Bravery is not the absence of fear but action in the face of fear...

The red-haired male turned his head toward his leader, hesitating for a moment before finally voicing his thoughts. "Boss, I want to exclude myself from this mission."

S narrowed her eyes, "For what?"

Jungkook swallowed hard, choosing his words carefully. "I want to go to the China base for training. I think I'm lacking skills, and I need to polish them. I want to get stronger. I'll be back once I'm done."

Her gaze remained locked on him, expression unreadable. There was no hint of emotion—no surprise, no anger. She was a woman who knew when to let go, as long as the mission stayed on course. After a moment of silence, she nodded curtly. "Fine. You are excluded from this mission. When are you leaving?"

"Tonight." His voice had a weight of finality in it.

S gave a slight nod in acknowledgment and then resumed addressing the rest of the Titans, as if Jungkook's departure was nothing more than a formality.  The other Titans remained focused on S as she laid out the next steps. To her, Jungkook's temporary absence was irrelevant. She wasn't one to cling to anyone, even family. Her singular focus was winning. If it required sacrificing connections or sending her brother halfway across the world, so be it. Victory demanded it. Whether by hook or by crook, the Dark Squads would be crushed under her will.

..................

Hoseok was summoned to the office early in the morning. His assistants informed him that someone had broken through the police checkpoint the previous night. Now, the head officer of the Seoul Police Crime Department sat with sharp focus, his eyes glued to the LCD screen displaying the surveillance footage.

The sleek BMW Golden Thunder raced through the night streets with precision, slipping past their defenses. The car looked familiar, and Hoseok narrowed his eyes as he noted down its license plate for further investigation. He sipped his coffee, trying to shake off a lingering sense of unease.

Before he could gather his thoughts, an intern hurried in, looking nervous. "Sir, the commissioner is calling for you."

Hoseok exhaled deeply and knocked twice on the commissioner's door. Upon hearing the gruff "Enter," he stepped inside and stood at attention.

"Salute, sir! Did you call for me?" Hoseok greeted formally.

The commissioner sat behind his desk, his expression heavy with disappointment. "Yes,  OfficerJung. I need to talk to you about Dr. Kim's case."

Hoseok furrowed his brows in confusion. "The Dr. Kim's case, sir? Why? We're making progress. We know who kidnapped him, and it's only a matter of time before we track down the Titans."

The commissioner leaned forward, his tone growing stern. "And that's exactly why I'm asking you to stop the investigation. You're not just putting your life at risk—you're endangering your entire team."

Hoseok felt a surge of anger rise within him. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "With respect, sir, I think what we're doing is the right thing. The Titans have this entire city in their deadly clutches, and no one is standing up to them. They act like they own the country. This—this is injustice!"

The commissioner's face darkened. "Jung Hoseok, you're letting your emotions cloud your judgment. Think of your men, their families. Don't throw their lives away—just because Dr. Kim saved your mother once."

Hoseok clenched his jaw, fists tightening at his sides. "Sir, I'm not doing this out of personal obligation. I'm fighting for justice. And if no one else is willing to do the same, that's not bravery—that's cowardice. It's a disgrace to the badge we wear."

The commissioner slammed his fist on the desk, making the papers shuffle. "Watch your mouth, Officer Jung! Don't forget—I have the authority to throw you out of this department."

Hoseok forced himself to breathe, keeping his voice steady. "I apologize for my tone, sir."

The commissioner sat back, his expression softening—just slightly. "Look, I know you're one of the best officers we have. I don't want to lose you. But you need to understand... the Titans are not just another gang. They can't be beaten. Going after them will only make things worse—for all of us."

Hoseok's heart burned with frustration. He knew the real reason for his superior's hesitation: fear. The commissioner wasn't just concerned about the danger—he was compromised, bought off by the Titans. The same force he had sworn to fight had sunk its claws into the very institution meant to protect the city.

"Sir," Hoseok said, voice firm. "If you can't stand with us, at least don't stand in our way. I didn't expect this from you."

The commissioner's eyes hardened. "So, you're not dropping the case?"

"No," Hoseok replied without hesitation. "I won't sacrifice a man like Dr. Kim—someone who saves thousands lives—just because it's easier to look the other way. I'll see this through, no matter what."

The commissioner gave a cold, tight smile. "Very well. But understand this—you will receive no official support from the department. No backup. No resources. You and your team are on your own. And if anyone dies, their blood will be on your hands."

"I understand." Hoseok's voice didn't waver. "Does that mean I'm fired?"

The commissioner leaned back and folded his arms. "Not officially. Consider yourself suspended—until you either solve this case... or fail trying."

Hoseok gave a curt nod and left the room, anger simmering beneath the surface. The betrayal stung deep. The very institution he'd dedicated his life to had turned its back on him. But it didn't matter—he wouldn't stop. He couldn't stop. Dr. Kim's life—and the city's future—depended on it.

He stormed back to his office and slumped into his chair, dragging a hand through his hair. Frustration boiled over, and he tilted his head back, staring at the ceiling. The betrayal from his superior gnawed at him. But Hoseok knew what he had to do. If the commissioner wouldn't stand by him, he'd go to the President himself if that's what it took.

His phone buzzed, pulling him from his thoughts. It was Arshu, calling again. Hoseok let it ring and then silenced it—there was no time for personal matters now. He needed to stay focused.

He turned back to his computer and replayed the surveillance footage. This time, he scrutinized every frame, every movement. And then something caught his eye—a detail he'd missed before.

There. A glimpse of the driver. The figure behind the wheel wore a blue dress. Hoseok's heart raced. He knew those eyes—fierce and unrelenting. He leaned closer, fingers drumming on the desk as the pieces slowly started falling into place.

"That's her," he whispered to himself. "The same woman from the checkpoint. How could I have missed it?"

His thoughts raced, trying to make sense of it. "But why... What's her motive? Why would she do this? Was she..."

Before he could dive deeper into the mystery, the door to his office swung open, and Soobin, his trusted right-hand man, rushed in.

"What now, Soobin? I'm busy," Hoseok snapped, irritation clear in his voice.

Soobin ignored his tone, urgency written all over his face. "Sir, you need to see this. It's important."

Hoseok frowned but gestured for Soobin to proceed. His assistant dropped a thick file on the desk with a heavy thud.

"What is this?" Hoseok asked, flipping open the cover page.

Soobin's voice was laced with excitement and caution. "I think I've found the real identity of S."

...............

Night had fallen, and the soft chirping of crickets filled the cool, cloudy air. Taehyung sighed, feeling the weight of boredom pressing on him. Restless and craving company, he went on a hunt to find Jimin—the only person in the house with whom he felt truly at ease.

He wandered through almost every room in the building, but Jimin was nowhere to be found. Frustrated, he stood outside his own door, debating whether to just head inside. Jimin's barely around these days, he thought with a twinge of irritation. The blonde's absence made the mansion feel emptier than usual.

"Hey, Doc?" A low voice spoke from behind him.

Taehyung flinched, clutching his chest in surprise. "Oh my! You scared me!" he gasped, heart racing as he turned around.

The man behind him made his skin crawl. He was unsettling to look at—his face half-scarred by burns, with dark, tattooed lines etched permanently around his eyes. His skeletal frame gave him a sickly appearance, and he stood a full head shorter than anyone Taehyung had seen among the Titans.

The stranger chuckled, an unsettling sound. "Heh. You should always be scared in the house of a Mafia."

Taehyung forced a polite smile, though his instincts screamed at him to stay away from this man. Something about him was off. His entire presence radiated discomfort, like a shadow that moved when it shouldn't. Still, Taehyung's stubborn nature made him ignore his gut. He decided to play along.

"W-Who are you?" Taehyung asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

The man smiled, revealing crooked teeth. "I'm Viper. Nice to meet you, Dr. Kim Taehyung, right?"

Taehyung gave a tight-lipped smile out of courtesy. "Nice to meet you too. So... is 'Viper' your real name?"

"I don't share my real name with anyone."

Taehyung made his lips into an exaggerated 'O.' He didn't know how to respond to that, so he simply nodded, hoping the conversation would end soon.

"Wanna hang out for a bit?" Viper asked, his voice dripping with casual menace. Taehyung hesitated, sensing this wasn't a friendly invitation.

"I don't bite," Viper added, flashing a grin that sent a shiver down Taehyung's spine.

A small laugh escaped Taehyung—more from awkwardness than amusement. "Okay... I'm free anyway," he muttered, reluctantly falling in step with the tattooed man as they headed toward the ground floor.

"So, what position do you hold in the Titans?" Viper asked, his voice calm yet probing.

Taehyung swallowed hard. "I-I don't have any position. I was... brought—no, kidnapped—by Arin and Jungkook. They wanted me to take care of Sri."

"Ah... so you're not one of us?" Viper tilted his head curiously.

"Aniya!" Taehyung waved his hands awkwardly. "I-I don't belong here. Honestly, I don't even want to be here. I'm a cardio surgeon at Savior Hospital."

Viper narrowed his eyes in confusion. "Take care of Sri? What happened to her?"

Taehyung's heart sank. He realized too late that he'd revealed something Viper wasn't supposed to know. Panic spread through him, and his mind scrambled to come up with a believable excuse.

"N-Nothing happened! I mean—uh—I was just brought here to... to..." Taehyung cursed under his breath. His tongue felt heavy, and his nerves tangled into knots. He was a terrible liar.

Before Viper could press further, a familiar voice cut through the awkward tension.

"Taehyung? What are you doing up there? Get down fast—Jungkook's leaving!"

Taehyung turned toward the stairs, relief washing over him at the sound of Jimin's voice. "Coming!" he shouted eagerly, ignoring Viper's unsettling presence behind him.

Viper's thin lips curled into a sinister smile as he extended his hand toward Taehyung. "Later, then?" 

Taehyung hesitated before taking the offered hand. It was rough and cold, like sandpaper, and the touch sent an eerie chill through his body. "See you later..." he muttered, quickly pulling his hand back.

Just as he was about to leave, a deep rumble of thunder cracked across the sky, momentarily illuminating the corridor in a flash of white light. For an instant, Viper's grin stretched unnaturally wide, and the darkness in his eyes seemed to deepen.

Taehyung's stomach churned with unease. His breath hitched as Viper's figure melted into the shadows of the hallway, vanishing like a ghost slipping into the abyss. It was as if the man had never been there.

What the hell was that... Taehyung thought, a chill creeping down his spine.

Taehyung inhaled sharply, willing himself to shake off the fear. He hurried toward the stairs where Jimin was waiting. He hoped he'd never have to cross paths with Viper again.

...............

Jungkook crouched, lacing up his black combat boots with meticulous precision. The sleek car waited for him outside, engine idling. The sky overhead churned with dark clouds, and the air carried the sharp scent of imminent rain. A storm was coming, but it didn't matter to him. His mind was set. He had a mission, and nothing—not even the weather—could deter him.

"Jungkook?"

He turned his head toward the familiar voice. Sri stood in the doorway, her expression as calm and commanding as always. "Since you're heading to China, I want you to supervise the Titan base while you're there," she instructed. "Wang mentioned there's been some unrest. A few of the men have gotten rebellious. Handle them. Show them where they stand."

"Yes, Boss." Jungkook straightened, facing his older sister with unwavering resolve.

"Have a safe journey," Sri added softly. "The jet is waiting for you at the helipad."

Before leaving, Jungkook embraced her briefly. In the quiet moment between them, Sri's voice dropped to a whisper. "Don't beat yourself up. You fought well—better than before. Taking down seven out of ten men is no small feat."

Jungkook exhaled slowly, comforted by her words. The tension in his chest loosened just a little, and for the first time that day, a small spark of satisfaction flickered within him. But it wasn't enough. Better isn't good enough, he thought. I want to be the best.

"Goodbye, noona." He pulled away, nodding in farewell.

He gave a final wave to Jimin and Taehyung, who stood by the entrance watching him leave. Without another word, Jungkook stepped out into the storm-brewing night, his silhouette soon swallowed by the misty gloom.

Inside the house, Sri retreated to her room. The sound of her door clicking shut left a hollow silence in the air.

"Where's he going?" Taehyung asked, glancing at Jimin beside him.

"To China," Jimin replied, leaning casually against the stair rail.

"For how long?" Taehyung's curiosity lingered.

Jimin shrugged. "Depends. It could be a month... or a year."

Taehyung blinked in disbelief. "A year? But why? Isn't he already strong enough?"

Jimin gave a knowing smile, though there was a tinge of sadness in it. "Jungkook has a condition... called self-blame. No matter how strong he gets, he always thinks it's not enough. He needs to be perfect in everything."

Taehyung nodded thoughtfully, his gaze drifting toward the ceiling as if searching for answers in the cracks above. "I see."

Jimin shot him a playful glance. "What do you mean by 'I see'? Aren't you a doctor? Don't you have a medicine for that?"

Taehyung chuckled, the sound light but warm. "I wish I did."

Jimin smirked. For a moment, they shared a comfortable silence, the storm outside growing louder as raindrops began to tap against the windows. "Taehyung," he said, voice low.

"Yes?" Taehyung replied, glancing back at him.

"Keep away from Viper."

Heyaaa little chimes! How are y'all doing? Last day I completed Stay with me, you can take a sneek peak if you are bored.
Ps. PTD day 3 was great. The LA Armys did great. I wish they come to my country soon.🧘🏻‍♀️

Bts Snaps

SeokJin, seeing how no one is doing anything : I can't beleive that the only thing working around here is the coffee machine !!

Namjoon, who just broke that coffee machine: well, not anymore