Chapter Text
Jungkook lets his body fall onto his desk chair with a heavy sigh. His seven AM alarm hadn’t been kind to him. Maybe he shouldn’t have gone out drinking with Yugyeom last night, considering he apparently still hasn’t learned that he can’t drink as free of consequences as he could when he was in college. Hangovers are cruel and it’s even more tragic when you feel the symptoms of one after three beers.
His gaze flicks to the large, white clock right above the elevator. It’s just past seven thirty, not a lot of people are here yet. They're not late, Jungkook just likes being early. Only four of the almost twenty desks are currently occupied. The entire floor belongs to the homicide investigation department, but Jungkook is only interested in the two empty desks closest to his.
It won’t be long until Taehyung arrives, but he trusts Jimin to take at least half an hour longer. He smiles to himself and rolls his chair closer to his desk to turn on his computer.
Every time the elevator makes that distinct ding noise, his head whips up only to see a member of another unit walking in, leaving Jungkook to slump back into his seat in disappointment. It goes like this every single morning. When he looks at the clock, he counts to find out only five minutes have passed. Maybe Yugyeom is right and he’s too attached.
He brushes a bit of dust off the top of a framed picture perched on the lefthand corner of his desk. It’s of their little team, their pack. They had taken it last summer on a work trip. Jungkook is the youngest and still with the privilege of being in his twenties, but not for long. He loves teasing Jimin and Taehyung about it, as they had both hit thirty last year. Jungkook’s lips curve into a small smile at the memories welling up in his mind.
The next time the elevator dings and Jungkook looks up, his patience gets rewarded. He quickly looks away, only to greet Taehyung when the beta passes by his desk.
“Damn, JK. I don’t need to be able to smell you to know you’re having a rough morning,” Taehyung teases with a laugh. “Had fun last night?”
Jungkook chuckles. “I wish I couldn’t smell you. I wouldn’t have been forced to know you’re not wearing any deodorant And what's that? A hint of dorito crumbles as well?”
“Touché,” Taehyung answers, grinning. “I bet you ten thousand won Jimin will be here before eight.”
“He never is. You’re on.”
It feels like he looks towards the elevator every second, even when there’s no sound to indicate someone arriving. Just seven more minutes and Jungkook will be ten thousand won richer. For the first time ever he hopes Jimin won’t arrive soon.
Two minutes until eight and the heavy elevator doors slide open to reveal none other than the department’s favourite special agent, Park Jimin. Jungkook stares, astounded. He doesn’t have to look at Taehyung to know he has that big, pleased grin on his face with a mischievous glint in his eyes to match.
“Good morning, Jiminie!” Taehyung chirps, “How’s the new bus connection working out for you?”
Jimin smiles his bright sunshine smile that makes his eyes scrunch up as he greets Taehyung. Jungkook forgets to glare. “It’s a real lifesaver, I’m so happy with it.” He looks towards Jungkook and his nostrils flare slightly. “Are you ok? Your scent’s a bit... off.”
“Hardly slept. Since when is there a new bus connection?”
“Yesterday! It saves me fifteen minutes!” Jimin plops down onto his chair, and with all three desks occupied, Jungkook feels a little more complete.
Not even five minutes pass until Jimin stands back up. Jungkook follows him with his gaze as subtly as he possibly can. Jimin sits down onto the desk of Sungwoon, an alpha of the IT department. He only has a desk here to keep the connection between their respective departments and Jungkook huffs. This alpha doesn't even go here.
“Stare like that for a second longer and people might start thinking you’re jealous.”
Jungkook tears his gaze away from Jimin to look at Taehyung and sees he hasn’t even looked up from his computer screen. “I’m not jealous.”
“Hmm, okay Jungkookie.”
He knew there would be no point in arguing, so he turns back to the e-mail he was writing with a sigh. As desperate as he was not to be alerted when Jimin returned, he still abandons his e-mail when the omega walks back to his desk. It’s a viscous cycle.
“Jeon, Park, Kim.”
Three heads whip up simultaneously at the mention of their names, looking for the source.
“We’ve got a case,” the chief of their unit, Min Yoongi, announces as he strides past their desks. “Gather your things. We’ve got a trip to Hongdae ahead of us.”
They didn’t hesitate to do as asked, shutting down computers, grabbing coats, and following after their chief. Even Jungkook follows the beta’s instructions without question or the slightest hint of hesitation. For all the teasing and joking around the three do amongst themselves, they make the switch to professionals surprisingly easy. They're all on the same wavelength and don't need words to communicate and understand each other. Jungkook reckons that's why they work so well.
Only in the car on the way to the alleged crime scene does someone speak up again, with Jimin asking, “What do we know so far?”
“A college student was found dead in a club this morning,” Yoongi explains, “The cause of death isn’t clear yet. It might just be alcohol, but they want us there just in case. No possibilities can be excluded until the medics and forensics are done. Namjoon should already be there.”
Yoongi parks the car by the sidewalk right in front of the club. The street has been surrounded by red tape and no trespassing signs, but that won’t keep many curious onlookers and tourists away. Clubs always feel different during the daytime. Like this, it’s just a large room with an empty stage and an abandoned bar. Nothing like the spaces where Jungkook used to spend plenty of college nights filled with dancing, sweaty bodies and the stench of alcohol saturating the air. Now it’s full of forensic scientists and police.
Jungkook, Jimin and Taehyung follow Yoongi to the area containing the victim. They keep distance, but Jungkook can still get a good look at the body. He looks like he can wake up any second and go on his way to his morning lecture.
“Gentlemen, how wonderful to see you here.”
Namjoon is dressed in all necessary clothing for a crime scene, white suit and protective mask and all. He’d be hardly recognisable if it wasn’t for his voice and stature.
“Good morning, Namjoon,” Yoongi greets, “Any news?”
“Injuries at the back of the head that could be lethal. I will get to take him to the lab where I’ll be able to determine the definite cause of death. His identity is still unknown. I suggest going to the forensic team to inquire more about what they know.”
Jungkook, Jimin and Taehyung exchange gleaming glances among each other while Yoongi just thanks Namjoon. They follow their chief like pups to the forensic forces, brimming with childish glee when Yoongi directly addresses Hoseok instead of anyone else. “Updates?”
“Good morning. I saw the grocery list you texted.”
“Not the update I was asking for, but good. I have a feeling we’ll both be home late today.”
Hoseok smiles. “There’s hardly anything we know. We can’t do much without knowing if it's murder and fingerprints are impossible here. ”
“Very well.” Yoongi turns to his snickering followers. “Jeon and Park, I want you two to find the boss. Interview them and find out more about this place and last night, what was the occasion, who were working. Kim, you’re with me. We’re gonna snoop around the area for a bit.”
“Great, I love snooping!”
Jungkook’s gaze meets Jimin’s and his cocks his head to a side to signal that they should get going.
It takes a few minutes of asking around before they find the club’s owner, who had retreated to her office to mourn the loss of money this event will undoubtedly result in. Jimin softly knocks on the door. “Pardon me, we’re of crime scene investigation and we’d like to ask you a few questions. May we come in?”
“Of course,” the owner calls back, “Come on in!”
Jimin enters first, followed by Jungkook, who shuts the door behind them with a soft click. “I’m special agent Park and this is my colleague, detective Jeon. How are you doing right now?”
“Better. I’ve processed most of the shock.” The beta gestures towards the chairs in front of her desk and they move to sit down at the same time.
Jungkook makes a quick scan of the room. Neutral grey and muted blue, some cabinets, the desk neat and walls decorated with a few abstract artworks. His gaze lingers on the photo frame turned away from him before looking at the owner. “Could you tell us what happened this morning?”
“I have a steady routine. I came in at seven, before the cleaning staff, and I went to my office to answer e-mails, just some tedious business things. Then I went to do my walk around the club and I found him at the bar. I immediately called the police.”
“The club was rented out, I heard?”
“Yes, the space is up for rent for parties. This was for college students, something with finals being over.”
“I see, thank you. We will wait for our medical examiners' assessment before we can definitely rule this as homicide or not. We would like to know who was working last night, all of the details exchanged between the club and who rented the place, as well as the security footage.” Jungkook always keeps the cards with their unit’s contact details on him. He slides one out of his coat pocket and places it onto the desk, avoiding any physical contact. “These are our contact details. If we can have yours, we can keep you updated on our progress. Just one last question, where were you last night?”
“I was at home. I don’t like being here a lot when we’re open due to the noise.”
“Is there anyone who can confirm that?” Jimin inquires.
“My wife and my son were both home with me.” She tears a sheet of paper out of a notebook and hands it to Jungkook in equal exchange. “These are my contact details.”
Jungkook takes it and neatly folds it up to put it in his pocket. ”Thank you so much for your time, miss. We are deeply sorry for what happened here.”
“It’s okay,” the owner says, “I hope that it will be solved soon so it can be back open for business. Thank you for all of your effort.”
Jungkook and Jimin stand up and after a short bow, make their way to the exit, but not before Jimin utters, “We will try our best."
Back in the main hall, Yoongi and Taehyung are nowhere to be found among the chaos. Jungkook figures they haven't finished snooping around, leaving Jimin and him to sit somewhere by themselves to observe the scientists flitting around.
“What do you think? Could it be murder?” Jungkook asks.
“I think,” Jimin starts, “That this is a good location to kill someone. No one pays attention to them, footprints and fingerprints are impossible, it can be brushed off as alcohol or drugs. There’s nothing we know so far, but if someone wanted him dead, this would’ve been a great opportunity.”
“Sometimes it’s scary how much you can think like a murderer,” Jungkook jokes, “But I guess you’re right. We can’t do much but wait now.”
“It’s why I’m good at what I do. If I wasn’t a cop, I’d be a serial killer.”
“Who would your victims be? Serial killers always have a pattern.”
Jimin hums in thought for a moment. “Male alphas of approximately 5 foot 11 with a black belt in taekwondo.”
“Oh? Do these alphas happen to be devilishly handsome too?”
“No, not at all.”
“Then I’m safe,” Jungkook jokes, laughing when Jimin shoves him to a side. He makes a show of running a hand through his hair and winking at Jimin, grinning in accomplishment when Jimin laughs and promptly falls against him.
They end up having to wait for a few more minutes before Yoongi and Taehyung finally return to the club. “We’ve found all possible exits and entrances,” Taehyung says, “And all surveillance cameras with a view on the club. We’re practically locals now. How about you guys?”
Jungkook gives a brief summary of their conversation with the club’s owner and hands the paper with her information to Yoongi. “Anything from the medics?”
“They just left to the lab with the body,” Yoongi informs, “I suggest we split up. Jeon, you can come back to the compound with me while Kim and Park stay here in case something happens.”
Jimin and Taehyung cheer and embrace each other, clearly eager to spend some time together in Hongdae. It’s not like a lot will happen here anyway, with the club on shutdown so no staff will come in, and the forensics can’t do anything without knowing what to look for. Jungkook knows what they’re thinking, finding the nicest cafe and catching up on breakfast in the most elaborate way possible.
Jungkook gets up to join Yoongi. They exchange the regular stay safe, be careful, take care before they part their ways, Jungkook following Yoongi back outside towards the car while Jimin and Taehyung are left to wait until there’s progress.
Jungkook didn’t know how to act when he first met Namjoon. It was when he first joined and Yoongi was giving him a tour of the place. He had never met a medical examiner before and Namjoon had that clinical, intimidating air of intelligence around him he often recognised in the med students he had encountered while he was in college. Little did he know back then that Namjoon would end up becoming one of Jungkook’s closest friends and guide, as well as the only alpha Jungkook ever thirsted for.
He was one of the oldest of what Jungkook considered their little pack, he even already had pups, a life Jungkook couldn’t imagine for himself yet. And as attached as Jungkook was to the elder, he hated coming down to the labs where the he worked. Colourless, cold, reeking of disinfectant and cleaning detergent, most likely to hide the scent of decaying flesh. Jungkook hated this essenceless portrayal of life.
He also hated the mask he had to wear.
Namjoon didn’t bother to greet them. “It’s murder,” he says as soon as Yoongi and Jungkook had entered the lab. “I’m waiting for the assessment of my colleagues, but it’s not just a case of binge-drinking youth. Come look.”
Jungkook cringes when Namjoon lifts the sheet to reveal the boy’s face. One would think he got used to these things.
“The first thing that got me thinking something more was up was this bruise here on his cheek. His stomach contents reveal nothing unusual for a partying kid. Beer, vodka, some remnants of dinner, but nothing in alarmingly high rates. The same counts for alcohol in his blood. Nothing out of the ordinary. It couldn’t have killed him. No signs of drugs have been found.” Namjoon covers the boy’s face with the sheet. “Now, I know what you’re thinking. Maybe he had an accident, maybe he fell and hit his head. Hitting your head on the bar where he was found could lead to some nasty injuries. Except impact on the back of his head couldn’t have killed him, because there are no signs of impact on the skull. Drumrolls please.”
Namjoon turns towards the whiteboard where, with a single tap on the screen, post-mortem images appear. “Bruises around his wrists and biceps show that he was held by someone, or perhaps multiple people. He was clearly struggling. See these finger shaped bruises?” He points towards the purple outlines on the images of the boy’s arms. “There was most likely a fight, as his knuckles on his right hand are also bruised.
“Now the climax of this story, which leads me to believe he was murdered-” Namjoon taps on the screen again where the boy’s abdomen is pictured, pale and flawless except for the large, clean cut just below his ribs. “He was stabbed. You couldn’t see this when you found him, because his clothing had been changed. The shirt we found him in wasn’t damaged. Multiple people were in on this, because this can’t be done subtly.” Namjoon taps on the screen again and the images of the boy disappear to zoom into images of the cut. “We’re still working on the murder weapon, but you’re looking for some kind of kitchen knife. The wound isn’t entirely flawless, whatever he was stabbed with was used regularly.”
Yoongi and Jungkook wear matching pensive frowns as they listen to Namjoon’s story supported by the images on the screen. “Do we have a name yet?” Yoongi asks.
“Oh! Oh, yes we do! Sorry, I got a bit carried away,” Namjoon says with a sheepish grin. “Hwang Chanwoo. Haven’t gotten the chance to find out more about him yet. Is that enough for you guys to work with?”
“More than enough. You’re perfect,” Yoongi says, “Great work, I don’t know how you do that.”
“Oh, don’t let Hoseokie hear that,” Jungkook drawls, grinning widely. Before Yoongi gets the chance to scold him, he adds, “I’ll contact Jimin and Taehyung and then I’ll find out more about this guy.”
“Good idea. I’m going back to forensics and see what they can do. I will see you later, Namjoon. Contact me when you’ve found out more.”
They exchange their goodbyes, the good work and the good luck, and Jungkook has no idea just how fast he has to get out of that lab. Forensics is at a lower floor than their department, so he spends the remainder of the elevator ride alone. Not that he minds, he needs the solitude to take a few deep breaths and recover from pathology.
He crashes down onto his desk chair and immediately reaches for his phone, not thinking twice about dialling Jimin’s number instead of Taehyung’s.
“Hello, Park Jimin speaking,” he answers after a few seconds of beeps.
“Jimin! Is Taehyungie with you? It’s murder. We just got back from Namjoon. It’s a whole scheme with a cleverly covered up stabwound. Are you two okay? Hello?”
“Calm down,” Jimin says on the other end of the line, “So it’s murder? With a stabbing?”
“Yes, yes. His name’s Hwang Chanwoo. I’m about to look up more about him, but I wanted to inform you guys first. Chief’s with forensics now.”
Jungkook could hear some muttering at the other end of the line, but he couldn’t quite make out what was being said. “Okay. What does he want us to do?”
“He mumbled something about security footage. Maybe inform the club’s boss too.”
“Okay, we’ll do our best,” Jimin says, “We’ll come back after we’re done. Good luck, Jungkookie.”
“You too. Stay safe.”
The conversation ends like that and Jungkook doesn’t give himself the moment to think about Jimin, Jimin, Jimin. He immediately throws himself onto his computer to find any piece of information about this kid. The convenience of modern times is having a groupchat with the members of his unit to share information and progress on the case when they’re split up.
Jeon Jungkook
He’s a chaebol kid, comes from a lot of money
Maybe that’s involved?
And he’s a leo @taehyung
Min Yoongi
Perhaps
We can’t draw such conclusions yet
Seok and I are going to compile a list of every person who attended
Staff and students
Kim Taehyung
If he’s a leo he had it coming
Jimin and I are working on the security footage
First we’re gonna do the club then the rest of the area
Jeon Jungkook
When are we telling the parents?
They believe in alpha superiority, I just read
Min Yoongi
Another motive, then
Maybe from pissed off omegas
Kim Taehyung
Jimin said he’d do the same
Min Yoongi
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves
List of attendees, security footage
Then we’ll talk to the parents
jeon and park will pay them a visit when the time is ripe
Jeon Jungkook
Should I contact them?
Min Yoongi
No
See what more you can discover
You can contact them when I tell you you can
Jeon Jungkook
Yes sir
Kim Taehyung
Aww our Jungkookie’s such a good boy
Jeon Jungkook
Why don’t you come here to discover just how good I can be
Kim Taehyung
Not an omega, no thanks
Park Jimin
Am an omega, no thanks
Min Yoongi
Do your work or you’re all fired <3
Park Jimin
Yes sir
Kim Taehyung
Yes sir
Jeon Jungkook
Yes sir