Taehyung pov ~

I threw my phone on the table as soon as Jimin hung up on me. He knew I'd keep asking questions until he got here so instead he wanted me to sit here in anxiousness without knowing what was going on.

What if he was hurt? What would the boss do to me if Jimin got hurt on my watch? I knew not to let him go alone, why am I so stupid sometimes? It's his fault though isn't it? He's the one that just insists on being independent all the time. He's the boss's brother, he's the one in the most danger out of anyone because he's defenseless and an easy target.

I need to be calm, I can't be upset at him. He doesn't know who he really is, or the dangers he's in. To him we're just the people that treat him like a child. I knew that stupid rebelliousness of his was going to get him in trouble sooner or later, but it was still my fault at the end of the day.

I am his main protector throughout the day. Of course Namjoon is suppose to protect him while he's at school since I have to ditch most times, and Jin protects him at home. But, If he is not at school or at home he is my responsibility and I just blew it.
I know better than to let him walk home at night by himself.

I really thought if I tried giving him some independence that he would start listening to me and his brother more. I let him go do whatever he wants to after school without telling the boss, and that alone can get me beaten up or killed. Even so, he still gets mad at me for wanting to watch over him all the time. I wish Jimin respected me more but how can he even listen to me when he doesn't know how pivotal of a position I play in his safety?

Me and Namjoon both bust our asses to watch over Jimin when the boss can't because we're the only members who know who Jimin really is. The boss says it's safer that way. The other members are just told to stay away from the university, but I still think it's unfair they get the easy job.

They get to sit around and do business and fight people all day while me and Namjoon work hard to protect the boss' most prized possession, his little brother. If something ever happened to him, the boss would probably chop off our head and stick it on the mantle in his office or something. That alone would probably just be a merciful killing from him. I can't even begin to think of what he'd do to us if he wanted to make us truly suffer.

I paced around the room as these thoughts filled me head. The anxiety I felt was killing me, so I decided I'd wait outside for him. Just as I went to open the door I was met with Jimin holding his hand up to knock. I pulled him in quickly and shut the door.

Without a moment to spare I grabbed him by his shoulders and began looking over him, lifting up his shirt and examining his body for any bruises. As I scanned around his body I was relieved to see there wasn't any apparent injuries. As I came back around to face him I let his shirt fall down and was met with a large smile plastered across his face.

I didn't think anything of it until I noticed hidden under a few strands of his hair was a large bruise on the top of his forehead. As I pushed his hair up I noticed that it was beginning to turn blue and swell, obviously coming from some sort of hard impact with an object. I nearly passed out on the spot.

"Oh my god Jimin what happened?! why's your head like that?!" I asked panicked, trying to think of a way to fix this before the boss saw it.

He pushed me off lightly, "It's fine Tae. That part was just my stupidity," he shrugged, putting his backpack down on the ground. I grabbed him by the shoulders and pushed him into the living room to take a seat on the couch.

He sat there, quietly in thought.

"I'm gonna tell you but please don't freak out and yell at me," he said after a moment, looking at me nervously.

I sighed, rubbing my temples in stress but nodding eventually.

"I..... was just mugged. Kind of," he said, appearing excited for some reason.

I gasped and stood up, "JIMIN WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU I TOLD YOU-" My yelling was quickly cut off by his glaring. I groaned and sat back down.

"Tell me everything," I said, closing my eyes and massaging the bridge of my nose so as to remain calm.

"You're never going to believe this, it was so thrilling. I was just minding my own business walking home. Then I hear these footsteps behind me. I start running and I turn into this alley and accidentally run into a wall where I get this bruise here on my head," he said pointing at his forehead.

His words began to get more jumbled together as he continued speaking, "Then this kid who thinks he's some cool gangster or something puts a gun to my head and at that point I'm like 'oh shit I'm about to die' you know? Then this other dude with black hair comes down the alleyway too and starts getting mad at him for being around the university cause some "boss" told them not to. Weird right? Anways, after that I kicked the first kid between the legs and the black haired dude is like 'give me everything in your wallet and you can leave.' Long story short Tae. IT WAS THE MOST EXHILERATING TIME OF MY LIFE. IT WAS SUCH AN ADRENALINE RUSH BUT MY FRO-YO CARD IS GONE. I WENT SEVEN TIMES TO GET THAT CARD. Hm do you think maybe Jin will get me another one?" by this point Jimin's voice had quickly shifted from loud and excited yelling to quiet and thoughtful mumbling. 

My brain tried to register all the words coming out of his mouth at once. Was it our members that tried to mug him? Wait, Jungkook's initiation was tonight right? Did he forget the rules? Wait.... more importantly, why did Jimin say it was exciting to get mugged? How was it fun to get mugged? Also, how on earth was I going to explain this entire mess to the boss without getting killed?

So many thoughts were running through my mind that my head quickly started pounding.

"Oh and another thing," he said. I looked at him, not sure I wanted to hear anymore.

"The dude who took my gift card, I'm thinking he was a Mafia member because he was wearing a hoodie but his shirt sleeve went up and he had this tattoo. It was like these two weird rectangles that were kind of facing diagonally from each other? Kind of like two corners of a room but there's space between the two walls. And there were three letters under the logo, but I don't remember what they were. It was weird but I swear I've seen it before. I think you may have one similar actually," He said, looking down at my arm that was also covered by a hoodie. I averted my eyes and moved my arm as I thought of an excuse.

"Uhm no? Mine is similar but I have no clue what you're talking about," I said dumbfounded. He wasn't totally convinced but he nodded anyways.

"What's this about being excited though Jimin? Are you crazy? Why would being mugged be so fun to you?" I asked, taking over as the normal overprotective friend I was.

"Well... it's not like it was amazing to get mugged. But, the excitement of it, the adrenaline rush I felt, the fact that for once in my life I didn't feel safe. I don't know... it just excited me."

"Okay, I think you have some problems. You're not gonna come out as some secret masochist or something are you?" I asked, pretending to joke even though the reality of it was serious.

"Ew no you weirdo. I just really liked the thrill of it. I don't know, I might become a thrill seeker or something though," He said, obviously putting some serious thought into it.

"That's not happening Jimin," I said, glaring at him a bit just to get my point across. I could see he felt uncomfortable with my eyes on him. He didn't like me when I was angry, I knew that much.

"Don't get mad Tae. It was just a joke, I'm sorry. I'm just coming down from an adrenaline high I'm sure I'm not right in the head. I'm going to go upstairs and get into bed okay?" He smiled.

I nodded, waving goodnight to him as he grabbed his stuff and went downstairs. I fiddled with my fingers as I tried to think of what to do. I figured I should let the boss know as soon as possible so that I could get my death sentence earlier. At least I knew I had the other members to blame for this one, maybe my life was spared.

Not even a moment later my phone went off indicating a new message. Speak of the devil.

From: Boss
To: Taehyung
Where is my brother? Tell me now or I swear you're going to regret ever breathing.

From: Taehyung
To: Boss
He's safe. He wanted to spend the night at my house. Something did happen though boss but please don't kill me until you hear me out.

From: Boss
To: Taehyung
What happened? Is Jimin hurt? As long as he's alive than I can't kill you because it will upset him. But, if he's hurt than I will make you wish you were dead. Don't test me.

I shivered at his message. Thank god Jimin didn't get himself killed tonight.

To: Boss
From: Taehyung
He's not hurt that bad. I think we should meet up so I can explain to you what happened.

From: Boss
To: Taehyung
"THAT BAD"?!?! WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN "THAT BAD"? I'm coming to get him now.

From: Taehyung
To: Boss
He just went to sleep Boss. I don't think he'll be happy to see you if you wake him up.

From: Boss
To: Taehyung
Fine. Tell him to come by my work tomorrow before class. I want to hear his side before I hear what your dumbass has to say about it.

From: Taehyung
To: Boss
Yes sir.

I rested my head against the couch cushion as I prayed I wouldn't be the one to have to take the blame for all of this. Just the thought of the boss is enough to terrify anyone. He doesn't talk much and he doesn't care about anybody. Except of course, his brother.

To be fair, I understood why the boss kept the secret from him. He doesn't want Jimin getting into anything that could hurt him. I wish I didn't have to be the annoying friend who treats Jimin like a kid either, but he is my best friend and I couldn't imagine him getting hurt under my protection. I mean, yeah at first this assignment was tedious because my entire life depended on the wellbeing of some pathetic kid that didn't know how to defend himself, but I grew fond of him quite quickly.

I still feel quickly because at first that was all Jimin was to me, an assignment. Jimin didn't have any friends so that's why the boss made me become his friend secretly. We were the same age and I was the nicest one out of all of the members. I could protect him and make sure he wasn't lonely while his brother was constantly away. I didn't think I would ever actually enjoy being friends with a weak nerdy boy like him but in all actuality he became the most important person in my life.

I guess it was because I spent so much time surrounded by cruel mafia members that I forgot what it was like to be an actual kid. Jimin's the only one that has ever made my life feel somewhat normal, even if it was just for a few moments at a time. Jimin saved me from becoming a monster right when I needed him the most. He saved me from becoming some cold-hearted mafia member like my father, because unlike everyone else in my life Jimin let me be a kid. He let me have fun without degrading me, or thinking I was worthless because I didn't want to hurt people. He made me happy with my life when I didn't have any hope left. That is why if I can, I will spend the rest of my life protecting Jimin from the cruelties of the world. My worst fear is Jimin finding out and thinking I just did it because it was my job. I can't lose Jimin, I just can't.

Even if my personal feelings never got in the way it would've been stupid for me to have given up this mission. After all, I'm the only person who has ever really been able to get closer into the boss' life. I remember one time the boss told me that I did a good job, that I made his brother's life much happier. That was the only time in my life I had ever been praised for doing anything. Well at least by any mafia member, Jimin complimented me all the time and it has always made me feel special. But that moment with the boss was special. Before that moment I was the screw up. I never did anything right, I was constantly getting scolded by the boss and my dad. I even failed my own initiation and the boss still let me join the gang.

Everything changed after I became Jimin's protector, after I became his friend. For the first time ever the boss treated me with a little bit of respect after I started doing well on this assignment.

I'd even consider myself to be the person that's closest to him besides his brother, mostly because I'm the only member that knows his real name. I actually found out from Jimin a long time ago....

"Hey should I call my brother and ask if I could stay the night?" Jimin asked.

"Yes pleaseeee," I begged, shaking him in excitement.

He put his phone to his ear and I could hear the ringing. I leaned in closely to hear the conversation.

"Ah Jin hyung," Jimin said cutely.

Jin? So his name is Jin? For such a scary person his name is cute.

I watched Jimin closely as he spoke to his brother. His small laughs and the way his face lit up as he talked to his hyung made me smile. Maybe the man on the other end of that line wasn't as evil as I thought. The boss must love Jimin a lot to go through so much trouble to keep him safe.

Jimin told his brother goodnight quickly and hung up the phone.

"He said yes," Jimin smiled.

"Yay! Let's have fun tonight okay Jimin-ah?" I said.

After that, I never told the boss I knew his name of course. He'd probably kill me just to make sure that nobody found out. Then there's also the fact I know he works at a fro-yo place throughout the week just to convince his brother he's normal. I'd disappear from existence before the boss would ever give me a chance to tell any of the guys about that.

I was still shaking my leg in restlessness as I considered laying down for the night. It just wasn't fair, why was I the one that always got in trouble? I bet it was Jungkook that gave him that bruise. But that bratty kid will never admit it, and then the blame falls onto me again. Unfortunately for me there was nothing I could do besides grit my teeth and pray my head didn't get bashed in tomorrow the very moment he saw the bruise on Jimin's forehead.