were deep and scattered, he listens, feels the warmth of blood under the Detective's skin. He senses the heartbeat smooth over, signifying the man had already succumbed into a slumber.
But Jungkook still watches, tracing the face in his mind. Counting and recounting the moles on Taehyung's face.
He watches.
Like alcohol slipped into his veins, he feels a little drunk. His mind featherlight but at the same time heavy.
His thumb continues to draw circles over the Detective's cheek.
Do you think he knows?
Jungkook swallows a lump in his throat, his breaths growing heavy. He watches the man underneath him, sleeping soundly, all pliant and frail, with no guards up.
Jungkook's eyes burn, drunk with frustration and desire.
He burns.
He dips his face closer into the juncture of the Detective's neck.
He inhales, eyes screwed shut and teeth clasped in a grit.
He wanted to pin the man down, ensnare him within the flames of his desires and bite out into the flush of his ears, do you think you know, what you do to me, Taehyung?
But Jungkook doesn't ask.
He won't.
He pecks, carefully against the Detective's and leans away, putting some rightful distance between their bodies.
He hears a 'clack' sound arise from his left and he shifts his gaze accordingly, only to find Jimin standing by the door, his fingers tightly wrapped around the knob, knuckles white.
Jungkook watches the Demon from the hood of his eyes and the red-haired male, fiercely meets his gaze, unwavering.
Jimin exhales and steps in, cautious.
"He's asleep." He mentions instead.
The Devil nods and flickers his gaze back to the mortal.
"You're going to tell him right?" Jimin asks, his footsteps light.
Jungkook doesn't respond. He stands up and fixes his suit in silence.
"He's being burdened by it."
Jungkook purses his lips, fingers stopping midway
"Of what the future holds, I'll have him know... soon. But what he asks of me, that I cannot."
Jimin lowers his gaze, forlorn.
"Henceforth you are stationed to guard Detective Kim at all the times I'm not there, regardless it be with or without his knowledge— it doesn't matter." Jungkook walks over to his underling and brushes past him "any person suspicious or otherwise is to be reported to me."
Jimin watches the intensity in the air fade just as his Master's frame flickers and blurrs out of his sight, disappearing completely.
The Demon sighs and walks up to the bedside, placing the Glass of water he had bought onto the table. He glances down at the man tucked into the bed and sighs oncemore.
He pauses and wonders, if the Detective's life would have been any better if his world hadn't collided with theirs?
Or was it always supposed to be this tragic?
Jimin doesn't voice out his thoughts.
Taehyung was only mortal.
Jungkook had made mistakes.
And Jimin who watched the two, could only crumble from within.
The inherent fire inside his bones, rejoiced for chaos.
The human of him, mourned.
A blighted fate, perhaps, but Jimin had once vowed, if anything, he will never, ever, ever let Taehyung take up the altar.
He's not supposed to be there.
He will make sure he wouldn't be there.
And for this, the Demon knows he would readily choose Royal Treason, if he has to.
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Author's Note:
Ah yes, the thoughts of a good ol' Coronation Feast has Jimin DISTRESSED.
And haha *clap hands* the Priest. Right. Although a small side character (for now) I want to make him interesting idk, I'm still thinking about it... do I want him bad or good? Who knows haha?
I'll be possibly (?¿) including hints of the traitor in the Department and again, [possibly] the hints of the traitor in the heaven in the next update, so I guess there's something to look forward to?¿ Saying it now will be mundane I guess, I mean I've not explicitly described the things they've done so— there will be gore tag added some time later for stuff that's yet to come.
Anyway, I like my protagonists a lil drunk and in love, but I also like my protags emotionally repressed and panicky at the mention of it. Whichever keeps the boat afloat.
AND.
I'm so sorry yall had to wait for so long but honestly I've been not feeling it these days [cause I hate writing half heartedly just for the sake of it and the perfectionist in me doesn't allow me to tend to it] and I'm always upset for no godamned reason, so a lot of things got delayed over.
I will try to update more often, but bare with me for some more time until I get back to my normal pace and headspace.
No Talkshow again, cause I'm feelin a little low but ay, it will be back with the next update
Thank you for your patience
Stay safe and take care
Love,
J