Chapter Text
.・゜-: ✧☾ ☽✧ :-゜・.
A whole week had passed since Jimin had seen Jungkook. An entire week with him engrossed in his work, with Taehyung passing by and helping. There were moments when he would forget to eat. Fortunately, his soulmate knew him all too well and would either call or text him to get him to feed.
Even while eating, he would bring the papers he was revising. At this rate, Taehyung was calling him an obsessed freak. Jimin found it funny when he first heard it. Although he has repeatedly denied it with Taehyung present, Jimin knew it was true.
Not having classes to teach made Jimin obsessed with cracking the case. He had more time to spend hours online reading articles, printing the most critical information, and filing it. His room was almost filled with file cabinets and string connecting everywhere. It was crazy how much he had been collecting over the months and the week he had been free from schoolwork.
The day before, Taehyung had gone to his house, letting him know that his brother would be free to speak to. It took work to get his brother to agree, as he was busy. Jimin had brought up the option that if things didn't go as planned, with Taehyung's brother agreeing as a request, then Taehyung was free to reveal to him and him only that Jimin was Aeon and wanted in on the case.
Unfortunately, things did go that far, and Jimin's identity was now known by two people—well, counting three, as the oldest Kim brother was also in his house, sitting down and looking at him.
Kim SeokJin, the oldest, had recently come back from a dangerous case, cracking a mass murder on the run in another state. Next to him was Kim Namjoon, Detective chief. The chief position had first been offered to SeokJin, but he denied it, preferring the thrill he feels when he goes out on the field.
The room was silent; only the tension of pure eye contact, which could be considered a challenge, was present. Taehyung, who was next to Jimin on the couch, was moving his head from his older siblings to his best friend.
In the end, he had enough, "So, does anyone want hot chocolate? I can go make some for us! Jimin, where are your ingredients?" Taehyung tried to break the ice, only to be met with a cold silence; he pouts, "Damn, where is the respect for the youngest bean?"
"A teacher by day, superhero by night, huh?" SeokJin finally speaks, tilting his head to the side, his eyes hunting with an amused glint. Once Jimin nodded, SeokJin's cold appearance cracked into a bright smile. He slapped his thigh in disbelief, "You never cease to surprise me, Jimin!"
"Yeah, I would've never guessed that the short bean would be the savior of this town." Namjoon shared, expressing his warm smile.
"Well, for one, I'm not short; I'm average," Jimin frowns, "And three, you guys are kids from two-parent giants!"
"We're not going to oppose that." Namjoon chuckled, crossing his arms and relaxing against Jimin's sofa. "So, Taehyung said you may have a lead for what's been happening."
"I wouldn't call it a lead unless you haven't thought about it yet. I'm sure Taetae also shared that I want it in this case." Jimin replied, lifting his head to assert dominance.
"Jimin, as much as I wish I could, I don't want you to end up getting hurt-"
"I've been helping you guys out for a year. Been getting to cases way faster than you. If I weren't here, all those people would have been lost, Namjoon." Jimin frowned, "I won't share anything without a proper discussion and agreement."
"Jimin, you know that once the government notices someone has a lead, he will want it, even by force. He won't care." Namjoon warned, leaning his body forward.
"Why are you treating me as if I'm defenseless?" Jimin retorted, crossing his arms with displeasure.
"You basically are!"
"I am? Namjoon, I thought you were smarter than this. I could tear you apart without laying a finger on you. I'm that powerful. All it takes is for me to think and use my telekinesis." Jimin stands, making Namjoon tense up. "I want in."
Jimin understands Namjoon's concern about him not wanting to get involved. He does. Namjoon used to protect Jimin when he was a child because Jimin was a defenseless person then.
Namjoon's actions were controlled by emotions. To the chief's eyes, Jimin was still that fragile small kid. However, he wasn't anymore, and it was time for Namjoon to realize that. He's not the same kid he used to be before.
"Fine."
"SeokJin-" Namjoon started, ready to oppose wholeheartedly, then interrupted by the older brother,
"Namjoon, can't you see the determination in his eyes? Open your eyes, and this time, use your brain, not your heart. Jimin is not a kid anymore. He's grown up."
"But-"
"Namjoon, he can possibly have a lead! We've been hitting dead ends for weeks with these assholes. The people you capture, due to Jimin's help, have not spoken up. Those disgusting motherfuckers rather die than to speak up. You told me this. We need all the help we can get now, brother."
"I know we need all the help we can get, and I would be okay if Jimin were working inside the station instead, but that's not what he wants. His being a superhero and helping people has expanded. He wants out on the field where it's dangerous and can get-"
"But has he been injured?" SeokJin questions Namjoon," Tell me, has he looked for the medics after rescuing all the people he can? No, he hasn't. So, don't shut him out. He knows what he's getting into. After all, he's been with us since the beginning. Maybe not as a teammate, but as an ally."
"Hyung," Jimin said, and SeokJin and Namjoon looked up. "They tried to take Jungkook."
At that, SeokJin and Namjoon's eyes widened in horror and anger. Jimin doesn't blame them for not knowing since none of the articles show and name exactly who the latest victim was. The authorities knew it was a male, but they had no clue since Jimin took Jungkook with him.
"What?" Both shout in unison.
"Yeah, he was their latest victim," Jimin growled, his fist clenched tightly with white knuckles. "After they tried to take him, I knew I had to hurry in cracking this case. I never wanted to involve myself with the authorities, but now I don't have a choice. Namjoon, he's my everything, and you guys know that. Knowing something bad can happen to something you care about is scary, especially when you're there to see his face in sheer horror. I apologize for asking this, but have you ever considered the possibility of them targeting Taehyung?"
The complete concern that had been plastered on Namjoon's face flipped into a pissed one. The thought of those sick bastards targeting his younger brother made him want to kill to protect his loved one. Jimin then and there knew he had won. Namjoon might have been a calm and resilient person, a perfect fit for his position, but once his buttons were pushed correctly, there was no stopping the man from getting himself into cases he would prefer to avoid.
"Don't you dare get yourself killed, Park Jimin," Namjoon stated, standing up and looking down at Jimin with an unwavering stare.
"As long as I am involved in everything, then unnecessary measures won't be needed to be used," Jimin declared, matching Namjoon's assertiveness.
They both shook on it and once they let go, Jimin turned to his side to look up at his best friend, giving him a warm smile while caressing his cheek. Taehyung didn't hesitate to respond with his own smile, already knowing Jimin was going to apologize for using him to get what he wanted.
"Don't worry, Minnie. You did what you had to do for the big guy to listen," Taehyung nodded, assuring Jimin while bringing up his hand to hold the latter's.
Letting go of Taehyung, Jimin once again turned to look at both detectives and nodded to them,
"Follow me."
He led them towards his private room, breathing deeply before he took out his spare key, unlocked the door, and let it open, revealing the dim red room to the two older men whose eyes widened in surprise.
"Please refrain from touching and avoid hitting the string. I don't want anything to get mixed up."
The first one to walk in slowly was SeokJin, going straight to the wall of sketched portraits of all the victims, counting out loud how many there were.
"You have the six people that left town right after you saved them. Since we didn't know how they looked or what their names were, their files were filed under unknown."
"I don't blame them for leaving town when their lives were in danger," Jimin nodded, looking as Namjoon went straight to a separate board with string at every checkpoint the bad guys stopped for their victims.
"This is-" Namjoon started, only to be interrupted by Jimin.
"A map of checkpoints they have used? Yes, it is. I finally figured it out after a week of being free of work. It seems they have been following a path, but since they don't try to kidnap every day and stick from four days to two weeks, we haven't been able to tell where their next stop will be."
"But, the latest one is not where it's supposed to be then," Namjoon stated, turning around to look at Jimin.
"That's because Jungkook led them away from there and gave them a chase." Jimin explained, "Jungkook took notice that he was being followed, and since he didn't want them to find out where he lived, Jungkook went the opposite way from his house. Unfortunately, he made a wrong turn and met a dead end."
"And they still followed him?"
"And they still followed him." Jimin nodded solemnly, "Which leaves one thing to be confirmed."
"Which is?" Taehyung asked, scared of what Jimin suspected.
"That they don't care if they go off course. They will try to take their target whatever it takes once they are on a mission." Jimin concluded, frowning as the words left his mouth.
"The only one that stops them is you since the authorities are never there fast enough." SeokJin agrees, expressing his thoughts.
"Exactly." Jimin nods, "However, I might as well share this since we already made the deal."
"What is it?" Namjoon demanded.
"I believe- no, more like suspect that they have figured out who I am," Jimin revealed, looking away from an angered Namjoon and looking straight at SeokJin, who looked at him with disappointment.
"You think WHAT?" Namjoon shouted, and Jimin felt he pushed Namjoon's buttons a bit too much tonight. "Why didn't you start with that before we agreed!"
"Because you would've said no. Now, you can't backtrack unless you're a coward."
"Me a coward? You're an idiot for continuing this charade!" Namjoon sighed, using his palms to rub his face. "Jimin, you're going to get hurt if they do figure out who you are."
"I know, Namjoon. However, it's a risk I'm willing to take to save a bunch of people and bring peace again to this town. For them to finally be able to breathe and walk around without being scared that something might happen to them."
"They can come after Jungkook again or even Tae," SeokJin adds, and Jimin knew. He knew that all too well.
"I'm aware of that, hyung," Jimin replied, the knowledge paining him as he switched his gaze upon Namjoon again. "I wish to ask you to have someone watch over them. The closer we get to breaking this shit, the more dangerous it will become, and I don't want anything to happen to them."
Namjoon sighs, "Okay, Jimin. I'll have some men watch over them. It's getting late; we should keep this on hold for now. How does continuing this tomorrow sound? I need time to process everything. I was unaware of everything that was shared tonight. You really do think of everything. I'm not sure why you decided to stop achieving your dream to become a detective when you're amazing at it."
Jimin gave him a sad smile. "You know why. And even if I do wish to continue, I can't do it. Not when I now have a responsibility to use my powers as they were given—to help the ones in need."
*
Jimin lives with the Kim brothers' after the talk in his home. He would only wear his suit when they agreed to meet up during the day. They would go to Jimin's place at night, allowing him to stay in his regular clothes. However, even when they went to investigate places at night after curfew, Jimin decided not to wear his suit, opting for only a mask to cover half of his face. Two weeks have passed in a blur, and finally, after much discovery, Jimin and the three Kim brothers have hit a dead end.
At that moment, they were about thirty minutes outside of town. Namjoon and SeokJin were sitting on the flat ground, while Taehyung had recently gotten back inside the car, head hanging low. The three of them had accepted their defeat when they saw a cobblestone wall blocking their path.
Jimin growls in frustration after being the last one to accept defeat. They were getting somewhere, getting close to discovering and uncovering their hiding place, and when they got the coordinates and drove to where it was marked, he thought hitting a dead end was the last thing he would encounter.
Jimin was lost in thought but snapped out of it when he heard Namjoon's ringtone. Jimin's eyes widened; they were thirty minutes away from home, and all of them were here. Jimin was here instead of being there.
"WHAT? What do you mean he disappeared?"
Namjoon's shout broke Jimin out of thought once again, which made Taehyung leave the car to stand next to him. He felt his heartbeat quicken as mindless possibilities crossed his mind. However, when Namjoon looked at him sadly, Jimin immediately knew whose name was mentioned from the other side of the line.
"Jungkook," Jimin murmured, feeling his heart drop as he fell to the ground; Taehyung called his name as tears filled his eyes.
He failed.
He failed to keep Jungkook safe.
He failed to keep the person he loved away from danger.
They knew who he was and took the opportunity to go for Jungkook without hesitation.
"Jimin-"
Namjoon tried to call for him, but Jimin's phone went off, alerting him that a call was coming in. Jimin felt numb, slowly taking his phone out of his pocket, disinterested. He looked at the caller ID name, and his eyes widened when he saw 'My Bun' appear on his screen.
He answered the call without hesitation and was met with a wavering tone. Jungkook was scared.
"Hyung?"
Jungkook's tearful tone set alarms in his head. He was in danger!
"Hyung, is that you? Please tell me it's you who answered." Jungkook begs.
"Jungkook, yes, it's me. What's wrong, bun? Why do you sound scared, baby?"
Jimin saw Namjoon's eyes widen when he heard Jungkook's name. "How?" Namjoon mouthed, and Jimin made a face for him not to say anything. Namjoon's hand motioned for Jimin to put the call on speaker, and Jimin did.
"Hyung, there's been a big guy dressed in black outside my home for the last two weeks." Jimin deadpanned Namjoon, and the latter facepalmed. "At first, I didn't think much of it since what if he's just there for a smoke? I've seen him smoke, but after these two weeks, I've noticed him following me everywhere. Every single place I went to, I got scared."
Jimin gestures to Namjoon, saying that Jungkook was going to kill him when he found out that Namjoon had ordered that man to look and follow Jungkook. Namjoon also tells him that Jungkook will do the same when he finds out that it was Jimin's idea. At that, Jimin rolls his eyes.
"Bun, are you still at your house?"
"No."
"Bun, where are you? It's past curfew; you know it's dangerous to be out right now."
"Well, that goes for you too, Park Jimin. You don't seem to be home either." Jungkook flips the scolding to Jimin. "Hm? I don't see you sleeping, Mister! You have avoided my calls and texts like I'm your worst nightmare!"
Ouch, the whole legal name was mentioned. Jimin knew Jungkook was angry, and he was allowed to be mad as Jimin had done precisely that. He purposely and not purposely avoided Jungkook.
"Bun-"
"Don't Bun me, Park Jimin! I want an explanation for why you have been avoiding me, and don't say you weren't because you were! It was so obvious when I would see that you would leave me on seen! Do you think that didn't hurt? Do you think that didn't make me go into thinking about what I could've done wrong? Huh? Have you ever thought about it? No, I guess not! I felt like shit and cried for hours, thinking I did something wrong. Oh, and don't get me started on fucking Kim Taehyung. He has also been avoiding my texts and messages. When I see you both again, know I will give you a scolding. You hear me, Kim Taehyung! I know you're there. You two are like two peas in a pod. Never leaving each other. I damn bet your asses that you two have showered together at this point as well!"
By then, Jimin knew Jungkook was too far gone. So, they all got inside the car and drove home, listening to Jungkook rant in pure anger. At one point, SeokJin made a joke about Jungkook sounding like he was scolding his husband, and when Jungkook heard SeokJin's voice, his scolding switched in a heartbeat to SeokJin, accusing him of stealing Jimin from him.
SeokJin, wanting to escape the five-minute scolding, mentioned that it was all Namjoon's doing. Namjoon, thinking that he was safe because Jungkook looked up to him, was proved wrong when even the chief got scolded for another five minutes until Jungkook returned to scolding Jimin and Taehyung for the remainder of the way home.
Parking at Jimin's driveway, they all got out since Jungkook had mentioned that he wanted all of them to come back together. Jimin opened the door and was greeted by a pacing Jungkook, who stopped talking when he saw them.
Once Jungkook noticed them, he strolled towards them, grabbed Jimin from his collar shirt, and sat him down on the middle of the couch. Then he went back to do the same with the others until they were all seated down like kicked puppies awaiting their mother's scolding.
"Park Jimin." Jimin flinched at the sudden call of his name." Talk. Now."
Jimin gulped, fear eradicating him, "I was busy?"
"You were busy?" Jungkook raised an eyebrow. "What's with the uncertainty?"
"N-no! I mean- Yes! I was busy." Jimin panicked, feeling how his stomach was twisting from the anxiety that was building up in him.
"You were or weren't?"
"I was!" Jimin exclaimed.
"With?"
"I—" Jimin's panic-stricken demeanor changed into a serious one in a split second. "I'm sorry, but I can't say. At least, not right now."
Jungkook sighed and looked at the other three, who tensed up under his glare.
"I'm guessing you three know as well?"
They couldn't answer in any way since Jimin said, "They do. However, something private involved a case, and Namjoon needed my help. I've been busy helping him out these last three weeks. Sorry, that's as much as I can share with you."
'Liar' Jimin tells himself that since it was two weeks since he had been helping Namjoon and vice versa, Jungkook didn't have to know that. At least not at the moment where he can get hurt. Jimin wanted to prevent that as much as possible.
Jungkook sighed again, clearly stressed and at the very edge of just falling apart. The sight made Jimin's heart hurt, guilt surging through him because he was the cause of that. He's the reason why Jungkook looks tired.
Another part of him was also screaming at him for avoiding Jungkook. Here, he thought five weeks would be enough to fall out of love with the younger man, but seeing him now after three weeks proved him wrong. Finding out he was in potential trouble stopped Jimin's whole life.
'All the avoiding, and yet, he still owns my heart. I'm pathetic.'
Jimin stands up and walks towards Jungkook, pulling the younger one down to hug him properly and securely.
"I was scared, hyung." Jungkook sobs, "You weren't here when I entered your home with the spare key. I freaked out."
"It's okay."
"I thought they took you. I thought I was never going to see you again. You, Tae, SeokJin-hyung, and Namjoon-hyung are my only family here. I wouldn't know what I'd do if I had lost you. Please! Never do that to me again. I don't care if you're too busy to hang out with me; I'll understand. I will. Just promise to text me back here and there. All I want to know is that you're okay and safe."
"I will, bun. I promise. I'm here. I'm here with you."
It took Jungkook a bit to calm down. When he did, exhaustion overtook him, and he fell asleep on Jimin's shoulders. Without thinking twice, Jimin picked him up bridal style and took him to his room, laying him down on his bed and tucking him in. He went out to the living room, where the three brothers were waiting for him standing up.
"He'll be okay. I'm sure he will. He's strong." Jimin says, unsure if he was saying those words to reassure the others or himself.
The brothers left, and Jimin was on the floor, head hung low. Time ticked, and here he was, stuck in the frame. Hitting the dead end earlier has them back to square one. Back to where the hell those motherfucker could be hiding.
Jimin stood up, walked towards his fridge, and took out a beer. Funny, he always drank when it got too much for him to handle and went outside after opening the bottle. The taste was always unpleasant to the tongue, yet it felt right.
In times like these, Jimin always wondered, why him?
What made him so special?
Why was he chosen to hold such power?
Why now?
Why didn't his abilities come with mind reading? Honestly, if he had that power, this would've been solved way faster—in a day, tops. However, he didn't, and square one was already familiar. Once more shouldn't hurt.
Jimin chuckled, "Maybe a therapist will help when this is over."
"Why a therapist."
Jimin jumped, not expecting Jungkook to be up. He gave the younger a bittersweet smile. How foolish he was, really. He must take a comedy gig for once. He could never go to a therapist—not as who he was. The therapist himself would also need therapy based on what crazy words would eventually come out of Jimin's mouth.
"You should go back to bed, kook. I'm just stargazing the stars that have come out to shine tonight." Jimin turns to look at the sky, "They don't always get their chance to shine because of clouds, but when they do, they're so pretty. I wonder why it is called a star when it is made up of pure gas. They're red, blue, yellow, orange, and we see them as white from how far they are from us."
Jimin could feel Jungkook's stare on him: "They look so close to each other, although they're far away. They're lonely. On their own with no one to love and care for." Jimin scoffs, "Guess that makes us lucky to have people in our lives."
"Why do you say it like that?"
"Like what?"
"As if you find it absurd."
"It's not that I find it absurd, kook. It's more of how funny it is to me. They don't have to worry about anything, and we're here almost hanging onto insanity ... .Well, I know I am on the brink. Especially from the lack of rest, I've been getting this last week. Don't mind me. I'm just exhausted."
"There's something you're not telling me, right?"
"You're sharp when you want to." Jimin chuckles, seeing Jungkook frown, "There is, but I can't say it right now. If I did, you wouldn't let me do it."
"Jimin, that's not true! I wouldn't refrain you from doing something you want to do."
"You would. I know you, Jungkook. I know you would." Jimin continued talking when he saw Jungkook open his mouth to oppose his words, "Let's go to sleep. I'll sleep on the couch, and you will sleep on my bed. I must return to the station tomorrow morning."
Jimin walked back inside, passing Jungkook as he walked towards his closet, where he kept his extra blankets, and set up the couch. Jungkook's burning gaze was starting to make him nervous, but he didn't let himself falter.
"Jimin," Jungkook spoke up in an authoritative voice. "Look at me."
Who was Jimin to disobey?
He looked up to look back at the younger, "What?"
"You better be here when I wake up."
Jimin didn't respond, and Jungkook took it as a silent agreement and left for Jimin's room to go back to sleep.
Jimin didn't want to be an asshole. He really didn't. He wanted to stay in the morning to talk to Jungkook about whatever bothered the younger, but he couldn't. He needed to be in the station early.
The faster he cracked the case, the better.
*
By 8 a.m., Jimin and Namjoon were already in the station. They had been working in silence for the past thirty minutes. The silence wasn't awkward, but there was obvious tension in the room from Namjoon wanting to ask about last night with Jungkook.
Ultimately, Jimin couldn't take the silence and sighed, "Just say it."
"Did you get the chance to talk to him before you came here?"
"No. I left while he was still sleeping. I didn't want to wake him up." Jimin replied, not looking up from the papers he was reading.
"Why do I feel like he's only going to get more mad at you?"
"Because you're right. He will. I am just a selfish coward who wants the best for him and everyone."
"Jimin, you're not a coward."
"I left the house early just to avoid the talk. That's coward enough, hyung." Jimin answered expressionless.
"I'm sure Jungkook will understand. He's very understanding." Namjoon cheerfully says, which doesn't help Jimin in any way.
"Yeah, well, yesterday he wasn't having any of it." Jimin deadpanned.
"Just have faith-"
Namjoon wasn't able to finish when Jimin's phone started to ring. Jimin took it out of his pocket, and his eyes widened when he saw the caller ID: Jungkook. Jimin stood there, all frozen up. Jungkook was awake and had figured out that he wasn't home. What was he going to do now? He can't pick up. It'll be best to talk when he gets home to Jungkook. Maybe by then, Jungkook would be calm.
By the fourth call, Jimin decided to turn off his phone, which caused both him and Namjoon to tense up when Jungkook suddenly started calling Namjoon. In panic, Namjoon turned off his phone as well, and that's when both knew they had fucked up. They really are asking for another scolding.
"Well, that just happened," Jiming says, nervous laughter.
"We're both screwed," Namjoon whined, letting half of his body lay on the desk.
"It will be okay!" Jimin nervously optimized, "Right?"
"The worst-case scenario will be him coming here," Namjoon mumbled.
"He wouldn't do that. Would he?" Jimin paled when the door to the office slammed open, and Jungkook walked through with a murderous look on his face.
Both Jimin and Namjoon straightened up, scared for their lives.
"I'm sorry, captain! We tried to stop him, but he was too strong!" A petite cop stammered.
Jungkook turned to look back at the cop behind him and scowled at him. "You're excused, " he said, shutting the door to the cop's face. "Now, care to explain why I did wake up without you being home, Park Jimin?"
Jimin gulped when Jungkook turned around and kept his eyes on him. He needed to be careful with how he was going to respond.
"Well-"
"Well, what!?" Jungkook snapped.
"Kook, calm down-" Namjoon tried to reason but couldn't.
"Don't involve yourself in this, Namjoon Hyung! We'll have a talk after I'm done with him." Jimin viewed how Namjoon, being buff, looked now tiny.
"Park Jimin! I'm awaiting my answer!" Jungkook demanded, hands curling up to fists.
"I had to be here early, Jungkook." Jimin decided to go with a semi-truth.
"You don't work here, Jimin. What's so important that it can't wait for a minimum of thirty minutes?" Jungkook questioned, voice filled with the need to know.
Jimin sighed as he looked at Namjoon, who nodded at him, and Jimin returned the nod. Jimin stood straight and looked Jungkook in the eye with determination.
"I'm here to help crack the case with the kidnapping of citizens." Jimin exposed, Jungkook frowning his eyebrows.
"But you don't work with the authorities. How are you even helping them?"
"That information, I can't share."
"But it could've waited!" Jungkook nearly yells.
"I'm not waiting!" Jimin snaps, making the other two jump and look at him with widened eyes. "I'm done waiting for something else to happen. I'm not waiting for another attempt of them taking you. I won't stand there and not do anything when I know I can!"
Jimin walked up to Jungkook and said, "I nearly lost you. I nearly did, and if it wasn't for Aeon, who saved you, I don't know what I would've done, Jungkook. You mean a lot to me, and if I can help them solve this faster than the pace they're taking to solve it, then I will."
Jimin saw Jungkook visibly relax after his words, and Jimin was glad. "Listen, Kook. I'm sorry for ignoring you these past three weeks. I am deeply sorry for that. There are two reasons: one, I'm not ready to share with you, but in time, I will, and two, well, this is why. I've been researching and finding evidence and clues to find out where they are hiding."
Jimin takes hold of Jungkook's hands, caressing the back side of Jungkook's hands with his thumb. "Once this is over. I'll tell you everything about helping them. How's that sound?"
Jungkook nodded, "I'd like that."
Their moment was cut short when a massive crash was heard outside, and soon, the wall of the office was breached by a car crashing into it.
Jimin quickly jumped to save Jungkook as a piece of debris was about to hit him. Reacting simultaneously, he moved Namjoon to the other side with his telekinesis.
Jimin covered Jungkook with his body, "Are you okay, bun?" Jimin asked, his voice filled with concern.
"Yeah, thank you," Jungkook says, slight terror in his voice.
"Namjoon! Are you okay?" Jimin yells.
"I'm fine! What's important is what caused this to happen!" Namjoon yelled back, grunting as he tried to stand up.
Jimin stood up and helped Jungkook, too, after making sure it was safe, and slowly went outside with the other two, walking behind him through the breached wall to see everyone running frantically, screaming in fear and agony from losing their loved one.
"Aeon, where are you?" The voice of a female was heard, and soon, a woman flying in the sky with a pink and orange suit, a tad of orange lighting surrounded her. Exactly like Jimin, she wore a mask.
"Who is that?" Namjoon wondered, uttering the words that were running through Jimin's head.
"I'm not sure, but whoever she is, she's clearly not here to protect," Jimin growled, wishing he wasn't in anyone's visible sight so he could protect the town from this unwelcome anomaly.
When the evil woman saw him, a Cheshire smile appeared on her face, which made Jimin frown. Why was she smiling at him like she knew who he was?
"No, wait, that is not your actual name. "She looks at Jimin and chuckles darkly. Jimin sees how she quickly averts her eyes to Jungkook, and in an instant, her smile falters, then turns sinister again when she looks back at Jimin. "Isn't Jimin? "
Jimin's eyes widened, and he could barely register her coming down, lifting a car like it was light as paper and throwing it in Jungkook's direction.
There was no time to decide. Hell to him by the end of it, but Jimin would not let Jungkook get physically hurt ever again. Not if he was able to prevent that from happening.
Jimin extended his hand, and with his telekinesis, he stopped the car from hitting Jungkook, who closed his eyes and slowly opened them, then widened and fixed his eyes on Jimin, who was glaring at the villain.
"How dare you target someone innocent," Jimin growled, veins popping.
"It's not like you weren't going to stop it. I knew you wouldn't let him get hurt, and because of that knowledge, I now have you where I want you!" she said, creating an electric lasso and aiming to get Jimin.
Jimin dodged it and threw the car back, watching how the woman used her free hand to redirect the car to the side, the vehicle crashing into a wall. At the same time, she did a twirl, and with another electric lasso, she threw it again towards Jimin.
Jimin knew he couldn't move. If he did, the electric lasso would hit Jungkook, who was still on the ground watching him with wide eyes. Jimin saw a large piece of cement and threw it at her from her blind spot, and it hit her. Unlucky, he wasn't fast enough to get another cement piece to shield him as he got hit with the lasso. Shards of pain flowed through him as the electricity hit every side of his body.
"Shit," Jimin grunted in pain as he still stood his ground, huffing loudly.
The villain laughed as she stood up, holding onto her bleeding side. "You are weak. Well, not necessarily weak; you're too focused on protecting that useless human behind you."
"I wouldn't be laughing if I were you; unlike you, I'm not bleeding." Jimin taunted, and the woman let out a roar as she used her own telekinesis to lift the tree next to her off the ground and throw it aimlessly at Jimin, who stopped it with one hand and threw it back.
"Stop throwing things at me and actually fight me!" Jimin yelled, but the woman didn't listen. She threw him everything she could, growing angry with every object she released as Jimin would stop them without breaking a sweat. Her throwing became more reckless as she got tired and frantic when she noticed how close Jimin was getting. She tried to bring out her lasso again but stopped when Jimin caught her wrist.
Who was this person?
"Who are you?" Jimin asked, his grip on her wrist tightening. "Don't even think about it, " he warned when he saw her raise her hand. "How do you know my name?" The villain put her hand down and smirked.
"It doesn't take much to figure out who you are. There are only two thousand people here in this town. As I said, figuring out the rest doesn't take much. It took me months to figure it out, and I now do. First time I have you this close to me." The woman breathes in, "You smell divine. You have always smelled divine. We could be a power couple."
"What makes you think I would be with someone like you?" Jimin spat, causing the villain to glare at him and see how she looked behind him.
"It's because of him, isn't it?" She accuses, turning to look back at Jimin. "It's always been him. Ever since he moved here, it's always been him. Why did you have to be there when we were so close to killing him?"
"Shut the fuck up."
"Hey, rabbit face!" She calls out to Jungkook. "Your poor Jiminie Hyung is heartbroken that you don't reciprocate his feelings." Jimin's eyes widened, color draining his face. "He was sad you told him you were in love with someone else."
Jimin stepped back, letting go of her hand, "Nayeon." he whispered.
"Wow, was I the only one to know? I'm honored!" Nayeon smiled as she wrapped a lasso around Jimin, making him emit a loud grunt of pain, and brought him to her. "Poor Jimin. Now you know how being the only one with feelings feels."
"Why do you always have to say extra words?" Jimin hisses in pain as Nayeon tightens the hold around him. "Using the word unrequited would've been suffice."
"Well, why do you always have to lessen the words?" Nayeon puts her hands on her hips and tilts her head.
"Because it's easier." Jimin glared. I've always predicted this, but you love to hear your voice, don't you?"
"Maybe," Nayeon smirked, brought Jimin five inches away from her face, and whispered. "I've always wondered how soft your lips are."
"Keep fucking dreaming." Jimin spat, making Nayeon close her eyes and touch her face from the saliva running down her face.
"You'll pay for that!" Nayeon screamed, using the hand that she held the lasso, and threw Jimin straight into a concrete wall, causing Jimin to spit out blood.
"Jimin hyung!" Jungkook screamed, finally getting the power to stand up so he could run to Jimin, but got pushed back down by Namjoon, who got electrocuted from saving Jungkook from the incoming lasso that Nayeon tried to throw at Jungkook.
"Argh!" Nayeon growled in frustration as she threw another towards Jungkook but was again prevented by Jimin getting hit and thrown again, crashing against a car. "Fucking move!"
Jimin, huffing out loud, blood dripping down his forehead, stood up again, "Namjoon hyung! Can you move?"
"Yeah," Namjoon groaned. His skin was flooded with tiny scratches, and he had difficulty getting up. However, he was successful with the electricity flowing through his body and used his body to cover Jungkook. "I'll be fine.
"I want you to get Jungkook out of here," Jimin demanded, walking over to them. "I can't fight knowing he can be in danger with every movement I make. He is who she wants. I owe you one for defending him."
"Jimin, her electric shocks are no joke," Namjoon claimed, slowly walking back, signaling Jungkook to get back up. "I can still feel it in my body."
"What are you two planning?" Nanyeon shouts, forming another electric lasso and having her have two.
"Thanks for the clarification, hyung, but I'll be fine. Her shocks may be painful, but they're not enough to stop me from moving. I'll be fine if you both are away from here."
"Okay." Namjoon said, "come on, Jungkook."
"Jimin," Jungkook called out.
"Yes. bun?" Jimin responded, eyes still on Nayeon.
"You have a lot of explaining to do."
"I know."
"You better not die."
"I will try not to."
"Jimin!"
"Namjoon, get him out of here!" Jimin shouted when Nayeon started walking towards them.
"He's not going anywhere!" Nayeon lunged forward but quickly flew to the side as Jimin threw a long piece of wood in her direction, letting Namjoon leave the scene with Jungkook.
"It's just you and me, Nayeon." Jimin glared, cracking his fingers as he walked towards her. He emitted a blue aura, and with every step he took, pieces of debris and rocks started floating, following him.
Nayeon sat up and threw a piece of stone to Jimin but was unsuccessful in getting it to Jimin as Jimin threw the stone back. She got out of the way in time. Jimin noticed that she was bleeding from both of her sides, her feet staggering from staying upright.
"Let's end things now, Nayeon. You're losing a lot of blood." Jimin suggested, "Turn yourself in. You can't keep going with the wounds in your body."
"Turn me in?" Nayeon scoffed, wincing in pain as she tried to stand straight. "I came to finish him off."
"What?" Jimin frowned.
"Like I said, it's always been him ever since he came here. We almost had him last time, but you had to show up. You had to ruin it."
"You're their leader?"
"Maybe I am. Maybe I am not." Nayeon said, smiling.
"Where are the rest, Nayeon!"
"Like I would tell you."
"Nayeon, tell me! Or else I would have to result in a way I don't want to."
"Oh, please, what other magical abilities do you have?" Nayeon rolls her eyes.
"You don't want to experience it, Nayeon. Unlike you, my magic runs through me. You're only using machines you built to give you that power. Your weakness is that you can't regenerate." Jimin stated, looking down at Nayeon as she growled.
"I'm not telling you shit." Nayeon shouted again.
"You really love to shout," Jimin sighed as he levitated a rock behind Nayeon without her noticing. "Your voice was always so annoying to hear."
With a simple hand gesture, Jimin moved the rock to hit Nayeon's back, making her fall forward, barely catching herself from hitting the ground too hard, and rested the rock on top of her, pressuring gravity more every time she tried to get up.
Jimin kneeled down and gripped her jaw to look up at him. She was bruised, and Jimin wished what he felt for her was a pity, but he didn't. He didn't feel anything for her.
"This is going to hurt." Jimin stated as he used his omnikinesis to get inside Nayeon's brain and search for what he wanted. His eyes turned red. The painful screams Nayeon was emitting from agony were real. The deeper Jimin searched, the harsher the pain became.
Jimin wouldn't be surprised if she passed out from the pain he was causing her to feel. He was glad Jungkook wasn't present to witness the horrendous sight. Jimin knew he could've finished Nayeon quickly with his omnikinesis, which also let him control a person, but he never used this power unless necessary, and in this case, it was necessary.
He didn't want to give Jungkook a vision he couldn't forget.
When Jimin finally found what he wanted, he did what he did to everyone when he got inside their minds. He made them forget about him and what wrong they were doing. He's most definitely going to have to do that to everyone else who knows he's Aeon. So, he left Nayeon's mind and watched her lose consciousness. He picked her up bridal style and walked back inside the police department.
Namjoon and Jungkook stood up worriedly when Jimin walked in, blood trails on his face and clothes.
"She's unconscious," Jimin stated and laid her down on a flat surface. "She will wake up with a headache and no memory of this happening. However, I recommend to keep in a guarded place. I know where they are hiding."
"Where?" Namjoon asks, coming to Jimin with a thin cover to cover Nayeon.
"I'll tell you later. Right now, I need to do how you two are holding up?" Jimin changes the subject, eyes scanning for any injuries.
"I'm fine. I feel a bruise building on the abdomen, but I'll be fine." Namjoon waved in dismissal, and Jimin nodded.
"And you?" Jimin looked at Jungkook, who was staring at him like he wanted to crack the secret behind Jimin.
"I'm fine." Jungkook says, nonchalant.
"Good."
"But you aren't," Jungkook states, walking up to Jimin and rolling up Jimin's shirt to see if there were any wounds to treat from his fight with Nayeon. Jungkook's eyebrows furrowed from seeing the scars almost healed and looked up at Jimin in disbelief. "What is this?"
"I can heal myself," Jimin says, looking away from Jungkook's eyes.
Suddenly, Jimin felt like a freak. He didn't feel out of place even after obtaining his magical powers. Yes, he was scared of himself but always considered himself worthy of such power.
"Jungkook, I think it's best if you go home," Jimin told him, still avoiding contact.
"Why would I?" Jungkook angrily responds, "Who do you think you are to tell me what to do? I need answers, Jimin. We need to talk!"
"And we will." Jimin agrees, looking back at Jungkook in the eyes. "We will talk about it. I'll answer every question you have, but not right now. Right now, I need to focus on helping the authorities to expose and imprison those who brought hurt to this town. I can't rest knowing they can still fight. I need them to be taken care of first, and then when everything is done, I can be calm enough to sit down and talk."
Jimin touches Jungkook's cheeks and caresses them. "I need you safe, " he whispers. "And I can do that if this is done first."
Jungkook sighs and nods, "Okay. I'll wait for you in your home."
"Want me to take you?" Jimin offers but frowns when Jungkook shakes his head.
"No, Namjoon hyung can take me. You stay here and start discussing stuff with the others. You can catch up with Namjoon Hyung when he gets back. I want you back as soon as possible." Jungkook concludes and signals Namjoon to follow him without looking back at Jimin.
Jimin wanted to extend his hand to pull Jungkook into his arms, but he knew it was best not to. He looked away, nodding at Namjoon, who stared at him and waited for his approval.
Jimin spent the day discussing and planning everything to expose the organization. Jin joined after Namjoon had called him. Everyone in town knew about the crazy woman who tried to hurt them, and they couldn't waste any more time letting the organization escape.
They went to the outskirts of the town in a deserted area to find everyone ready to leave. It was a chase. Jimin wasn't going to waste any more time, so he got out of the moving car, climbed to the roof, and flew fast to the front of the moving vans. With his telekinesis, he lifted the vans to float.
It was over.
It was finally over; the captured people were free. While cuffing all the bad guys, Jimin discovered that not everyone they captured was present. Sadly, some victims informed him that they were using them for experimental purposes to discover how to gain superpowers like his.
A lot of the subjects didn't make it and passed away within seconds as their brains couldn't handle the serums. The two victims who passed the test were put in shackles that were immune to weakening their power and were together in a separate van.
Jimin flew to that specific van, and when he opened the back door, he widened when he saw both of them crouched. However, while one was hugging his feet and shivering uncontrollably, the other used his body as a shield covering the one in hiding.
Jimin called out to them and immediately felt terrible when the vulnerable one jumped in fear and deeper into the more petite body. Jimin saw how the smaller one was glaring at him, like a cat hunting, as if he was ready to kill him if he dared to get close to the one he was protecting. Jimin barely saw the scar the more petite figure had crossing his eye. Did he already have it, or did they cause it?
"Hey, I'm sorry for startling you, but I just came to let you know that you're going to be okay. You're free now," Jimin softly said, watching as the hiding one retreated from the smaller one but still holding onto him.
"W-who are you? " he timidly asked, and Jimin smiled sadly. He wasn't wearing his suit, only his mask, and honestly, Jimin wasn't sure if it was a good idea to show himself, but hell, these two were now going to live the rest of their lives with abilities they never wanted.
Slowly, Jimin pulled off his mask from his face, "My name is Park Jimin, also known as Aeon." When he revealed himself, both men's eyes widened, and the one who was in hiding started crying on the more petite man. Jimin was able to feel relief from the other emotions. They were relieved to finally be rescued.
"I'm sorry it took me this long to free you all; I'm sorry for my delay. It causes a lot of people to no longer be in this world, but their deaths will not go in vain; those motherfuckers will pay for what they have done, I promise you that." Jimin said determinedly, making eye contact with the cat-like one who nodded at him and started trying to stand, only to immediately sit back down in pain.
"Yoongi, no! You can't stand up; you'll only get elected by my power, " the man panickedly said to Yoongi.
"Hoseok, I'll be fine," Yoongi grunted as more electricity ran through him because he was not giving up on standing.
"Hey, sit down." Jimin flew to them to see Hoseok gasp in surprise, and Yoongi stiffened up. "You'll only wear yourself down. I'll help. How is this connected?"
"By the wires attached to my temples." Hoseok rapidly spat out, and Jimin took them off to see Yoongi let out a big sigh. "I don't know what these shackles are made from, but we can't use our abilities with it."
"Don't worry; I'll get you out of there," Jimin said, concentrating on bending the metal to open and release Hoseok's hands. He rubbed his wrists from the unwanted pain and did the same to Yoongi. "How do you guys feel?"
"Better," Yoongi said, standing up to carry Hoseok bridal style and get out of the van, Jimin following behind.
"What type of abilities do you guys have?" Jimin asked, to which Yoongi glared, but Hoseok answered.
"I can fly and Electrokinesis. Yoongi has telekinesis and can also fly. Why?" Hoseok questions.
"Do you know how to use them?" Jimin tilts his head, earning a grunt from Yoongi from avoiding the question.
"We don't really. They only wanted us to do basic things because they didn't want us to become powerful enough to break out." Hoseok again answered.
"Would you like for me to teach you how to? I don't know much about Electrokinesis, but I'm sure it's almost like telekinesis. Also, they won't leave you alone unless they know you guys are safe to be around." Jimin said, tilting his head to the side, letting them know he was talking about the authorities.
"Would you?" Hoseok asked, wanting a final confirmation, and Jimin nodded yes. Hoseok turned to look at Yoongi, and the latter nodded. "We accept!"
After talking to the authorities about Hoseoks and Yoongi's final verdict, with Namjoon's help, they were granted permission to stay with Jimin until they learned how to use their power.
Once everything calmed down and Jimin asked Namjoon to take Hoseok and Yoongi for the night, Jimin left flying after promising both males that he would return for them in the morning. In his mind, the only person filling every corner of his mind was Jungkook. He needed to get to Jungkook as soon as possible. Jimin landed in his backyard and walked inside to see the house pitch black.
Jimin called out for Jungkook but was met with silence.
Walking further into his home, Jimin saw the open door to his investigation room. If Jungkok had truly been waiting for him in his house, it would have been understandable why his private room was now unlocked.
Jimin slightly opened it to see Jungkook staring at the bulletin board and got close to him. "You have been busy the whole time," Jungkook murmured.
"I have," Jimin responded, startling Jungkook to turn around. His doe eyes widened. The younger man looked beautiful with whatever expression he would ever make.
"Hyung! I'm sorry for entering your room without your permission." Jungkook apologized but immediately calmed down when Jimin hugged his taller figure. "Hyung?"
"I can finally be around you without feeling scared that you can be in danger. You have no idea how relieved I feel now, knowing that you and everyone in this town can sleep tonight without danger being in every corner." Jimin let go of the younger and cupped his face.
"Whatever you wish to ask of me, you are allowed to, and I will sincerely answer it. Let's go to the room so we can get comfortable." Jimin finished, guiding Jungkook to his room. They both sat at the end of the bed.
Silence surrounded them, and a couple of minutes passed. Jimin wondered if Jungkook was ever going to mention anything, and just when Jimin was about to question the younger, Jungkook asked his first question.
"Were you ever going to tell me who you are?" Jungkook said, not looking at Jimin. Jimin also frowned and looked away from the younger.
"I was. I actually had planned to tell you a couple weeks ago. I was going to invite you to dinner, and I was going to tell you about this power I was given. Still, everything went sideways when you got targeted. Instead of telling you, I was more focused on figuring out who the fuck these people were and also trying to forget my feelings for you because my dumbass confessed my feelings as Aeon instead of Jimin. You didn't hesitate one second to turn me down." Jimin bitterly chuckled, lifting his right hand to scratch his head.
"Well, if I had known you were behind the suit and mask, I wouldn't have rejected you." Jimin whipped his head up to see Jungkook looking away, fingers playing with the hem of his shirt. The younger man was nervous, and Jimin's eyes widened as he processed what the younger man had just confessed.
"Wait, you—do you like me?" Jimin asked, and Jungkook groaned, "Baby Bun?" "Yes, you freak. I like you, okay. No, scratch that. I don't like you. I love you, and I've had my eyes on you since we met, hyung."
"I feel the same way, Bun." Jimin smiled to himself, "Ever since I laid my eyes on you, I thought about how someone could be so beautiful. I fell in love with everything part about you." "So, what does this mean?" Jungkook asked, finally looking back at Jimin, and Jimin warmly smiled at him.
"Well, would you allow me to be your boyfriend, Jeon Jungkook?"
Jimin could swear he could see Jungkook's imaginary bunny ears go up in excitement. His head was nodding crazily, causing Jimin to laugh, his eyes turning into crescent moons. Jimin hugged Jungkook tightly, scared that if he let go, the latter would disappear.
"For how long have you had these powers? You mentioned the word given, which means that you got them later in life, right?" Jungkook asked, and Jimin nodded in agreement.
"I got them two years ago when I went to Jeju Island with Tae. This enchanted tree lured me to it, and I touched it in the night, and when I woke up, I had these powers. Well, that's the story's summary, but that was it. The tree found me worthy to carry the power it provides, and here I am trying my absolute best to help everyone in need."
Jimin stood up and took off his shirt, leaving him with his tank top on. He pulled part of the tank top to the side to show the crescent moon on his chest.
"This is the mark I got since that day. It glows when someone is in of help. It also helps me to know what type of emotion the person is feeling." Jimin lets go of his shirt and sits back down next to Jungkook.
"So, basically, it tells you who specifically needs help?" Jungkook asked, his head titled.
"Not necessarily. It's more of a guide. I don't know who the person is until I get to the scene. I just know what type of emotion they're feeling. Whatever they feel in the moment helps me mentally prepare myself for possible cases that it will bring me." Jimin clarified, and Jungkook nodded in understatement.
"I see."
"With big power comes great responsibility." Jimin sighed, "I was scared initially when I got these powers because I had no clue if whatever I was doing was the correct way, but then I assured myself that every superhero starts somewhere, and that's one of the things that made me keep going."
Well, I'm proud of you, Hyung," Jungkook said, smiling warmly at Jimin, who reciprocated.
"Thank you, love." Jimin responded and laughed when Jungkook started to blush immensely; hitting him lightly and groaning was the cherry on top.
The love Jimin felt for Jungkook was a never-ending feeling that he would cherish for the rest of his life. Nobody will ever be perfect. Neither were they. Everyone has their flaws. However, for them, the eyes of love that are within them hold more power than anything standing in their way. Bumpy roads are sure in their future, but Jimin was sure that they would overcome them, standing side-by-side, together.
.・゜-: ✧☾ ☽✧ :-゜・.