"For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world" - 1 John 2:16

There's nothing in this world that Jungkook has grown to love more than touring. 

Before the big hit off for his North America tour, he was given plenty of warnings and precautions from possibly everyone in the Oasis agency building of the stress and difficulties that is touring: Having days with little to no sleep, jetlag, having to keep close tabs on when and what to eat to not get sick, the list continues. And yes, Jungkook will admit that those days did come, but the thrill that comes with touring overpowered all negativities that could possibly make this touring insufferable. 

If anything, he loved the thrill of the pressure.

His first concert, which was in Seoul before going to New York, was a complete hit. 

His energy was amazing, unlike anything he has felt before.

Being in a concert hall, surrounded by people who enjoy his presence as an artist - everything about it went beyond expectations, just like the release of his album. Quickly he was talked all over the media, making trends rapidly with either his fashion or his songs, sometimes just him and his attractiveness. 

They do enjoy a villianous artist after all.

From there, it was a never-ending roll of accomplishments. 

The second Jungkook hits the stage in whatever location he's in, he lives off the cheers and screams from his fans, powering him up with so much energy that it made every possible negative into a positive. Perhaps he has passed out a few times after his shows due to the heat and overwork of his body, but after a while he learned to balance himself out to not burn out all at once. 

He's becoming a pro rapidly, much faster than thosee artists who've been touring their whole lives yet can't still manage to take care of themselves.

Well, to be fair, having Karma be the opening act has helped greatly in keeping the energy flowing throughout the tour - well has helped Jungkook more so to maintain the fun and not get too much into his head with his perfectionist tendencies. 

Karma is not the same man he was when he performed his first stage for Jungkook's birthday, he's better.

As time passes, Karma has grown an overwhelming confidence with himself. It's as though the string of restraint that was holding him back finally was released, and he showed exactly how to put on a show. The fans loved it, and his followers were quickly skyrocketing with every place they ended up at.

Now they looked forward to both artists performing, which meant more money coming in for the company.

Jungkook kept making headlines, rising his popularity at a rapid rate, and of course the scandals kept making his name appear more consistently.

Especially his lates one.

"So, I have a quick question," Jimmy Fallon asked him, his energy as extroverted as it'd always be, "Now we all know the concept of your album, and I'd like to ask for those who were curious since they blasted this on my Twitter, what would you consider yourself as in terms of religion?"

Jungkook was prepared for the question, just as he was prepared for the answer, "I don't have a specific belief. I just like making music."

"So you don't believe in God or anything of the matter?"

"No, I do not."

That spread the internet like wildfire, both pro and con. Of course, many of his religious fans were upset and turned their backs on him, but those were little numbers - since what kind of religious fans would like him either way unless they were hypocrites. Not as big as the numbers he got after that interview, calling him brave for coming out about the topic and speaking about it openly.

Made people more daring in expressing themselves through TikTok with their demonic themes with his songs in the background.

So, since that scandal made a big talk everywhere, of course he released another song - that was written by another lyrist in America- to further make a statement how he could honestly careless about what anyone has to says about him.

Paint The Town Red. 

And what a hit that was. 

From one night to the next was that song another hit, and Jungkook was in the clouds with the talk he got about that song. 

They practically begged him for a music video, to which is something he'll grant for sure once his tour is over.

He performs that song now on stage, having Karma dressing up as a seductive demon as center of his performance to further promote the concept. Jungkook found himself to truly like how he's finding such familiarity and ease doing this concept, even growing to love it. 

It's so much fun being open to do whatever he wants, be as rebellious as he wants to be, and for no one to be pouting and complaining since this is all he has shown. 

Who he is.

The theories about him are even more interesting to read.

The illuminati got another one.

He's being possessed.

His concerts are a sacrificial ritual.

It gets better and better.

Maybe you should theme one of his concerts as a ritual, get them all fussy immediately. 

He loves being the madman in his own nightmare. 

Now slouching back against his makeup chair, his show finally finishing for the night in Chicago - tomorrow having to go to Dallas for his second to last stop of his tour. Momo is quickly on him in seconds to remove his make up, far more focused on the job than Jungkook's shirtless attire bestowed before her. Despite their previous moment when they got a little intimate, which was actually a one time thing, Momo has remained firm and serious on doing her job without so much distractions.

Of course when in need, a few kisses escapes here and there, but seems like this new Jungkook isn't attractive enough for her taste. 

Not like Jungkook gives a fuck by this point.

"I'm on fire!" Jungkook peels an eye, casting his gaze to the side to see Karma sitting on the chair beside him, jumping on his seat as his artists removes the demon make-up from his face, "That was amazing!"

Jungkook stares at Karma, seeing the wild glows in his eyes chaotically whirling in his high of excitment, along with the twitching broad smile to his jittery and anxious hands unable to be still. Well, that's not much of a shock because he did snort two whole lines of coke before going out there on stage. 

As mentioned before, Karma since that conversation they had has changed. He's extremely loose and less restrained on his performances and ideas while rehearsing. Initially Jungkook was hesitant about having him perform the dance sequence for 'Paint The Town Red' for his performance because of his supposed religious views, and right there in that song Jungkook clearly sings 'I'm a demon Lord' with his whole chest.

Yet he did not once hesitate when he danced along to the music, mouthing how he'd rather be famous instead, calling himself a devil and dropping it down in seductive moves for the audience - which drew an even more stream of fans towards his way.

Seeing him let go was so fresh to witness and see in person, and people were living for it in seconds. 

He was quick to make headlines, and now not because of his scandal rumors with Jungkook, but because of his versatile dancing techniques.

Making a name for himself on his own.

This tour has become game changing for him.

Grinning over to him, Jungkook closes his eyes again, "You sure know how to draw in an audience."

"I know! I've never felt this alive!" Karma boasts, taking out his phone, "I've got to tell Minnie."

Ah Minnie, the crush from the bathing tub. 

Well, seems like that accident worked its magic because the next time Karma went to visit the bar, the singer recognized him and approached him. 

Nothing sexually has blossomed between them thus far, but clearly the attraction is there, and Karma has been like a middle school crush over her since then. 

Keeps him on his toes, especially with the distance.

"She saw my performance!"

Jungkook furrows his eyebrows, "How?"

"Illegal live recording from Twitter," Karma hiccups with a sluggish smile, "She's so perfect."

Karma has been obsessing over her since they've started talking, and seeing him in such waters in his cloud is so new to Jungkook since they've met. His aura now is so.... Wild.

As though whatever side he's been suppressing has exploded out from its cage. 

He's shameless and not afraid anymore to express whatever he wants.

"Well, in two weeks we'll be back in Korea," Jungkook chirps, drumming his fingers on the handle on his chair, "Better fuck her right for making her wait."

Karma giggles, eyebrows wiggling, "Oh yeah," And he puts his phone down, casting his pupil dilated eyes to Jungkook, "We have that Balenciaga event in California coming up right?"

"Yes," Jungkook mutters, just as Momo finished up with him and began to clean up her station, "And from there, home time!"

"Do you miss Korea?"

Hm, Jungkook didn't really think much of how it'd be returning home. Sure, he misses his parents, his routine and all, but he's having loads of fun exploring and being free abroad than he ever has back in Korea. He has to act and be a certain way back there, but here it's as though he's not afraid to be Raven.

And Raven sure does love being crazy on stage.

"Eh, give or take," Jungkook shrugs, "By the way, tonight you can't sleep over my room."

"Why?"

"Remember the pretty flight attendant when we arrived?"

"Who gave you a blow job in the bathroom."

"Yes, she's coming over."

Karma sits up, chin on his palm, "And the three of us can't have fun because?"

Jungkook shoots his eyes open, glaring at him, "You have the tendency to treat me like your bitch while we're fucking, and I don't need her to bare witness of that."

A throaty laugh escapes Karma's throat, followed by a delirious sigh, "Yeah, you're right, but you do enjoy that though, otherwise I wouldn't have continued."

Rolling his eyes back to him, Jungkook just ignores his blow kiss. 

From that moment on, Namjoon didn't take long before informing them that they had to leave soon. The two finally got off their concert attires and were moving through backstage to their cars. They got comfortable in their shared vehicle as it drove away, having them catch glances from fans pooling outside the perimeter waiting with banners and phones to pictures if they spot any glances towards them. 

Out of curtesy, the two pulled their windows down and greeting them their farewells. Jungkook, since Namjoon has him annoyed with it already, of course played the cold card - only sending eyebrow raises in acknowledgement, but nothing more than that. 

This is becoming easier as time passes.

Jungkook continues nodding over to them as the car pulls to the road, but his eyes suddenly caught to the sight of what seemed to be a homeless man with a banner moving aimlessly away from the crowd and outside the concert hall, a flyer in hand. 

"The Lord is near to the trouble hearted and saves the crushed in spirit." Psalms 54:18

Something in Jungkook suffocated his throat the second he read that phrase on the banner, filing him with this discomfort in seconds when he met the man's gaze. Something about those eyes tells a past, present, and future that Jungkook didn't seem to grasp, as though the man was reading his life in a matter of seconds. 

Reaching into his soul.

And that stare was a preparation for the storm.

It sent shivers down Jungkook's spine.

"Ew, why is he looking at you like that," Karma distastefully remarks, glaring at him, "Pervert."

Jungkook blinks at the sign and eases back on his seat, pulling the window up wordlessly. He couldn't find it in himself to say anything, but he felt this thing on his chest. It's something boiling with distaste and such a detachment that it riled him up. Almost like when you scroll through Instagram and get annoyed when you see so many bible posts, or that religious music when you're in your parents car.

It's this presence of detachment that crawled up Jungkook's skin, leaving him with his teeth clenching in annoyance that he couldn't even explain. 

It's annoying seeing these things. 

It's annoying feeling like this.

"Karma, I have a question."

Karma hums, typing away on his phone.

Jungkook snaps his eyes to him, "Why did you ever believe in God in the first place?"

Still distracted by his typing, he finishes his sentence quickly before looking at Jungkook with his wide glossy eyes, "Hm? - Oh, God? Well... I don't anymore."

What?

Jungkook sits up completely, baffled, "What? But weren't you all bent up about how he has proved your faith or something?"

Karma shrugs, "I wanted to believe that, but if I'm being honest, nothing really great has happened while I was a believer," He says nonchalantly, fiddling with his phone, "I was depressed, I had no music career, and I was a nobody. I wanted to believe God would guide me, but time passed, nothing really occurred. I did have strong faith, but I came to see that God never proved anything to me, it's what I wanted to belie. It was my efforts that made me get here."

And he goes back to typing on his phone when it buzzed, "Guess you were right in the end, I just needed a reality check."

Jungkook stares at him intensively, not sure what to believe from him anymore, yet to some extent he found himself taken back and perhaps.... Disappointed. 

Sure, he doesn't believe in all this stuff, but he did the mistake in forcing his views onto someone else, provoking doubt on their own already doubtful mind, and managed to convince them. 

One thing about those religious people is that they're passionate about what they do, and Jungkook does admire that. Sure, it can be annoying, but they're brave to stand out when the world is so modern to things now. 

He respects the hustle, but he just doesn't believe there's a God.

Now he feels as though he just wiped out that flame of passion Karma had in his heart when he believed.

Jungkook purses his lips, leaning his head back, "I didn't mean to do that."

"Eh, made me see things clearer," He waves it off, "Besides, I feel so much happier and alive than I ever have before. I'm not afraid, and it feels amazing!"

Jungkook didn't twitch a reaction, but he did look down to his hands as the typing from Karma's phone chips in the background. Flashbacks of his dreams vividly moved through his mind, remembering that warm fire at the palm of his hand burning brightly as it did. 

Trust in me.

Believe in me.

I will protect you.

Those words.

No matter how much Jungkook forgets those dreams, those words are clear in his head. Yeah, dreams are just dreams, but that was the only time Jungkook truly felt warm before he woke up.

He felt safe.

Shaking his head, Jungkook brushes the memory away, focusing outside instead as the flashes of the city lights glazes before his eyes.

Wondering.

Only left wondering.

____________________

A/N:

Oh boy.... Looks like Karma stopped believing.

Let's see what happensssss.

Are you guys enjoying the book thus far? Let me know what you think!

I PURPLE YOU! <3